Introduction

Far removed from the continuing political crises that seem to envelope most of the western world, New Zealand is an unspoiled natural paradise offering the best in modern living combined within an unrivaled, peaceful environment.

Famous for its diverse and spectacular landscapes, New Zealand’s natural beauty offers a unique environment in which to enjoy an exciting and varied lifestyle and bring up a family in a secure and modern country.

Finding somewhere to live in New Zealand

There are basically two ways to buy property in New Zealand and that’s either at auction or by buying real estate for sale at a fixed price.

Both processes are straightforward if an investor understands the protocol and necessary steps in the entire property buying process. Read our New Zealand Property Buyers Guide

Schools in New Zealand

Whether you have children and are interested in early childhood education, teenagers going to secondary school, or you’re interested in tertiary studies at one of New Zealand’s universities or techs, you’ll find New Zealand has a quality education system.

There are many options for children of pre-school age, and the country has an excellent government funded education system that is free until the age of 19. A wide variety of universities and institutes of technology provide many choices for tertiary level study.

Healthcare in New Zealand

You’ll have to pay for routine visits to the doctor or dentist, but there are subsidies for children and for people on lower incomes. The public health system provides for more expensive services such as hospital treatment.

New Zealand has a highly developed and excellent public health system. As a consequence most people rely on the state system to satisfy their health needs. Also funded from taxes a visit to a hospital will be "free". With hospitals in all the major cities the availability to the general population is generally very good.

Finding a job in New Zealand

New Zealand has the lowest unemployment rate among all developed countries, with just 3.6% unemployment.

Currently the country is enjoying the strongest job market in a generation. 87,000 new jobs were created in the last year alone.

The country has moved away from a reliance on farming as the principal generator of wealth and employment and this has seen a demand for professionals across a broad spectrum.

Manufacturing has grown in importance and most manufacturers aggressively chase export markets. Exports are important to the economy. The strength of New Zealand’s economy over recent years has highlighted a growing skill base shortage in the New Zealand labour market. The labour market continues to record strong growth.

The lifestyle in New Zealand

Although New Zealand is a lot like other western nations, we have some special characteristics that make our culture unique.

New Zealand Weather

New Zealand is blessed with mild temperatures, good year-round rainfall, and lots of sunshine. Hot summers, beautiful spring and autumn colours, and crisp winter snow mean that an outdoor lifestyle can be enjoyed all year round.