HOMESTAY:
BUYING & DRIVING A CAR IN NEW ZEALAND:
If you intend to buy ( and drive ) your car in New Zealand, make sure you:
| Note: | If you drive a vehicle without a current Warrant of Fitness you may be liable for a fine of $200.00 and if you drive a vehicle which is not licensed you may be liable to a further fine of $200.00 |
| Note: | If you think that the car you bought may have been stolen, check with the Police. If you want to be sure that the vehicle has a “clean” history before you buy the car, and if there is any money owing on the vehicle ( or if any other person has a financial interest in your car.) then: |
| Note: | The cost of the call will be about $25.00, which is not expensive compared with paying off another persons debt on your car, or loosing ( repossessed ) your car altogether. Another alternative is to take the above information about the car to your nearest Court, pay a small fee and receive a certificate confirming that the car is free of debt. The New Zealand Land Transport Safety Authority has available a very helpful information Sheet ( Fact sheet # 71, April 2003 “ Buying a used car” ). Simply call them at their Helpdesk for free on: 0800 699 000 or visit www.ltsa.govt.nz for this or other information. |
BORROWING or LENDING MONEY:
The sensible answer is “ DON'T ” as often we are told by International students that they have lent money to a “friend” but later that “ friend” refuses to pay the money back. If someone wants to borrow large amounts of money from you then that usually means they don’t have any money, or, they are too afraid to ask for the money from their parents or, they have already borrowed money from their other “friends”.
Don’t be surprised if you never see your money or your “friend” again !!!! Tell your “friend” that you are “sorry, but you don’t have any spare money at present” or if really necessary that “ you are not a BANK”. We often hear this same sad story from many other students so be very careful !!
INSURANCE ( MEDICAL & TRAVEL) :
Make sure you have both medical and travel insurance. You should have arranged this before you travel to New Zealand.
IMMIGRATION MATTERS:
Don’t forget to renew your visa / permits and other travel documents well before they expire. We know of students who have either been quickly taken to the Airport and sent back on the first flight available to their home country or, have been refused re-entry back into New Zealand, simply because they haven’t attended to these matters.