Keeping in touch with home

Email and internet

If you have access to a computer and want to use the internet for emailing or research, you need to sign up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

There are a variety of prices, paying schemes and speeds offered by the different ISPs. Internet providers usually charge per hour or offer a flat rate amount for the month.

For a list of ISPs, their contact details and prices go to www.netguide.co.nz.

Large education providers, and some smaller ones, have computers for students to use for internet and email.

There are cyber/Internet cafés in most towns and cities, where you can pay to use the Internet (approximately $1 per 15 minutes).

Many public libraries also provide email and Internet services.

Connecting a laptop
To connect a laptop computer to the Internet via the phone line in New Zealand, you will need a RJ45 type plug.

To connect your computer to the power supply, you will need an adapter with a flat two or three-point power plug.

The normal power supply is 230 volts 50 hertz alternating current (AC). The wall plugs are the Australian/New Zealand three pin type, as shown here:

Postal letters/mail

New Zealand Post, the main postal company, has a very efficient local and international posting system.

You can buy stamps at New Zealand Post shops, some dairies (small, local convenience stores), bookshops and petrol stations.

For most postal services, the world is divided into zones with costs and delivery times varying from zone to zone.

For letters, there are two options – International Air or International Economy. International Air is a faster service but International Economy is cheaper.

There are three options for parcels: International Express (the quickest service), International Air (slightly cheaper but still very fast), International Economy (slower but much cheaper).

For more information about New Zealand Post services, phone free on 0800 501 501 or go to www.nzpost.co.nz.

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Telecommunications

Making international calls
To make an international phone call from New Zealand, dial the numbers in this order:

1. international access code
2. country code
3. area code (without zero)
4. local number.

Below are some international calling codes. For a full list, go to www.countrycallingcodes.com.

Argentina	0054
Australia	0061
Bahrain	00973
Bhutan	00975
Brazil	0055
Brunei	00673
Canada	001
Chile	0056
China	0086
India	0091
Japan	0081
Oman	00968
Paraguay	00595
Qatar	00974
South Korea	0082
United Arab Emirates	00976
USA	001

Remember that the time in New Zealand will be different for your home country. Make sure family and friends who wish to phone you are aware of this.

In New Zealand, the acceptable time for calling someone at their home is usually between 8.00am– 9.00pm on weekdays and 9.30am–9.30pm during the weekend.

Public phones
Most public phones take prepaid phone cards, purchased from dairies and newsagents(small kiosks that sell magazines), with a minimum value of NZ$5. Some also accept credit cards, and a few accept coins.

Home phones
There are two main companies in New Zealand that supply home phone line connections: Telecom and Telstraclear. They offer varying rates for national and international calls, though all local calls (calls within the same area code) are free for both companies.

It can be very expensive to call another country from a home phone. It is cheaper to use prepaid international phone cards (see below).

Toll bars
Some houses have a “toll bar” on the phone which means you can’t make any non-local calls, or you must enter a PIN before making a toll call.

Prepaid international phone cards
Prepaid international phone cards are available at dairies, petrol stations and newsagents. They are economical and popular. They allow you to call anywhere in New Zealand or the world, from any phone, by following the instructions on the card. When you’ve spent the value of the card, you just buy another card. These cards are available in a range of denominations, starting from NZ$10.

Mobile phones (cellular phones)
Using a mobile phone (cellular phone) for making calls or sending text messages is very popular. You can buy a prepay phone card or set up an account with Vodafone (GSM 900 and GSM 1800) or Telecom (CDMA) in New Zealand. Be sure to read the agreement if you set up an account because most will be for a minimum of one or two years.

The prepay system for mobile phones involves loading credit on your phone before using it. You can put credit on your phone by either using your credit card or buying a “prepay card” from magazine shops, dairies, supermarkets, petrol stations and other designated sellers or over the internet with a credit card. The cellular phone prepay cards come in a variety of denominations, starting from NZ$20. There is no minimum amount you must spend each month with a prepay phone.

In New Zealand, you do not pay for calls you receive on your mobile, but you do pay for calls you make.

Setting up a mobile phone account
If you set up an account, you pay a set fee every month which entitles you to a certain number of “free” calls and messages. Any additional messages or calls you make will be charged at the end of the month when a bill will be sent to you.

To set up a mobile phone account you will need two forms of ID (including one that has your photo on it), you must be over 18 years old and have a valid Student Visa. You may have to pay a security deposit of about NZ$250. If you are in New Zealand for a short time you may want to hire a phone. This can be done at the airport when you arrive.

If you already have a mobile phone
It is highly unlikely that mobile phones purchased in your home country will be compatible with the New Zealand mobile networks due to the heavily customised nature of phone systems.

If you possess a GSM phone and it is compatible with the New Zealand mobile network, to get it to work you will need a SIM card from Vodafone. You can either buy a prepaid SIM card from any Vodafone store for around NZ$35, or set up an account. SIM cards are not available from Telecom. You will need to make sure that your phone has not been locked before you leave your country. If you have not purchased your phone directly from a New Zealand network operator, you may find that some of your phone’s features do not function as they should.