Moving to & Living in

New Zealand

**The (real) Guide:**

Mailboxes

“If you are going to come and live on the other side of the world then you need to know about everything. Including how the New Zealander’s decorate their driveway!

Let’s talk about a quirky kiwi craze!“

Maybe it will be different if you are coming to New Zealand from the US, but where I lived (in the UK) post boxes were not a thing!

Letters were pushed through a slit in the front door and parcels were left on the doorstep or outside the shed!

You are going to LOVE the New Zealand mailboxes – if ever you are on a long car drive with the kids then play the game ‘who can find the most unusual mailbox’ – the hours will fly!

FAQ About New Zealand Mail

How often is the mail delivered in New Zealand?

Mail is delivered once a day, 6 days a week. Monday – Saturday.

How long does it take for a parcel to arrive from overseas?

I have had family send things over from the Uk and it only takes 5 days but other times I can still be waiting after 10 days!

It really does depend on the time of year and from which company you are ordering from.

In general, when you order something from America, (Amazon for example) you should allow up to two weeks for delivery.

Sending items around New Zealand is great. You can use NZ courier post to send an item from one end of the country to the other and it is delivered the next day.

How do the posties get around in New Zealand?

In towns and cities, the posties (as they are affectionately named in New Zealand) use their electric bikes and scooters.

The last couple of years has seen the posties delivering the mail via a road registered vehicle called a Paxter.

This electric vehicle looks like a cross between a giant fisher price toy and a snail (but it’s not as slow as a snail – it gets up to 45 kph!).

Be careful! Posties in New Zealand ride their bikes, scooters and paxters on the footpaths!

In rural areas, you will soon come to love the sight of the red postie vans with the flashing orange lights! Again though, be warned, when driving behind them they can suddenly swerve across the road to get to a postbox!

If this happens don’t you dare beep your horn at the postie! this is almost considered a crime in rural New Zealand!

Recommended Services

*Please note we are proud affiliates for the following companies. This means if you choose to use their services, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Immigration Services:

We cannot give immigration advice, but if you are serious about moving to New Zealand and would like to know what visas you could apply for, then we recommend New Zealand Shores. Take their FREE Eligibility quiz here to see if New Zealand could be your new home!

Currency Transfer:

If you are looking for a money-saving currency solution in a volatile market where trust and transparency count, then this is the only company that we (and hundreds of our private NZ Ahead members) recommend. Click below for the best rates and a no-cost chat. We’ve done the homework for you! These guys are the best: https://itsadrama.com/torfx

Pet Relocation:

There is only one company we recommend when it comes to pet relocation, and that is Starwood Pet Travel. We have had many, many super recommendations for this company, and we couldn’t be happier with them.

For members of our community who have not signed up with a pet transportation company, Starwood is proud to give new customers one free Pet Protection Plan for your pet’s upcoming move to New Zealand.
This is a $400 value and will cover unexpected travel-related expenses for your pet’s journey.
Remember to mention this promo when you speak to a Starwood Team Member.

Click the link below, and don’t forget to mention Liz and Brian @ NZ Ahead or It’s a Drama Podcast! https://itsadrama.com/starwood-pet-travel

Hiring a car/motorhome in New Zealand:

🚗 Looking for the best DEALS on car hire? We use love and trust Discover Cars.
After too many years of scrolling through car hire deals only to get to the checkout page and be hit with a ton of upsells, we now go straight to Discover Cars. Brian refuses to use anyone else. Get a free instant quote here

Travel insurance:

⛑️ Looking for the BEST Travel Insurance? We love World Nomads. Over the years, we’ve made three claims (sorry, guys), and each time the service has been superb. Get a free instant quote here

If you are travelling for longer (a few months) and are looking for the best insurance, then we recommend the Safety Wing Insurance. They offer a monthly subscription insurance for travellers. Brian and I use them when we travel long-term, and they have been superb.

Housesitting

🏡 Housesitting has saved our family of four THOUSANDS. If you want to join us in using TrustedHousesitters to travel the world (New Zealand is one of the easiest places to find housesits), use our exclusive discount code to get a WHOPPING 25% off HOUSESITTING yearly membership.
It’s cheaper than one night’s stay in an Airbnb:

I wrote this post Housesitting in New Zealand to let you know more: