Speaking of practical tourist information, it really depends on a hit and miss manner. Air tickets will always be in the range of at least C$1,500-1,600 range - if I'm lucky I can wait for Auckland-LAX return ticket bargains that run at NZ$1,450 but normally you need NZ$1,900 from NZ. Add NZ$300 for return tickets between LA and Vancouver the "normal" cost is around NZ$2,100 - if you add $100 it is sufficient for a return ticket to London. (This explains curiously, a return ticket to US/Canadian East Coast from Auckland is paradoxically more expensive than a ticket to London despite Britain being farther than New York, Boston, or Toronto from NZ)
A cup of cappucino at a non-chain operated cafe costs about NZ$3.50 now, and if you want to try lamb for dinner at a reasonably posh restaurant at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, it costs around NZ$26. A main course at the highest end restaurants will cost over $35. If you go to Wellington itr seems a little cheaper. Ethnic eateries cost less: a dish of beef rendang at a fashionable Malaysian restaurant costs NZ$16 and Chinese restaurants typically cost around $17 per dish. Typically, if the food is fresh it is very good but in most cases I think the way it is prepared is disappointing: most cooks can't compare with average-grade French chefs in terms of making a decent and delicious meal.
Cheap restaurants like Denny's do exist, and you can have a steak for about $15. Sounds quite reasonable when you consider a piece of steak already costs about $10.
Those prices are perfectly on par with Canada - eating out.
Yeah - I wanted to get to New Zealand from Victoria for under CAD $1200.00. I guess I'm dreaming. I am thinking what we might do is a special ticket that let's you pick 3 stops - between Australis, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Brunei and Hong Kong. We would have to plan to spend a good couple months.