The New Zealand dollar hit a 6.5 year high against the US dollar, and we are getting scorched. It takes US$.679 to buy a Kiwi buck. That's about 10% less than when we arrived in November. Here's some idea of what things cost:
A Green lipped mussel, from D Central in Devonport
| Plate of Green-lipped mussels | $15.50 |
| 2 bedroom apartment in Mission Beach | $500,000 |
| Diet Pepsi, 1.75 liters | $1.50 |
| Ice, bagged | $2.25 |
| Butter, 500g | $2.25 |
| Sandwich | $6 |
| Hot meat pie | $2 |
| Lucky dog pet food roll 2.6kg | $5.69 |
| Bus to downtown | $1.20 |
| Liter of gas | $1.05 |
| Rental car (our Toyota heap) including insurance and taxes | $25/day |
| Cricket ticket, Hamilton | $15 |
| Cricket ticket, Eden Park | $30 |
| Movie ticket, 1 adult | $13 |
| Pop music CD | $25 |
| Magazine | $7-$9 |
| Tube of mascara | $20 |
| Cell phone | $150 |
| 1 bedroom downtown apt marketed to foreign students | $300/wk |
