most common mountaineering boots i see are la sportiva and scarpa. scarpas tend to be a bit wider but it depends on the model. you probably want lightly insulated or non-insulated boots for now while you tackle easier, not-super-cold mountains. crampons... black diamond, petzl, grivel are the most popular. they're all pretty good and have been used on major ascents. backpacks, usually black diamond, mountain hardwear, wild things (cult following), cilo gear, cold cold world, work really well, as do most general backpacking packs (though those tend to be heavier and less streamlined).
renting's the best option for starting out. NZ i've heard is at the forefront of glacier travel techniques, there's got to be somewhere that lets you rent gear. places on the west coast of the US let you rent just about everything (packs, boots, tents, stoves, crampons, ice axes). technical mountaineering gear is *expensive* no doubt about it, for most people it takes a few seasons to accumulate a starter set.
