Bank Account - National Insurance Number

What a mission. First of all do not go through any companies in New Zealand for this - I went through First Contact and wasted $80. They make it sound as though you buy the pack and you just walk into a bank in England and your account will be set up - this is not the case. I am a British citizen and because I do not have a permanent address here (they require a water bill or something like that addressed to you at an English address) they weren't going to allow me to open one unless I open what they call a passport account that will cost you anywhere from 90-150 pounds a year and your bound to a 12 month contract with them. After speaking with my Uncle he suggested I ask for a joint account with my parents as they still have one over here and they agreed to this - I just have to wait a few weeks for forms to get sent to New Zealand for them to sign then get sent back here. First Contact also give you a 'free' sim card - they are free anyway in the UK but since they are not free in NZ you think that you are saving $15-20. Anyway you live and you learn but basically the package just gives you application forms that you can just walk into the bank and pick up yourself once you are here. They are really strict with the National Insurance number as well. I am not sure how this works for non-citizens, I am pretty sure that you receive a temporary one when you start working then you can apply for an official one. In the UK everyone receives some sort of child benefits from the government so that meant I would have received them as a child so I already have a NI number - its just getting a hold of it. I have to go to Liverpool on Friday for an identity interview where I need to take a minimum of four forms of I.D in order to access it. If everything gets approved I then have to wait 2 weeks for it to get sent out to me. Even though you are tired when you first arrive its a good idea to try and get all this kind of stuff sorted as soon as you can cause it can take weeks or months for paper work / interviews / approvals etc.