[remontado]

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS

FISHING
Can anyone point me to the recreational licensing and fishing regulations for New Zealand inland (onshore) waters?

COUNCIL RATES
What are "Council Rates" and who pays them? Is this the US equivalent of property tax?

CELL PHONES
What is the 'best' Cellular (mobile) telecom company in NZ? Greatest coverage area? Most economic 'plan' if using more than 500 minutes/month?

INTERNET ACCESS
Can anyone suggest how to maintain internet access while traveling around NZ. Unfortunately my laptop died and I am considering bringing a MacMini (with internal modem) with 2@ 500 GB Hard drives. Currently I have two-way satellite access but know this will not be possible in NZ (at while traveling). Without a laptop, how could/would I be able to connect. Any ideas?

[Smiler]

Hiya

1. http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/Licences-and-Permits/index.asp

2. Rates are included usually in your rent, but you pay them if you own your home. Sorry I don't know how much but they depend on the area you live in.

3. I think you only have a choice of 2 Telecom and Vodaphone. We have one of both and VF seems to have better coverage and stronger signals in some areas. This gives an idea of the plans you can have http://www.vodafone.co.nz/pricing_plans/our_plans.jsp

4. I'll struggle here as a non teckie and a non mackie. But there are heaps of internet cafes in the smallest of places too, although connection is painfully slow in some. About $4 an hour. Most libraries, hotels and guesthouses have access, some free and wi fi in some too. You could set up a yahoo, gmail or hotmail account while you travel. I'm sorry I'm lost on the sattelite stuff, sounds posh.:D

[remontado]

thanks for your information and time

[Ant&Eve]

You can buy fishing licenses on-line here: http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/ or you pop into hunting/fishing shops and buy there. The fishing season for most places ends this month for trout, but after spawning the winter season opens :-)

[Singel]

2. Rates are included usually in your rent, but you pay them if you own your home. Sorry I don't know how much but they depend on the area you live in.

Just to give you some idea about the rates if you own your home .....................

We live in Manukau district and we paid $1160 per year and my ex-colleague living in Waitakere district paid $1650 per year.
One of our friend live in North Shore district paid $1650 per year and my ex-boss living in Takapuna (also North Shore district) paid $2000 per year.
Those who live in Auckland City district will have a different rate.

So, you can see that the rates vary from one city to another and also vary from one suburb to another. I understand that the land/house valuation by the local council in that particular suburb determine the council rates. If you live in a suburb with many million-dollar homes (like Takapuna), then the rates will be higher.