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Banks in NZ are more convenient than our counterparts. You can withdraw at any ATM free of charge around the clock. (Some ATMs accept the certain bank cards only though.) Being different from Japanese banks, you can have your own check book even not for business purpose. Locals often pay by checks while they just get groceries at the supermarket. When you use checks, fill the date, the amount of money you'll pay and the recipient's name in the certain sections. Don't forget to fill these on your stub. Then sign it. |
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The system that we can pay by bank card at shops has introduced at
last in Japan. But this is too common in other countries. This system is called EFTPOS in NZ. The most notable thing about EFTPOS is that you can withdraw some cash from your own account at anywhere signed "EFTPOS" such as supermarket, petrol station. Cashiers even may ask you "Any cash?". As you won't miss the petrol station even in a remote small town, you don't need to worry about money while traveling around NZ. If you also have "check book", you will feel perfectly secure. |
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Kiwi is generally friendly, not to mention cashiers at supermarkets. A cashier, at first, greets you "Hello, how are you?" with a good smile. If he or she recognizes you as a foreign traveler, he or she may ask you "How's NZ?" or "Where're you from?" When the payment is done, "Have a nice day!" will be added. If the customer is a local, the cashier is busier. Since local customers themselves also talk to cashiers friendly, cashiers can't stop talking, smiling, operating the register, accepting checks and withdrawing money from EFTPOS. Of course, they have to stand up all the way. Once the customer is done, the whole process will start all over again for the next customer. I wanna applaud them! |
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Express lanes at supermarket are not common in Japan. If you buy just
a handful of items and pay by cash or Eftpos, you can go to the express
lane. Usually, Kiwis go shopping by car and buy groceries and daily needs in bulk once or twice a week. So, most shopping carts are heaped up. Plus, many people pay by check. You have to wait your turn for ages at usual lanes. If you on the road, you don't need to buy in bulk, you don't need to pay by check either. Then, why don't you use express lanes? |
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You don't need to buy large quantity of food on the road. Fortunately,
you can buy various groceries in tiny quantity not to mention veggies and
fruits at some supermarkets. The place you should go is a bulk food corner. The most common things are sweets for kids. The most useful things available there for travelers may be flours. You just want a table spoonful of corn flour to thicken your stew. You just want a half cup of plain flour to cook your meuniere. At the bulk corner, you can buy them as much as you want. Also, you can try various cereals and dry fruits in small quantity before you find your favorite ones. You'll leave tomorrow morning but you want some pasta or rice for today's dinner? You know where to go! |
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In NZ, you can find secondhand shops everywhere. Especially at the thrift shops such as Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul, you can find something cheap from used clothes, books, tableware to household appliances. Kiwi often buy children's clothes there and leave them for shops again when children grow up. Jerseys are available at $2 at the cheapest. It will be around $5 even at the thrift shops in larger cities. You can find brand-new items and lots of 100% woolen jerseys too. These are not the typical souvenir jerseys which you might hesitate to wear in daily life. Thrift shops are good for backpackers too. You may realize the coldness in the mid-summer when you arrive NZ. Then go to thrift shop and get a warm jersey or a jacket! If you get a favorite one, just keep it as a souvenir for yourself. If not, donate it for the shops in somewhere before you leave NZ. If you are thinking to stay at the motor camp, you need minimum tableware and kitchen utensils such as small pans and dish cloth (while YH and BACKPACKERS provide everything.) Therefore you'd better get these things at larger thrift shops in Auckland and Christchurch where you are supposed to start the trip. Of course, motor camps will offer these goods, but you have to pay for them day by day. |
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These are the routine events in weekends. Check the CLASSIFIED on Friday. You can find everything from furniture to crafts. You may find good souvenirs. Even travelers shouldn't miss these events, much less residents. Residents can have your own garage sale when you leave NZ. |
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Japanese convenience shops may be more convenient than dairy shops
in NZ. However, dairy shops are still very convenient. Even in a small
village, you may find a small dairy shop in which groceries, daily necessities,
newspapers, LOTTO etc are sold. They are open from early morning to late
evening even on Sunday. If you need something immediately, just go to dairy
shops! Children love dairy shops as well because ice creams and ice candies are available there. |
