Zimbo,
Tower CANNOT SEND YOU A .40 SIZED ARF TRAINER KIT BY ECONOMICAL POST. PERIOD!!!!
This warning is on their website and in their annual catalogue.
If the kit DOES NOT have a Globe (The Earth) symbol next to it, they will not send it out to you.
The problem is the US Postal Service (USPS) WILL NOT handle the package because of its size.
The only alternative is Fed Ex, or fly over to the US and bring it back as part of your luggage.
Either way, the cost will be MORE that the cost of the package. Much more.
Total cost makes it totally uneconomical.
Believe me, I looked at this method a while back when our Aussie $ was far healthier against the US$ than what it is now (and we are still in a better position against the US $ than your Kiwi $.)
It was Tower who told me "NO" when I phoned them to order.
It was uneconomical then and it still is.
The other point your missing is Legal Radio Frequency. The US use the 72 Mhz band. In Australia we fly on the 36 Mhz band. I'm not sure about NZ , but I do know that its not 72 Mhz and that in both our countries it is ILLEGAL to operate Radio type equipment on a non authorised band.
Not only would you not be covered by modellers insurance , but if you're caught, a large fine would be a certainty and a possible jail term would also be a possibility. The laws in boh our countries are very similar.
For example, a woman was recently caught in Sydney using a portable phone (no, not a mobile phone,. but one of those phones that operate your land line away from the base station.) her husband bought in from overseas. It had a range of over 1.5 kms.
Anyway, she was fined $A10,000. Same law applies to use of ANY unauthorised (i.e non approved by the government) Radio sending/ recieving equipment.
Getting back to the point though. Tower CANNOT sell me a 36 Mhz band Radio, of ANY brand. I have to get that here in OZ and you will be in the same boat in NZ.
Mate, your stuck with getting the plane and Radio in NZ. The engine, maybe not, but I would still look hard at this. Use a Currency Conversion program such as
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
To check your facts.
Also remember to add in about US $ 35 - $40 for freight of the engine alone to NZ, on top of the US $ price of the engine.
Zimbo, go talk to your nearest R/C club. Those guys are on the spot, done it all before and can give you better 1st hand advice, face to face on getting started, than anyone on this forum.