After a very early start from home (2.30am!) I had a good flight and I arrived in New Zealand around 2pm.
The chip in your passport means you can go through customs in the self serve line in around five minutes. It was then it was off to pick up the hire car and into the city. This was an interesting experience as the the GPS wanted to send you one way but because of the earthquake building program some roads were either closed to cars or only had one lane open but I did finally arrive at my favourite B&B. Apparently it was damaged in the earthquake and was closed for about a year. The building next door has been flattened and there is no tram out the front anymore!