A month in Wellington

The Residential Tenancies Act does not apply where premises are let for the tenant's holiday purposes, nor to hotels and motels that ordinarily let for less than 28 days at a time. Tenancy Services explains that the Act does not apply when the tenant lives somewhere else and is staying in the house for a holiday, and that for a lengthy sabbatical or holiday the owner could contract into the Act to avoid any doubt.

The other route is a short fixed-term tenancy: a written agreement of 90 days or less, covered by the Act, which becomes a periodic tenancy if it runs past 90 days. Under a holiday let, bond money should not be lodged with Tenancy Services.

GST is 15%. Platforms have collected it on short-stay and visitor accommodation since 1 April 2024, but not on residential rental accommodation that is exempt from GST, which Inland Revenue describes as a home let to a tenant under a residential tenancy agreement.

Hotels and motels registered for GST follow a 4-week rule: GST on the full value for the first 4 weeks, then on 60% of the value of the room and the services that go with it, such as cleaning and power. Agreed up front, a stay of more than 4 weeks gets the 60% from the start. Food stays fully taxed.

The council sells a calendar monthly coupon for NZD 315, against NZD 19 for a daily coupon. Coupons cover the coupon zones in Clifton, Kelburn, Mount Cook, Mount Victoria, Te Aro and Thorndon, where the rules apply on weekdays from 8am to 6pm; parking there is free for the first 2 hours, and on public holidays with no time limit.

Metered streets in the centre are a poor fit for a month: most allow 2 hours by day on weekdays, and the 12-hour Pay by Plate spaces on Oriental Parade, Kent Terrace, Cambridge Terrace, Kelburn Parade, Salamanca Road and Glasgow Street still charge by the hour. A place with off-street parking avoids both.

Thorndon, Mount Victoria and Kelburn suit a month near the centre with the car in a coupon zone. Oriental Bay suits a month by the harbour. The Kāpiti Coast suits a beach month about 54 km from Lambton Quay, with Transmission Gully toll-free, and Martinborough a month in the Wairarapa over the Remutaka Hill. Te Aro suits a month without a car. These choices are editorial.

An NZeTA lets EU and US visitors stay up to 3 months per visit and British citizens up to 6 months, with no more than 6 months in New Zealand in any 12. Staying longer needs a visa before arrival, and working needs a work visa. Immigration New Zealand asks visitors to show at least NZD 1,000 for each month of the stay, or NZD 400 a month when the accommodation is already paid, plus a paid ticket out. Everyone completes a New Zealand Traveller Declaration, which opens 24 hours before the journey.

For the car, an overseas licence is valid for 18 months from the last arrival until 31 October 2026 and for 12 months from 1 November 2026. A licence not in English needs an accurate translation or an international driving permit.

Airbnb calls a booking of 28 nights or more a monthly stay. It charges the first month up front and releases it to the host 24 hours after check-in, charges each later month 10 days in advance, and applies a long-term cancellation policy that generally requires 30 days' notice of changes.

Assuming a coupon covers every street. It applies in the coupon zones, not at the meters in the centre.

Taking the car to the South Island without asking the rental company. GetCar reports that some companies swap cars at the ferry terminals instead.

Paying a bond for a holiday let as if it were a tenancy. Agree in writing how the host holds and returns it.

Arriving without proof of funds. Immigration New Zealand may ask for NZD 1,000 a month at check-in or on arrival.