One of the priorities for any Mac addict when moving somewhere new must surely be to check out the local scene for suppliers capable of feeding the said addiction. Newly arrived in Wellington, New Zealand's compact capital, I dedicated some time to explore the streets, news-agents, and Internet for all things Mac.
Buying online
Apple's sole authorized distributor in New Zealand is Renaissance Ltd (Apple Computer Division). Although based in Auckland they have an online store offering what appears to be the full range of Apple products.
Update 07.12.06: On 6 December Apple opened an official online Apple Store.
Resellers in the City
There are a number of Dick Smith Electronics stores in the City—but don't expect to find anything other than the ubiquitous iPod. Tory Street is an easy walk from the CBD and harbours both a Harvey Norman (no. 77-87, with two "Mac guys" ready to help) and a Noel Leeming store (no. 133-139, with perhaps a slightly larger range). But for the best range and the most knowledgeable sales staff, head to MagnumMac at 5-7 Vivian Street, where a large showroom displays both Apple and third-party products. There's no online store, and this is the only AppleCentre in Wellington.
Getting support
There's a reasonable choice of Authorized Service Providers in Wellington, one of whom is MagnumMac. We'll be taking my wife's MacBook there soon, since it is showing discoloration of the palm-rest plastics (and has one of the affected serial numbers). Need on-site support? Toucan can come to you at home or at work.
Magazine
MacGuide is a New Zealand-based Mac-specific bi-monthly magazine available from news-agents, such as Whitcoulls. The associated website is updated more frequently and offers an RSS feed for breaking news.
User group
For those more addicted than myself, if you need group therapy then WelMac, the Wellington Macintosh Society Inc., may be for you ($NZ30 annual membership). This community offers mailing lists, meetings (including a monthly "Help Desk"), forums, and online articles.
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Hi Bruce! Also wanted to add that IFIX has recently opened in Wellington. We specialize in to your door - out of warranty - Mac & iPod service. Check us out at http://www.ifix.co.nz/ Cheers Brian