If you want round-the-clock news and sport, plus the best of British programming while in New Zealand, you’ll need to hook up to satellite TV. Sky Television is the main provider, with its digital service offering viewers endless channels from which to choose. You will need to pay an initial fee of around $99, which covers the cost of installing the satellite dish, then a minimum charge of around $47 a month. For that rate, expect a start-up package with a mixture of more than 20 channels covering news, kids' programmes, documentaries and sport. You can then add on extra channels, at fees ranging from about $5 for Sky digital music, to $16.27 for the three dedicated Sky Sports channels.

Most hotels and motels in New Zealand now have Sky installed in guests’ rooms and most pubs around the country are also hooked up. There’s always a demand for watching the All Blacks, or for catching up with the English and European football leagues.