Re:
Expensive yes sort of.
Chest xray, £104
Police check £90
Visa application fee £145
Flight direct was £1150 but I have decided to have a holiday on the way home so I have paid an extra £200 to stop over in San Francisco and LA on my return, I think you can guess I'll be giving fairfaxpat and repack rider a shout soon!!
Also regarding the bike, I bought an Evoc bike bag, 300rrp although I got it for less as I was in the trade, the extra cost for that was £75 in advance of flying or £100 at check in, this was with air new Zealand.
Also getting from Auckland to Wellington by bus cost $54 which I'll have to pay to return for the flight back, its the cheapest option between the 2 cities and there are plenty of comfort brakes on the way.
Regarding my wage, it's low but basically the same as the UK for shop work, but the fact that I have no bills to speak of except for food and accomodation mean that I can save a lot. My plan is to have at least the air fare in the bank when I leave which if I save $150 a week I should do easily because I think I should be able to hit $200 a week due to my rent all in being only $130 a week, so basically I only have to buy food after that bill.
So it's expensive to get here but I'm able to save a lot here to counteract that expense.
On another note, I was riding home from work tonight and I noticed out if the corner if my eye someone eyeing up my bike as I pulled away from the traffic lights, I then realised it was my friend and guide from the Alps 10 years ago, I guy called Andrew Durno, aka Tallbeast from the 90's NZ band "Head like a Hole" so I stopped and had a chat, so I'll be getting out riding with him soon aswel