DH is geographically incompetent, and is going to NZ via LA. Please help me construct a point by point checklist....

[snigger]

From door to door, what do I need to do? What does he need to do? What's ESTA? Can you take fishing tackle to NZ via LA? Is DH going to offend someone in immigration and get us banned from Disneyworld?

All these questions and more are milling round my head - help me please, seasoned travellers.

Please help, traveller-types - you have no idea of the likelihood of DH accidentally stumbling into Tibet and starting WWIII. This man can't navigate Tesco without causing three relationship splits and a nervous breakdown in a member of staff.

Just one point. Has DH considered whether he will be able to take his fishing gear through NZ customs?

There are severe biohazard restrictions implemented ruthlessly in NZ to stop foreign animals and plants being imported including waterborne creatures on fishing gear and boots.

Read this link for details.

Important information for freshwater anglers bringing used fishing equipment to New Zealand

No, do not go via LAX to NZ as LA is a dump of an airport with long lines, unclean toilets and foul tempered security staff who are very adept in shouting at passengers. You are far better off travelling via the Far East to NZ. Air NZ used to have a procedure checklist for those pax who disembarked at LAX en route to NZ and it makes long reading.

The Americans will not be too happy with his fishing gear either. They will likely question him at some length re these items.

ESTA is the mandatory electronic travel authorisation required to enter the US - they now charge $14 (around £9 in sterling) per application made. Each passenger must have an ESTA before travelling to the US.

Luckily the pilots should know where they are going so his geographical incompetence shouldn't make much difference....

He should be able to take fishing stuff as long as it's all clean and he doesn't take live bait? (I've watched loads of passport control/border control etc etc so count myself as a bit of an expert in NZ/Australian customs...... )

Agree that LAX is an awful airport. But many people take the option of going via LA to NZ because you're allowed a greater luggage allowance - it used to be 2x the amount you could carry via Asia. Don't know if that is still the case. And yes, carrying fishing equipment into NZ may be difficult to get past customs.
What exactly is it you're worried about OP? Where in NZ is your DH headed for? Has he got accommodation? Is he hiring a car?

More to the point, why are you not going to NZ with him?

My husband is geographically incompetent too

Was more worrying when he worked as a tube driver (at least they are on rails )

Does he ever forget to stop at stations though?

Flights are already booked, and LAX is a neccessary evil I'm afraid.

He's going to NZ to see his sister and do some fishing (he teaches casting and is a river manager so it's a bit of a busman's holiday).

He'll be bummed if he can't take his own kit as he's spent far too bloody much on it over the years used to it.

I basically want to know what I need to apply for - does he need the ESTA for a two hour stopover? What can we do to make LAX less of an ordeal? How much time does it take to get through customs in Auckland and onto a domestic flight up to Napier, and is he likely to navigate himself into an ocean between those two flights?

He's going on his own because I can't stand his sister am a loving, giving, dream-fulfilling wife

Thank you so much for the link BeenBeta, that's the kind of info I've been looking for, yet seems curiously hard to source.+

I think, in the nicest way you need to leave him to organise his own trip or he won't be as to answer security questions properly

Auckland airport is relatively small so he won't get lost there. It can take a while to get through customs because it is so small, perhaps up to an hour if there are a lot of passengers arriving at the same time. He then just needs to go with his luggage to the domestic terminal. There is a shuttle bus between the two buildings, but it's only a 10 min walk which can easily he made with a luggage trolley and following the blue line along the footpath. The flight to napier won't take long and should be short - not much chance of him going missing I would have thought!

MAF in NZ will have issues with his fishing kit, especially if he is fishing in the North Island. Make sure it is declared on the form he fills out on the plane and thoroughly disinfected. He must not bring in any fruit - not even an old apple in the bottom of his bag - he will face an instant fine. All his fishing clothing and any footwear should be thoroughly cleaned.