Publications   Express (fortnightly, $2.50; tel & fax 09/361 0190, express@outnet.co.nz ), sold in almost any decent bookstore, graces the magazine racks of gay-friendly cafés and is often distributed free at gay venues; it is the best source of on-the-ground information and a good way to make contacts. Also keep your eyes skinned for the national bi-monthly OUT ! ($5), and the Wellington-based Lesbian Quarterly . The New Zealand Gay & Lesbian Guide ($6) is available from R Harris, No2 RD, Palmerston, Otago (tel 03/465 1742).

Travel information The non-profit New Zealand Gay and Lesbian Tourism Association , Private Bag, Auckland (tel 09/379 0776, fax 303 4262, secretariat@nzglta.org.nz ) provides travel information aimed at gay, lesbian and bisexual visitors, and vets businesses for standards of service and hospitality, working closely with the New Zealand Tourism Board. Gaytravel Net , PO Box 11-584, Wellington (tel 04/384 1865 & 0800/429 872, fax 882 8246, reznz@gaytravel.net.nz, www.gaytravel.net.nz/nz ) run a nationwide gay and lesbian accommodation and travel reservation service and also have a branch in Auckland.

Web sites One of the best is www.nz.com/glb/ which gives direct access to all manner of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender information including a virtual gay tour of NZ and the New Zealand Pink Pages , essentially a collection of linked pages including what's on in the gay community and a calendar of events all over the country. Almost all sites of interest can be reached from here, though you may want to go directly to www.hero.org.nz for the Hero Festival, www.womenz.org.nz for the Auckland Women's Centre site with links to lesbian pages, or www.our.net.nz , an increasingly extensive site with easy access to hot-linked gay accommodation around the country, chat rooms, restaurants, travel agents and much more.