First 30 Days in New Zealand

Get the order wrong in your first month and tasks dead-lock each other: no bank account blocks the overseas IRD channel; no IRD number means 45% withholding on wages; no proof of address stalls bank activation. This checklist is sorted by dependency: follow it and nothing jams.

Week 1: connectivity and money

① SIM card (day 1) Spark, One NZ (formerly Vodafone) and 2degrees all have airport counters. Start on prepay, move to a monthly plan once your address is stable. Keep your Chinese SIM alive for verification codes if needed.

② Bank account activation (days 1–3) ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac all support online applications up to 90 days before arrival (do this before you fly); activate in branch with passport + visa after landing. Kiwibank is cheaper but in-person only. At activation, ask about: debit card pickup, internet banking, and international transfer routing. Policies, fees and scam warnings are covered in the bank account guide.

③ IRD number (immediately after bank activation)

• Simplified new-arrival channel: apply online at ird.govt.nz with passport details + the Immigration Application Number from your visa approval letter, authorising IRD to verify with INZ;
• Typically issued within 2 working days by text or email;
• ⚠️ Working without an IRD number means 45% no-declaration withholding on wages; same for bank interest. This is the single highest-weight item on the list.

The full process, tax residency rules and refunds are in the IRD number guide.

Weeks 1–2: housing and transport

④ Tenancy (weeks 1–2)

• Trade Me Property and realestate.co.nz are the main channels;
• The bond is capped at 4 weeks’ rent and must be lodged with Tenancy Services: expect a lodgement confirmation letter and ask if none arrives;
• Sign a written tenancy agreement and complete a property inspection report with photos on move-in;
• “I’m overseas, wire the deposit and I’ll mail the keys” is the standard scam script.

Tenancy types, rent-increase rules, Healthy Homes standards and dispute channels are in the renting guide.

⑤ Transport card (on arrival) AT HOP in Auckland (sold at convenience stores and stations, ~$5–10 card fee; register it for online top-up and balance protection); Snapper in Wellington, Metrocard in Christchurch. Registered cards cost noticeably less than cash fares for regular commuting.

⑥ Utilities and broadband (after signing) Compare power retailers (Contact, Mercury, Meridian, etc.) and switch on online; broadband is mostly fibre (Chorus/Enable networks with Spark/One/2degrees retail). Check whether the landlord includes utilities first.

Weeks 2–4: coverage and identity

⑦ GP enrolment (weeks 2–3) Enrolling with a GP enters you into the public health system. Holders of 2+ year work visas and resident visas get subsidised rates; children enrol with parents. Bring passport, visa and proof of address. See the healthcare guide.

⑧ Licence conversion (start within month 1; 12-month deadline) A Chinese licence with an approved translation works for 12 months, but practical-test slots can take weeks: book the theory test in your first month. See the licence conversion guide.

⑨ School enrolment (if applicable, weeks 2–4) State schools enrol by zone; children of student/work visa holders can attend state schools free as domestic students. Bring passports, visas, proof of address and immunisation records.

⑩ KiwiSaver (after starting work) Your employer will ask about KiwiSaver (employee contributions from 3%, employer matches 3%). You can opt out within 2–8 weeks of starting: decide deliberately; temporary visa holders can apply to withdraw savings when leaving NZ permanently.

The 30-day table

Task	Deadline	Dependency
SIM card	Day 1	None
Bank activation	Day 3	Passport + visa
IRD number	Week 1	Visa approval letter number
Tenancy signing	Week 2	Bond lodgement confirmation
Transport card	Week 1	Registered = cheaper
GP enrolment	Week 3	Proof of address
Theory test booking	Week 4	12-month hard limit
School enrolment	Week 4	Zone proof

4 common mistakes

1. Job first, IRD later. Backwards: starting work without an IRD number means 45% withholding: your first pay halves. Do it in week one.
2. Paying the bond to the landlord personally. Lodgement with Tenancy Services is mandatory. “No need for the hassle” from a landlord is exactly when to hassle.
3. Assuming 12 months of licence validity is plenty. Theory plus practical test queues run over a month in big cities; people who start in month 11 are one failed test away from expiry.
4. Paying cash fares instead of getting a card. Cash bus fares in cities like Auckland are markedly higher than card fares, and registered cards carry transfer discounts.

Related tools

• NZD currency converter: compare exchange and transfer rates
• Cost of living calculator: monthly budgets for 6 cities
• Take-home pay calculator: check the after-tax number on any offer