Heal

We plan to come to Nelson in Feb
I Know you can set up bank accounts before you arrive but can't use them until you arrive in New Zealand, what about credit cards.We plan to travel stopping off in LA for a week to break the journey up but will need a credit card for car hire etc.
We wanted to close all our uk accounts before leaving,is it possible to get a New Zealand credit card before setting off.
What have other people done in the past.
Also we'll probably need cc for car hire in Nelson whilst looking to buy a car.
Thanks Brian/Tracey.

P2L

Hiya Heal

We used our UK ones to get us here and then settled the bill online from this end.
HTH

Heal

Looks like thats the best option ,we would have liked to have tied up all loose ends while over here.
Are there any banks you would recommend.
Thanks

P2L

Nationwide don't charge for overseas transactions on their Flex accounts, we're still using ours as money still in the UK till the exchange rate picks up.

Heal

Good luck the rate seems to be sinking each day, whats the feeling over there regarding what rate would be reasonable to exchange.

happynz

I recently went to the States for three months to shake the money tree. However, what with the diving US dollar and the rocketing New Zealand dollar, my money tree isn't looking so good.

The Bank Governor Alan Bollard (known as A Bollocks to exporters here, I imagine) looks set to raise the interest rates again thereby queering the exchange rate further.

P2L

Just the talk of it apparently pushed the NZD up to 80c overnight. It's 2.56NZD to the £ this morning down 2c on yesterday.

nelsonpom

Hi guys,
we struggled to get a credit card here until we had been here 6 months. Bank was no problem and getting mortgage so easy it was laughable.
Have you already visited Nelson ?

minky

We have still kept our uk credit cards and pay online whenever I use them

garryhg

hi jacky g here
we found bank accounts and that no problem,transfering money no problem,we used asb bank.credit card no problem,but they wont set a limit for us to use it until oh salary starts going in bank.which is fair enough.but opened bank accounts over internet before we moved out,when we arrived went into bank and you get your efpos card there and then with your pin number.no waiting 10 days like scotland.

Elsie03

Hi Jacky G

Did you apply for NZ credit card whilst still in UK?

garryhg

hi jacky g here
yes we did the said they were agreed but couldnt issue these until oh wages started going in the bank,the credit amount depended on how much he earned.but bank was great .think you will have to use uk cards till you get out here.weve kept our uk bank accounts open,not transfering everything over yet,we can use cashlines over here to withdraw money from our british bank accounts,for a charge of course but its handy.family back home can put money in for kids birthdays christmass etc and we just withdraw it from here and let the kids buy themselves something.probably as cheap as postage of parcels.

Heal

Not actually been to Nelson yet ,is there anything about the area you may think we need to know good or bad.
We've researched the area probably as much as we can without visiting and spoke to many people.
Since we've been looking which is just over a year now looking at areas in Australia and New Zealand we instantly became drawn to this area.
Hope we're making the right decision are main thoughts are will there be enough work(Carpenter/Joiner) and our little boys future,and of course snowboarding,horseriding,mountain biking.
Any info would be much appreciated.

happynz

I think if those are your desires I think the Nelson area will likely work out for you.

nelsonpom

We both love Nelson and everything it has to offer. Can't imagine you you will have any problem workwise as Nelson like most of NZ is rapidly growing and all trades are needed.
Weather is pretty fantastic here and we are only about an hour from snow fields in winter. Lots to do for children (or so I'm told). We moved here in Dec 06 after living in Wellington for a year and it was def right for us.
Any think you specifically want to know about Nelson fire away.