Fast Facts For Business Traveller

Airport

Christchurch International Airport is situated approximately 5kms from the University of Canterbury and 10 kms from the city centre. Christchurch is well served by domestic air connections and regular flights to the east coast of Australia. Several major international airlines give good access to Christchurch.

Visas

All visitors to New Zealand require a valid passport. A number of countries have reciprocal arrangements whereby a visa is not required for visits shorter than three months. Please check your own circumstances and, where necessary, apply for a visa at least three months prior to your departure. IUPAC sponsorship implies that entry visas will be granted to all bona fide chemists provided application is made not less than three months in advance. If a visa is not granted one month before the meeting the IUPAC Secretariat should be notified without delay by the applicant. Email: secretariat@iupac.org

Currency
New Zealand dollar.

Credit Cards

All major credit cards are welcomed by most hotels, restaurants, shops, car rental companies and tour operators. Provided they are encoded with a PIN, international credit cards may be used to withdraw cash from automatic teller machines which are widely available in shopping centres and malls.

Useful Numbers

The phone code to NZ is 64, the area code for Christchurch is 03, from abroad you would dial +64 3 , then the number. All local calls are free, cheap rates apply after 6 p.m. until 8 a.m., and all weekend. The operator's phone number is 010, directory enquiries is 018 and the emergency number is 111.

Electricity

New Zealand uses a 240 volt 50 HZ system with 3 pin flat plugs. Adaptors for USA and European plugs are readily available. 

Health Risks

Although there are no snakes or dangerous animals in New Zealand, you should be aware of the following:

Sandflies – in wetter areas, particularly in Fiordland, sandflies can be pests, but are effectively controlled by use of an insect repellent.

Sunburn – New Zealand’s clear, unpolluted atmosphere and relatively low latitudes produce sunlight stronger than much of Europe and North America, so be prepared to wear hats and sun block if you plan to be out in the sun for more than 15-20 minutes.

Giardia – Giardia is a waterborne parasite that causes diarrhoea. To avoid contracting it, water from lakes, ponds or rivers must be boiled before drinking

Time Zone
In the summer months, New Zealand time is 13 hours ahead of GMT.  

Business Hours
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Late night for shopping is either Thursday or Friday. Most shops open Saturday morning, with some shops and markets remaining open all week-end, in certain resorts and city centres.

Holidays
2007
Jan 1-2 - New Year.
Feb 6 - Waitangi Day.
Apr 6-9 - Easter.
Apr 25 - ANZAC Day.
Jun 16 - Queen’s Birthday.
Retail stores in New Zealand are open 7 days a week in the suburban shopping malls, however are closed on Good Friday, Anzac Day & Christmas Day.

Climate
Warm in the summer, but cooler than the North Island. High temperatures in the day range between 70 and 80 degrees.

Clothing
Clothing is very casual in New Zealand with very few restaurants demanding jackets and tie. New Zealand is famous for it's wool and has wonderful knitwear including a possum/merino mix. There are many good quality local brands of clothing available in the shops.

Exports
Dairy Products, Fish, Fruit and Vegetables, Hides and Skins, Meat, Timber Products, Wood Pulp and Paper, Wool.

Trading Partners
Its main trading partners are Australia, the UK, Japan and the USA Industries Christchurch leads New Zealand in electronics, telecommunications and software development. It also has proven capability in biotechnology, food processing and numerous niche manufacturing and engineering industries. Canterbury plains has also led to a wider variety of more intensive land uses, such as horticulture, viticulture, floriculture, seed and tuber production and dairying. Potential productivity increases from water enhancement projects are enormous.

Government
liberal democracy(federal parliamentary state).

Geography
Located on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, Christchurch - just like the rest of New Zealand - is a city of contrasts.Christchurch is perfect as a pleasant jumping-off point for the mountains, ocean beaches, rivers, lakes and wide-open spaces less than an hour from the city centre. But Christchurch is more than just a springboard.

Population
320,000

Ethnic Groups
(1996 Census)
European: 258,381 (84%) NZ Maori: 21,462 (7%) Pacific Island: 5,979 (2%) Asian: 12,597(4%) Other: 1,356 (0%) Not Specified: 9,258 (3%)

Languages
Some Maori is spoken, as well.

Literacy
99%

Religion
Mostly Christians which account for 81% of the population and are mostly Protestant. Other Christian minorities include Roman Catholics, Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians.