New Zealand

Brief Fact File

Capital	Wellington
Currency	New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Language(s)	English (official), Maori (official)
Local time	GMT +12:00 Day Light Saving Time is + 1 hour
Telephone code	64
Major cities	Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton

Economy
New Zealand has emerged from an agrarian economy to a more industrialized free market economy that can compete globally. The country is heavily dependent on trade, especially agricultural products that contributes almost half of the country's exports. Total Exports of the country contributes to 20% of the GDP. The top three trade partners are Australia, the United States and Japan. Foreign direct investments (FDI) are very high, especially concerning banking and insurance sectors.

Major Exports:

• Dairy Products
  
• Wool
  
• Mutton & Lamb (40% of world-wide exports)
  
• Wood And Wood Products
  
• Fish, crustaceans and molluscs
  
• Mechanical machinery
  
• Fruit
  
• Aluminium and related articles

Major Imports:

• Machinery And Equipment
  
• Vehicles, parts & accessories and Aircraft
  
• Petroleum
  
• Electronics & electrical machinery
  
• Textiles and related articles
  
• Plastics and related articles

Business Practices

Business Dress

• Dress conservatively and tending toward a more formal look.
  
• Men should wear darker colored suits with a conservative tie. A white shirt would be preferable to maintain formality.
  
• Women should wear a suit, a dress, or skirt and blouse with a jacket.
  

Communication Guidelines

• Handshake while meeting as well as departing. The eye contact should be maintained during the handshake.
  
• Men usually wait for a woman to be the first to extend her hand for a handshake.
  
• When meeting someone, say "How do you do?" A more relaxed greeting, such as "Hello", is reserved for the meetings after one had the opportunity to get to know the person.
  
• They are reserved, but always very warm and polite when you meet them.
  
• Address a person using his/her title, or Mr., Mrs., Miss plus the full name.
  
• Honesty is the best policy. Do not hype one's product or service, and do not be a braggart.
  
• Be soft voiced.
  
• Politics, sports, and weather are good conversational topics, and may be hotly debated. In order to be a good conversationalist, stay informed on critical topics, particular "nuclear free" zone.
  
• Avoid confusing or comparing New Zealand with Australia, as they are two distinct countries.

Business Hour
8.00 am to 5.00 pm - Offices and Businesses (Monday to Friday)
9.00 am to 5.00 pm - Shops (On Thrusdays and Fridays until 9.00 pm)

Important Contacts

Associations / Ministries
Ministry of Economic Development
Government of New Zealand
3 Bowen Street, PO Box 1473
Wellington, New Zealand
Tel.: +(64)-(4)-4720030
Fax: +(64)-(4)-4734638
E-mail: info@moc.govt.nz

Indian Embassy / Counsulate

Embassy of India
180 Molesworth St.
P.O.B. 4045, Wellington
Tel: +(64)-(4)-4736390/1
Fax: +(64)-(4)-4990665
E-mail: hicomind@globe.co.nz

Visiting this Country

Business Visa Rules for New Zealand
Unless by terms of a treaty or visa waiver agreement between New Zealand and the foreign national's home country, the business visitor is required to obtain a visitors visa prior to entry. The visitors visa application for business purposes can be submitted to the New Zealand consular office with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of usual residence.

Allowable Activities as a Business Visitor
The allowable activities of business visitors are limited to the following:

• To attend any business meetings or discussions.
  
• To attend any sales calls to potential client in the country.
  
• To attend any seminars or "fact-finding" meetings.

Maximum Period of Stay as a Business Visitor

Usually, visitor visas for business purposes are granted for the maximum period of three months at a time. A business visitor may only remain in New Zealand as the holder of a business visitor permit for a maximum of three months in any of the 12- month period. It is possible to apply for a work permit and visa once in New Zealand as the holder of a visitor's permit.

Special Note regarding Short-Term, Technical Activities

There is no specific visa category to cover short-term, technical activities; so, it is best to confirm if these activities require a work permit and visa prior to departure to New Zealand.

Basic Requirements to Apply for a Visitors Visa for Business Purposes

The following requirements for business visitors are subject to change or modification:

• The applicant must have a residence and an employer outside New Zealand
  
• The applicant must be traveling to New Zealand for a defined, limited period and have pre-determined plans
  
• The applicant must not receive any compensation from sources within New Zealand; and,
  
• The applicant's period of intended stay must be consistent with the intended purpose of the trip.

Public Holidays

Festival	Date	Detail
New Year's Day	January 1	The following Monday if it falls on a weekend
Day after New Year's Day	January 2	The following Monday or Tuesday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday
Waitangi Day	February 6	The day the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Also known as New Zealand Day
Easter - Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday
ANZAC Day	April 25	Also Australia
Queen's Birthday	First Monday in June
Labour Day	Fourth Monday in October
Christmas Day	December 25	The following Monday if it falls on a weekend
Boxing Day	December 26	The following Monday or Tuesday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday

Travel Tips

• In New Zealand, tipping is optional. If the service received is exceptional, add 5-10% while paying the bill in a restaurant. Service charges and taxes are not included in hotel and restaurant bills.
  
• Departure tax includes NZ$25, depending on the airport, plus NZ$5 as security tax. Children under 12 are exempted, except at Wellington airport, where exemption is only for below 2 years. Above 2 to 11 years are charged NZ$10. Transit passengers are exempt for 24 hours.
  
• It is recommended to arrange travel insurance that includes also accidents.
  
• No vaccination certificates are required to enter New Zealand.
  
• Carry or purchase on arrival insect repellent for mosquitoes and sunscreen for the strong sunrays, if the trip is in summer.
  
• Carry doctor's certificate along with the medication, if it is in quantity, to avoid problems with Customs.
  
• Electricity is of 230/240 volts and 50 hertz. Most motels provide 110 volt AC sockets for electric razors only.
  
• New Zealand is a left hand drive country.
  
• Passenger above 17 years of age can carry without incurring customs duty, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco or a mixture of all three weighing no more than 250g; 4.5l of wine or beer; 1.125l or 40oz of spirits or liqueurs; goods to a total value of NZ$700.