Apple has confirmed Kiwis will be first in the queue for the new iPad mini, released in New Zealand on November 2.

While the tech giant wouldn't confirm the date of pre-order shipments, an Apple spokesperson told PC World Kiwi retailers will be able to sell iPad minis before anyone else in the world.

Australia will be next in line, opening at 8am to fulfill buyer demand ahead of the release.

Released last week, the iPad mini design is 23% thinner and 53% lighter than the third generation iPad.

Branded as “every inch an iPad, yet in a revolutionary design you can hold in one hand”, the device will compete directly with similar sized tablets from Google and Amazon as companies battle it out for a marketshare.

The iPad mini with Wi-Fi models will be available in black & slate or white & silver for a recommended retail price of NZ$479 for the 16GB model, $629 for the 32GB model and $779 for the 64GB model.

Coming with Wi-Fi + Cellular, the device will start shipping a couple of weeks after the Wi-Fi models, offered for a recommended retail price of $680 for the 16GB model, $829 for the 32GB model and $979 for the 64GB model.

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