Useful tips and Links
Trust us, we've been there and we know all of the walls you'll hit and how to avoid them.
We realise how much there is to think about and how much could potentially be overlooked so we've compiled a list of tips to help you through the details.
References
Bring Landlord, personal and job references with you – these all help securing properties and jobs faster than having to wait for them to come through from the UK.
Mobile Telephone
If you have a T-Mobile phone, you cannot simply buy a replacement SIM Card, you need to have your phone unlocked by T-Mobile beforehand. Vodafone however do operate in NZ and you can simply purchase a new SIM Card.
Money Transfer
Use currency traders such as HIFX in the UK – you get a much better rate and lower fees than the banks.
Dog and Cat Shipping
Definitely bring your pets, ours love it and suffered no ill effects despite their old age. The hardest part is arranging the blood tests in the UK as these have to be carried out in strict timescales. Once your pets are in NZ there is nothing to do aside from register your dog with the Council and re-register their micro-chips with the NZ register (via your NZ vet).
Electrical Items
We are advised not to bring anything, but we brought our DVD Player, Computer, Stereo, Telephones, Iron, Vacuum Cleaner, Microwave etc. – these all work fine, and just needed a NZ plug. We sold our new fridge/freezer in the UK, on reflection we had space in the container and should have brought it with us. Digital radios do not work in NZ.
Furniture
We brought all our furniture – leather settee, beds, wardrobes – highly recommended as there is more choice, many items are cheaper and better designs in the UK than NZ.
Bikes, Plastic Garden Furniture, Garden Tools
We were advised by an international moving company to bring none of these, however our local UK agent told us the opposite. We brought 5 bikes, plastic garden furniture, garden fork, spade, rake, shears etc., which were all in good, very clean condition – we did not have a problem bringing these items.
Wine & Beer
You are allowed to bring small quantities/ private collections without incurring excise duty. We brought around 100 bottled beers in our container at no additional cost.