I was planning a move to New Zealand soon, and wanted to know the
differences in the laws between the two countries (because I don't
want to break them by accident.)

Specifically, what serious (i.e., jail time or fine more than $1000
NZ) crimes exist in New Zealand that are legal in the United States?

Similarly, what serious crimes in the United States are legal in New Zealand?  

I'm really not looking for anything too in-depth or citing case law -
just what I, as a resident in a foreign country, doing normal,
everyday rebellious youth stuff, would need to watch out for.  (I.E.,
if spitting on the sidewalk carries a $2000 fine, I would like to know
that!)

---

Clarification of Question by brian_boyko-ga on 26 Nov 2004 00:24 PST

The comments have provided most of the answers I need :)  

Thanks.

What do I do with the $10 though?  

Right now, it's a free-for-all to the first researcher who can give me
a useful but strange fact about New Zealand.

Hi Brian_boyko!

Here are a number of useful but strange facts about New Zealand taken
from the book  ?Strange Facts and True About New Zealand? by Patricia
Chapman.

?No capital city in the world is further south than Wellington." 

?No part of New Zealand is more than 128 km from the sea.?
 
?French Pass, which separates d'Urville Island from the South Island
coast, is the only place in the world where two different levels of
ocean can be seen at once.  This causes tremendously dangerous
currents - sometimes the tide flows at up to 8 knots through the
narrow Pass.?

?Fiordland National Park is one of the largest in the world at
1,228,348 hectares.  It is also one of the wildest and least
populated.?

?Each year some 400 significant earthquakes are recorded in New
Zealand, of which roughly 100 are likely to be felt without
instruments, but aren't of sufficient importance to warrant public
notice.  The biggest New Zealand earthquake in historical times was
near Wellington on 23 January 1855.?

?Less than 5% of the population of New Zealand is human - the rest are
animals, giving one of the highest ratios of humans to animals in the
world.?

?Energy consumption per head in NZ on a kilogram-of-coal equivalent is
around 3,000 kg.  This compares with 6,845 in Australia, 10,888 in
North America and 4,023 in Western Europe.?
 
?New Zealand has more bookshops per head of population than any other
country; one for every 7,500 people (compared with one for every
19,000 in England and one for every 50,000 in the USA).?

Flatrock.org
http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/science/strange_nz_facts.htm



There is a used copy of the book Strange Facts and True About New
Zealand by Patricia Chapman available at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0864690320/qid=1101458325/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-6836300-3879841?v=glance&s=books


Search criteria:
"New Zealand" strange useful facts

I hope this is what you were looking for.


Best regards,
Bobbie7

Nice little facts.  I'll surprise my Mom with them at Christmas!

Well, here's one for starters:

You'll be driving on the other side of the road.

Land Transport Safety Authority
New residents and visitors - driving in New Zealand
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

* j *

Brian

Please ignore Julie's comment.

In New Zealand they drive on the left, which I believe is right.

It's the British Colony gone wrong where they drive on the right,
which I believe is wrong.

Me? I always drive down the middle.

I've never been to NZ but a spokesman for an English Cricket touring
side once commented that if they were ever shipped 50 yards off the
coast of New Zealand, they would swim to Australia.

Are you sure you are doing the right thing, by going left?

Bryan

Here are a few more:

Prostitution has been legalized in New Zealand.
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/prostitution%20in%20New%20Zealand

The legal drinking age in New Zealand is 18.
http://www.govt.nz/urn.php?id=2250

New Zealand has strict laws governing the use and control of guns. 
http://www.shootingnz.com/laws/visitors.htm

The New Zealand Police do not carry firearms.
http://www.nz-immigration.co.nz/government/nz-police.html

"It is compulsory for anyone who meets the requirements for voting to
be on the electoral roll, even if they do not intend to vote."
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/New-Zealand-elections
 
And here's a rule about the local vernacular. The word "fanny" has a
quite different meaning in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Kiwi Words & Phrases
http://www.chemistry.co.nz/kiwi.htm

Cheers,

* j *

.................and if you have kids approaching 15 years old be
aware as they can get a full drivers license at that age in New
Zealand!!!!!!

  I cant think of anything actually, sorry. However my country
Australia is one of only a handful where you can legally  change your
name/identity without going through any  proper official process; that
probably illegal in USA ???

Wow! Bobbie,

Fascinating facts!

And look at those energy consumption figures!

Thank you for the tip!
--Bobbie7