[Carl and Liz]

We are finally flying into Wellington next weekend. We have our residence visas in our passports. As I understand it, we will get our residence permit at the airport. How long does this take? Will it occur in Auckland or Wellington? Will they look through our luggage and try to charge us tariffs on our electronic equipment?

Should we have travel insurance or when does the NZ health insurance kick in for new residents?

Any insight you have would be appreciated.

Regards,
Liz

[Smiler]

Ok you have PR visas already so get in the queue for NZer's :clap at immigration. They just stamp your passport like they would if you are coming here on holiday but it says Residence permit from.......date and then again if you leave and come back they do the same thing.
Takes as long as it normally does.
But they say Welcome to New Zealand. :raebanana :raebanana

I was expecting loads of tricky questions, but no.

It takes place at the 1st port you land at.If you are landing at Auckland it happens there and if transferring to Wellington or somewhere else, you go through the domestic flight bit.

I'm unsure why you think they would charge you for your electronic stuff. We bought 2 laptops and loads of electronic stuff and no probs.

Probably best to have travel insurance for your flights and stopovers etc. We wouldn't go anywhere without but I live with Mr Cautious.

Haven't been here long enough to try the NZ health yet. But I believe you pay for the Doctors visits and then if you are referred on it becomes low cost or free. You can take out private medical insurance, just like the UK or US.

Any questions please just ask. Our trip is still fairly fresh!

Deborah

[clg]

Congrats on (almost) making it over here! Fairly simple to enter, they just do a different stamp as Debprah says. It does not take any longer. We came in early, like you probably will, and the person at customs was not very awake. Doubt you will have any issues with electronics, they really don't care about that stuff. It is agriculture they care about.

For insurance, don't bother. You are covered under the NZ system as PR's as soon as you land.

One bit of advice, when you start buying things to setup house, skip the warehouse as much as possible. We bought a few things there and they just fell apart, it did last until our things got here though. Go to Moore Wilsons, sort of a cross between Trader Joe's and a very small Costco. They are REALLY good.


Chris

[Diny]

I second everything Smiler says, it's all very easy and straight forward.

We too brought 2 laptops with us and we got them through without any hitches.

Good luck - have a good trip.

Diny

[Carl and Liz]

Thanks everyone - I appreciate the information and good wishes.

[irishgirl]

Hi Carl & Liz

Where and when are you boarding your flight to Auckland/Wellington? I'll be on the Air New Zealand flight from London via LA next Friday, getting into Wellington on Sunday morning local time, so if you're on that flight, look out for the narky red head - narky cause I can never sleep on planes and I really don't like that LA stop over! No offence to the Angelinos of course!!


Dee