The best way to deal with ticks is to shave all the hair from your body so they have nothing to latch onto.
Make sure if you do any caches out in the bush to have some vegemite on hand as this is the best way to lessen the chances of attracting drop bears. Just smear some behind the ears or under the armpits. But just remember because you are a kiwi not speaking is a good deterrent as well.
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2013/03/drop-bears-target-tourists,-study-says/