New Zealand's arrival admin is the gentlest of any English-speaking country, but the pieces still interlock: bank before IRD is smoother, IRD before your first shift is essential. Here is the order.
SIM on landing
One NZ, Spark and 2degrees have airport kiosks, budget brands like Skinny and Kogan ride the same networks for less. NZD 20-35 a month prepaid does a student fine.
Open a bank account
ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank all open student accounts with your passport, visa and proof of address (your hall contract works). Some let you start online from India and verify after arrival, worth doing in your final pre-departure month.
Get your IRD number
The tax number you need before any paid work, apply free online with Inland Revenue once you have a bank account and visa details. Without it you are emergency-taxed at the top rate. It takes about two working days to a couple of weeks.
Transport
Auckland runs on the AT HOP card, Wellington on Snapper, other centres on their own cards or contactless. Register for tertiary student concessions where your city offers them, Auckland's tertiary discount is substantial for daily commuters.
Enrol with a doctor early
Register with the campus health service or a local GP practice as an enrolled patient in week one, not when you are sick. Enrolled visits are heavily subsidised. As an international student your insurance (usually Studentsafe) covers treatment, know your policy app and how claims work before you need them. Non-urgent advice: call Healthline free on 0800 611 116.
Know your work rules
Most student visas allow 20 hours a week in term and full-time in scheduled holidays. Minimum wage is reviewed every April, check the current rate and keep your payslips. Hospitality and retail hire students constantly, and your university job board is cleaner than cold-applying.
Housing is covered in the flatting guide, work and post-study rules in the work guide, and a mentor in NZ can answer the city-specific bits.
