Don't hold your breath for iTunes here

iTunes is not available in New Zealand, and there is no indication when it might be offered here.

A spokeswoman for Apple Australia, Fiona Martin, said that while the sole iTunes music store in Australia has been open for just under a year, she had no information about a New Zealand equivalent. The costs of setting up such an operation are considerable, she said, and would depend on demand.

Although iTunes users in the US will now be able to download blockbuster films of their choice, this option is not yet available in Australia and Ms Martin did not know when this was likely to happen.

Apple New Zealand is an authorised distributor rather than an Apple-owned subsidiary.