• Climate
• Geography
• History
• Demographics
• Government
• Education & Health, Society
• Economy

New Zealand lies in the southern Pacific Ocean 1,600 kilometres east of Australia. It is made up of the North and South Islands and a number of smaller islands with a total land area of 270,500 square kilometres.  The main North and South Islands are separated by Cook Strait.

It is similar in size to Britain & Japan but has the population of only 3.9 million people. Most New Zealanders live in modern cities with all the amenities of modern life. However, even Auckland, the largest city with a population of 1.3 million is small by international standards.

With its small population New Zealand offers all citizens a pleasant lifestyle without the pressures experienced in the world's major centre's of population. The small population also means that the New Zealand economy depends largely on overseas trade and it is here, as well as in local service businesses, that migrants to New Zealand will find the greatest business opportunities. Together, the lifestyle and business opportunities make New Zealand a very attractive place for you to consider. Wherever you go in New Zealand, one thing is guaranteed - variety. Whether in landscape, cultures or adventure, you'll find experiences and opportunities.

Climate

In general New Zealand enjoys mild, stable climate with temperature ranging from 28 degree Celsius in summer to 5 degrees in winter. Four distinctive seasons are reversed to the countries in the northern hemisphere - January /February are mid summer in New Zealand. The nation maintains green and pollution free environment and is the natural habitat of many unusual wild life species only unique in this country. Northland and Auckland have a subtropical climate and most of the country experiences at least 2000 hours of sunshine a year.
 

There is a lot of difference in climate between regions east and west of the mountains. The mountain ranges that extend for most of New Zealand's length act as a barrier to weather approaching from the west, causing a lot of difference in climate between regions east and west of the mountains. The average annual rainfall varies from 300 millimetres in Central Otago to about 13,000 millimetres in the Southern Alps.

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Geography

New Zealand is at the meeting point of two tectonic plates. This affects the North and South Islands differently. In the North Island this gives rise to volcanoes and other geothermal activity including boiling mud pools, natural hot springs and fountains of hot mud and water called geysers. Most of this activity is centred around Rotorua and the central North Island volcanic district, which contains New Zealand's largest lake Taupo and most of the country's active volcanoes.

New Zealand has a long and varied coastline with bays, harbours, cliffs, long sandy deserted beaches as well as the highest fiords in the world. The furthermost you can get from the sea is only 128km, and even then you will be close to a lake. New Zealand's major cities are built around extremely beautiful natural harbours and you will be amazed by the active family and cultural life of New Zealanders.

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History

New Zealand was uninhabited by humans until about 1000 years ago when Maori explorers arrived, most likely from the Cook Islands and central Polynesia. In 1769 the British explorer Captain James Cook arrived in New Zealand waters and not until around the early 1800's and Europeans began to settle in New Zealand. By 1800, when Europeans began slowly arriving the Maori population was about 100,000. Some of the Maoris called their new homeland "Aotearoa" translated as "land of the long white cloud." In a very real sense all New Zealanders are migrants.

In 1840 Maori Chiefs and representatives of the British Crown signed the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document and established the country as a nation. In the same year selected groups from the United Kingdom began the colonization process. Expanding European settlement led to conflict with Maori most notably in the Maori land wars of the 1860s.

By the end of the 19th century improved transportation facilities made possible a great overseas trade in wool, meat, and dairy products. By the 1890s, parliamentary government along democratic lines was well established and New Zealand's social institutions assumed their present form. Women received the right to vote in national elections in 1893. The turn of the century brought sweeping social reforms that built the foundation for New Zealand's version of the welfare state.

Maori gradually recovered from population decline and through interaction and intermarriage with settlers and missionaries, adopted much of European culture. In recent decades Maori have become increasingly urbanized and have become more politically active and culturally assertive.

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Demographics

New Zealand has a multi cultural society, with a population of slightly less than 4 million. Nearly 75% of the people including a large majority of Maori, live on the North Island. Ethnic backgrounds divide into 4 main categories: New Zealand - European, Maori (the first settlers in New Zealand), Polynesian Islanders and other ethnic groups such as Chinese, Indians and South Africans.

New Zealand's society reflects many years of migration from all parts of the globe. Most New Zealanders are of British descent with others from European cultures such as Greek, Italian, French, Dutch, Dalmatian, Scandinavian and German. More recently people from islands throughout the Pacific such as Samoa and Fiji, have also settled here along with immigrants from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. About 15% claim descent from the indigenous Maori population, which is of Polynesian origin. Nearly 85% of New Zealand's population lives in urban areas (with almost one-third in Auckland alone) where the service and manufacturing industries are growing rapidly. New Zealanders colloquially refer to themselves as "Kiwis," after the country's native bird.

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Government

New Zealand is a democracy with a parliamentary system of government, inherited largely from Britain along with the British legal system. The head of government in New Zealand is the Prime Minister, now Helen Clark. As a constitutional monarchy the Head of State is Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, represented in New Zealand by the Governor General. This however is by mutual agreement and tradition and has little to do with New Zealand's actual day-to-day governmental process.

The judiciary system consists of the Court of Appeals, the High Court and the District Courts. New Zealand law has three principal sources: English common law, certain statutes of the UK Parliament enacted before 1947 and statutes of the New Zealand Parliament.

Local government in New Zealand has only the powers conferred upon it by parliament. The country's 12 regional councils are directly elected, set their own tax rates and have a chairman elected by their members. Regional council responsibilities include environmental management, regional aspects of civil defence and transportation planning. The 74 territorial authorities, 15 city councils, 58 district councils in rural areas and one county council for the Chatham Islands are directly elected, raise local taxes at rates they themselves set and are headed by popularly elected mayors.

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Education and Health

New Zealand guarantees every child in the country free education from age 5 to 16. Compulsory education begins at age 5 in primary school. Children aged 11 and 12 attend intermediate schools, before they advance to secondary schools (high schools). After 3 years secondary school education students must prepare to take the school certificate examination. For students who wish to obtain higher qualification (tertiary education) New Zealand has 8 Universities and over 20 Polytechnics. Each University/Polytechnic offers wide variety of courses and subjects.

There are three main types of schools in New Zealand:

• State Schools are funded by the government and are free to anyone under the age of 19. Most secondary schools in New Zealand are state schools. While government-funded schooling is free most state schools still request donations from parents.
• Private schools are owned and run by an independent board but are only allowed to operate if they meet certain standards. Private schools charge fees.
• Integrated schools are schools that used to be private but are now state schools. They follow the state school curriculum but also have their own individual beliefs - usually religious or ethical. Integrated schools charge fees but they're usually not as expensive as private schools.

New Zealand's health care system is mainly funded by the Government. If you have New Zealand residence you are entitled to receive publicly funded health and disability service in New Zealand. Government funding means you are eligible for free public hospital services, subsidies on prescription items and a range of support services for people with disabilities. The Government also provides subsidies for visits to the family doctor (General Practitioner or GP) and prescriptions for young children, people who need frequent health care and people on low incomes.

Health care during pregnancy and child birth is free unless you choose private health services. Pre-school, primary and intermediate school children have free basic dental care. Children aged under six years old get additional government subsidies for visits to a GP.

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Society

New Zealand is a great country for sports and leisure - its countryside offers limitless possibilities and New Zealanders enjoy playing sport. You can explore the outdoors with tramping, skiing and cycling, or take up team sports such as rugby, basketball and netball. New Zealand golf courses are of international standard, not at all overcrowded and charge very reasonable green fees.

As well as the National Opera, Royal New Zealand Ballet and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, many cities have theatres, orchestras and sometimes opera companies of their own. Auckland is home to several professional modern dance companies, while Wellington is acknowledged as the theatre capital with three full time professional theatres operating. Recently the new Museum of New Zealand ('Te Papa') opened in a huge specially designed building on Wellington's waterfront and showcases New Zealand Art and culture as well as hosting international exhibitions.

Auckland, often called "The City of Sails" has the worlds highest proportion of boats per person and is also currently the home of the America's Cup, yachting's most sought after trophy.

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Economy

New Zealand maintains reasonably stable economy with approximately 3.0% GDP growth and around 2.5% inflation rate. Agriculture is traditionally the basis of New Zealand economy and international trading. However, recently tourism achieved remarkable development and is now also one of the most important industries in New Zealand.

Leading agricultural exports include meat, dairy products, forest products, fruit and vegetables, fish and wool. The country has substantial hydroelectric power and sizable reserves of natural gas. Leading manufacturing sectors are food processing, metal fabrication and wood and paper products.

GDP per head: US$ 22.100

• Major industries: Food processing, wood and paper products, wool, textiles, dairy products, iron and steel
• Major trading partners: Australia, Japan, USA, UK

Another growing trend within NZ is the encouragement shown by New Zealand Government for businesses to prepare themselves for industries involved in the "knowledge economy" such as computer software development and genetic engineering. As a result, highly skilled technical professionals migrants who can contribute to the society are in high demand in New Zealand. Overall, New Zealand has a free market economy, accepting foreign investment freely with minimal restriction

New Zealand's economy has been helped by strong economic relations with Australia. Australia and New Zealand are partners in "Closer Economic Relations" (CER), which allows for free trade in goods and most services. Since 1990, CER has created a single market of more than 22 million people and this has provided new opportunities for New Zealand exporters. Australia is now the destination of 21% of New Zealand's exports. New Zealand initiated a free trade agreement with Singapore in September 2000 and is seeking other bilateral/regional trade agreements in the Pacific area.

New Zealand welcomes and encourages foreign investment without discrimination. The Overseas Investment Commission (OIC) must give consent to foreign investments that would control 25% or more of businesses or property worth more than NZ$ 50 million. Restrictions and approval requirements also apply to certain investments in land and in the commercial fishing industry.

Unemployment currently stands at 5.2%, which gives New Zealand the 13th lowest rate of unemployment in the world. This was predicted to fall to under 5% by the end of the year but is now thought more likely to stabilise around this level with higher rates of inward migration, New Zealanders returning home after the events of September 11 and fewer New Zealanders leaving to work overseas.

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Contact info@activemigration.com for details.