Conference venue and accommodation
Heritage Hotel, 5 Hobson St, Auckland, 1010
Heritage Hotel is offering special rates for all our delegates:
A Superior Room is $179.00, and a Deluxe Suite is $204.00.
Please book directly with the hotel to access this special rate using the promotional code NZARH.
Cheaper accommodation
Airbnb operates in Auckland. Always check reviews before booking.
Queens Street Backpackers is nearby and offers competitive rates
Getting around
Uber and Zoomy both operate in Auckland.
There are also a number of traditional taxi services.
Auckland Co-operative Taxis Ph 09 300 3000
Cheap Cabs Ph 09 621 0505
Green Cabs Ph 0800 46 47336
Airport Transfers Taxis to the city centre cost approximately $65 – $75. Shuttles provide a regular & cheaper service – $38pp. More information can be found on the Auckland Airport website.
Travelling to New Zealand
Immigration Information
Everyone visiting New Zealand must have a passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended stay in New Zealand.
Overseas conference participants can travel to New Zealand on a visitor visa to attend the conference. If you’re from a visa waiver countries, you’ll be granted a visitor visa on arrival. For visa required countries, you must apply for the visa before travelling.
If you require a visa you can apply using the standard visa form or online. When asked for the purpose of your visit indicate you’re attending a conference. When making visa applications online, please select the type of visitor visa as General Visitor Visa, and then under “what is the purpose of your visit to New Zealand” please select the “Conference / Convention” option.
More information can be found here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/our-online-systems/applying-for-a-visa-online/immigration-online
Streamlined Visa Processing for Selected Loyalty Members
Immigration New Zealand has established partnerships with the below organisations, offering streamlined visitor visa processes for members who are able to demonstrate that they meet certain qualifying criteria.
Air New Zealand
Gold Elite, Gold or Silver Airpoints Cardholders
China Southern Airlines
Gold or Silver Status Cardholders
China UnionPay
Diamond or Platinum status credit card holders
Find out more about streamlined visa processing here.
Visa Waiver Countries
Citizens of some countries do not need to apply for a visa before travelling to New Zealand, view the list of visa waiver countries here.
If you are a citizen of a country which has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand, you do not need to apply for a visa to visit New Zealand but you must:
- Hold a valid ticket from New Zealand to a country where you have the right of entry
- Have sufficient money to support yourself during your stay in New Zealand
- Hold a passport valid for 3 months beyond the date you intend leaving New Zealand
- Remain in New Zealand only for the time granted on your arrival
- If you intend to stay in New Zealand for longer than three months, you must apply for a visa prior to entering New Zealand.
Non Visa Waiver Countries
If you are from a non visa waiver country, you need to complete Visitor Visa Application Form INZ 1017 and meet certain criteria.
One of the criteria is that you will need to be able to show that you have funds of between NZ$1,000 and NZ$1,500 per month to support yourself while in NZ.
We recommend that you attach a letter from yourself to Immigration NZ to your application. This letter will have three sections:
Your reason to come to NZ
In this section, mention the letters we supply you as evidence of your reason to come to New Zealand.
Your plans in NZ
Your plans in NZ, including your itinerary with the activities you plan and accommodation within New Zealand, and the travel dates and booking showing return travel to your country. If your return trip has not been paid you must show that you have sufficient funds to pay for it.
Indicate that the Humanist Society of NZ and the NZ Association of Rationalists and Humanists are arranging homestay accommodation if you require it. Or you can book to stay at a Back Packers or other accommodation or you can choose the Conference Venue Heritage Hotel accommodation.
Leaving NZ
Indicate reasons why you will return home. For example:
- Copies of your family members’ passports, children’s birth certificates, and your marriage certificate – where appropriate
- An employment agreement or reference letter from your employer (see the suggested letter format below), or from staff at your study course at college or university or other study centre
- Indication of any property, real estate, vehicles, business etc. that you own in your home country
- Your return ticket
Employer’s letter
ABC Company letterhead
Address | Phone, Email
Date
TO: Immigration New Zealand
RE: Verification of employment for Name Surname
To whom it may concern,
Please accept this letter as confirmation that Name Surname has been employed with ABC Company since date for the period from date until date . Name Surname is granted number weeks leave.
If you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards,
Your employer
[signature]
Director