The sun is now coming up over Auckland and I can hear birdsong outside of my window. I’ve been composing blog posts and editing video offline because I’m worried about Internet costs here. I have paid NZ$40 for a “monthly” account, but that had a maximum free usage of 200 Mb, after which you pay by the Mb, and looking at my email via the webmail interface I would burn through that in a day or so just checking mail. And that’s just the start. Because we are used to un-metered access we now have software that does automatic updates and web sites with embedded animated ads that chew up the Mbs in no time. Even opening Facebook is liable to use a fair amount of bandwidth. I’m sticking mainly to Twitter and the webmail interface for my email while I am here.

The convention got started last night with opening ceremonies and an ice cream social. The former featured a very nice Samoan dance troupe from a local school that gave us a real sense of being in Polynesia. After the entertainment a bunch of us decamped to the bar, but I didn’t survive there long on account of the jet lag. I did, however, shoot a video interview with two ladies from the committee of Au Contraire, the 2010 New Zealand Natcon (thank you, Kelly & Daphne). This event is taking place the weekend before Worldcon, so it is very much feasible to take in both convention in your trip. From the US you would fly into Auckland, travel down to Wellington (the train is recommended) for the con and then fly out to Melbourne.

The interview covers a range of topics from Lord of the Rings to Lordi, and I was delighted to hear Kelly and Daphne tell me that most of their committee is in their 20s and they are keen to get lots of young people to the convention. I intend to talk to them some more about their plans through the weekend, but thus far it all sounds very promising.

Wellington is, of course, also home to WETA, and Norm Cates is here to give a presentation. Apparently we will be getting previews of what the studio is working on, so I may have to surrender my iPhone at the door, but I’m hoping I can get an interview with Norm while I am here.

Talking of Norm, yesterday he was busy setting up a display of materials for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards. New Zealand is, you may remember, the only country with a science fiction award named after a famous local writer who also happened to be Prime Minister. The award banquet takes place on Sunday night and I am going to look into the possibilities of a live webcast. The CoverItLive software doesn’t seem to use much bandwidth so hopefully I’ll be OK with that.

I shall report back again as and when I can, but right now it is time to get this lot online, have a shower and check out the breakfast. As my hotel booking includes a full cooked breakfast I am going to make the best of it.