A small dark Maori guy wanted to show me his affordable car rental in Christchurch so I let him. And, boy was I glad I did. He quickly walked with me down a side street, not far from  our hotel in the center of the city - near the square and the strip - and there was an office and a garage full of good cars. Hire cars and in good running order. We picked the one we wanted, filled in the paper work, got some gas and we were off out of the Garden city headed for a tour of the South Island. No problems picking up a hire car, and no problem driving it around this beautiful place.