There are countries in the world where forecasting the weather can be very difficult and one of them is New Zealand. New Zealand is a small country surrounded by oceans and a steep mountain range runs down its spine which is orientated in a southwest-northeast direction. By far, the most common natural hazard encountered in New Zealand is severe weather. It would be unwise to ignore weather warnings and avoid going into the outdoors unprepared especially if it is for an extended period of time like hiking. “Four seasons in a day” aptly describes New Zealand’s weather due to its changeability and unpredictability.
Tourists should likewise avoid doing anything that would catch the negative attention of the police. The police are free from corruption and bribes should not be offered to police officers unless one wants to make the situation worse. Offering a bribe is like inviting oneself for a tour of the New Zealand prison, court room and police cell.
Importation of even small quantities of food as well as unprocessed animal or plant materials is tightly controlled. New Zealand has very serious biosecurity laws especially since the economy is based on agriculture. Declaration of questionable items is the preferred option to avoid instant fines and severe police and customs questioning.
Visitors should avoid being put off on driving in New Zealand. The road rules are mostly the same as in Australia with driving done on the left-hand side of the road. However, driving requires the full concentration of the driver since the roads are usually two-way highways without center barriers to separate opposing traffic.
Speed limit is 50 km/hour around built-up urban areas, 70 km/hour in semi-residential/country areas and 100 km/hour on the open road. Traveling distances as seen on the map may not be truly representative of the actual distance. Travelers should avoid allowing only for the exact time and instead provide the proper time allowance.
Driving on rural roads requires extra care. Most of them have gravel verges that require slower driving and extra concentration to avoid accidents. Drivers should always keep an eye for cattle crossing the road because of the abundance of sheep and cows in the country. Central North Island roads and all South Island roads are especially slippery during winter.
When visiting New Zealand, one should be ready for the travel. Insufficient preparation should be avoided to ensure the convenience and comfort of one’s stay in the country. Some things that should be checked before leaving for New Zealand includes the validity of the passport, necessary authority to enter the country, accommodation arrangements, and validity of credit cards and other bank cards.
For one’s personal safety, rowdy bars or drunken crowds in city centers are best avoided especially late at night and in the early morning. Some criminal elements have started to target tourist in violent and/or sexual crimes thus looking like a tourist should be also avoided. It would be better to blend-in with the rest of the population instead of calling attention to oneself. It should also be remembered that New Zealanders lack a sense of humor when their country or their sporting teams are mocked by loud tourists.