Kia Ora ! Welcome to New Zealand also known as Aotearoa, the "Land Beneath the Long White Cloud" ! You could come to New Zealand for a hundred holidays and have a totally different experience each time. This will weave a spell on you and leave you enchanted. This is New Zealand.

New Zealand is a South Pacific country with spectacularly beautiful landscape, located midway between the Equator and the South Pole, and is approximately 1600 kilometres east of Australia. The island of New Zealand split off from Gondwanaland approx. 50 million years ago and has since been vigorously shaped by earth's mantle. New Zealand was first discovered about 1000 years ago by the great Polynesian navigator Kupe who sailed here from his homeland Hawaiki. He named the islands Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud. Kupe returned to Hawaiki and left instruction on how to get here. In the legend, the South Island was Kupe's canoe. Stewart Island was its anchor and the North Island was the enormous fish caught by Kupe. About 400 years later Maori arrived back in Aotearoa with seven great canoes and began to populate the North Island. The Dutchman Abel Tasman landed in 1642, charted part of the coastline and named it Staten land, believing it was part of the Australian continent. When his mistake was discovered the country was renamed Nieuw Zeeland.

New Zealand is made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, and numerous smaller offshore islands. The total area is 268,680 sq. km (103,740 sq. miles. The coastline is 15,135 km (9,405 miles). It is the largest nation closest to the International dateline. Comparable in size and / or shape to Great Britain, Colorado and Japan, New Zealand has a population of only 4 million - making it one of the world's least crowded countries. English and Maori are the official languages, although English is the common language of everyday use. It is a haven for those seeking peace, rejuvenation and relaxation as well as a playground for thrill seekers and adventurers. A temperate climate with relatively small seasonal variation makes it a year-round holiday destination.

New Zealand is more than a holiday destination; it's a state of mind. The nation enjoys image as a clean and green land with magnificent mountains and waterways, steaming volcanoes, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests. There is much more to New Zealand than its natural beauty, this country is also a dynamic 21st century society with sophisticated cities, diverse economy and a vibrant arts and cultural life.

"If Oscars were awarded for location, New Zealand would scoop the lot," says Clive Irving of Conde Naste Traveller. From Hollywood to Bollywood New Zealand landscape is hauntingly evoked in over 150 feature films like Lord of the Rings, The Last Samurai, Perfect Strangers, Whale Rider, The Piano, Kaho Na Pyar Hai, Heaven, Vigil, Rain, Heavenly Creatures, Willow, The Rescue, The Returning etc. to name a few. Hollywood blockbuster "Vertical Limit" was made in New Zealand. TV series Hercules and Xena were also made here.

Getting to New Zealand
New Zealand is a 3.5 hour flight from Eastern Australia, a non-stop overnight flight from the United States, and around 10 hours flight from most places on the Pacific Rim, like Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Passports and Visas
Arrivals and Departures
New Zealand Visitor Information
Road Information and Climate
Health, Medical and Insurance

Time Differences
New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to see the new day, because the international date line lies to its east. It is 12 hours ahead of UCT (Universal Coordinated Time, formerly GMT - Greenwich Mean Time).

Subject to daylight saving, New Zealand is:

• 20 hours ahead of Los Angeles
• 17 hours ahead of New York
• 12 hours ahead of London
• 6.5 hours ahead of India
• 2 hours ahead of Sydney

Daylight Saving : In summer New Zealand has daylight saving, when clocks are put forward one hour to GMT+13. Daylight saving begins on the first Sunday in October and ends on the third Sunday of the following March, when clocks are put back to GMT+12.

Passports and Visas

Passports
All visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you intend to leave the country.

Visa Exemptions
You do not need a visa or permit to visit New Zealand if you are:

• A New Zealand citizen or Resident Permit holder
• An Australian citizen travelling on an Australian passport
• An Australian resident with a current Australian resident return visa
• If you are a citizen of a country which has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand

Visa Waivers
Currently travellers from more than 50 countries do not require a Visitor's Visa for stays less than three months. You do require:

• A passport that is valid for at least three months after your departure from New Zealand
• An onward or return ticket to a country that you have permission to enter
• Sufficient money to support yourself during your stay - approximately NZ$1000 per month per person

To find out if your country qualifies for a visa waiver, check out the Visiting New Zealand section of the New Zealand Immigration Service website. You'll find a list of all eligible countries and other useful visa information. Your travel agent, airline or nearest New Zealand Embassy will also be able to advise you if you require a visa.

British citizens and other British passport holders who have evidence of the right to live permanently in the UK may be allowed to stay for up to six months.

Visitor's Visa Applications
If your country is not on the visa waiver list or you wish to stay longer than three months you will need to apply for a Visitor's Visa. You can download application forms from the New Zealand Immigration Service website, or contact your nearest New Zealand Embassy.

Study and Work Visas
The New Zealand Immigration Service also has information on work, business or student visas. If you want to study in New Zealand, for more information and details check out the website New Zealand Education: The New World Class  

Immigration
If you're thinking about living permanently in New Zealand, read the Migration section of the New Zealand Immigration Service website. It contains a brief summary of immigration requirements and information on obtaining a residence application pack.

Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required to enter New Zealand.
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