Life in New Zealand
If you are thinking about living in New Zealand, it will help to learn about the country and how it compares to your own.
Lifestyle and family
New Zealand is a popular destination for people from all over the world. People visit or move here for the lifestyle and opportunity, as well as the natural beauty, temperate climate and unique culture.
Most people who move here agree that New Zealand has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and an easy-going way of life. New Zealanders have a strong work ethic, but they also believe in having a good work-life balance.
Balanced lifestyle
New Zealand is known worldwide for its quality of life and relaxed pace.
New Zealanders enjoy a balanced lifestyle — this means we work hard but make time for recreational activities and being with family and friends.
Our time off work is protected by law. Every worker gets:
- at least 20 days (4 weeks) of paid annual leave
- an additional 11 days off a year for public holidays
- access to bereavement and sick leave — depending on how long you have worked for the same employer.
New parents may be able to take leave from work to care for their new child, and the government provides some paid parental leave for parents who qualify. Employment New Zealand has further information.
Leave and holidays — Employment New Zealand
Parental leave — Employment New Zealand
If you bring your family
Families who move here find New Zealand has a great sense of community. We are ranked highly for this on the OECD’s Better Life Index, which covers 41 countries.
Better Life Index — Community — OECD
Along with affordable, quality education, children have the opportunity to get close to nature and enjoy a wide range of sport, recreation and adventure activities.
Families also feel safe here. New Zealand is ranked highly on the Global Peace Index — which compares 163 countries for the risk of personal violence.
Global Peace Index — Vision of Humanity
New Zealand also has fewer people than other countries of a similar size — which means more space for everyone.
Not all visas allow you to bring your family — check carefully when you choose a visa to apply for.
Unique indigenous culture
Māori are the indigenous people (tangata whenua) of Aotearoa New Zealand. Their ancestors navigated from the Pacific and settled here around the 13th century, establishing a rich and enduring culture.
Māori tikanga (protocols and customs) runs deeply through our culture. One of the most important Māori customs is 'Manaakitanga'. This means care and hospitality.
Māori culture and the Treaty of Waitangi
Multicultural society
New Zealand's location in the Pacific, and our history, mean we have strong Māori, Polynesian and European influences.
Today, our population is diverse, combining people from around the world, and our culture reflects the people who live here.
As a multicultural nation, we welcome everyone.
Find out more about New Zealand's different ethnic communities on the Ministry for Ethnic Communities website.
Our Communities — Ministry for Ethnic Communities
Temperate climate and natural beauty
New Zealand is a small, long, thin country surrounded by water. The weather can be very different depending on where you live — warmer in the north, cooler in the south.
New Zealand’s climate is 'temperate' which means generally warm, dry summers (December to February) and relatively mild, wet winters (June to August). We experience 4 distinct seasons each year.
In summer, our maximum average temperatures range around 20 to 30°C and in winter, between 10 to 15°C. We get snow on the mountains and the bottom half of the South Island. It does not snow in Auckland and rarely snows in Christchurch.
The smaller size of New Zealand means it is easy to travel around and explore our natural beauty — from surf beaches, native forests and snow-covered volcanoes in the North Island, to the Southern Alps, rivers and deep fjords in the South Island.
Overview of New Zealand's climate — NIWA
Protecting the environment
New Zealand has strong controls over land development, fishing, water quality and conservation. Over 30% of our land area is national parks or other protected areas.
There are large-scale campaigns to remove pests that threaten our native wildlife and protect our endangered species.
What government is doing — Ministry for the Environment
New Zealand has laws about what you can and cannot bring into the country. These rules aim to protect our natural environment.
Your luggage is checked when you arrive at our international airports.
Prohibited and restricted items — New Zealand Customs Service
Travelling to New Zealand? — Ministry for Primary Industries
How to declare items when arriving in New Zealand — Ministry for Primary Industries
Cost of living
How much it costs to live in New Zealand depends on where you plan to live. Like other countries, city living in New Zealand costs more than living in smaller towns.
Some things in New Zealand will cost less than you are used to, and some more, particularly items that travel long distances to get here.
Use the Mercer Cost of Living Survey to see where your city is ranked, compared with Auckland or Wellington (the only New Zealand cities in the survey).
Cost of Living City Ranking — Mercer
Finding work
New Zealand has a lot of work opportunities but getting a job can take time.
Do your research and find out about industries in New Zealand and what skills are in demand.
The jobs we need people for in New Zealand are on our 'Green List'. Even if your job is not on the list, there are many opportunities in New Zealand for people with skills.
Green list roles — jobs we need people for in New Zealand
You can also find job vacancies on the government's careers website, as well as tips on how to find work.
Job vacancy and recruitment websites — careers.govt.nz
Housing
Housing can be expensive in New Zealand — cities are more expensive to buy or rent in than smaller towns or rural areas.
Where you decide to live will depend on whether you need to bring family, and how much you can afford. You may want to live in a house in the suburbs with a garden, or in an apartment in the city, in shared housing with other people, or in rural areas.
Unlike other countries, we do not have a lot of high-density housing, except in Auckland.
It is important to know that some housing in New Zealand may not have central heating or double glazing.
Education
New Zealand has a well-respected and highly ranked education system. See how your country compares in the Legatum Institute’s Prosperity Index.
Prosperity Index — Legatum Institute
In New Zealand, early childhood education is subsidised for children aged 5 and under. Children aged between 6 and 16 must go to school.
State primary and secondary schools are free for domestic students. However, parents usually need to pay for things like school uniforms, stationery and exam fees. State-integrated and private schools usually charge parents compulsory fees.
New Zealand's universities and institutes of technology can provide domestic and international students with internationally recognised qualifications.
Childcare, schools and higher education
Access to public services while in New Zealand
Health care
For most people with resident visas who live in New Zealand, health care and disability services are funded.
Even if you have a temporary visa, you may still be able to get subsidised services in some situations. Check your eligibility on the Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora website.
If you cannot access funded health care, you can still use our health care services but you will need to pay. You should get medical insurance from your home country before you travel here.
Private health care is also available.
Getting health care and finding a doctor
Guide to eligibility for public health services — Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora
Publicly funded health and disability services — Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora
Who can get public health care
Anyone in New Zealand who is injured in an accident will probably be covered by our Accident Compensation scheme (ACC) — even if you were at fault. Because of ACC, you cannot sue for injuries in New Zealand.
Recreation
You have many options for recreation in New Zealand — arts and culture, music, sport, exploring the country or just relaxing.
Our arts scene is distinctive and celebrates our multicultural communities, particularly Māori and Pacific performers and visual artists. Many cities have professional theatre companies, and most towns and cities have galleries and museums.
We have a strong local music scene, a world-class national orchestra and a national opera company.
There are several book, writer and literature festivals around New Zealand each year, some hosting international authors, as well as local ones.
Sports and outdoor activities
In New Zealand you can play a wide range of sports, including rugby, football (soccer), netball, cricket, tennis, golf, hockey, cycling, basketball, athletics, sailing and motorsport. Popular outdoor activities include skiing, mountain biking, fishing, diving, kayaking, windsurfing and kiteboarding. Many sports in New Zealand take place all year round.
Find a list of national sports organisations on Sport New Zealand's website.
Find sport and recreation activities — Sport New Zealand
Even in our biggest cities, you are never too far from a beach, bike trail or national park. If you are spending time outdoors, check the safety information first.
Know before you go — AdventureSmart New Zealand
If you want to go tramping (trekking), hunting, camping and on family holidays, check the regional information for outdoor opportunities in your area.
National parks — Department of Conservation
National Parks — 100% Pure New Zealand
Fair trading for goods and services
In New Zealand, you can expect to pay the advertised price or fee for goods and services. Hidden or unadvertised fees for goods and services are usually illegal.
New Zealand has low levels of corruption. Officials and people in authority do their jobs without requiring extra cash, 'service fees' or favours.
We have laws to protect people from being treated unfairly when buying goods or services.
Your rights as a consumer — Commerce Commission New Zealand
Safe and secure
In general, New Zealand is a safe and stable country. You can walk or cycle the streets, use playgrounds, catch public transport and do the things you want to do.
People in New Zealand are entitled to basic human rights and freedoms to protect them from unlawful discrimination. For example, you cannot be treated unfairly because of your skin colour, age, race, sexual orientation, religion or disability.
Human rights and freedoms — New Zealand Government
Police are trained to help and protect everyone in New Zealand. They cannot harass you.
Usually, police officers in New Zealand do not carry guns.
Your rights with Police — New Zealand Police
Staying safe and knowing your rights
Safety around animals
New Zealand has many unique native fish, insects, birds, lizards and frogs. Animals like bears, lions, tigers and elephants are only found in zoos. There are no snakes in New Zealand.
New Zealand also has a lot of farm animals. It is important to treat any animals with respect and keep a safe distance — do not enter farms without permission.
Find out more about our native animals on the Department of Conservation website.
Native animals — Department of Conservation
Most of the spiders in New Zealand are harmless, except for the katipō, redback and white-tailed spiders.
Find more information about harmful spiders in New Zealand and how to deal with spider bites.
Spiders in New Zealand — HealthEd
Economy and trade
New Zealand has an open market economy.
International trade makes up more than half of New Zealand’s total economic activity. Read the economic snapshot for New Zealand by the OECD.
New Zealand Economic Snapshot — OECD
Because international trade is so important, our economy is very outward looking.
We have Free Trade Agreements with the European Union, UK, China, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Asean Asia-Pacific nations including Indonesia and the Philippines.
We are also part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Find out more about New Zealand’s trade agreements.
Trade — Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Government and voting
In New Zealand, you can vote if you are a New Zealand citizen or resident visa holder who has lived here for 12 months or more.
In our 3-yearly national elections we use a Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system — each voter has 2 votes. One for the candidate you want to represent the area you live in, and one for the party you want to represent you.
New Zealand has a prime minister, not a president. Our head of state is the sovereign of the United Kingdom.
How government works — New Zealand Government
If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, you do not need to apply for a visa to live and work in New Zealand. You can be given a visa on arrival at the border.
Find out more about living in New Zealand if you are from the Pacific Islands.