Moving to New Zealand: everything you need to know about living in the country

New Zealand is an island nation located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands: North and South. These islands often experience earthquakes, as they are located at the junction of two lithospheric plates. However, strong tremors are rare. At first, the shaking of the earth causes great fear, but over time you get used to it and no longer pay attention to it. New Zealanders always have a supply of food, water, matches, batteries, radios, and other necessary items prepared for several days.

New Zealanders care deeply about nature and preserving their country in its pristine state. It is the greenest country in every sense of the word. Local supermarkets offer an abundance of organic products.

Pros of living in New Zealand

• Impressive natural scenery, proximity to the Pacific Ocean, many different exotic birds and animals.
• Very good ecology: since these are islands, there is no air pollution.
• Polite and cultured people who are also very kind and sincere and always willing to help.
• Well-developed infrastructure: many places for families with children to relax, cinemas, theaters, cool museums and shopping centers, awesome zoos, parks, gardens, gyms, playgrounds, and shops.

Cons of living in New Zealand

• Remote location, about a three-hour flight to the nearest country (Australia). Sparsely populated country.
• Shortage of medical staff and teachers.
• Left-hand traffic.
• Expensive real estate.
• Expatriates and foreigners are not allowed to buy real estate.

Visas to New Zealand

Tourists from visa-free countries must apply on the website to obtain an online travel authorization in the form of a visitor visa. Ukrainians require a visa to enter New Zealand.

The most popular visas are:

• Tourist visa, valid for up to one year.
• Business visa, valid for up to six months.
• Visitor visa, valid for up to one year.
• Transit visa, valid for up to 3 months.
• Work visa, valid for up to 6 months.
• Student visa, issued for the duration of the course.
• Family reunification visa.

Visas can be extended while in the country by contacting the immigration office.

The easiest way to emigrate to New Zealand is through education. After completing your studies, you will receive a one-year work visa to look for a job. The cost of education varies from 12,000 to 26,000 New Zealand dollars per year (1 NZD ≈ $0.68 - $0.72 USD).

Documents required for a visa:

• A passport valid for more than 6 months;
• Domestic passport and copies of all pages;
• Application form;
• 2 color photos 3.5*4.5 cm;
• Certificate of English proficiency (must be no more than 2 years old: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, FCE, OET);
• Certificate from your place of work;
• Certificate of no criminal record;
• Bank statement confirming sufficient funds in your account;
• Invitation letter corresponding to the purpose of the trip;
• Marriage/birth certificate;
• Airline ticket/hotel reservation;
• Original or scanned documents for property, if available (apartment, car, land);
• Medical insurance and health certificate.

All documents must be translated into English and notarized. You can apply for a visa on the immigration service website. It is not easy to obtain a visa to New Zealand, as the nearest consulates are in Berlin and The Hague.

How to obtain a residence permit and permanent residence in New Zealand

The grounds for immigration and obtaining a residence permit are:

• a job offer;
• admission to a New Zealand university or language school;
• setting up or purchasing a business in New Zealand;
• investment in the country's economy;
• marriage to a resident or citizen of the country;
• family reunion.

Permanent residency status can be obtained after 2 years of living in the country on a temporary resident visa.

A New Zealand passport can be obtained after 5 years of living in the country with a residence permit.

Life in New Zealand

Work and salaries in New Zealand

The average monthly salary is $3,050 after taxes. The following professionals are in high demand in New Zealand: doctors, teachers, IT specialists, and manual laborers. There are also seasonal jobs available on ships, farms, construction sites, and in hotels. To find work, you will need a work visa and a basic knowledge of English.

You can search for jobs on the following websites:

• trademe.co.nz
• seek.co.nz – the most popular job search websites.
• workhere.co.nz
• workingin-newzealand – websites for foreigners, where employers posting vacancies are usually familiar with the process of hiring foreign specialists.
• nxtstep.co.nz – a website for those who have just graduated or do not have much work experience.
• sjs.co.nz – here you can find jobs for students.
• Facebook groups – here you can find ads from local companies.

You can also contact recruitment agencies. There are plenty of them in New Zealand, and their services are free for candidates. You can find a list of such agencies on the Careers New Zealand website.

New Zealanders greatly value community service, whether it's helping to clean beaches, walking dogs from shelters, or volunteering with the Salvation Army. If you choose to volunteer, you will gain experience and useful recommendations for employment.

Taxes

New Zealand has a progressive tax rate: the higher your income, the more you pay to the government. Rates range from 10.5% to 33%.

The upside is that at the end of the tax year, you can get a portion of your taxes back in March-April. The amount of the refund depends on your income, periods of unemployment, benefits, and other financial factors, but on average, you can expect a refund of around NZ$500 (US$300).

Cost of living in New Zealand

Transportation, technology, and clothing are inexpensive in the country, and many different brands can be purchased at reasonable prices. For a comfortable life for a family of three, $3,000-4,000 per month is sufficient. A family spends about $300 per week on food and entertainment.

Food

Food prices are reasonable relative to salaries. For example, the cost of basic products is as follows:

• 1 liter of milk – $2
• Bread – $2
• 1 kg of chicken fillet – $9
• 12 eggs – USD 7
• potatoes (1 kg) – $2
• 1 kg of rice – 2 USD
• 1 kg of tomatoes – 5 USD

Transport

The country's transport infrastructure is well developed. The most popular modes of transport are city and intercity buses. Wellington also has trolleybuses, tickets for which can be purchased at special kiosks. The railway network is poorly developed: there are only eight lines, with trains running once a day. However, this is still the most convenient way to travel between major cities.

Taxis and car rentals are also available. High-speed catamarans run between the islands, and it is recommended to book tickets in advance as they are in high demand. A one-way ticket on public transport costs USD 2, and a monthly pass costs USD 114. Gasoline costs USD 2 per liter.

How much does housing cost?

The cost per square meter of housing in central Wellington starts at $5,800, and in residential areas, it starts at $4,800. In Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, almost everyone lives in private homes, which range in price from $2 million to $5 million.

Apartment rent is paid weekly rather than monthly and costs around $200-300 for quality housing. The apartments have everything you need: a kitchen, dishes, a stove, a washing machine, and a dryer.

A one-bedroom apartment in the center of Wellington will cost $1,300 per month, and in a residential area, $1,100. A three-bedroom apartment in the center will cost $2,100, and in a residential area, $1,800. Utilities, including electricity and heating, will cost about $137 per month. Mobile phone service costs $36 per month, and unlimited internet costs $52.

Websites for finding accommodation:

• booking.com
• agoda.com
• expedia.com
• airbnb.com
• holidayhouses.co.nz

You can search for accommodation in Facebook groups, where you can find the most suitable offer for you and contact the author directly to ask about the accommodation and negotiate.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

Healthcare

Healthcare in New Zealand is essentially free, even for tourists. If you need emergency medical attention, you will receive help and the costs will be covered by the state. However, if your case is not urgent, you will have to wait a month or more to see a doctor, and a visit to a private doctor will cost $80-90.

Those whose annual income is below a certain level are eligible for a Community Services Card (CSC). In the healthcare sector, this reduces the cost of visiting a doctor and purchasing prescription drugs. Dental treatment is free for children under 18. Childbirth in New Zealand is a free service for those who meet the subsidy criteria, as well as for their partners.

Education

The quality of education in New Zealand is among the best in the world. From the ages of 3 to 5, children can attend kindergarten for up to 20 hours per week free of charge, regardless of their visa type. The government subsidizes kindergartens, thereby helping young families. In other cases, an hour of childcare in a kindergarten costs between 7 and 10 New Zealand dollars.

Schools in New Zealand are like a fairy tale. In the upper grades, they teach special subjects. Music lessons are held in well-equipped classrooms, there are theater classes, robotics, art groups and dance, a huge selection of sports and clubs, surfing, skateboarding, sometimes even equestrian sports and much more. All of this is available even in good public schools.

Tuition at public schools is free for residents, but for non-residents, tuition will cost NZ$12,000 per year. At private schools, tuition starts at NZ$25,000 per year. At universities, tuition starts at NZ$10,000 and above.

Language and climate

New Zealand has three official languages: English, Maori, and New Zealand Sign Language.

The weather in New Zealand is very changeable, with strong winds. One minute it's sunny, five minutes later it's raining and windy, and another five minutes later it's a hurricane. In New Zealand, spring is from September to November, summer is from December to February, autumn is from March to May, and winter is from June to August. Winters here can reach -10°C, and summer temperatures can range from 37°C to 47°C. The sun is aggressive in this country, so you need to use sunscreen and cover your head and body. It rains almost all year round in New Zealand.

Moving to New Zealand with children

To move with children under the age of 18, you must prepare the following documents:

• Original and copy of birth certificate.
• Certificate from the educational institution.
• Notarized permission for the child to leave from parents/guardians, signatures (original and copy), or a court decision transferring rights to the child to one of the parents, or a death certificate of one of the parents, or a certificate stating that the mother is raising the child alone.

Moving with animals

Pets can be brought into New Zealand from three groups of countries: Australia (including Norfolk Island), countries free from rabies (island states), and countries where rabies is absent or well controlled (most EU countries, Argentina, the UK, Canada, UAE, USA, etc.).

It is prohibited to transport animals from Ukraine due to the existing risks of rabies spreading among animals. You can transport an animal if it has spent the last 6 months in an approved country.

What you need to transport an animal:

• Obtain permission to import the animal via the website.
• The animal must be microchipped.
• Have all vaccinations and undergo treatment for parasites.
• Have a veterinary certificate of this type with you.
• The animal must be completely healthy at the time of inspection.

Entry into the country with pets must be through Auckland or Christchurch airports only. Upon arrival in New Zealand, all animals must undergo a mandatory examination by a veterinarian and quarantine for a minimum of 10 days. Animals from Australia and Norfolk Island are exempt from quarantine.

Relocation of people of retirement age

Retirees can move to New Zealand on a retiree investor visa (you must bring USD 1 million with you and show and prove the origin of the money) and have income that comes from your country. You can invest your money, for example, in government bonds for 4 years, then withdraw it. With this visa, you become a resident, are entitled to everything (buying a home, using medical services, etc.), and are also allowed to provide financial guarantees for someone who wants to come to you.

You can move on a parent guest visa, but your children must have been residents of the country for at least 3 years and have sufficient funds to support you and pay for your health insurance.

Leisure and tourism in New Zealand

Fishing is popular in New Zealand. When you arrive at Lake Tarawera near a dormant volcano, you are sure to catch trout, as there are plenty of them here. In the evening, enjoy the thermal springs. Visit Milford Sound, a beautiful place with picturesque mountains and crystal clear lakes, also known as the "eighth wonder of the world." In Queenstown, you can go skiing in winter and take a cruise on the lake or go horseback riding in summer.

In Auckland, the city of volcanoes, you will see streets and parks formed by streams of solidified lava. A unique feature of the city is its access to two bays belonging to different seas. For beach lovers, there are a number of places to visit, such as Karekare Beach, Ninety Mile Beach, Hot Water Beach, Gillespie Beach, and Manu Bay.

Characteristics of the mentality

New Zealanders are kind, responsive, polite, cheerful, and enjoy spending time with their families. They engage in sports and go hiking. They go to cafes and restaurants in large groups. Work-life balance is important to them. New Zealanders are ardent patriots. Disrespect for national symbols such as local birds, Maori attributes, and sheep is taken very seriously.

They are friendly and loyal to foreigners. There are many different nationalities here, and everyone treats each other with respect and understanding.

Safety

New Zealand is considered a safe country not only because of the low level of threats to health and life, but also in other aspects, including economic stability. However, natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods can be a real threat.

Banking

The largest banks are ASB, ANZ, and BNZ. Cash is rarely used here, and most retailers accept cards. In online stores, you can pay for purchases using the AfterPay service, which allows you to split payments into several parts. Mobile banking, opening accounts online, accepting Swift payments via the Internet, obtaining insurance from a bank without inspecting the collateral, Apple Pay, EFTPOS, and much more work perfectly here.