The Kiwis are naturally friendly people and localism is not really a problem. Always best to treat them with the respect that you would expect at your own break back home though.

Prevailing winds are westerly which can mean the east coast can get very good. Sandflies can be excruciating, especially on the West coast of S. Island. 100% DEET is the only solution. The pink covered surfriders guide (look it up in the bookstore) is the best guide for New Zealand.

A 4/3 wettie is useful for winter. A 3/2 is okay for summer. Boots, gloves and hood are sometimes useful in south island. Here are some highlights in no particular order:

Campbells Bay, Oamaru, S. Island: Nice little beachie with the very rare and endangerd dolphins occasionally (if they are in the water then don't paddle up to them. Get in the water at least ¼ mile away and let them come to you. They are very timid and harassment from water users has upset their breeding pattern in the past and has led to a dwindling in numbers: Take Care!). Good place to get a quiet surf.

Dunedin: Dunedin and the Otago peninsular are packed with breaks of all kinds. The city break (St Kildas) is often busy though. A bit sharky due to the seal colonies around.

Cannibal bay, The Catlins, S.Island: An excellent spot, totally uncrowded as it is away from any population centers. Clean water, clean beach and picks up a lot of swell.

Porpoise Bay, S. Island: This is right on the south coast of south island so picks up the powerful swell around the southern ocean. A full on wave that you can get barreled in and gives you a heavy hold down if you wipe out. The rips can be crazy too. Hector dolphins are common here but see the note above. Better at high tide. There is a backpackers just next to the bay and the guy (Nick) who runs it surfs there. Good for information and his famous chocolate chip cookies. Few rooms so phone ahead.

Greymouth, Westland, S. Island: There are a couple of breaks either side of the breakwater which can be good. Seems to be a bit unfriendly though (well, compared to the Kiwis generally). The whole of the west coast can be just too big to go out in. The prevailing southwesterlies blow it out too.

Cape Foulwind, Westland, S. Island: Near Westport. A left hand point break that produces a thick wedging monster of a wave. Often cleans up the swell if it a bit messy. The best way in is from some jump rocks between sets. The rip can be a bit tough but then that is often the case with point breaks. Excellent café overlooking the break.

Napier, East Coast, North Island: There are a couple of breaks south of Cape Kidnappers which may be worth a look. These are at Ocean Beach and the next town south. Okay but there are better ones further north at Mahia and Gisbourne.

Mahia Peninsular, East coast, North Island: This peninsular has breaks facing all directions so some surf can be found in pretty much all wind directions. Not much accommodation though.

Gisborne, East Coast, North Island: Has some excellent breaks that face south and east. There is an established surf scene there including shapers and a number of shops. If you are in a backpackers then there will always be a resident surfer there so just ask around. Wainui beach is recommended

The Coromandel, North Island: The coromandel on the East side picks up easterly and northerly swell which makes the breaks seasonal. There are some good breaks up and down the coast from Waihi beach northwards. Hot Water Beach is recommended (the northern end has a lefthander) but seems to work best on low tide. At low tide you can also dig yourself a hole in the beach and bathe in hot springwater too.

Shipwrecks, Kaitaia, Northland: Though we didn't surf this break (it was flat), it has been raved about by some traveling surfers we met because it is a long, long, long lefthander that breaks for several kilometers. Needs a huge southerly swell to work but faces north so can often be offshore.

Raglan, North Island: Very famous point break. 3 bays, Manu Bay, Whale Bay and Indicators. Rupuki beach is just south if Manu Bay is flat. If it is totally flat then the rock fishing is excellent. There is only one backpackers in town and it is possibly the best backpackers on the planet. Jeremy surf himself (who doesn't here?) and is a very useful source of knowledge. He is also in the rescue team so he may also pull you out of the water once you have been take out to sea by the rip. Manu bay has a powerful rip so paddling out from the beach can be tough. There are some jump rocks but these can be slippery. Reef boots are useful. A very popular break indeed (the schoolkids get taken by the school bus to this break and they all rip). Getting a ride can be a nightmare!

Kaikoura, South Island: Mangamanu is the famous right hand point break here. Kaikoura picks up a lot of swell so it is consistent but can also be very busy, even midweek. Meatworks further south is a popular beach break. The coast is littered with good breaks if you are prepared to hunt for them. Gore bay, for example, some hour further south was good and deserted.