If you want to compare the ASB rate to someone like HIFX just call them both and ask.
You can open a bank account with any of the NZ banks from the UK - see the links on their websites. We faxed the Westpac form to them in Auckland one day and the following day we received an email with our account numbers etc. You are then free to shop around for the best rate. If you like the look of ASB then open the account with them but don't given them any money straight away. Once again you can then shop around.
I would guess that the ASB rate would be slightly worse than HIFX, Moneycorp, Currencies Direct etc. ASB also charge a transfer fee I think.
When you get to New Zealand go into a migrant branch as soon as you get there. They will need to see ID and then they will activate your account and give you your EFTPOS/ATM cards on the spot - no waiting for the post.
) seriously - just give the lady a ring with your list of questions and she will help you - no commitment to have to open an account!
Originally Posted by thepiesleys
done our last transfer recently phoned them up from here on a friday night and the money was in our account 1st thing weds morning, never a hassle and easy to set up, thing I liked about it was our cash was in a holding account for nearly 2 weeks and we moved most of it it when the exchange was in our favour, when we had tried to move another chunk earlier, the uk bank would only let us transfer £10.000 per day which cost us in exchange rates difference, we werent receiving interest in the uk account as we wanted access to our cash right away so it didnt matter to us what account it was in before we moved to NZ, now its in the ASB earning 7% until we are ready to buy property.
