Pink Lightning - New Zealand team plans

MESSAGE

• From Coach/webmaster: 
• Hi Folks = Here's a resource page to help plan for your trip to New Zealand. This site hopefully will serve as a consolidation of the latest info.  Lmk if there are other links or info that I should include here.  Enjoy - coach

TEAM INFO

• Next NZ Team meeting = Thursday, February 23, 2023 @ Lake Parsippany Club House
  • • Hand off your paddle for shipment
    • Pickup your PFD
    • Pickup your NZ team uniform and pins @ $1.50 each
    • PL hats available for sale at $15 (needed as part of NZ parade uniform)
• Team Reps
  • • Team Manager/Captain - Jean B
    • Co-captain - Fran L
    • Co-Manager - Caye M
    • Coach - Ellen

GENERAL TRAVEL INFO

• Conversions
  • • Currency = XE = NZ Dollar / US Dollar  (100NZD = $63.28USD / 158.03NZD = $100USD)
    • Weight = Kilo / Pounds
    • New Zealand is 18 hours AHEAD of NJ (2PM Monday in New Zealand is 8PM Sunday in NJ)

• VISA INFO
  • • NZ Tourist VISA - 
      • • USA citizens must apply for a New Zealand e Travel Authority visa NZeTA online ($58NZD/$37) or if you use the NZeTA app (Apple / Google) = $52NZD/$33 for purposes of tourism instead of the traditional visa.  === Processing time approx 3 days.
        • Traveller Declaration no longer required.
    • Aussie Tourist VISA - 
      • • Like NZ, USA citizens may secure an Australian eTA visa instead of the traditional visa. Like NZ, you can apply online or thru the Australian eTA app (Apple / Google). = $20AUD ($14USD)

• HEALTH INFO
  • • CDC - New Zealand, Australia
    • COVID-19 Requirements
      • • Travelers do not need proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter New Zealand. Check with airline, if they require proof of vaccination.
        • If you have COVID-19 symptoms when you arrive in New Zealand by air, take a rapid antigen test (RAT), free at the airport.
    • TRAVEL MD
      • • This is a great local resource in securing medical consultation that specializes in international travel and shots you should and need to get. Atlantic Health in Morristown is local to Morris County, St Barnabas helps serve the Essex County.
    • Travel and Health Insurance
      • • Medicare and most employer health insurance plans will not cover you outside the US
        • If you decide to secure Travel or International Health insurance, secure it at least 2 weeks before you leave the US.
    • Vaccines
      • • It's always a good idea to ensure your Tetanus shots are up to date. 
        • Seek advice from your Dr about Hepatitis and other vaccines - we will not advise here.
• April Weather Forecast
  • • North Island = 67F - 61F
    • South Island = 61F - 50F

TEAM TRAVEL INFO

• Auckland International Airport, New Zealand (AKL)
  • • Post your flight info HERE
    • Commute to Jetpark Hotel or to Hamilton Airport (HLZ) by:
      • • BUS = 2 hours, $15-25 (drops off at Hamilton town Center. from there you can Uber to hotel)
        • Limo = 1.5 hours, $250 for 3 person vehicle
        • Book with "GetTransfer.com" @ $110 by van
        • Uber = $95-$135 (150NZD-211NZD)
        • Orbit Travel = $30 (45NZD) but must book by Feb 20. Email to IBCPC2023@orbit.co.nz
• Housing 
  • • Jetpark Hotel, Hamilton, NZ (201 Airport Road, Hamilton)
      • • This is the airport hotel for the Hamilton Regional Airport HLZ. The hotel is a 4 minute walk through the main parking lot for 500 cars. 
        • 3PM checkin
        • 10AM check out
• Race site = Lake Karapiro (601 Maungatautari Road, Maungatautari 3494, New Zealand)
  • • Lake Karapiro is an artificial reservoir lake on the Waikato River at Karapiro, 8 kilometres south-east of Cambridge in New Zealand's North Island. The lake was formed in 1947 by the damming of the Waikato River to store water for the 96-megawatt Karapiro power station
• Mileage
  • • AKL Airport - Team Housing = 1hr:25min 128km/80 miles
    • AKL Airport - Race site = 1hr:36min 155km/96 miles
    • Team Housing - Race site = 33 min 40km/25 miles

EVENT INFO

• Event link - IBCPC Lake Karapiro, NZ-2023
• Schedule 
  • • 4/10-12 Practices,  
      • • Jean (4/7) and Fran (4/9) check - in
        • 4/12 - team bus leaves hotel by 2PM for 2:45-3:45 practice
        • 4/12 - team dinner (TBD) with team ambassador: Kathie Page
    • 4/13 - Meet & Greet,  regional welcome
      • • 6PM Meet and Greet evening at Claudelands Event Center, Hamilton. Includes one alcoholic drink or two non-alcoholic drinks, and finger food. 
    • 4/14 -  Team manager/steerers meeting,  Parade of Nations, Opening Ceremony
      • • 9am - IBCPC Congress, at Novotel Tainui in Hamilton – Linda F and Linda S attending
        • 11:15am - Team Managers and Steers meeting at Novotel Tainui, Hamilton – Jean B, Fran L and Caye attending. 
        • 1PM - bus departs hotel for Pink Parade of Nations
    • 4/15-16 - Races, Global Final,  Flower Ceremony, Closing Ceremony
      • • Saturday = 500m races, Sunday = 200m races
        • Anne M, Helene F, and Jenn M will be in Sandy Smith Global race and Flower Ceremony
• IBCSPC - ibcpc.com

Other Info

• • Team gear
    • • Paddles to New Zealand = TBD
      • Paddles back to US = Caye M
      • Inflatable PFDs = each individual, CO2 canisters will be removed for the trip, and purchased in NZ.
  • Auto rental
    • • if you plan to take the ferry with the vehicle you must check the fine print under "policy" as many companies do NOT allow driving onto the ferry. 
      • besides the traditional at airport rental agencies, you may want to consider these local camper vehicles firms
        • • Travellers Autobarn - office is NOT at the airport and requires an UBER ride to and from their rental office. Check out the prices as you might find it worth getting an older model van or camper van.
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