Student Experience in NZ
November 2, 2008
“I hope I can come back soon. Will terribly miss you!”
This is the last line of the letter I left, posted at my host family’s fridge door. It’s true. I will. Because they were good. They treated me like their daughter. It’s a blessing when I saw this site about studying in a foreign land.
New Zealand is indeed foreign to me. But once I was there, I felt right at home. Maybe it was the bountiful, glorious nature that surrounded me, foods that never felt alien to my unadventurous tongue or the people who live here.
I came to New Zealand to study. After all, New Zealand is famous for providing excellent education. There are numerous schools to choose from. All of them are international standard. And New Zealand is a fairly safe place so it’s a no-brainer.
I stayed for only three months but I learned tons. Even though I only attended short-course program, I am certain that everything I was taught was usable. The intense program made me fully concentrate and also appreciate every free time I had with my host family.
Such a short stint did not stop me from exploring the breathtaking sceneries around me, the museums and shops.
Everything I heard and seen before I went there was nothing compared to what I personally experienced. Since I did not have to worry much about my travel papers, (it’s unfussy and easy to obtain permits anyway). And since my stay is short, it’s as if I just took a break and hang around in my aunt’s apartment. (Note: There is an existing law that other foreign citizens have equal term of citizen rights with New Zealand’s natives, so you better look that one up).
One helpful site for me is Study in New Zealand
Maori New Year
June 28, 2008
Matariki or Maori New Year will be celebrated throughout New Zealand in June - marking the most significant event on our country’s cultural calendar.
Nowadays the event is recognised by Pakeha as well, with an increasing awareness of its importance within New Zealand’s unique culture.
Matariki is also attracting increased international attention and high profile media representatives from throughout the world will attend this year’s celebrations.
For visitors to the country in June, Matariki offers a rare opportunity to experience every aspect of New Zealand’s unique Maori culture, first hand.
The official 2008 celebrations kick off in Wellington with a dawn service at Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand, on June 6.
A series of public and private events will then be held throughout the country during the month with dates of celebrations differing depending on various Iwi or tribes. Festivals and community events will showcase local food, art, fashion, music and craft.
In Northland special celebrations will focus on Hokianga Harbour, the oldest inhabited part of New Zealand, where local communities will come together to revive traditions of the past and celebrate with craft workshops, art and jewellery exhibitions, feasts and a Celestial Navigation Tour. Visitors will also be able to experience a hosted weekend on a local marae.
Auckland plans several special events and the Stardome Observatory offers the chance to actually view the pre-dawn rising of the star cluster Matariki. Auckland Museum is to host a range of special educational tours covering Maori customs and protocols surrounding fishing and the Maori God of the Sea as well as storytelling tours and Maori food events.
New Zealand master carver Rangi Wills will be demonstrating the art of carving a traditional fish hook and free classes will show visitors how to fold flax stars.
In the Bay of Plenty a public artwork or Te Pou o Matariki in downtown Tauranga is providing a focus for events.
Celebrations in the region include an outdoor concert with kapa haka (dance) groups; a special Matariki exhibition at the Creative Tauranga community art gallery with works by local artists; Trek Mauao to see the Matariki constellation; a manutukutuku (or kite) building and flying event at Mt Maunganui; educational cultural tours and an eight course food demonstration with Charles Royal the well known New Zealand Maori chef who specialises in using traditional local ingredients.
New Plymouth and Whanganui in the Taranaki region celebrate the arrival of Puanga also known as Riegel which appears in the north eastern horizon in late may or early June. New Plymouth’s celebrations centre on Pukeariki the area’s cultural and heritage centre also known as ‘Hill of Chiefs’ which has special significance to Maori. In pre European times Maori chiefs were buried here.
The Matariki programme includes literature, craft and musical events as well as an astronomy information programme at the local observatory. Whanganui’s festival is an open invitation for everyone to learn and experience all aspects of traditional Maori life from astral navigation to a cutting edge fashion show, art exhibition, planting day, marae open days, kapa haka and musical events.
Rotorua will celebrate with a large art exhibition, a HOT Winter Mud Festival and “FBI Raids Close to Home” a play about FBI raids into a North American Indian reservation.
Hawkes Bay hosts several festival events with fireworks displays, a Maori hand games contest, special three course dinner event at Matariki Wines and activities and interactive events at Marineland in Napier.
Wellington’s Matariki events include a number of concerts and contemporary dance shows; a Matariki Starlab session at Te Papa’s mini-planetarium; a Te Huka a tai whanau day (Matariki family day); ‘Storyplace’ sessions for children to learn about the Maori world; the 50th anniversary of the first exhibition of contemporary Maori art; a hangi cuisine cook off; a performing arts festival for secondary schools and a fashion extravaganza involving politician Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan.
In Southland, the region’s popular Fire and Ice Festival has been transformed into a celebration of Maori New Year with a dramatic visual performance featuring two well known New Zealand artists Rima Te Wiata and Kristian Lavercome.
Matariki celebrations throughout the country also coincide with New Zealand’s World Environment Day events and people will be reminded to make their Maori New Year a sustainable one.
Copyright: 1999-2008 Tourism New Zealand, the official website of the New Zealand Tourism Board.
Photographer: Holger Leue (h.leue@geonet.com)
Photographer: Adventure Films (www.nzphotography.com)
Photographer: Ian Trafford (www.iantraffordphotos.com)
NZ FAQ’s
June 22, 2008
Questions
* When is the best time to visit New Zealand?
* What’s the climate like? What clothes should I take?
* Do I need a passport or visa to enter New Zealand?
* Can I use my credit cards/ATM cards in New Zealand?
* Are there any poisonous animals in New Zealand?.
* Is it safe to drink the water in New Zealand?
* What is the voltage of electricity supply in New Zealand? Do I need to take a converter?
* What rental car agencies are in New Zealand?
* Where are the international airports located in New Zealand?
* When is the best time to go trekking/hiking in New Zealand?
* Should I go on a guided walk or an independent walk?
* What types of accommodation are available in New Zealand?
* Do I need to pre-book accommodation and transport?
* What is a ‘Farmstay’?
* Which international hotel chains operate in New Zealand?
* Where is the capital of New Zealand?
* What is a ‘Kiwi’?
* What kind of night-life is available in New Zealand?
* What types of activities are available for children?
* When are School Holidays in New Zealand?
Answers
When is the best time to visit New Zealand
New Zealand is an extremely popular summer destination, both for overseas and domestic visitors. Tourism New Zealand strongly recommends you book at least your first two nights accommodation during the months of January, February and March to avoid disappointment. It’s a good idea to make contact with the local i-SITE visitor centre in the region you are travelling to, and discuss with them whether late bookings will be available.
Summer and winter temperatures vary by only about 10ºC over most of the country, making New Zealand an ideal holiday destination all year round. New Zealand has four quite distinct seasons - Spring (Sept-Nov), Summer (Dec-Feb), Autumn/Fall (Mar-May) and Winter (June-Aug). In summer there’s plenty of sunshine, and activities in and around the water include rafting, snorkelling, diving and kayaking. You’ll find snow on the mountains in winter and excellent skiing. Away from the mountains, New Zealand winters are mild and temperatures generally do not fall below freezing.
What’s the climate like?
New Zealand’s seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere. This means that the warmest months are December, January and February, while the coldest are in June, July and August. Don’t let cold months put you off - winters tend to be short and generally fairly mild. That said, on any given day the weather and temperature can change unexpectedly and sometimes dramatically. You should be prepared for that, particularly if you are going hiking or doing other outdoor activities.
What clothes should I take?
Dress is informal and relaxed on most occasions. Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants and night-spots. Men are generally not expected to wear suits and ties, except in a few of the top formal bars and restaurants in major cities. In summer a jacket and sweater should be included in your luggage should the weather turn cooler or you visit higher altitudes. You can expect some rain, so also include a light rainproof jacket or coat. If visiting between May and September, pack warm winter garments and layer your clothing.
Do I need a passport or visa to enter New Zealand?
All visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave the country. Most visitors who intend to stay for less than three months do not require a visa. If you want to stay longer than three months, or your country of origin does not have a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand, then you will need to apply for a Visitor’s Visa. Read our Passports and Visas section carefully, and if you need more information look at the Immigration New Zealand website or the New Zealand Embassy website.
Can I use my credit cards/ATM cards in New Zealand?
All major international credit cards can be used in New Zealand and Travellers Cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores. If your credit card is encoded with a PIN number you will be able to withdraw cash from automatic teller machines (ATMs) situated at banks and shopping centres throughout the country. If possible only withdraw small amounts of cash at a time and always shield your PIN number.
Credit cards with “Smart Card” technology
Smart cards are payment cards that carry an embedded microchip allowing them to store encrypted, confidential information, and carry multiple applications from different industries alongside debit, credit, or prepaid payment applications. Please note these cards, which often have no magnetic strip, are not accepted everywhere in New Zealand. You may experience problems using these cards, and we therefore recommend you contact you card provider for further information before arriving in New Zealand.
Are there any poisonous animals in New Zealand?
New Zealand has no snakes or dangerous wild animals, making it safe for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities.
Is it safe to drink the water in New Zealand?
New Zealand cities and towns have excellent water supplies and in all cases tap water is fresh and safe to drink. Water from rivers and lakes should be boiled, chemically treated or filtered before drinking to avoid stomach upsets.
What is the voltage of electricity supply in New Zealand? Do I need to take a converter?
Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts (50 hertz), although most hotels and motels provide 110 volt AC sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. For all other equipment, an adapter/converter is necessary, unless the item has a multi-voltage option. Please note that power outlets only accept flat three or two-pin plugs, depending on whether an earth connection is fitted.
What rental car agencies are in New Zealand?
The main international companies such as Avis, Hertz and Budget operate in New Zealand. There are also local rental companies.
Where are the international airports located in New Zealand?
New Zealand’s international airports are at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Some flights from Australia also land at Hamilton, Palmerston North, Queenstown and Dunedin. You’ll find more information about New Zealand airports in the Getting to and Around New Zealand section.
When is the best time to go trekking/hiking in New Zealand?
Tracks such as the Abel Tasman, Heaphy and Queen Charlotte Sounds Walkway located at the top of the South Island can be walked all year round. However, those tracks at higher altitudes such as the world famous Milford Track, Kepler and Routeburn are closed in the winter due to snow. You must book to walk the Milford and Routeburn tracks, which are open between October and April.
Should I go on a guided walk or an independent walk?
If you like hot showers and other home comforts, you should book a guided walk. But if you don’t mind ‘roughing it a bit’ then try independent walking, carrying your own pack and staying in basic huts or tents. If you wish to walk the popular Routeburn and Milford Tracks, you will need to book through the Department of Conservation’s Great Walks Booking Office. Email greatwalksbooking@doc.govt.nz for further information or fax +64 3 2498 515.
What types of accommodation are available in New Zealand?
New Zealand offers a wide range of accommodation options from top-class hotels, exclusive lodges, motels, guest houses, and farm or homestays to holiday parks and backpacker hostels. You might also like the freedom to discover New Zealand at your own pace in a campervan. Two, four or six berth vans are available to rent, offering all the comforts of home including a shower, refrigerator and microwave. See our Accommodation section for more information.
Do I need to pre-book accommodation and transport?
It’s a good idea to book at least your first two nights of accommodation in advance, especially during the busy summer period in New Zealand - from December to February. Booking transport in advance is also recommended, especially in summer. Visit the local Visitor Information Centre to book further travel.
What is a ‘Farmstay’?
Farm and homestays are an ideal way to get to meet local people and experience a slice of New Zealand rural life. Depending on the kind of farm, you may get the chance to share home cooked meals with your hosts and join in with milking cows, shearing sheep, lambing, kiwifruit harvesting or whatever else is happening on the farm.
Which international hotel chains operate in New Zealand?
A wide range of international hotel brands operate in New Zealand including;
* Accor Group - (Ibis, Mecure Grand, Mecure, Novotel and Sofitel)
* Carlton
* Choice - (Comfort Inns and Quality Inns)
* Grand Chancellor
* Hilton
* Hyatt
* InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn
* Langham
* Millennium, Copthorne and Kingsgate
* Peppers
* Rydges
* Outrigger
* Stamford Plaza
Where is the capital of New Zealand?
Wellington is the political, banking and financial centre for New Zealand. The Parliament building known as the ‘Beehive’ is one of the city’s top attractions. The National Archives, National Library and Old Government Buildings (the second largest wooden building in the world) are located nearby and are open to casual visitors free of charge.
What is a ‘Kiwi’?
The kiwi, New Zealand’s national emblem, is a flightless bird with hair-like feathers and a long, slender bill which it uses to pull worms and insects out of the ground. Found only in New Zealand, it is active at night in the wilderness areas of the country. Be sure to visit one of the many kiwi houses where you can watch them under special ‘nocturnal’ lighting. New Zealanders often refer to themselves as Kiwis, and the term is also used as a short form for the famous kiwifruit. On the stock exchange, the New Zealand Dollar is also referred to as ‘the kiwi’.
What kind of night-life is available in New Zealand?
Lively DJ and band scenes, particularly in the larger cities, have given New Zealand’s night life a renewed vibrancy. You will find a variety of night-clubs, cabarets, pubs, concerts and live performances to choose from, and there are also four casinos, in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
What types of activities are available for children?
If you are thinking about visiting with your family, you can be confident that New Zealand has a wide range of activities to keep your children happy. New Zealand’s parks and large areas of unspoilt wilderness are ideal places to expand your children’s appreciation of wildlife and the outdoors. Horse riding, snow activities, whale watching, fruit picking and wildlife centres and zoos are just some of the choices available.
If you are visiting the larger centres, you will find a range of themed attractions including Rainbow’s End (Auckland), Splash Planet (Hastings), Marine Land (Napier) and the International Antarctic Centre (Christchurch). Te Papa, New Zealand’s interactive national museum, has a range of activities for the whole family to enjoy, including Story Place, a haven for small children.
Most family restaurants have childrens’ menus and high chairs. Many cafes also have high chairs, and a toy basket to amuse babies and toddlers is becoming increasingly common in both cafes and shops. Most public gardens have well equipped play areas for young children, as do many holiday parks. Adventure playlands such as Chipmunks or Lollipop’s Playland are always popular with the very young — these can be found in most main centres.
Visitor Information Centres are a good source of information about activities that are fun for the whole family. The most up to date details for School Holidays in New Zealand can be found at www.moe.govt.nz.
Photographer: Kieran Scott (www.canvass.co.nz)
New Zealand Islands
June 22, 2008
Shrouded in forest or speckled with farms and holiday homes, islands have a special charm that kicks in the moment you step ashore.
Not counting the North and South Islands, our largest island is Rakiura - known to most as Stewart Island. This southern paradise is home to our newest national park.
It’s a place for hiking, bird watching and star gazing. Other islands devoted to the protection of wildlife include Kapiti north of Wellington and Tiritiri Matangi in the Hauraki Gulf.
From Auckland city, you can catch ferries to populated islands such as Waiheke and Great Barrier. Waiheke is a picturesque blend of farmland, forest, beaches, vineyards and olive groves. Great Barrier has the kind of rugged, untouched beauty that appeals to adventurers.
Further north you can discover the Bay of Islands, a large area of offshore islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula. Charter a boat, hire a kayak or catch a cruise to enjoy this spectacular maritime playground.
The Bay of Islands
In this place of calm water ocean and golden sand two peoples came together to form the Maori-European country we know today as New Zealand.
The unique and colourful history of the Bay of Islands is an unusual backdrop to a place renowned today as a naturally beautiful ocean playground.
On the east coast of Northland a length of sand and rock coastline circles a sea pierced by 150 islands.
Discovered by legendary Maori navigator Kupe, visited by Captain Cook in 1769, home to the Nga Puhi tribe (iwi) of Maori, the Bay of Islands is a truly remarkable area.
History and culture
Not so long ago this land saw the throng and bustle, blood and tears of ship deserters, whalers, sealers and sailors. The Bay of Islands, birthplace of New Zealand as we know it today, was once a bustling seafaring and political base fusing Maori and European culture. Now it is a place of holiday fun and water adventures, refined food and wine pleasures and quiet contemplation of the past.
Several towns are scattered like shells around the coast, each with its own individual feel. There’s the main holiday town Paihia - a vibrant, uptempo place and a few minutes away elegant Russell, once a whaling town, now a tranquil oasis.
It’s a sweet irony that the town described in the lawless late 1800’s as ‘the hellhole of the Pacific’ is now one of the country’s most refined places to visit.
In Russell, our colonial past is honoured in our present with carefully restored historic buildings such as Christ Church with its bullet holes from the Maori Wars.
In Waitangi amid a quiet reserve you’ll find the Treaty House and a fully-carved Whare Runanga, or Maori Meeting House. Waitangi is the historic site where Maori chiefs and European representatives signed the charters that formed our governing agreement, the Treaty of Waitangi, in 1840.
This was years after the initial conflict created by the arrival of French navigator Marion de Fresne in 1772 which resulted in bloodshed of both Maori and Europeans. Later came religious leaders like Australian Anglican missionary Samuel Marsden in 1814 and the first Roman Catholic Bishop of the south-west Pacific, John Baptist Francis Pompallier. Bishop Pompallier was respected by Maori chiefs and European leaders alike and was present at Waitangi.
Less than 15 minutes drive from Waitangi and you’re in Kerikeri. This fertile orchard town is also an artist’s retreat with an arts and crafts trail as well as wineries, the magnificent 27m Rainbow Falls and nearby kauri forest, Puteki. If Bay of Islands is a magnet for boaties, the town of Opua has the greatest pull with every kind of boat to be found in its safe harbour. This is the way you come to Bay of Islands by boat. And if you come by road, your gateway is Kawakawa.
It’s extraordinary that amid all the colonial history of this area in this township you’ll find the only building in the Southern hemisphere designed by Austrian artist, Frederick Hundertwasser and the last of his buildings before he died in 1999. Even more curious, it’s the public toilet.
What to do?
Country cafes, gourmet restaurants, kayaking, swimming with dolphins, touching history, walking coastal tracks, seeing Maori war canoes, game fishing, cruising, resting.
Bay of Islands has an abundance of different kinds of experiences to connect with the people and culture, ocean and land.
Visit Cape Brett Lighthouse (c1906) by walking track or take a boat to Grand Cathedral Cave or ‘the hole in the rock’. Follow big game fisherman and American Western writer Zane Grey who caught marlin here in 1921.
Be guided through historic sites with story-telling. Feel the roar of noise at Haruru Falls, a rare horseshoe-shaped waterfall that flows to the legendary ‘taniwha’ or water monster in the lagoon below.
Walk along a red pohutukawa tree blossom-strewn golden sand beach. See whales, penguins, seals and listen to the songs of seabirds. Have a round of golf on the most majestic of courses. Ride a jet-ski in the hot sun, sit in the shade with an iced tea. Always in the Bay of Islands you can feel the past close behind while anticipating the pleasure of what’s to come.
Copyright: 1999-2008 Tourism New Zealand, the official website of the New Zealand Tourism Board.
Photographer: Gareth Eyres (www.exposure.co.nz)
Photographer: Gilbert van Reenen (www.cleangreen.co.nz)
New Zealand Environment
June 22, 2008
With vast open spaces filled with stunning rugged landscapes, gorgeous beaches, often spectacular geothermal and volcanic activity, a temperate climate and fascinating animal and plant life, and it is no surprise that New Zealand’s pure natural environment is so attractive to visitors from other countries.
And the great advantage of New Zealand is there are many different landscapes, environments, and ecosystems so close to each other.
About 80-100 million years ago, New Zealand drifted away from the massive supercontinent of Gondwanaland into the South Pacific.
Since then, a unique flora and fauna has evolved, with a large number of beautiful native birds and plants, as well as direct descendants of prehistoric wildlife, including the tuatara, weta, and giant snail.
As Time magazine said, New Zealand is an ‘ultimate storehouse for discontinued zoological models’.
Bird Life Rules
Before humans settled in New Zealand, it would have been an extremely noisy place! Large tracts of lush native bush supported an incredible variety of bird life. As they evolved, wings became unnecessary for some birds, as they had no natural predators to fly away from. As a result, several of New Zealand’s native birds became flightless, including the kakapo parrot, the kiwi, the takahe, and the world’s largest bird, the (now extinct) moa.
Unnatural Predators
As Maori and Europeans settled New Zealand, they hunted birds and brought predators including rats and stoats. This, and loss of habitat, led to the extinction of a number of birds including the moa and huia. Others, such as the kakapo and takahe, become endangered.
New Zealand’s national symbol is a nocturnal flightless bird with nostrils on the end of its large beak. It is now endangered, and difficult to see in the wild. However, there are a number of ‘kiwi houses’ at zoos and wildlife parks. While they may look cute, kiwi can be fierce and highly territorial.
Moa
New Zealand’s moa was the only wingless bird ever known. The giant moa, one of eleven species of moa, was also the tallest known, standing up to 3 metres (9 feet). Many moa bones and skeletons have been found in small caves which the hapless moa fell into. Maori hunted moa, and it is believed the birds became extinct around 400 years ago.
Other Birds
Other well-known New Zealand native birds include the kea (native parrot), weka, takahe, tui, and morepork owl. The playful kea is one of the most intelligent birds in the world and will happily attack a car in order to steal a windscreen wiper or other bits of rubber! The loveable weka is a flightless bird with a penchant for shiny objects, while the takahe has a beautiful indigo plumage and bright red beak. The takahe was believed to be extinct until it was sensationally ‘rediscovered’ in 1948 by New Zealand ornithologist Dr G.B. Orbell. Like many of New Zealand’s native birds, the tui has a beautiful song, and a white ‘parson’s collar’. The morepork owl is so named because of the sound of its call, often heard at night. Its Maori name, ruru, is also named after its call.
Tuatara — ‘Living Fossil’
The tuatara is a unique relic of the past — the only beak-headed reptile left in the world. Every species of this reptile family, except the tuatara, died out around 65 million years ago. Tuatara can live for over 100 years, and were once found throughout New Zealand. Now they are only found on protected offshore islands - around 30,000 live on Stephens Island in the Marlborough Sounds. Only growing up to 24cm in length, tuatara are not a threat to humans.
Whales and Dolphins
New Zealand has abundant and diverse marine life, and whale watching and swimming with dolphins are two of New Zealand’s most highly recommended tourist experiences. The small (up to 1.4m) Hector’s dolphin is the world’s rarest dolphin and only found in New Zealand waters. There are a number of spots in the South Island where you can see Hector’s dolphins close up.
New Zealand Flora — Lush and Diverse
New Zealand’s high rainfall and many sunshine hours give the country a lush and diverse flora — with 80 percent of the trees, ferns, and flowering plants being native. From the kauri forests of the far north to the mountain beech forests and alpine tussock of the Southern Alps, you’ll find fascinating plants and trees in every region. You’ll be awed by the majestic evergreen native forests that include rimu, totara, many varieties of beech, and the largest native tree of them all, the giant kauri. Underneath the trees you’ll find a dense and luxurious undergrowth including countless native shrubs, a variety of ferns, and many mosses and lichens.
Splashes of Colour
The yellow flowers of the kowhai tree are some of the prettiest you’ll ever see, and if you visit the North Island, you won’t be far from the beautiful pohutukawa tree. Its bright red flowers bloom in December, giving it the title of New Zealand’s Christmas tree.
FAST FACT:
New Zealand’s most famous tree is a kauri called Tane Mahuta. Named after the Maori god of the forests, Tane Mahuta stands over 51 metres high, has a girth of over 13 metres, and is believed to be over 2000 years old.
National Parks
Over 20 percent of New Zealand is covered in national parks, forest areas and reserves. Our 14 national parks contain an incredible variety of unspoiled landscape and vegetation. Administered and maintained by the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai, these parks provide opportunity for a wide variety of activities including hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding, kayaking and trout fishing. Most national parks have excellent hiking tracks and camping facilities, including nearly 1000 huts throughout the country. You’ll also find information centres at these parks, and helpful signage along the tracks.
World Heritage Areas
The New Zealand mainland has two World Heritage Areas — Tongariro in the Central North Island and Te Wahipounamu in the south-west of the South Island. Te Wahipounamu is made up of four national parks — Westland/Tai Poutini, Mount Aspiring, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Fiordland. The area also contains the Milford and Routeburn tracks, two of New Zealand’s most spectacular walks, as well as Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, and spectacular glaciers. Tongariro is situated on the North Island’s volcanic plateau, and contains the active volcanoes Mount Tongariro, Ruapehu, and the cone-shaped Ngauruhoe. The area is of special cultural significance to Maori, and also contains Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake.
New Zealand’s Awesome Landscape
You’ll find a variety of awesome landscapes in New Zealand, all within easy reach of each other. Spectacular glaciers, picturesque fiords, rugged mountains, vast plains, rolling hillsides, subtropical forest, volcanic plateau, miles of coastline with gorgeous sandy beaches - it’s all here. No wonder New Zealand is becoming so popular as a location for movies!
Geographic map of New Zealand
Lying in the south-west Pacific, New Zealand consists of two main islands - the North Island and the South Island. In addition, Stewart Island and many smaller islands lie offshore. The North Island has a ’spine’ of mountain ranges running through the middle, with gentle rolling farmland on both sides. The central North Island is dominated by the Volcanic Plateau, an active volcanic and thermal area. The massive Southern Alps form the backbone of the South Island. To the east of the Southern Alps is the rolling farmland of Otago and Southland, and the vast, flat Canterbury Plains.
Leaving Home - How it Began
New Zealand’s oldest rocks are over 500 million years old, and were once part of Gondwanaland. This massive supercontinent started to split up about 160 million years ago, and New Zealand separated from it about 85 million years ago.
New Zealand sits on two tectonic plates - the Pacific and the Australian. Fifteen of these gigantic moving chunks of crust make up the Earth’s surface. The North Island and some parts of the South Island sit on the Australian Plate, while the rest of the South Island sits on the Pacific. Because these plates are constantly shifting and grinding into each other, New Zealand gets a lot of geological action.
Earth Dramas
FAST FACT: The 186 AD Taupo eruption threw ash 50 km into the air, and caused a layer of ash five metres deep to be deposited throughout the volcanic plateau.
Being straddled over two tectonic plates and sitting on the Pacific ‘ring of fire’ can have its disadvantages in the form of volcanoes, earthquakes and other natural hazards. However, this subterranean activity also blesses New Zealand with some spectacular geothermal areas and relaxing hot springs, as well as providing electricity and heating in some areas.
Rotorua is the centre of geothermal tourist activity, with plenty of mud pools, geysers, and hot springs in its active thermal areas — not to mention its trademark ‘Sulphur City’ smell. First settled by Maori who used the hot springs for cooking and bathing, Rotorua soon attracted European residents. The reputed health benefits of its hot pools quickly earned the area the name of ‘Cureland’.
In addition to Rotorua, you can enjoy hot springs and other thermal activity in most regions of the North Island north of Turangi, as well as in Hanmer Springs and the West Coast in the South Island.
From Long Sandy Beaches to Wild, Rugged Coastlines
New Zealand has over 15,000 kilometres of beautiful and varied coastline. In the Far North and on most of the East Coast of the North Island you’ll find long sandy beaches perfect for swimming, surfing and sunbathing. The North Island’s West Coast has dark sandy beaches, with sand heavy in iron. The north of the South Island has some beautiful sandy beaches, while the coastline around the rest of the South Island tends to be wilder and more rugged.
Mountain Range to Fertile Farmland
About a fifth of the North Island and two-thirds of the South Island are mountains. The existence of a ‘spine’ of mountain ranges throughout New Zealand is also due to the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates. Stretching from the north of the North Island to the bottom of the South, these mountains are caused by the collision of the Australian and Pacific Plates.
Over millions of years, alluvial deposits (eroded from the mountains by rivers) formed the vast Canterbury Plains in the South Island and a number of smaller plains in the North. These alluvial plains contain some of New Zealand’s most fertile and productive farmland.
Glaciers of Grinding Ice
New Zealand’s Southern Alps have a number of glaciers, the largest being Tasman glacier, which you can view by taking a short walk from Mount Cook village. New Zealand’s most famous glaciers are the Franz Josef and Fox on the South Island’s West Coast. Gouged out by moving ice over thousands of years, these spectacular glaciers are easily accessible to mountaineers and hikers. You can walk up to the glaciers or do a heli-hike — fly up by helicopter and walk down.
Sunken Mountains
Over thousands of years, the process of subduction has seen parts of the New Zealand landscape become submerged. The Marlborough Sounds and Fiordland are examples of high mountain ranges that have ‘sunk’ into the sea, creating spectacular sounds and fiords. These areas provide some of New Zealand most picturesque scenery, with steep lush hills plunging down to the deep still bays below. Clear, deep still water surrounded by beautiful bush makes these areas ideal for boating and kayaking.
The people of New Zealand
June 22, 2008
Today, New Zealanders are largely sophisticated and highly educated urban dwellers. Members of a unique and vibrant multicultural society, New Zealanders are embracing 21st century technology and culture in record numbers.
But New Zealanders also have a background of quiet but rugged individualism, self-reliance, and a genius for invention — qualities still evident in the population today.
New Zealand has a diverse population — but with some uniting features that make it unique in the world. Our relatively isolated South Pacific location and rugged landscapes still makes many New Zealanders quiet and independent, yet resourceful and self-reliant, with a famous ‘Kiwi ingenuity’.
Early Voyagers
Over four hundred years before Christopher Columbus and the rest of Europe worried about falling off the edge of the world, the first New Zealanders, the Maori, voyaged thousands of miles across the vast unknown Pacific Ocean in small ocean-going canoes. In order to reach New Zealand, these brave adventurers developed their own navigation system using the stars and the currents.
Rugged Pioneers
New Zealand’s European pioneers were also brave, rugged and independent. Before establishing farms and settlements, they had to first clear the land — a painstaking and sometimes dangerous activity.
Their isolation and exposure to the elements forced these early New Zealanders to become hardy and multi-skilled. This resourcefulness and ingenuity has greatly contributed to the New Zealand character.
The same qualities can be seen today in the new pioneers — a generation of young Kiwi business executives, computer software builders, film-makers, fashion designers, and sportspeople making waves around the world.
Backyard Genius
Since before Sir Ernest Rutherford ‘split’ the atom early in the twentieth century, Kiwis have been discovering and inventing things. Many of these inventions have literally been created in a backyard. While frozen meat, the Hamilton Jet boat, and the bungy jump are probably our most famous Kiwi inventions, there are many others.
New Zealanders are also responsible for the tranquilliser gun, seismic ‘base’ isolators (rubber and lead blocks which minimise earthquake damage), electric fences, the fastest motorbike in the world, freezer vacuum pumps, stamp vending machines, wide-toothed shearing combs, and the electronic petrol pump — to name a few
Outdoor People
New Zealand has a low population density and spectacular scenery. As a result, many New Zealanders have a love of their landscape and the outdoors.
Hiking, mountaineering, and kayaking are enjoyed by many New Zealanders, while many more will explore their landscape with a trip to the beach or a bush walk.
They are following in the footsteps of perhaps the most adventurous Kiwi, Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, in 1953.
With so much coastline, it is little wonder New Zealanders love the water.
Since Kupe, the first explorer to reach New Zealand, made landfall in the far north of the country over a thousand years ago, New Zealanders have had a passion for ocean-going craft.
New Zealanders were at the forefront of yacht design and racing during much of the 20th century, and continued their dominance into this century by winning and retaining the prestigious America’s Cup. New Zealanders have also won many Olympic medals for yachting, windsurfing, kayaking, and rowing.
Fair Go Mate
Tempering the rugged individualism of New Zealanders is a strong egalitarian streak and a sense of fair play and teamwork. This may be partly due to the co-operative ‘whanau’ (extended family) structure of Maori society, as well as the make-up of early Pakeha (Europeans) society. Many European immigrants came to New Zealand to escape the class system. A small population meant co-operation was vital for survival.
The artificial class structures of ‘home’ became irrelevant in such a rugged and young country. New Zealand was also one of the earliest countries to grant women the right to vote and has a strong trade union tradition.
National Character Building
The two World Wars saw heavy casualties inflicted on the New Zealand male population. But it also saw loyalty to your friends and comrades — ‘mateship’ — become a prized social value. This quality is still seen on the sporting field today. Rugby football is the most popular spectator sport in New Zealand, and the legendary All Blacks have won the World Cup once and been a finalist twice. Though the sport has public school beginnings in England, in New Zealand, rugby is definitely the sport of the ‘average bloke’.
Rural Economy
As the 20th century progressed, the make-up and character of the New Zealand population began to radically change. In the early part of the century, the New Zealand economy was largely dependent on agriculture and the export of primary produce. However, after the Second World War, more and more people moved to the cities, and manufacturing and tertiary industries became established.
New New Zealanders
In the 1970s, large numbers of Pacific Island immigrants settled in New Zealand, followed in the 80s and 90s by Asians, Europeans, and many others. These new arrivals contributed, along with technological and economic changes, to a totally new national identity. In the last twenty years or so, New Zealanders have embraced the global economy and the latest technology. Per head of population, New Zealanders are some of the highest mobile phone and Internet users in the world. They also read the most newspapers.
Taming the Land
Despite recent changes, New Zealand still has a sizeable rural population and farming is a major export earner. While the traditional exports of wool, meat, and dairy products are still very strong, new products, including Cervena (New Zealand venison), flowers, fruit, biotechnology, and wine are now also contributing greatly to our exports.
Like the rest of the population, the farming sector have diversified and embraced technology, making New Zealand one of the most productive and efficient agricultural producers in the world.
Urban and Sophisticated
Fast Fact
Wellington has more restaurant seats per head than New York Cit
New Zealand has absorbed the new culinary tastes, fashions, and lifestyles of the Pacific Rim and combined them with more traditional ones to produce a unique New Zealand identity. Today, Kiwis are as likely to visit an Asian restaurant or modern art gallery as they are to attend a rugby game or milk a cow!
New Zealand — An Exciting Blend of Cultural Influences
The arts in New Zealand reflect an exciting blend of cultural influences including Maori and Pacific Island, as well as European and Asian. From haka to hip-hop, fashion to filmmaking, New Zealand artists are making their mark at home and around the world.
Artland New Zealand
Whether you’re interested in Maori carving or abstract painting, you’ll find lots of art in New Zealand. Traditional Maori arts such as carving and weaving are alive and well. You’ll find excellent examples in museums, shops, and on marae (meeting grounds) throughout the country.
Early Painters
New Zealand has a fine tradition of painting. C.F. Goldie (1870—1947) and Gottfried Lindauer (1839—1926) were two early artists who painted portraits of Maori subjects. Frances Hodgkins (1869—1947) is one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed and influential painters. She was associated with a number of avant-garde British movements including Neo Romanticism.
Modern Masters
Rita Angus (1908—1970) is a much-loved New Zealand artist who painted beautiful New Zealand landscapes and a large number of self-portraits. [ more about Rita Angus] Colin McCahon (1919—1987) painted a large number of landscapes and used text, often of a religious nature, in many of his works. ‘His Practical Religion 1969’, featuring the words ‘I AM’, has become an iconic New Zealand artwork. [ more about Colin McCahon]
Striking and Provocative
New Zealand has a vibrant contemporary art scene and most New Zealand towns have interesting art galleries and shops. Maori and Pacific, as well as feminist influences, are strong in contemporary New Zealand art. Artists such as Ralph Hotere, John Pule, Michael Parekowhai and Robyn Kahukiwa, not only create striking and dramatic images, but also provoke reactions from their audience.
Early Giant
Katherine Mansfield (1888 — 1923) is the giant of early New Zealand literature. Regarded as being one of the finest short-story writers in English, she is the first in a long line of excellent New Zealand short-story writers. Stories such as ‘The Doll’s House’, ‘At the Bay’, and ‘The Garden Party’ are superb examples of Mansfield’s depiction of turn-of-the-century colonial New Zealand.
Devastatingly Good
The twentieth century saw the emergence of many fine New Zealand novelists including John Mulgan (‘Man Alone’), Robin Hyde (‘The Godwits Fly’), Maurice Shadbolt (‘Strangers and Journeys’), and Janet Frame (‘Owls do Cry’). Born in 1924, Janet Frame is one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded novelists. Frame’s books include devastating accounts of the treatment of mental patients in New Zealand during the 1950s and 60s. Her best-selling three-part autobiography was made into a top-rating television series and film — ‘An Angel at my Table’.
New Generation
New Zealand’s best-known Maori writers include Patricia Grace, Alan Duff, and Witi Ihimaera. Duff’s bleak ‘Once Were Warriors’, depicting a violent, dysfunctional Maori family, was made into an international hit movie by Maori filmmaker Lee Tamahori. An exciting younger generation of New Zealand novelists including new-ager Elizabeth Knox (‘The Vintner’s Luck’), Gen X-er Emily Perkins (‘Not Her Real Name’), Bulgarian-born Kapka Kassabova (‘Reconnaissance’), and Samoan-born Sia Figiel (‘Where we once belonged’) show that contemporary New Zealand literature has a wide range of cultural and stylistic influences.
Poetry
It should come as no surprise that much of New Zealand’s best poetry is about the country’s landscape. However, major New Zealand poets including James K. Baxter, ARD Fairburn, Denis Glover, Allen Curnow, and Sam Hunt also reveal a keen social conscience and wry sense of humour.
Arts and Culture Events
New Zealand Art and Culture Many New Zealand artists are currently enjoying success on a global scale, including Hayley Westenra, Ben Makisi and Neil Dawson. Experience more New Zealand art and culture through the wide variety of events taking place here in the next 12 months.
Fashioning an Industry
New Zealand fashion has come of age in the last few years. Exciting designers such as Karen Walker, World, and Zambesi have put the country on the fashion map, frequently exhibiting in London and Sydney. New Zealand fashion used to be largely a copy of European styles. Now it is a vibrant and dynamic industry with a range of influences, including those of Maori and the Pacific Islands.
Music and Dance
New Zealand has three professional symphony orchestras, including the highly acclaimed NZSO (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra). There are also a large number of excellent choirs, including the National Youth Choir, which recently won a number of prestigious internationalevents.
Recent co-productions between European-style groups, such as the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the NZSO, and Maori music and dance groups, are examples of a bicultural ‘fusion’ currently occurring.
New Waves
New Zealand has a diverse contemporary and alternative music scene. While rapper OMC (Pauly Fuemana) and Crowded House’s Neil Finn are probably our best known musicians, other performers including Bic Runga, Stellar, Shihad, Moana and the Moa Hunters, and King Kapisi are currently making waves.
On Stage
As well as supporting a thriving local theatre scene, New Zealand performers regularly appear at festivals abroad, including the Edinburgh and Adelaide Festivals. Maori and Pacific Island writers and performers have had a big impact on the New Zealand theatre, giving it a unique and colourful Polynesian-influenced identity.
On Film
A competitive exchange rate, excellent scenery, and a highly skilled workforce make New Zealand the perfect place to shoot a movie. New Zealand has produced many top directors, including Roger Donaldson (‘Cocktail’, ‘Species’), Jane Campion (‘The Piano’), Lee Tamahori (‘Once Were Warriors’, ‘The Edge’), and Peter Jackson, who directed the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy in New Zealand. Movies such as ‘Smash Palace’, ‘Once Were Warriors’, ‘The Piano’ and ‘Heavenly Creatures’ have proved that New Zealand can produce unique and intelligent movies equal to the best in the world.
About NZ
June 22, 2008
Legend has it that New Zealand was fished from the sea. Fact has it that New Zealand was the last land mass on earth to be discovered, making New Zealand the youngest country on earth.
The first New Zealanders, the Maori, migrated here from their ancestral Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki.
This was followed about 800 years later by extensive European migration.
The influence of Pacific Island and Asian immigrants during the 20th century has helped shape New Zealand into an even more vibrant and diverse multicultural society.
Māori Culture
June 22, 2008
New Zealand has a unique and dynamic culture. The culture of its indigenous Māori people affects the language, the arts, and even the accents of all New Zealanders.
Their place in the South Pacific, and their love of the outdoors, sport, and the arts make New Zealanders and their culture unique in the world.
The Māori people are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki over 1000 years ago.
Today, Māori make up over 14 percent of the population. Their language and culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand life.
Māori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts.
Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practised throughout the country.
Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Māori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop.
New Zealand’s Maori culture emerged from Polynesian migrations that began around 700 years ago. Our European history began about 500 years later. Today, our place names, art, architecture and stories reflect who we are, where we came from and how we’ve shaped our society.
While heritage sites and cultural experiences can be found throughout the country, some places have special significance. In Waitangi you can learn about the treaty that changed the course of New Zealand history forever. Central Otago still displays relics of the gold rush, when thousands of people flocked to the region in search of riches. And in Napier you’ll see a wealth of fabulous Art Deco architecture, which only materialised because the city was almost entirely destroyed by a huge earthquake in 1931.
There are stories to discover wherever you travel, even in the tiniest towns. Let your curiosity give you the confidence to ask questions about pa sites, buildings, monuments and statues - we’re friendly people and there’s always time for a chat.
Stories and Legends
Māori is an oral culture rich with stories and legends. The Māori creation story describes the world being formed by the violent separation of Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, by their children. Many Māori carvings and artworks graphically depict this struggle.
Fishing Up An Island
The creation of New Zealand is described by the legend of Maui. This god managed, among other things, to harness the sun in order to make the days longer. However, his biggest claim to fame was his fishing up of the North Island, which is described as Te Ika a Maui (the fish of Maui). A look at an aerial map of the North Island will show how closely it resembles a fish. Māori believe the far north to be the tail of the fish and Wellington Harbour the mouth. Māori describe the South Island as Maui’s waka (canoe) and Stewart Island (Rakiura) as his punga (anchor).
Experience the Powhiri
Experience the Powhiri Experience the powhiri, a ceremony of welcome extended to visitors by Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
The legend of New Zealand
The legend of New Zealand Legend has it that New Zealand was fished from the sea. Read more about the legend and Maui, the gifted, daring, supernatural demigod of Polynesian mythology.
Te Reo Māori — the Māori Language
The visitor to New Zealand will become immediately aware of the Māori language as the vast majority of place names are of Māori origin. At first, visitors may be puzzled by the seemingly impossible- to-pronounce names. In fact, Māori has a logical structure, and, unlike English, has very consistent rules of pronunciation.
How Do You Say Onehunga, Whangamomona, Kahikatea, and Nguru?
Māori consists of five vowel sounds: a e i o u (‘a’ as in ‘car’, ‘e’ as in ‘egg’, ‘i’ like the ‘ee’ in ‘tee’, ‘o’ as in ‘four’, ‘u’ like an ‘o’ in ‘to’). There are eight consonants in Māori similar to those in English — ‘h’, ‘k’, ‘m’, ‘n’, ‘p’, ‘r’, ‘t’, and ‘w’. There are also two different consonants — ‘wh’ and ‘ng’. Many Māori pronounce the ‘wh’ sound similar to our ‘f’. The ‘ng’ is similar to our own ‘ng’ sound in a word like ‘sing’, except that in Māori, words can start with ‘ng’.
Kia ora = Gidday!
An attempt by a visitor to use Māori greetings will almost certainly elicit a delighted response from both Māori and Pakeha (European) New Zealanders.
Kia ora — Hello
Kia ora tatou — Hello everyone
Tena koe — Greetings to you (said to one person)
Tena koutou — Greeting to you all
Haere mai — Welcome
Nau mai — Welcome
Kei te pehea koe? — How’s it going?
Kei te pai — Good
Tino pai — Really good
Haere ra — Farewell
Ka kite ano — Until I see you again (Bye)
Hei konei ra — See you later
The Maori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, and have a rich and varied culture.
Contemporary Maori Art The rich threads of Maori traditions, ancestry and tribal knowledge interact with New Zealand society through contemporary Maori art.
Māori Protocol
Being a tribal Polynesian people, Māori have a unique protocol. The best place to observe it is on a marae (Māori meeting grounds). Many tourist operators in New Zealand organise visits to marae.
Welcome to the Powhiri
A powhiri (formal welcome) at a marae begins with wero (challenge) A warrior from the tangata whenua (hosts) will challenge the manuhiri (guests). He may carry a spear (taiaha) then lay down a token (often a small branch) that the manuhiri will pick up to show they come in peace. Some kuia (women) from the tangata whenua (hosts) will perform a karanga (call/chant) to the manuhiri. Women from the manuhiri will then respond as they move onto the marae in front of their men.
Whaikorero — Speeches of Welcome
Once inside the wharenui (meeting house) on the marae, mihimihi (greetings) and whaikorero (speeches) are made. To reinforce the good wishes of the speeches, waiata (songs) may be sung. It is usual for the manuhiri then present a koha (gift) to the tangata whenua after greeting the hosts with a hongi — the ceremonial touching of noses. After the powhiri, kai (food) may be shared.
New Zealand is the youngest country on earth
June 22, 2008
New Zealand is the youngest country on earth. Learn about the key facts, the history, the culture, and the people.
New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind.
New Zealand society is diverse, sophisticated, and multicultural, and the honesty, friendliness, and openness of Kiwis will impress you. And the great advantage of New Zealand is that all of its diverse physical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are so close to each other!
New Zealand is the youngest country on earth - the last major landmass to be discovered. It has a rich and fascinating history, reflecting both our Maori and European heritage.
History of New Zealand, the Youngest Country
Amazing Maori historic sites and taonga (treasures), some dating back almost a thousand years, are a contrast to many beautiful colonial buildings. A walk around any New Zealand city today shows what a culturally diverse and fascinating country we have become.
Treaty of Waitangi
An 1840 treaty between Maori and the British Crown is New Zealand’s founding document. Today, the Treaty of Waitangi has a major impact on all New Zealanders. Only a thousand years ago, Maori became the first people to migrate to New Zealand. Since then, people have come from around the world to settle here.
Early Settlement
Bravely voyaging across the Pacific from their ancestral homeland hundreds of years ago, Maori made New Zealand their home, becoming the tangata whenua — people of the land.
Colonisation
Though a Dutchman was the first European to sight the land, it was the British who colonised New Zealand, leaving an indelible mark on the country and its people.
Buying a Property in New Zealand
June 13, 2008
Author: Les Calvert
An island nation always has a special charm in the hearts of people who don’t have the luxury of living at such a paradisiacal place. New Zealand is one such country that oozes resplendence at every step. With nearest neighbour Australia, New Zealand is not a part of Australian continent. In fact, the country belongs to the largely submerged continent of Zealandia, which stretches from the north of New Caledonia to the south of New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic islands. New Zealand is comprised of three main islands besides several other small islands that enrich the topography of the country with some breathtaking views and inspiring scenery.
New Zealand Highlights
New Zealand is blessed with some of the choicest nature’s bounties, with pristine golden beaches, snow-capped alpine mountains, crystal-clear river waters, glacier-fed lakes, and abundant adventure activities you can indulge in. This means the country is agog with tourists all the year round offering numerous opportunities to earn handsome rental income from apartments and other vacation properties alongside some of the most-visited spots in New Zealand.
The inviting kiwi weather is an added incentive to visit the country. The outdoors of the country is ideal to indulge in plenty of activities, like bungee jumping, scuba diving, zorbing, mountaineering, kayaking, surfing etc.
The natural attractions of the country are enough to lure holidaymakers, retirees, and expatriates who look for real estate investment opportunities in the country. In fact, in addition to the vacation property, second-homes are also extremely popular for the property investors due to New Zealand’s favourable living conditions, cost of living, and the rosy projections of the nation’s economy.
If you think that New Zealand is just about adventure sports, think again. For the country has a rich history and tradition of the native Maori people, as depicted through several museums and art galleries. New Zealand also has a rich treasure of flora and fauna wildly found in the National Parks and the Ocean.
The country is extremely well connected with the rest of the world through airways and seaways. The internal transport of the country depends on efficient air, road, rail, and sea routes for a variety of commuters.
New Zealand is every bit a modern country having plenty of education opportunities for lower and higher level of students. All the modern amenities, like nightclubs, discos, pubs, restaurants, cafes, theatres, cinemas etc. can be easily accessed through major kiwi cities.
The nation’s economy is also booming with Agriculture playing a major role in its upswing.
Overall, New Zealand offers one of the best places to invest in real estate. Moreover, the British investors would love the place inhabited by majority English-speaking friendly people.
Property Market in New Zealand
In recent times, New Zealand property prices have hit the roof with surging demand from the European investors, particularly the British real estate investors. This has resulted in a slowdown in the New Zealand property market. And this also means that property is now much more affordable for the budget investors. The growth is definitely on the wane and the prices are dropping, yet no one is discounting New Zealand’s property potential.
Though low, the prices are still on a higher plank. For instance, luxury apartments in the capital city, Wellington, are highly priced at £400K+, and over in Auckland, it’s even more. However, small accommodation is reasonably priced in major kiwi cities. For instance, you can make off-plan investment in apartments in Auckland for £60K+.
The Studio Apartments in cities, like Auckland, are a safe investment. They guarantee regular rental income through people who often flock the cities for better job prospects. And with the high expectations from the nation’s economy in the coming years, major pressure has to be borne by the housing industry to feed the demand for more accommodation.
The current period is favourable for any kind of property investment in New Zealand. An astute investor will exploit the prevailing lower prices of New Zealand property, and make a killing in times to come.
The kiwi legal system is identical with the British Common Law system. Resultantly, trading in property is largely hassle-free in New Zealand. Moreover, there is no stamp duty to pay on property purchased in New Zealand.
It seems that owning a property in New Zealand is cakewalk for those who possess the required finance. However, for those who have limited budget, there are lots of financial institutions in New Zealand that offer lower interest rates on mortgages in New Zealand.
The hottest locations for property investment on the North Island include Wellington, Tauranga, and Auckland. The South Island has Nelson, Queenstown, and Christchurch as jewels in the real estate crown.
The potential real estate investors in New Zealand would do well if they hire a specialist to deal with all the legalities and other formalities required for ownership of property in the country. After all, you don’t expect to be ripped off your hard-earned money just because of some negligence on your part.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/buying-a-property-in-new-zealand-369700.html
About the Author:
Property Abroad’s directory Les Calvert writes interesting and useful articles on all subjects dealing with overseas investment property and buying property in New Zealand. Visit their website to view their property for sale in New Zealand and other useful information on buying property abroad.
Study in New Zealand
