Practical Information

The official languages in New Zealand are English and Te Reo Māori.

New Zealand uses the New Zealand dollar.

Currency exchange services are available at the airport, in the city centre and at most banks and malls. ATMs are widely available throughout Auckland. Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and shops. Contactless payments (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay) are also common. Cash is less frequently used.

The time zone for New Zealand is New Zealand Daylight Time (GMT +13).

At the start of December, Auckland is increasingly sunny. Average daytime temperatures rise to around 20.3°C (68.5°F) and drop overnight to around 15.5°C (59.9°F). Rainfall for the month is moderate, with around 57mm (2.24 inches) of rain in total in December. Sunrise is at around 6 am, and sunset is at around 8:30 pm. Despite some rain, December is generally considered good weather for visiting Auckland.

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and most ethnically diverse city, and is home to a third of the population.  The city has more than 165 ethnicities and roughly 40% of the population are born overseas. Auckland is also the largest Pasifika city in the world. Culturally, the city mixes New Zealand’s laidback attitude with city hustle. Auckland has over 100 art galleries and 15 museums. It also has a wide range of performing arts activities, including comedy, theatre, and live music.

Auckland has a wide range of sporting activities to participate in or watch. Rugby Union is the most influential sport both culturally and historically. The All Blacks are our national team, and the Auckland Blues are our city team.  Eden Park in Mount Eden is the location for many rugby games. Other sports are also popular, and Eden Park hosts cricket, soccer and rugby league matches.  The city also has over 80 beaches within its city limits, and activities such as sailing and kayaking are available for hire.

Auckland is well known for its wide variety of restaurants and cafes. Popular destinations for restaurants include the Viaduct, Ponsonby and Parnell.  Auckland is known for its Māori and Pacific influence in fine dining, as well as Asian fusion food. Māori cuisine can be tried at Ahi in Commercial Bay and Kingi in Britomart. A standout for Pacific cuisine is Tala in Parnell, which offers a contemporary Samoan tasting menu. Hello Beasty in the Viaduct is well known for Asian fusion, KAZUYA in Eden Terrace is known for its French and Japanese influences, and Ghost Street in Britomart is known for its modern Sichuan cuisine.  If you are on the hunt for cheaper meals, Elliott Stables in central Auckland (near the Sky Tower) is known for its cheap eats – including restaurants like Lucky 8, Bao Baby Bao, and LePak.

Tipping is not standard practice in New Zealand, but is often appreciated in hospitality settings.

Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is banned in all enclosed public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and public transport. Designated outdoor smoking areas are available.

- Country Code: +64 - Auckland Area Code: 09 - To call an Auckland number internationally: dial +64 9 xxxx xxxx - For local calls within Auckland: dial 09 xxxx xxxx

Auckland CBD has a good range of shops Queen Street, High Street, Britomart, and Commercial Bay.  Queen Street features luxury brands like Gucci, Prada and Dior, while High Street showcases local designers such as Karen Walker and Workshop.  Britomart blends fashion, dining, and culture, and Commercial Bay offers waterfront retail with high-end labels. Shops typically open 09:00–17:00 weekdays, 09:00–17:00 Saturday, and 10:00–17:00 Sunday.

Dial 111 for police, fire and emergency.

Auckland is considered one of the safest cities in the world for visitors, benefiting from New Zealand’s overall reputation as a highly secure destination. The city scores 85 out of 100 on the Travel Safe Abroad safety index (as of January 2026), with risks like pickpocketing and theft being low and mugging or violent crime extremely rare.  As with any major city, it is a good idea to stick to well lit areas at night and be mindful of your belongings. Find more about travel safety in Auckland here: https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/new-zealand/auckland/

New Zealand uses Type I plugs, which have three flat pins in a triangular pattern—two angled and one straight pin.  This is the same plug type used in Australia, China, and Argentina.   Voltage and Frequency: The standard voltage is 230V (240V) at a frequency of 50Hz.  This matches the electrical systems in Europe, Australia, and much of Asia, so travellers from these regions generally only need a plug adapter. Electric buses (such as the NX1) have USB charging ports. Some bus stops downtown have solar-charged ’SmartBeam’ benches providing USB ports.