New Zealand (NZ)

Apply for an IRD number

You need an IRD number for salary, PAYE tax, KiwiSaver, bank interest, Working for Families, GST, company registration, and most serious financial administration.

Register your dog with the local council

Dogs must be registered with the council and comply with microchip, control, leash, dangerous dog, and local bylaw rules. Annual renewal dates and fees vary by council.

Enrol children in school or early learning

Children need school or early learning enrolment based on age, address zone, and domestic/international student status. School zones matter for popular state schools.

Complete provider enrolment and student visa compliance

International students must keep enrolment, attendance/progress, funds, insurance, address, and work-hour conditions aligned with their student visa.

Register a New Zealand birth and link family payments

Births in New Zealand must be registered. SmartStart can connect birth registration, IRD number, Best Start, paid parental leave, and other family tasks.

Complete a move-in property inspection with photos

Before unpacking, record every mark, stain, broken fitting, mould patch, appliance issue, and meter reading. Send the inspection report to the landlord or property manager in writing.

Get a New Zealand SIM or mobile plan

A local number helps with bank verification, landlord contact, RealMe/myIR security, GP enrolment, school contact, and job applications.

Update address with IRD, INZ, bank, insurer, GP, and employer

New Zealand has no German-style address registration, but agencies still expect current contact details. Official letters, tax messages, bank compliance, and immigration notices can be missed after a move.

Confirm public healthcare eligibility and keep bridge insurance

Publicly funded healthcare depends on citizenship, residence, Australian status, or eligible visa duration. ACC covers accidents, but not ordinary illness or repatriation.

Set up electricity and home broadband

Most rentals require you to choose your own electricity and internet providers. Fibre is common in towns and cities, but installation or activation can take time.

Open a New Zealand bank account

Salary, rent, utilities, and everyday transfers work best through a local account. Banks must verify identity, address, visa status, and tax residency.

Learn your council rubbish, recycling, glass, and food-scrap rules

Waste rules vary by council. Check collection day, bin colours, accepted plastics, glass rules, food scraps, hazardous waste, and bulky item disposal.

Set up myIR access and check your tax code

Create myIR access, check your employment tax code, add bank account details, and turn on secure notifications. This is the hub for PAYE, Working for Families, GST, student loans, and many tax messages.

Transfer prescriptions and medical records

Bring a medication list using generic names, recent specialist letters, vaccination records, and enough supply for the first weeks. Some medicines available overseas are restricted or differently funded in New Zealand.

Get contents insurance for your rental

Landlord insurance does not cover your belongings. Contents insurance can also include personal liability cover, temporary accommodation, and theft cover.

Set up local public transport card or app

Auckland uses AT HOP, Wellington uses Snapper/Metlink, and several regions use Bee Card. Set up the correct card, concessions, and auto top-up if commuting.

Register with your embassy or consulate if your country offers it

Some countries let citizens register overseas travel or residence for emergency alerts, passport support, evacuation information, and voting notices.

Create RealMe login and verify identity if needed

RealMe is used for many government services and some private checks. A verified identity can help with official online services, depending on your status and documents.

Enrol with a GP practice

GP enrolment gives continuity of care and lower fees if you are publicly funded. Many practices have closed books, so start calling early.

Register pets with a local vet

After MPI import clearance, establish a vet for vaccination records, parasite treatment, emergency care, and council dog requirements.

Set up automatic payments, bill references, and bank security alerts

Rent, utilities, insurance, subscriptions, school fees, and council charges often rely on automatic payments or account-number references. Set these up carefully and turn on transaction alerts so missed payments or fraud are noticed quickly.

Install NZ emergency, weather, and local council alert channels

New Zealand hazards include earthquakes, flooding, cyclones, tsunami zones, wildfire, road closures, and ferry cancellations. Set up local alert channels for your region rather than relying only on overseas news or generic weather apps.

Set up NZ Post delivery, parcel collection, and mail redirection if needed

Physical mail still matters for bank cards, IRD letters, immigration documents, school notices, insurance paperwork, and vehicle notices. If you move between temporary and permanent housing, mail redirection prevents important letters going missing.

Review your written employment agreement before starting

Every employee must have a written employment agreement. Check pay, hours, location, trial period, restraint clauses, overtime, deductions, leave, and visa-linked conditions.

Check your payslip, holiday pay, sick leave, and public holiday treatment

New Zealand payroll can be confusing for newcomers because annual holidays, sick leave, public holidays, alternative holidays, KiwiSaver deductions, PAYE, ACC earners levy, and student loan deductions may all appear differently from your home country.

Check 20 Hours ECE and childcare subsidy eligibility

Many 3-5 year olds can receive 20 Hours ECE at participating services, and lower-income families may qualify for extra childcare subsidy through Work and Income.

Request your free credit reports from New Zealand bureaus

New Zealand lenders, landlords, utilities, and phone providers may check credit history. You can request free reports from the main credit reporters and dispute incorrect identity, address, default, or enquiry records before they block applications.

Build a settlement cash buffer for bond, transport, and healthcare gaps

New Zealand setup costs often arrive together: rental bond, advance rent, temporary accommodation, car purchase or public transport, GP casual fees, insurance deposits, school items, and furniture for unfurnished homes.

Map after-hours care, pharmacies, dental care, and emergency routes

Before someone is sick, identify your nearest urgent care clinic, after-hours GP, 24-hour pharmacy options, dental clinic, hospital emergency department, and Healthline. This matters because GP books can be full and emergency departments are not for routine care.

Secure rental housing and lodge bond correctly

Use a written tenancy agreement, inspect the property, photograph condition, and make sure the bond is lodged with Tenancy Services. General bond is capped at 4 weeks rent; pet bond rules are separate.

Check your visa conditions before working, studying, or freelancing

Confirm your visa start date, expiry date, work rights, employer restrictions, study limits, travel conditions, and whether self-employment is allowed. New Zealand eVisas are condition-heavy, and employers may not understand every restriction.

Confirm NZeTA or visitor visa requirements before travel

Visa-waiver travellers usually need an NZeTA before boarding. Visitor entry does not normally permit work for a New Zealand employer, and remote work can create tax and visa questions.

Buy car insurance before driving regularly

Car insurance is not legally compulsory, but third-party damage can bankrupt a newcomer. Comprehensive cover is usually sensible for financed or valuable cars.

Save Community Law, Citizens Advice Bureau, and Tenancy Tribunal contacts

Before a dispute happens, save the main free and low-cost help routes for tenancy, employment, consumer, immigration-adjacent, relationship property, and debt questions. Knowing where to go early prevents missed deadlines.

Join a local club, sports team, library, or community group

New Zealand can be socially friendly but small-networked. Clubs, libraries, volunteering, tramping groups, sports teams, and school communities are practical integration routes.

Learn tolls, parking rules, ferry booking, and road-condition checks

Driving and regional travel in New Zealand can involve toll roads, resident parking zones, strict clearways, inter-island ferry bookings, alpine passes, gravel roads, weather closures, and long distances without services.