[mtgillick]

what are the best and easiest banks to open an account over the net with?

[real_sunfire]

Try ASB:

http://www.asb.co.nz/section895.asp?

Rgds.,
Nick.

[marcia]

We have opened accounts with ASB, we spoke to a fantastic lady in London, she sent out all the paperwork, and is really helpful, they open you an account in London for you to transfer your sterling into - (costs £20 from your own bank to do a same day transfer (chaps) payment,) and they open an account in NZ to transfer your dollars into. As long as you transfer a minimum of £30k there is no charge between the two accounts. If you send a minimum of 100K down to London they will hold the money until the exchange rate hits a number you like and then you just phone them to confirm the rate (they quote 1 cent below the market rate!) and they will transfer it for you.

We liked this way because the money is always being transferred into accounts with YOUR name on them not into some 'holding' account, which is what happens with some of these other transfer companies!

If you want the Lady's number send me a pm and let you have it!

We also have downloaded and filled in forms for accounts with Kiwibank, which we can use when we get there.

[diforsyth]

The following thread has some good information in it: -

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6865