New Zealand - Country Information

Film Commissions

Film New Zealand
Tel: 4 385 0766 Fax: 4 384 5840
E-mail: info@filmnz.org.nz
Website: www.filmnz.com
Chief Executive Officer: Judith McCann

Permits
If you do not hold a New Zealand or Australian passport you will require a work visa. Information on work visa requirements and the application process are available from the New Zealand Immigration Service website www.immigration.govt.nz. Your New Zealand line producer or production service company can facilitate this process directly from New Zealand; this includes obtaining any non-objection letters that may be required from the relevant guilds. Work visas are not required for location scouting.

Tax breaks/incentives
New Zealand had no sales, regional or state taxes. GST is 12.5%. Large budget screen production grants offer a specific incentive for film and television productions spending a minimum of NZ$15m. Further information on relevant tax regulations including withholding tax, incentives and overall financial benefits available can be found on the Film New Zealand website www.filmnz.com.

Recent Productions
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Last Samurai, Without a Paddle, King Kong, River Queen, The World's Fastest Indian, The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Bridge to Terabithia, 10,000 BC.

General Information

Location: South Pacific
Local Time: New Zealand (excluding Chatham Island):
From 06 Apr 08 to 28 Sep 08 GMT +12
From 28 Sep 08 to 05 Apr 09 GMT +13
From 05 Apr 09 to 27 Sep 09 GMT +12
From 27 Sep 09 to 04 Apr 10 GMT +13
Chatham Island:
From 06 Apr 08 to 28 Sep 08 GMT +12
From 28 Sep 08 to 05 Apr 09 GMT +13
From 05 Apr 09 to 27 Sep 09 GMT +12
From 27 Sep 09 to 04 Apr 10 GMT +13
Capital City: Wellington
Population:
Area: square km, square miles.
Language(s): English, Maori
Dialling Code: 64
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 111
Directory Enquiries: 18
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit or UK licence required which is valid for 1 year
Electricity: 230V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: NZD: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
Coins: NZD: 1, 2. Cents: 5, 10, 20, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1630 Mon-Fri
Office: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1730 (some local arrangements & Sun opening)

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1-2 New Year, Feb 6 Waitangi Day, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, Apr 25 ANZAC Day, Jun 2 Queen's Birthday, Oct 27 Labour Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day.
* Holidays falling on Sat/Sun are observed on the following Mon, except ANZAC Day & Waitangi Day.
** Various provincial based holidays are also observed

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in English, not many executives speak a second language. Smoking is no longer permitted in any public place. On social occasions be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: Service charges are not applied, tips are not necessary

Health

Reciprocal health: A reciprocal health agreement for medical treatment exists with the United Kingdom. In order to obtain treatment some proof of United Kingdom residence such as a UK passport will be required. Further details are available from www.dh.gov.uk.

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Hepatitis B*
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks:

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Restrictions: Holders of the following travel documents are not recognised: Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Kuwait Article 17 passports, Maori Kingdom of Teteti Islands, Transkei, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET), Venda, World Service Authority & holders of certain passports issued in former USSR, Kiribati Investors passports, Naurn Investors passports, Slovenian Collective passports, Somalian passports/travel documents, Tongan Protected Persons passports, Serbia & Montenegro Collective passports

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of a Certificate of Identity in a form approved by the New Zealand Minister of Immigration

Passport Validity: Passports & other travel documents must be valid 3 months beyond intended length of stay or valid for 1 month if passport can be extended at a consulate in New Zealand

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Citizens of New Zealand including persons born in the Cook Islands, Niue & Tokelau Island
2) Citizens of Australia & other nationals holding a current Australian resident return visa
3) For tourist visits up to 6 months by British Citizens & other British passport holders who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom
4) For tourist visits up to 3 months by citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam,Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (residents travelling on S.A.R. or British National (Overseas) passports only), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal (applicable if holder has right of entry to Portugal for permanent residence), Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States (including nationals of US), Uruguay & Vatican City
5) For tourist visits up to 3 months by citizens of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania unless travelling on alien's (non citizen's) passport issued by these countries

Notes: Visitors exempt from a tourist visa will be issued with a visitors permit on arrival valid for up to 3 months

Air Transit

Notes: Required by all

Exit Permits

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets, documents for entry to a country in which they have a right of entry within the times as specified above, unless they apply for & are granted a further permit in New Zealand & sufficient funds for length of stay (minimum NZD 1,000 per person per month)

Climate

Maritime climate with changeable weather throughout the year. The far north of North Island has an almost subtropical climate with mild winters and warm humid summers, the rest of the island is slightly cooler. South Island has somewhat lower temperatures throughout the year and is therefore more temperate. The New Zealand Alps are snow covered throughout the year and there are extensive snowfields and glaciers

Clothing

Light to mediumweights for summer, mediumweights with topcoat for winter. Warmer attire advised for mountainous areas. Rainwear required all year round

Charts for Auckland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 23 23 22 19 17 14 13 14 16 17 19 21 Min Temp (C) 16 16 15 13 11 9 8 8 9 11 12 14 Humidity am (%) 71 72 74 78 80 83 84 80 76 74 71 70 Humidity pm (%) 62 61 65 69 70 73 74 70 68 66 64 64 Rainfall (mm) 79 94 81 97 127 137 145 117 102 102 89 79

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Charts for Christchurch

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 21 21 19 17 13 11 10 11 14 17 19 21 Min Temp (C) 12 12 10 7 4 2 2 2 4 7 8 11 Humidity am (%) 65 71 75 82 85 87 87 81 72 63 64 67 Humidity pm (%) 59 60 69 71 69 72 76 66 69 60 64 60 Rainfall (mm) 56 43 48 48 66 66 69 48 46 43 48 56

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Tourism New Zealand
New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket
London, SW1Y 4TQ
tel: +44 20 7930 1662
fax: +44 20 7839 8929
website: www.newzealand.com
www.tourisminfo.govt.nz

Embassy
Immigration New Zealand
Mezzanine Floor, New Zealand House
80 Haymarket
London, SW1Y 4TE
tel: +44 0906 910 0100* (visa enq)
fax: +44 20 7973 0370
website: www.immigration.govt.nz
hours: 1000-1545 (Mon-Fri)
* calls cost 1 per minute