Hello from an American in New Zealand!

[Clarrie]

My plan is to spend the whole year on the South Island and then head up to the North for a month or so
!

You could spend some of your Te Ika-a-Māui month in Te Urewera.
I just did a bit of mental arithmetic and have concluded that there are 4.6 million places to hang a hammock.
Then again, my arithmetic may be mental!

[NickTx]

Kiora! I'm a Kiwi in America, but may head back that way. As far as insulation either learn to sew or save up your ordering for one big buy and have it shipped, the GST will be a bummer but if you pick right the gear will last (It's why I am sticking up big time while I debate staying or coming back). Camping in the campsites is a no go, unless you invest in or make portable hammock stands, but you can camp just off a ways most times or hit the bush and so it that way. Check out Abel Tasman, over by Nelson. Where are you based? Auckland? Anyway Kiwi's are most likely a bit dubious because everything is behind a decade or two, well loads of things anyway and the hammock craze hasn't really hit yet there, although if you get on FB there is a bloke who sells Hennessy gear and reaching out to him I'm sure he could give heaps of pointers for location. Just search NZ hammock on FB and he should come up. If I do come back m8 you could PayPal me and get an unquilt that way.

[blaserk]

Te Urewera looks beautiful!!! I will see how many of those 4.6 million I can check off

[blaserk]

Hey thanks, mate! I have a friend headed to this side of the world in a bit, will use her as a pack mule.
Yup, bush is definitely better. More hang spots, more scenery, less people! Campsites here in Aoteroa are a lot different than the ones my family went to growing up- more a field and parking lot than little individual plots tucked away in the woods.
I am based in Wanaka, though I am about to do a two month loop of the south island (definitely hitting up Abel Tasman) before the weather gets nasty. I will be camping or hutting for as much of it as possible, so I am sure I will have a lot more to say when I return.
If you do come back this way, let me know!