New Zealand Food

New Zealand Food and Drink

New Zealand is a major producer of fresh food and their wines are internationally regarded.  New Zealand food and drink is of a high quality and is easily affordable, especially when compared to other nations.

New Zealand’s legal drinking age is 18.  Large fines apply for businesses caught selling alcohol to minors, so you will probably be asked for proof of your age, in the form of a driver’s license or passport (your student ID or similar will not be sufficient.)  Supermarkets sell alcohol seven days a week.

Drink driving is a serious offense and can lead to fines, lose of license and (in extreme cases) jail time.  Students on a non-provisional license can normally have one standard drink each hour and still be allowed to drive.  This is dependent on the type of drink, your size, if you’ve eaten anything recently and a host of other factors, and should be used as a guide only.  Students on a provisional license cannot drink anything.

New Zealand has a huge range of eateries, running the gauntlet from cheap takeaway fish and chip stores (New Zealand’s unofficial national dish) to gourmet and nationally renowned restaurants.  The multi-cultural influence is evident in the wide range of ethnic varieties.  If a restaurant has a BYO (bring your own) license, you may bring your own alcohol to enjoy with your meal.  Some restaurants charge a corkage fee for this service.

Supermarkets are the cheapest place to buy groceries.  Most supermarkets have a deli or gourmet section and some specialist stores stock only organic produce.  This is usually more expensive, but still relatively affordable.  New Zealand supermarkets are in the process of phasing out plastic bags and sell reusable canvas bags.  Some may offer a discount if you use these bags instead of plastic bags.
Farmers markets are held on weekends in most cities and sell cheap, fresh fruit and vegetables and other local produce, such as nuts, honey and herbs.