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Telephone ServicesNew Zealand has domestic, international, cellular and internet service facilities offered by a range of companies. You can use phone cards to make national or international calls.
Hawke's Bay White & Yellow Pages The White Pages and Yellow Pages in the phone book are updated once a year and the book is delivered FREE to every home and business.
Telephone numbers Numbers starting with 0800 or 0508 are free of charge. Not all 0800 or 0508 numbers can be called from a mobile phone. 0900 number services provide specialist information and entertainment services on a user pays basis.
Installing a new telephone There are three main telephone companies in New Zealand: Telecom, TelstraClear and Vodafone. If there is no telephone installed in your house or flat, you will have to buy a new telephone. Use the White Pages to contact the companies or go online.
Call Rates Calls from a landline within your local area are free. For calls to mobiles or to other areas of the country, check the call rates with your phone service provider.
Using a public telephone There are public telephones available to use. Some require you to use coins and others require you to use cards to make your calls.
Mobile phones Different companies offer prepaid or fixed term plans for cellular phones.
Internet Service Providers There are many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) found in the Yellow Pages. Each provider has its own rates.
Telephone cards Prepaid telephone cards are available at many shops.
Electricity & Gas ServicesThere are several electricity suppliers in Hawke's Bay providing power to residences and businesses. See Electricity Supply-Retail in the yellow pages.
Unison is the electricity powerline network operator in Hawke's Bay, but is not a electricity supplier. Contact them for powerline faults.
Several gas suppliers provide piped gas supplies to residences and businesses in some areas of Hawke's Bay. See Gas Companies in the yellow pages. Confirm with the gas retailer whether or not they supply gas to your area.
Ring the electricity or gas company of your choice to start the supply from the date you want to start living in the house. You can arrange this before you move into a new house.
You will be asked for some kind of identification, which is usually your landlord's or agent's name and phone number, your driver's licence number or passport number and the name and phone number of a friend or a relative not staying with you.
Some companies may check your credit rating or ask for a bond which you will pay on your first bill but is refundable if you discontinue this service.
WaterWater efficiency means less water use, less household cost, less waste discharged into the wastewater system and less cost for wastewater treatment.
You can save water using the following tips:
RatesResidential and commercial property owners pay rates to their local and regional council
Council rates are calculated by targeted rates for specific services and a general rate base on the land value of the property.
Ratepayers in the Napier City Council area are billed on a quarterly basis (every three months). Ratepayers in the Hastings District Council are billed every two months (6 instalments a year).
Residential ratepayers on a low income can apply for a rates rebate annually.
You can pay the rates by mailing a cheque, arranging direct debit or automatic payments, using telebanking, internet banking, paying in person by cheque, EFTPOS or cash at the Council Office of the respective Councils.
Annual rates are also paid by all property owners to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council which are billed once a year and are due each January.
Noise ControlUnder New Zealand's environmental laws, Napier City Council and Hastings District Council are responsible for controlling excessive noise in our district, within certain limitations.
It is accepted that a certain amount of noise is part of the normal human environment. Traffic noise, aircraft noise, industrial noise and residential noise form part of the background to everyday life. Generally, noise is not a problem unless it becomes excessive.
Making a Complaint When you contact your Council, a Noise Control Officer is sent out to investigate your complaint. They determine whether the noise is reasonable and within permissible levels. If the noise is deemed to be excessive, they may serve a written direction to reduce the noise. The direction can remain in force for up to 72 hours.
Penalties Failure to obey the notice can result in stereos or equipment being seized and a fine of up to $10,000 being imposed.
Infringement notices resulting in $500 instant fines can be issued in some instances, for example, when noise equipment cannot be seized.
If you are the noise maker and you feel the complaint is unjustified, contact your local Council.
Noise complaints are confidential. The noise maker is not advised of who has complained.
