New Zealand

[martin_ronda]

I'm probably going to NZ this winter between sept and march, what would be the best months??

I'm Brazilian/ German and I would probably go with a tourist visa, can I have a problem with that???

I wanna surf as well so any information on the subject would be nice!

Since I'm going to spend almost 2.000 euros on the ticket to go I really hope it works welll.

Any information is apreciated!

[Juggalicious]

May head to New Zealand around December time... what's an update on the workable spots? - also is it better (speaking of customs) - is it best just to buy an amp/ microphone after I get there?

[MagiCol]

Information for the North Island

All the above posts are probably still sound advice even 5 years later.
Buskers will sense from the pedestrian flow on public streets and possible pitch sites how worthwhile it will be to busk at a place. Look for other buskers - they will proabably be locals who have sorted out the good spots. Work in with them or before/after them or along the sidewalk 25-50 metres.
The trouble with permits is that if you arrive in a town on a Friday night, the local Council offices are closed over the weekend, so you can't get a permit during that time anyway. So if you're a transient, I'd say just busk and see what happens. An amplifier show will attract attention and if you're noisy you may be shut down.

In New Zealand in the cities big and small shopping malls are where cars and shoppers tend to congregate, but the carparks and buildings are private property so you should have permission. The Westfield group in Auckland dont allow buskers in them - I've asked at two of them this year and been refused.

What I know, working from the northern part of the North Island southwards.
This is relative to a sidewalk show, not a full circle:
170km north of Auckland city is Whangarei city population about 80,000. You're supposed to have a permit, but most buskers [including me] don't. In the central business district:
7am - 10.30 am Open-air markets start about 7 am and are busy until about 10.30am. Plenty of people, you'd have to ask on the day about performing there, and probably have to pay for your site.
10 - 1 pm in Central Business District is a public street mall in Cameron Street. I usually work some Saturday's there [morning shoppers] from around 10am-2 pm. Until 12.30pm or so its families with young children and teenagers hanging around. About 1 pm the dymanmics change and its mostly teenagers who often dont put anything in the hat. I usually leave at 2 pm latest.

Auckland - a sprawling city of 1 million people. You're supposed to have a permit, but who's going to ask you for it? Downtown on the wharf: The Viaduct area. Over the harbour bridge, Takapuna area has a triangular shopping centre.
Hamilton, about 100 km south of Auckland - in the middle of the city has a couple of private-property malls, one across the narrow street from the other, on a side street off the main street. There's room for a one-man show just to the side of one street doorway. Most people are too intent on getting from one mall to the other to stop.
Wanganui - small city of about 40,000. You're supposed to have a permit and Ive had a couple, but I reckon I should have just busked without one. On the footpath at Majestic Square in central downdown is about as good as good as it gets in town during Mon-Saturday. The mall called Trafalgar Square Shopping Centre on private property a couple of blocks to the side - the Operations Manager welcomed me to busk inside there. There's the central River Traders market on Saturday mornings - $10 for the site.
Palmerston North. Maybe 120,000 population. I've been told twice by a council spokesperson that you don't need a permit to busk there!! Yippee! It's central area is the large open area called The Square. Pedestrian traffic is along its sides. In one corner, on Church Street, is a private property Strand/Mall. Stand outside it on the footpath to busk. Its a traffic-noisey site for music, though. Across the pedestrian crossing about 30 metres, towards the old Post Office building, I found a sidewalk location for a one-man stand. Off of another corner of The Square is Broadway. About 75 metres out on that, is the entrance to another private-property mall with Picture Theaters. On the sidewalk is room for a 1-2 person site.
About half an hour's drive further south towards Wellington is a one-main-street town called Levin. I haven't busked there, so I'd say just give it a try on the main street.

[Figo]

i think that the problem a lot of people find with new zealand is the lack of population and like kim says the number of out of town malls has really hit hard in some of the citys.

i've been to new zealand for my winter for the last few years and probably won't go this year due to the lack of shows available in the bigger citys.

auckland is workable and now that the square has been freed up might become the best pitch in the country. wellington cuba mall and the soon to be bus route manners mall and down by the pier is great on a good day. christchurch is getting less and less workable due to the number of students the circus school is churning out it is very hard to get a show during the week let alone at weekends when there are only 4 or 5 shows over the 2 days i agree with martin that the arts centre has been basically raped of it's potential by the markets who have put so many restriction on shows.

i will probably be going to oz this year there is far more potential for shows and the currency isn't crippling when i return.

[Magic Brian]

Amp battery

May head to New Zealand around December time... what's an update on the workable spots? - also is it better (speaking of customs) - is it best just to buy an amp/ microphone after I get there?

It might be best to bring and amp and leave the battery behind. I know from personal experience and stories from others traveling through NZ and OZ that they are taking batteries out of amps at the airport and saying you cannot fly with them.

[nick nickolas]

hey brian,,,

they took my battery from Dublin to Aussie as well, did Dublin to Holland return no problems, then Dubbas to OZ they took it,,,,,!!!!!!!!!!

I think it depends on the guy you get,,,,


N

[kokoP]

May head to New Zealand around December time... what's an update on the workable spots? - also is it better (speaking of customs) - is it best just to buy an amp/ microphone after I get there?

Hi Juggalicious.

I live in Nelson (top of the South island) as others have said Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch are well covered.
Nelson in the summer is ripe for good busking, no permits needed, the saturday flea market is huge and should really work for a good busker.

There are lots of events and tourists about in nelson over summer.
Let me know if you travel through this way (free board)

Cheers

Jimu