Persephone

I think I'd leave the money where it is if she doesn't actually need it in NZ and you're only coming for a year. If she is planning on spending it in NZ then I'd change it into NZ$ - though read what jmh said about the exchange rate changing before she needs to spend it... Who knows where it will go!

I vaguely seem to remember looking into a GBP account over here when I was moving and the costs were not worth it at that time.