NEW ZEALAND
THE LAND, THE PEOPLE, THE CLIMATE, THE LIFESTYLE
Study in NZ | About NZ
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The Land and the People
Situated in
the South Pacific about 2,000 kilometres off the east coast of Australia,
New Zealand is a unique country notable for its beautiful and varied scenery,
safety, environmental cleanliness and a people who have a reputation for
friendliness, strength and independence. New Zealand offers a sample of
almost every possible landscape ranging from the rolling green farmlands
of Europe to barren volcanic desert highlands reminiscent of the US Southwest,
the golden beaches of the South Pacific, the rain forests of South East
Asia, the majestic snow covered mountains of Europe and and the stunning
fjords of Norway- all in a compact, easy to see package.
Government
New Zealand is a Parliamentary democracy, offering a safe, stable political environment for international students and visitors. It has a population of only 3.8 million in an area similar in size to the United Kingdom or Japan minus Hokkaido. New Zealand is primarily a European culture which has absorbed many of the rich and historic cultural elements from the Maori and Pacific Island heritages, and now from its rapidly growing multi-cultural Asian communities.
With a well educated population, New Zealanders excel in many areas - arts, science, technology and manufacturing. Schooling is compulsory until the age of 16, but a steadily increasing number of students remain at school to gain qualifications for further study at tertiary institutions such as polytechnics and universities.
Major Cities
The capital
of New Zealand is Wellington (population approximately 400,000), situated
at the southern tip of the North 
Island. Other major cities and towns are Auckland
(population approximately 1,000,000), Hamilton (population 120,000), Palmerston
North (population approximately 75,000), Napier/Hastings (population approximately
100,000), Christchurch (population approximately 400,000) and Dunedin (population
approximately 110,000).
Climate
Situated in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand's seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. Generally speaking, the climate is temperate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers.
Summer: December - February
Autumn: March - May
Winter: June - August
Spring: September - November
New Zealand Currency
There are no restrictions on the amount of currency overseas visitors or students can bring into New Zealand. New Zealand currency is made up of dollars and cents. Most overseas currencies are accepted and easily exchanged in New Zealand banks and exchange centres. If choosing our school through Kiwi College, students (or their parents) pay for tuition and other fees by sending bank-drafts directly to New Zealand institutions where they intend to study through their local bank's overseas exchange department. Overseas travellers cheques and credit cards such as Visa, American Express, Bank card, Mastercard, Diners Club and JCB are accepted in most places, and it is very easy to set up a bank account in New Zealand and get a cash card.
Religion
For international students most major cities have churches, temples, mosques, synagogues and centres of worship for most religions.
New Zealand observes most Christian holidays, and whilst the majority of the population are Christians, there are a large number of people from other religious faiths such as Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus. For students who have special dietary or religious requirements, home-stay families and boarding hostels can ensure that these are respected.
Holidays
Apart from national holidays, education institutions are generally closed on Saturday and Sunday. The main school (and family) holiday period is from mid-December to late January. There are shorter holidays in April, July and September.
Television/Radio/Newspapers
As an English speaking country, all media is in English. There are five main television channels and numerous satellite channels. New Zealand has numerous AM/FM radio stations, both national and regional. Daily newspapers (morning and evening editions) are produced in the major cities. The video system is PAL 625.
Electricity
Electrical appliances would need to be adapted to the New Zealand voltage of 230 volts, 50 hertz.
Travel To and Within New Zealand
Upon arrival in New Zealand, most educational institutions will arrange for a representative to meet and welcome international students at the airport and take them to their accommodation.
New Zealand has two main international airports, Auckland and Christchurch, served by 24 international airlines offering either non-stop, direct or online services to North America, South America, Australia, Asia, the UK and Europe, as well as the neighbouring Pacific Islands. Wellington, the hub of the domestic network, also has a service to the major east coast Australian cities. Distances between major attractions in New Zealand are short and there is a good transport network. This makes independent travel in the country easy. There are two main domestic airlines, Air New Zealand, Ansett New Zealand which fly between the major cities and resort areas. Commuter airlines service other towns and are linked to the two main airlines. Just about every town and city in New Zealand is linked to a network of coach and rail services. The North and South Islands are linked by modern ferries operating between Wellington and Picton which carry passengers and vehicles using a drive-on/drive-off service.
Sporting and Recreational Facilities
With such an
abundance of open space accessible to everyone, sports are an important
activity for many people. Rugby football is the national sport but many
others have a large following.
Schools, universities
and colleges offer excellent sport facilities for students who want to play
rugby, tennis, squash, cricket, basketball, soccer, netball, softball and
other team sports.The wide open spaces and national parks have influenced
New Zealanders' love of outdoor activities. Tramping (hiking), camping and
skiing are all popular activities. There are hundreds of beaches ideal for
swimming, surfing and diving - many of them within walking distance of student
campuses. New Zealand also has some of the most beautiful and challenging
golf courses in the world, and many people can enjoy the game on the uncrowded
greens and inexpensive private and public clubs.
Social and Cultural Activities
New Zealanders come from many ethnic backgrounds. As an English-speaking country, New Zealand also has a strong Maori cultural heritage which is staging a revival. There are many different ethnic communities including European, Asian and Pacific Islanders living in New Zealand.
Social and cultural events take place throughout the year all over New Zealand. They range from concerts, operas and exhibitions to Maori cultural gatherings in the marae (meeting house). What will impress international students most are the diverse ethnic communities living in relative cultural and social harmony.
Entertainment
New Zealand
offers an array of exciting entertainment. All the major cities and towns
have cinemas, nightclubs, art galleries and museums and a vibrant cafe -
restaurant scene offering a growing and diverse array of ethnic cuisines.
In addition to these, seven professional theatre companies
operate throughout the country and pop concerts feature regularly, often
with overseas artists. Five professional orchestras perform frequently and
the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, The Royal New Zealand Ballet and the
New Zealand String Quartet tour throughout the country as well as overseas.
Daily newspapers provide details of local entertainment and night life.
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