Well that search didn't take long..........not many members on the map of NZ.......and even less that actually post on here

Internet service is quite expensive in NZ. In Australia, internet at a motel is usually free but in NZ they are still charging $10 an hour in lots of places. It's a nice place and the people are the most "English" of any of the Commonwealth countries. They haven't been as Americanized like what is happening here. And there aren't any dangerous animals...just a few strange birds like meat eating parrots. Also, public safety at tourist destinations is old school. You can go to some popular lookouts and there won't be a guard rail to stop you falling off. I think they are relying on evolutionary principles to weed out any dummies.

mikehzz wrote: "I think they are relying on evolutionary principles to weed out any dummies".

That's a Darwinesque life lesson I fully endorse

Overnight I got a quote in for RRS car hire - looks like they follow the same dark age logic as the Internet charge you refer to Mike. I am ploughing through the mass of small print extras which clearly negate the sense of quoting a base price, because without taking on at least 80% or more of the "extras" (which are actually necessities) you cannot put that vehicle on the road and drive it.

They may as well make the quoting process extremely efficient and accurate by simply stating on the quotation: "give us your CC and we'll just debit it at the end of your hire - no worries - absolutely all inclusive"

Your post encouraged me to sign up and respond seeing as nobody else in NZ seems to post on this forum.

Most rental firms in NZ hire out knackered old cars that are on their last legs, extracting whatever rental they can get from them before they die. Therefore you'll get the Rent-a-Dent quality from most hire companies except for big names like Avis, Hetz etc. Those big names tend to stick to the Ford, Holden, Mazda brands. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground for anything different. Possibly due to the large selection of cheap old bangers, so you have to go real basic if you want to hire cars to locals. Tourists on the other hand see the cheap cars on offer and go eek before running into the expensive open arms of the big names with their new Mazda 3s.

Land Rovers, and especially Freelander 2s are pretty thin on the ground round these parts. They're also expensive. A 2008 TD4 may be listed for the same price you'd get a 2011 SD4 HSE in the UK. Therefore they're out of the realms of most hire firms. The only hire firms I could imagine offering anything like this are, as you've found, luxury rentals that cater for the very top end of RRS, Porsche, Astons, Ferraris etc. Thing is, as you've also found, they're going to be of the approach that if you want high end then you don't need to talk money, as you must have lots and lots to burn if you're going to hire a Range Rover.

My question would be why do you want to hire a Land Rover in NZ? What are the main reasons?

Contrary to popular belief, NZ has tarmac to most places (and the odd gravel road, but our Mazda hatchback is fine for those, so no need for anything off-road biased) and the roads are actually very good, so you don't need an SUV to get around. Although NZ markets itself on being outdoorsy and all wide open spaces, there is lots and lots of farmland between the good bits, with no country pub or quaint little village every couple of miles. For those bits you'll want something that can quickly dispatch the Ks and have some grunt for overtaking lorries. There's very little in the way of overtaking lanes, so if you have no power you could be sat behind something for a very long time. Personally, given the lack of choice, I'd not worry too much about what you're driving, and get something like a Mondeo, and put the effort into planning what you're going to do/see when over here.

An afterthought... unless you've been here you may not appreciate how Japanese/Korean the NZ car scene is. If you're used to the UK, where there's lots of choice and lots of Jaguars, BMWs, Audis, Mercs and Land Rovers, you'll not understand how they're a real rarity over here. I've seen an increase in Mercs/BMWs this year, but you're talking about seeing 1 or 2 a day if you're lucky. Just about every car in our neck of the woods will have a Mazda/Toyota/Honda badge on it. It's not surprising really that trying to get hold of a rental Land Rover is bordering on impossible.

SD4HSENZ
Many thanks for your comprehensive overview of the NZ car and rental market - your experience is appreciated.

For renting/hire I always like to stick with the vehicles I am familiar with. That means JLR any model. There are other British sport cars but now, in my owd age, I am belatedly a family man so sadly I cannot race around in those things anymore - mores the pity.

Having conducted a long search I have abandoned the idea of car rental in NZ. All the LR dealers (13) listed on the LRNZ website - some of those are only "service agents" - do not hire out their stock. That was their curt reply. The one RRS quote from a "Premium" car rental firm left me gasping for oxygen - robbery with violence! Could have bought a decent 2nd hand one for less.

So the focus has shifted to renting a very decent camper van. Not my cup of tea, I prefer a proper bed and bathroom, but daughter and her mother at the moment are warm to the idea. If this does not pan out I'll put my foot down and can the whole idea as in May I have something very special to do for the whole of that month - solo - no daughter or her indoors. Bliss.

Our local Land Rover dealer is pretty much as "service" as you can get. They have 1 example each of a Disco, Freelander, Evoque, and Range Rover... so no actual stock, never mind hiring anything out. Considering their group account for 4 of those listed dealers, and their group web site list only 6 used LRs/RRs, that pretty much sums it up.

That said, Lee European in Palmerston North talk about lease packages:
http://www.leeeuropean.co.nz/information/about-us-i-2.html

Possibly only available to residents, but you never know.