Life in New Zealand

Popular for its low crime rates (the police don’t even need to carry guns); New Zealand has got to be one of the safest places in the world to live. It is a democratic country run on the Westminster parliamentary system.   

New Zealand is free of abject poverty and hunger and doesn’t live by class systems. It promotes freedom of speech, expression and religious beliefs. New Zealand is certainly a country of equal opportunity! Whilst New Zealand prides itself on being a liberal country there are laws which it enforces and quite fairly so. Alcohol consumption is prohibited for those under the age of 18, the first stage of driver’s licensing is not permitted until the age of 15, drug usage and selling is strictly illegal, only permanent residents may apply for firearm permits, discrimination is not acceptable and smoking restrictions are placed in public places.   

The environment isn’t congested with the pollution so many other places have due to over crowding of the cities and even though New Zealand is tucked away in the Southern Hemisphere it remains multiculturally diverse. In fact with just over four million people living in New Zealand, most are either immigrants or descended from immigrants.

The public health systems in New Zealand are world standard with essential health care provided free as well as government subsidies for low income earners. The hospitals are clean and maintain a high standard.

Many employment categories for immigrants are available and include: The Skilled Migrant Category (for those who have skill/qualifications/experiences much needed in New Zealand), Work to Residence (allowing temporary working visas for those seeking permanent residence) and the Relocating Company Category (where key employees are required by companies moving to New Zealand).

One New Zealand dollar is equivalent to 0.45 Euros so clearly the cost of living in the “Land of the Long White Cloud” is economical. Their prices for consumers are competitive and the cost of housing is so reduced that around two thirds of the population of New Zealand own their own homes. Housing is varied with inner-city apartments and houses on the market alongside townhouses with views of the seaside, suburban homes and small rural farmlets.

With so much to offer, not to mention by such a welcoming, friendly people it would be hard to find a better, more stable and secure country than New Zealand.