Wow, what a haul. Thanks for the tips and please keep 'em coming. Fossil, I'll be in touch when we know more about our itinerary. I spent several months youth hosteling and tramping in NZ back in the Muldoon era, so it will be interesting so see what's changed and what has stayed the same. Are there still blokes in black singlets wandering the bush toting mountain mule packsacks?

Gnu, I'm all over the earthquake thing. My head is well protected by a pair of tin ears and as for the other vital bits, I picked up a pair of Kevlar boxer shorts at the garage sale local mountain bike legend Lucky Forkbender had when he needed to raise money for his new mobility scooter