 New Zealand cities have their own special character, but they’re all a rich blend of nightlife, cafes, movies and shopping.
New Zealand has a rich arts heritage with professional theatre and orchestras, and a thriving live music scene. The film industry is known for its quirky hits loved in art house cinemas around the world, and major blockbusters like Lord of the Rings and King Kong.
With so much to see and do, it’s little wonder that New Zealand cafes serve some of the world’s strongest coffee.
New Zealanders are a famously hospitable people with a lively interest in other cultures. An education here is frequently the beginning of lifelong friendships.
New Zealand is a rich mix of cultures – including Maori, Pakeha (European descent), Asian and Pacific peoples. An increasing number of African and Latin American people also call New Zealand home.
Beyond the warm welcome, you’ll find a place where safety and security are valued. New Zealand has strong guidelines for education and home stay providers to ensure international students are always well looked after.
New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, so January and February are the warmest months, autumn is from March to May, winter is from June to August, and spring runs from September to November.
The climate is temperate with relatively mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The weather varies a lot between different regions – the far north is subtropical while the south gets icy wind straight from Antarctica.
Outdoor lifestyle
The mild climate means outdoor recreation is an important part of the Kiwi way of life. Water sports and tramping (hiking) are very popular. In summer, people are encouraged to ‘slip, slop, slap’ - slip on a long-sleeved shirt, slop on some sunblock, and slap on a hat - to protect them from cancer-causing sunburn. It’s easy to get sunburnt here, even on cool or cloudy days, as the sun in New Zealand has strong UV rays.
If you’re coming to New Zealand be prepared for fun-filled study breaks in the country where bungy jumping and jet boating were invented.
Outdoor adventure
New Zealanders love the outdoors. We spend our hot summers and mild winters exploring beautiful national parks, beaches and rivers. You can go kayaking, mountain biking, surfing, abseiling, parachute jumping, swimming with dolphins, caving, and, of course, bungy jumping.
Sports
New Zealanders’ national sport is rugby – many play it and just about everybody enjoys watching it. Other popular sports include cricket, cycling, hockey, soccer, netball, horse riding, tennis, touch rugby, golf, basketball, badminton, bowls, yachting, volleyball, squash, cycling, mountain biking, trail biking, motor racing, skiing, shooting, rowing, fishing, swimming and aerobics.
All sorts of watersports are enjoyed in our famously clean rivers, harbours and lakes.
Arts and culture
Most New Zealand towns have cinemas, art galleries and museums. Professional theatre companies operate throughout the country and many major rock and pop acts tour here. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the New Zealand String Quartet tour frequently. Film premieres for locally made blockbusters attract thousands of people.
Find out what's on
It’s easy to access sport and recreational activities - and relatively affordable. Look in your local library or check newspapers for up-to-date information on gigs, shows, and exhibitions at local galleries. Local authorities (councils) provide information on their websites listing local sports clubs and recreational facilities.
Free events
Most cities have a summer festival with lots of free events at public venues. Look out for things like bands, night-time walks to see glow-worms, food and cultural festivals and dance performances. Public libraries are a good place to find out about these and other community events.
Orientation week
Your tertiary institution will run an orientation week full of free and paid events, shows and gigs. See Induction and orientation
Discounts
Remember to ask whether there is a student (or Youth Hostel Association) discount at events you attend. Discounts often apply at orchestra concerts and theatre performances, as well as outdoor adventure tourism activities.
New Zealand has it all! Snow-capped mountains, tropical beaches, raging rivers, majestic fjords, steaming hot-springs, ancient forests, spectacular caves - This entire country is a natural wonder!
If you want to see natural beauty at its absolute best - you must visit New Zealand.
New Zealand is the most beautiful country on the planet!
New Zealand is also one of the easiest countries in the world to travel around.
The roads are excellent (and almost deserted), crime rates are extremely low, there are no dangerous insects, snakes or predators to worry about, there are no diseases or infections to guard against, the people are helpful and friendly, the exchange-rate is massively in your favour (so your pound or your dollar goes a very long way) and English is the native language. New Zealand is paradise for travellers.
Basic Facts
New Zealand is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.New Zealand is made up of two large islands (the North Island and the South Island) and several smaller islands - Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands. New Zealand is also known as Aotearoa, which is usually translated into English as The Land of the Long White Cloud.
The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are self-governing, Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (in Antarctica).
New Zealand is notable for its isolation, separated from Australia by 2000 kilometres (1250 miles). Its closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga.
New Zealand has a population of about 4 million (very small for a country of this size - so lots of space!). Around 80% of the population are of British descent, with the Māori being the largest minority. The largest city is Aukland. The capital city is Wellington. English is the native language.
Currency is the New Zealand Dollar. Exchange rate is excellent - your money goes a long way! Credit-cards are accepted everywhere.
If you are from North America or Western Europe, you will feel right at home in New Zealand. This is a highly developed country - with some of the greatest scenery in the world and no crowds to pollute it or spoil it! Come to New Zealand soon - you'll have a great time!
How to get to New Zealand
New Zealand is a long way from anywhere! So the easiest way to get here is by air.
New Zealand is well connected - with several airlines flying here from all parts of the world.
There are six international airports in New Zealand. They are located in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Queenstown, and Wellington. The three main International Airports are Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington.
New Zealand Visa Requirements
Citizens of North America, Australia and Europe do not need Visas for visits of up to three months. Travellers from other areas should check with their own governments before booking.
When To Visit New Zealand
New Zealand is an all year round destination. The weather here is mild and temperate. Temperatures in the sub-tropical far north average around 25 degrees in the summer (Dec, Jan, Feb) and 16 degrees in the winter
(June, July, Aug). South Island coastal areas average around 5 degrees cooler. In the mountains temperatures are considerably lower - especially in winter when it can drop to minus 10 - but the skiing is great! The seasons here are opposite to those in Europe and North-America,The best time to come is probably in your winter - New Zealand's summer. Escape the cold, you'll love it!
Getting Around New Zealand
Travelling within New Zealand is a joy. Internal flights are plentiful. Roads are excellent and un-crowded. Railways are superb, safe and spectacularly scenic. But the best way to travel in New Zealand is by road.
Check our Recommended Vehicle Rental companies for full information.
Where to stay in New Zealand
New Zealand is blessed with an abundance of great places to stay. Whatever your budget - you'll find something you like! Check our Recommended Hotels for the best in New Zealand.
What to do In New Zealand
If we made a list - it would go on forever! There's so much to see and do here - you'll never be bored! From Abseiling to White-Water Rafting, from Antarctic Encounters to Whale-Watching, you can do it all in New Zealand. Popular activities include visiting spectacular glow-worm caves, jet-boating through canyons, kayaking amid the worlds most spectacular scenery, skiing on pristine slopes, sailing in the Bay of Islands, walking or cruising through majestic Fjords,
whale-watching, scuba-diving, trekking, visiting the Lord of The Rings movie areas, etc etc etc.
And for the less active New Zealand offers an abundance of relaxing options too - including a round or two of some
IMMIGRATION to NEWZEALAND
1. Requirements
To apply under the Skilled Migrant Category, you must meet our requirements. You need to be aged from 20-55 (inclusive). You also have to meet our standards of health, character, and English language proficiency before you start the process.
2. The Expression of Interest
This is the first step towards making an application. If you qualify, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), in which you claim points for skills, experience, and other factors.
3. The EOI pool and the pool draw
If you have claimed 100 points or more on your EOI, it goes into the Pool. Every fortnight, all EOIs over 140 points are automatically selected for an invitation to apply. After this, lower scoring EOIs with certain factors, such as skilled employment in New Zealand, are selected.
4. Invitation to Apply
Once your EOI is drawn from the pool, we examine it and if we find it credible, we send you an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You will have to show proof of the claims made on your EOI. This means medical and police certificates, proof of English language ability, and documentation regarding your skills, experience, and other factors.
The application form contains the information that you provided in your EOI. You will check the information and return it to us with your documentation.
The date that you make your SMC residence application with Immigration New Zealand determines the policy that your application will be assessed against. Therefore, the policy that was current when you submitted your EOI, or current when your EOI was selected from the pool, is not necessarily the policy that your SMC residence application will be assessed against.
5. Full assessment
Once we receive your application and documents, we start assessing you for residence. We make sure that you meet all our requirements, and that your points claims are valid.
We will also assess you on your ability to settle in New Zealand successfully. We may consider you able based on your application, or we may wish to interview you.
6. Residence and Work to Residence visas and permits
If you meet our criteria, and we believe you will settle successfully and contribute to New Zealand, we will offer you a residence visa or permit.
If we think you have potential, but want to see how you settle, we will give you a work to residence visa or permit, which you can use to help obtain an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand for up to nine months. If you obtain skilled employment in this time you will have shown your ability to settle and contribute, and your residence application will be approved.
Please remember that an SMC Work to Residence visa or permit is an opportunity to seek skilled employment in New Zealand. It is not a guarantee of work, a job offer or of residence. Immigration New Zealand advises against the sale of assets, the termination of children’s schooling, and the shipping of household items to New Zealand until an applicant’s residence status is fully clarified.
New Zealand Cost of Living
New Zealand had a relatively low cost of living, in comparison to other countries around the world. While there is no way to determine exactly how much you will need to live in New Zealand, the following provides a rough guide. Unless otherwise stated, all currency is in New Zealand dollars.
Public secondary schooling is free and compulsory for students aged six to sixteen. This does not include the cost of uniforms, textbooks, stationary and other personal expenses. A box of ten pens costs around $5.00; a textbook can range between $20.00 and $40.00 and uniforms can cost anything from $300 upwards.
Polytechnics and universities generally charge between $10 000 and $15 000 per year for an undergraduate course. A post graduate degree starts at about $15 000 and MBA degrees are around $22 000. Your university should provide you with an invoice for the full amount.
Accommodation expenses can differ dramatically, depending on the type of accommodation you have chosen. While different universities and halls of residence charge different amounts, on campus accommodation is typically between $8000 and $10 000 for the academic year.
Rent can also differ dependent on the area. The average rent for an unfurnished, three bedroom home is lowest in Invercargill, at $225 per week, while Auckland Central is the most expensive, at $600 per week.
Public transport in New Zealand is inexpensive and easy to use. A train, bus or ferry ticket is usually around $2 for a student. Car ownership is much more expensive and not generally recommended, as New Zealand’s small size makes navigation via public transport fairly easy.
For an indication of general living expenses, this is a list of the average price of some household staples (as of February 2010):
- A loaf of bread – $3.79 (1.90 Euros or US$2.60)
- 100g tin of instant coffee – $4.99 (2.50 Euros or US$3.40)
- Packet of spaghetti – $2.18 (1.10 Euros or US$1.50)
- 4 pack toilet paper – $2.39 (1.20 Euros or US$1.60)
- 1.5kg (roughly 3 pound) bag of sugar – $2.48 (1.20 Euros or US$1.70)
- 1 litre milk – $2.33 (1.15 Euros or US$1.60)
About New Zealand - The Land and its People
New Zealand Geography and Demographics
Total Area:
270,534 square kilometers (104,453 square miles). Overseas territories governed by New Zealand are the Ross Dependency, in Antarctica, and Tokelau in the Pacific Ocean, to the north of Samoa. The Cook Islands and Niue, also in the Pacific, are self-governing territories in free association with New Zealand.
Capital:
Wellington
Population:
4,100,000 million people, 5 million beef cattle, 4 million dairy cattle, 39.9 million sheep (Sheep numbers have declined from 70 million in the mid-1980s, as a result of pressure from competition in export) markets and the deregulation of the economy), deer-farming; in the mid-1990s more than 1.2 million head were kept,
Ethnic Composition 2007:
73 percent European; 12 percent Native Maori; 4 percent Polynesian; 11 percent other, including Chinese, Korean and other Asian peoples.
Ethnic Composition from 2006 to 2026:
Projections indicate that the proportion of New Zealand's population that identifies with a European or Other ethnicity will drop from 77 percent in 2006 to 69 percent in 2026. By comparison, the proportion identifying with Māori ethnicity will increase from 15 percent to 17 percent, with a Pacific ethnicity from 7 to 10 percent, and with an Asian ethnicity from 10 to 16 percent. About 1 percent of New Zealand's population identified with ethnicities outside of these four broad ethnic groups in 2006. People who identify with more than one ethnicity are included in each ethnic population that they identify with. As a result, the ethnic populations overlap.
Official Language:
English and Maori are the official languages of New Zealand, although the country is predominantly English speaking. Almost all Maori speak English; about 50,000 (12 per cent) are considered fluent Maori speakers. Other Polynesian and European, as well as Asian, languages are spoken by a small percentage of the population.
Religion:
22 percent Anglican; 21 percent none; 16 percent Presbyterian; 15 percent Roman Catholic; 26 percent other
More about New Zealand
New Zealand has a distinct culture and heritage. Lifestyles are generally more relaxed and informal than in most other developed countries and New Zealanders are self-reliant and practical, open and hospitable. They tend to have little patience for ostentatious or loud behavior. They also value their families and their leisure time.
New Zealand offers some of the most beautiful and varied Landscapes on earth. You can experience the sights of high snowcapped peaks, glaciers, steep fjords, ancient beech forests, a wild coastline with unusual wildlife; long, deserted sandy beaches, alpine meadowlands, wide open sheep country, bubbling hot springs, green lush rainforests and a great deal more.
You can swim with dolphins, walk with newborn lambs, go whale watching or fish for fattened trout or a bounty of saltwater fish.
Because it's such a compact place, travel within New Zealand - whether by plane, bus, rail, car or campervan - is affordable and efficient. Accommodation too is cheap and varied. And the culinary promise of venison, fresh seafood, sublime ice cream and award-winning wines should more than whet the appetite.
New Zealand Recreational Activities
New Zealand is a mecca for thrill seekers and is a prime location for anyone interested in wide-open spaces and physical activities. Experience bungy-jumping, parachuting, skydiving, abseiling and flying. You can go tramping, mountain biking, skiing, horseback riding, rock climbing, and 'zorbing'. If that isn't enough how about surface caving, cave rafting, hydro sliding? Thought that was all - wrong. You can go jet boating, white-water sledging, rafting, boogey boarding, canoeing, kayaking, surfing, surf-rafting, and scuba diving.
The most popular activity is still tramping (Kiwi lingo for hiking or trekking). Thousands of kilometers of marked tracks and an efficient network of trampers' huts make it a viable activity for everyone from experienced hikers to country strollers. Be warned that some of the more popular tracks such as the Great Walks will be fairly crowded, especially in summer, so if you prefer solitude contact the nearest Department of Conservation for further information on tramping in their area.
New Zealand is also one of the most popular destinations in the southern hemisphere for skiing and other winter sports because of its reliable and abundant snowfall. This occurs between June and October. There are a number of ski-package tours available and a variety of ski resorts scattered throughout both the north and south islands.
|
|
