Connecting migrants to NZ career opportunities

The Talent Hive has compiled

this document for people

considering relocating to New

Zealand.

We’ve added some tips, guides

and useful information to help

you uncover what it’s really like

to live and work in Aotearoa.

You’ll find information on the

New Zealand economy,

education system, immigration,

housing and life-style.

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Living & Working in New Zealand Helping connect international

Engineering & IT professionals with

career opportunities in New Zealand

Contact Us - NZ

The Talent Hive 114 Wrights Road, Addington Christchurch, New Zealand

+64 3 281 8448 team@thetalenthive.co.nz

Visit us on the Web: www.thetalenthive.co.nz

Contact Us - NZ

The Talent Hive 114 Wrights Road, Addington Christchurch, New Zealand

+64 3 281 8448 team@thetalenthive.co.nz

Visit us on the Web: www.thetalenthive.co.nz

New Zealand At A Glance

Name: New Zealand/Aotearoa

Population: 4.5 million (approx)

Land area: 268,000 km2

Demographics: 70% European, 14.9% Māori,

11.8% Asian, 7.4% Pasifika

Political system: Constitutional monarchy,

parliamentary democracy

Capital city: Wellington

Largest city: Auckland

Official languages: English, Māori, NZ Sign

Language

Religion: 48.9% Christian, 41.9% No Religion,

2% Hindu, 1.3% Buddhism,

1% Islam

Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD/$)

GDP: $122 billion (approx)

Introduction: Settling in

It’s a big move “upping sticks” and shifting to a

new country. Adjusting to a whole new culture

can seem daunting and the settling-in process

can be a challenging one which may take some

time. Before you arrive, we encourage you to do

some research on New Zealand so you know

what to expect. You’re less likely to encounter

cultural surprises or misunderstandings if you

know what lies in store for you, and this short

guide is a good place to start. For further

reading, there is plenty of information available

on the internet and we’ve also compiled some of

the most useful links for you here.

Meeting people

Meeting people will help you feel connected

within your new community and give you friends

and acquaintances to socialise with. You may

find other new migrants who you can connect

with, but over time you may find yourself

becoming friends with many Kiwis as well. Start

off by connecting with family members,

workmates and acquaintances and see where it

takes you.

It can initially be challenging to meet people in a

new country where you know no one, especially

as New Zealanders can be quite reserved upon

first meeting new people. A great way to do

meet like-minded people is to take up a hobby!

If you’re interested in something, whether it be

reading, films or cooking, there is likely to be a

club or group near you. You could even take a

night class in something or find a venue to teach

others your own culture or skills.

Another way to meet people is to become

involved with a local sports, cultural, school or

community group (New Zealanders in

particular are very keen on playing and

watching sports). The Community Directory

of the Office of Ethnic Affairs has links to

organisations for arts and culture, education,

sport, youth, women, business, faith groups,

refugees, and ethnic groups. There are also

“newcomers networks” throughout New

Zealand which offer activities from coffee

mornings to walking groups.

Depending on where you are moving from,

you may experience a significant “culture

shock” on moving to New Zealand. Chances

are you may be shifting to New Zealand with

your spouse or children. Children in particular

can find it hard to adjust to a new

environment. Keep talking to them about how

they’re feeling, and if you’re concerned you

may wish to make use of many migrant

support services.

Give yourself time

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself if,

after a few months, you still don’t feel at home.

It is a long process and no one expects you to

fit right in straight away. But over time we’re

confident you’ll find that New Zealand is a

wonderful, relaxed, friendly and vibrant place

to live – not to mention one of the most

scenically beautiful countries in the world. New

Zealand may be considerably smaller, or

considerably larger, or considerably different in

a multitude of other ways, from what you’re

used to – but we believe its mix of qualities as

a modern, open, prosperous, socially

progressive and dynamically multicultural

country is hard to beat!

Settling In: Useful Websites

Newcomers Network: http://www.newcomers.co.nz/

Get Ready For New Zealand: http://nzready.immigration.govt.nz/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz#/

Community Groups Nationwide: http://ethnicaffairs.govt.nz/community-directory?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Helping Children Deal With Migration: http://www.relationships.org.nz/families-on-the-move-helping-kids-cope-with-

migration/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Publications To Help You Settle In New Zealand: http://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/guides

Settling In NZ: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/PretoriaBranchHome/settlinginnewzealand/

Working In New Zealand: http://www.workingin-newzealand.com/live-and-settle#.VA-vE_mSzTo

10 Things To Know Before Moving To New Zealand: http://www.workingin-newzealand.com/live-and-settle/life-in-new-zealand/-top-10-things-before-

moving-to-new-zealand#.VA-vavmSzTo

Settling In Family Services: http://www.familyservices.govt.nz/working-with-us/programmes-services/connected-services/settling-in-refugee-migrant-

social-services.html

Planning Tool - To help you move to NZ and settle: http://nzready.immigration.govt.nz/?utm_source=immigration.govt.nz&utm_medium=referral#/

Cost Of Living Comparison Calculator: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

Geography

New Zealand comprises three main islands: the

North Island (commonly known as Te-Ika-a-

Maui in Māori), the South Island (Te

Waiponamu) and tiny Stewart Island (Rakiura)

below the South Island. The distant Chatham

Islands also belong to New Zealand, as do a

handful of sub-Antarctic islands to New

Zealand’s south, and New Zealand retains a free

association agreement with the Cook Islands

(whose Cook Island Māori inhabitants share

many cultural and linguistic traits with New

Zealand Māori).

Because of its shape and length, New Zealand

has a highly varied geography and climate. It

ranges from sub-tropical in the upper North

Island, through temperate zones in middle New

Zealand (including New Zealand’s celebrated

wine-growing region, Marlborough), to alpine

environments in the lower South Island. Thus

climate and location can be an important factor

in choosing where in New Zealand to live.

One constant throughout the country is that

New Zealand weather is frequently

unpredictable, changeable and sometimes wild!

Not for nothing is New Zealand’s weather band

known as the “roaring forties”. New Zealand is

also heavily coastal, with one of the longest

coastlines in the world, and New Zealanders’

lifestyle, cultural and cuisine is strongly

influenced by their proximity to the sea.

Auckland, the City of Sails, is New Zealand’s

largest and most diverse city, with over 1.5

million people and large numbers of immigrants

from the Pacific, Asia and Europe. The city is

situated between two harbours, the Waitemata

and Manukau harbours, and is known for its

warm temperatures, proximity to the sea and

vibrant cultural and social life. Auckland

frequently rates in the top 10 most liveable cities

in the world.

Wellington, the Capital City, vies with

Christchurch for the title of New Zealand’s

second largest city. It is a compact, highly urban

city with steep hills and unpredictable weather.

As well as the political capital, Wellington is

commonly considered to be New Zealand’s

cultural (and arguably also cuisine) capital, with a

thriving arts scene, bustling nightlife and the

home of New Zealand’s growing film and digital

indutries. Wellington was selected as the

“Coolest Little Capital in the World” by Lonely

Planet in 2011.

Christchurch, the Garden City, is the largest

city in New Zealand’s South Island, and is

located at the heart of New Zealand’s

Canterbury farming region. It is celebrated for

its proximity to some of New Zealand’s best

outdoor attractions, its distinctively English

heritage, and its “Canterbury spirit” of

individualism and resilience, which was

highlighted in the response to the disastrous

earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Christchurch is

a city currently enjoying a dynamic spirit of

change and activity as it goes about rebuilding

and forging a new city after the destruction

caused by the recent earthquakes.

Other significant cities in New Zealand include

Tauranga, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Nelson,

Dunedin and Invercargill.

Contact Us - UK

The Talent Hive 27 Old Gloucester Street London, WC1N 3AX

+44 845 467 0292 lucy@thetalenthive.co.uk

Visit us on the Web: www.thetalenthive.co.uk

Geography: Useful Websites

New Zealand geography: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/natural-environment/page-1

NZ Geographic: http://www.nzgeographic.co.nz/

Ministry for the Environment: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-dec07/html/chapter2-environment/page2.html

Auckland: http://www.aucklandnz.com

Wellington: http://www.wellingtonnz.com

Christchurch : http://www.christchurch.org.nz

Hamilton: http://www.visithamilton.co.nz Bay of Plenty/Tauranga: http://www.bayofplentynz.com

Nelson: http://www.nelsonnz.com

Dunedin: http://www.dunedinnz.com/visit/home

Contact Us - NZ

The Talent Hive 114 Wrights Road, Addington Christchurch, New Zealand

+64 3 281 8448 team@thetalenthive.co.nz

Visit us on the Web: www.thetalenthive.co.nz

Economy

New Zealand has a market economy that

depends greatly on international trade, mainly

with Australia, China, the European Union,

the United States, South Korea and Japan. The

economy is strongly focused on tourism

and primary industries (agriculture, viticulture

and aquaculture) with a strong emphasis on meat

and dairy. Exports account for around 30% of

New Zealand’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),

which makes it susceptible to international

market and currency fluctuations. New Zealand

also boasts large manufacturing and service

sectors and growing high-tech capabilities,

including a prominent film and digital industry

Traditionally, New Zealand's economy was built

on a narrow range of primary products, such as

wool, meat and dairy products, exported

primarily back to the UK. As a result of the

UK’s entry into the European Union, however,

and sped along by major economic restructuring

undertaken by the New Zealand Government in

the 1980s and early 1990s, the New Zealand

economy has become a more industrialised,

service-oriented, open free-market economy that

competes globally and trades heavily with

regional partners such as Australia, China and

Japan. New Zealand is one of the top five dairy

exporters in the world.

The New Zealand economy held up well

during the global financial crisis. While

business and consumer confidence did decline,

the country managed to pull out of decline in

2009 and has been growing since. New

Zealand’s banking sector was not strongly

affected by the GFC.

The New Zealand Treasury and Reserve Bank

forecast that New Zealand’s economy can

expect to grow 2 to 3% per year over the four

years from 2012 to 2016. Construction

spending in the Christchurch rebuild after the

2010 and 2011 earthquakes has continued to

boost GDP. In 2012, Forbes magazine listed

New Zealand as one of their best countries for

business.

The unemployment rate in New Zealand

increased to 5.90 percent in the second quarter

of 2015 from 5.80 percent in the first quarter

of 2015. Unemployment Rate in New Zealand

averaged 6.26 percent from 1985 until 2015,

reaching an all-time high of 11.20 percent in

the third quarter of 1991 and a record low of

3.50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Economy: Useful Websites

Overview of New Zealand economy: http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/overview

Economic indicators: http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators.aspx

New Zealand economic overview: http://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/investing-in-nz/opportunities-outlook/economic-overview

Economic statistics: https://www.nzte.govt.nz/en/invest/statistics/

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand: http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/

Lifestyle

New Zealand has a rich and diverse culture,

reflecting the influence of New Zealand’s

indigenous Māori settlers, later British and

European settlers, as well as the

increased immigration from all corners of the

world over the last 50 years which expanded New

Zealand’s bicultural heritage into a vibrant

modern-day multiculturalism. New Zealanders

place a premium on socialising, sports, enjoying

food and drink, and exploring and celebrating the

country’s spectacular outdoor scenery.

Socialising

New Zealanders are a social bunch of people,

with a typically laid-back and friendly attitude. We

pride ourselves on “getting the job done”, our

can-do “number 8 wire” mentality (based on the

idea that a traditional New Zealand farmer could

fix just about anything with a bit of number 8

wire!) and our “work hard, play hard” outlook on

life.

Leisure is a huge part of the New Zealand

lifestyle and Kiwis love to go out and socialise

with other people. Whether it’s a BBQ in the

backyard, fish and chips on the beach or a dinner

party at the bach (New Zealanders’ name for a

holiday home), food is at the heart of many of

New Zealand celebrations. Generally, if you are

going to a social occasion you will be expected to

take a small offering of food or drink to

contribute.

Often guests may be asked to “bring a plate” (a

plate of food, not just an empty plate!) to

contribute.

If someone says they will “shout” the food or

drink, this means they will pay for it. “Shouting”

of rounds of drinks in turn at a bar or pub is

common.

Workplaces can also be highly social and a great

way to meet people. Many workplaces will go for

a drink on a Friday evening and some

workplaces have sporting teams or a social club

you can join. Shared morning and afternoon teas

are often held in workplaces, especially on

someone’s birthday.

New Zealanders can be quite informal and

modest. As New Zealanders pride themselves on

their strongly egalitarian culture, they are usually

not impressed by displays of conspicuous wealth

or social hierarchy. You may find that the

modesty of many New Zealanders requires you

to take a more proactive approach to building

relationships, at least in the initial stages. Once

you have established those first steps, however,

you will discover that New Zealanders are an

open, warm and generous people. Sports, food

and drink, television and film and New Zealand’s

ever-changeable weather are favourite topics of

conversation. Politics, religion and money, while

certainly not taboo, are topics less frequently

discussed in casual conversation in New

Zealand.

Food and Drink

Food and cuisine in modern-day New Zealand is

diverse and strongly influenced by regional and

international trends. As befits New Zealand’s

strong agricultural heritage, a focus is placed on

quality meats, seafood, fruit and vegetables and

cereals.

Contemporary New Zealand cuisine

demonstrates a wide range of influences, from

British and European to the more recent

influence of Asian and Pacific Rim styles.

Food is plentiful, although higher-quality

produce can be expensive. Towns and cities in

New Zealand boast a wide range of cafés and

restaurants of all flavours, and New

Zealanders enjoy eating out (though they also

value the traditional home-cooked meal!)

Supermarkets are easily accessible in most

areas of New Zealand.

The standard range of international fast food

(commonly known as “takeaways” in New

Zealand) is available in most urban areas:

McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut etc.

In the summer, outdoor BBQs are very

popular. New Zealand’s semi-official national

dessert it the pavlova, a cake made of of

meringue, cream and fruit – although original

ownership of the dish remains hotly disputed

with Australia!

New Zealand is becoming increasingly

receptive to dietary requirements such as

gluten-free and dairy-free eaters, and if you

don’t see anything that caters to your

requirements it is always acceptable to ask.

Tipping is not customary in New Zealand, and

never required (although many cafés and

restaurants may have a small “tip jar” at the

counter for optional use).

Lifestyle Continued...

Tea and coffee are common hot drinks often

offered at meals and social functions. New

Zealanders take their espresso coffee very

seriously – they love their coffee culture so much,

in fact, that meeting someone just to grab a

coffee at a local café is a regular (often daily)

activity.

Alcohol is common at social functions (New

Zealanders are proud of their internationally

successful wines, particularly Sauvignon Blanc

and Pinot Noir, and also a growing local craft

beer market), but it is also perfectly acceptable to

have a non-alcoholic drink if you don’t feel like

drinking.

Smoking is not allowed in most public buildings

in New Zealand, including the interior of all bars

and restaurants. If you want to have a smoke, it is

best to go outside. If you are with someone, it is

polite to ask if they are comfortable with you

smoking close to them.

Maori Culture

The Māori people are the tangata whenua

(indigenous people) of New Zealand, and first

arrived in New Zealand around 800 years ago

from Polynesia. Today, Māori make up over 14

percent of New Zealand’s population. While

traditionally Māori lived in small tribal groupings

based around the marae (the tribal dwelling site),

today Māori are integrated across all aspects of

modern New Zealand society, and indeed a large

percentage of the Māori population is urbanised

(although many Māori tribes still have members

who live and preserve the traditional Māoritanga,

or Māori culture).

The Māori language, Te Reo Māori, and Māori

culture has had a major impact on all facets of

modern-day New Zealand life, so it’s important

you gain at least a basic understanding of the

culture.

The best way to gain some initial knowledge on

Māori culture is to do a bit of reading online.

Māori culture is rich and diverse, full of history,

myth, tradition and ceremony. While Māori

culture contains elements common across

Polynesian cultures, isolation in New Zealand

for many centuries also allowed Māori to

develop their own distinctive cultural, artistic

and linguistic traditions.

Elements of traditional Māori culture such as

traditional tattooing (tā moko), kapa haka

(traditional dance and song), performative

expression such as waiata (singing) and the haka

war dance (made famous by the New Zealand

All Blacks), as well as traditional spiritual beliefs

(including the Māori funerary rituals, known as

the tangi) have been preserved and indeed re-

vitalised by modern-day Māori.

The Māori Language is an official language of

New Zealand (along with English and New

Zealand Sign Language) and is taught in all New

Zealand schools. While you won’t be expected to

be able to speak Te Reo Māori, it’s useful to be

aware of some of the most common phrases.

Some Māori words have even been adopted and

become common in everyday New Zealand

speech, such as kiwi (a bird, a fruit, and New

Zealanders’ colloquial name for themselves), kai

(food), kia ora (hello), whānau (family), iwi

(tribe), hui (meeting/gathering), waka

(boat/canoe), mana (esteem/respect) and tapu

(taboo/sacred).

Outdoors

New Zealanders tend to be an outdoorsy

group of people, and we love to get out and

about and explore New Zealand’s beautiful and

highly diverse landscapes.

Camping and “tramping” (hiking) are very

common, as New Zealand boasts a huge range

of beaches, hills, forests, parks and mountains

to be explored. Fishing, kayaking, skiing,

boating, swimming, running, cycling and

hunting are also popular pastimes. Campsites,

both private and public sites run by the

Department of Conservation, are numerous,

and in many places “freedom camping” is also

permitted. To truly see New Zealand at its

beautiful best, getting outdoors is essential.

New Zealand has a large number of national

parks maintained by the Department of

Conservation for public use and exploration,

and many internationally renowned

tramping/hiking areas such as Milford Sound,

Abel Tasman National Park, Queen Charlotte

Sound and Tongariro National Park.

Sport is also at the heart of New Zealand

culture, with rugby union and netball being

especially popular. New Zealand has

competitive international teams in

cricket, rugby league, soccer, basketball

and softball, and has also traditionally done

very well in triathlons, rowing, yachting, cycling

and athletics. Many people take part in

Saturday sport or meet socially to watch sports

matches live in people’s homes or in bars and

pubs. You may be invited along to watch a

match or you could even to join a local sports

club to play yourself. This could be a great way

to meet new people.

Lifestyle: Useful Websites

Find a sports club: http://www.nzsport.co.nz/

How to meet people: www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/tips-for-settling-in/meeting-people

English courses for migrants: www.tec.govt.nz/Funding/Fund-finder/English-for-Migrants/Learner-resources/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

New Zealand slang: www.newzealandslang.com/

How to understand a New Zealander: www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/travel-tips-and-articles/76787?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

About Maori culture: http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/maori-culture.htm

Maori Culture: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Treaty of Waitangi: http://treaty2u.govt.nz/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Migrants rank New Zealand as top: http://www.workingin-newzealand.com/live-and-settle/life-in-new-zealand/top-living-destination#.VA-vbfmSzTo

Housing

The New Zealand housing market includes a

wide range of properties for purchase and

rental, including apartments, flats, townhouses,

suburban homes, lifestyle blocks and rural living.

Whatever you are looking for – from an

apartment in the heart of a city to a lifestyle

property with room for all the family – you’ll

find it somewhere in New Zealand.

When deciding where you want to live, it’s a

good idea to speak with friends and colleagues

about which areas they would suggest.

It is more expensive to live in New Zealand’s

larger cities, particularly Christchurch and

Auckland where there is a shortage of housing.

Be aware it may take you longer to find a place

when moving to either of these cities.

Other things to consider when looking for a

place to live include climate and heating (the

South Island experiences colder winters than the

North Island; in general, north-facing properties

offer the most sunlight; older houses in New

Zealand are often poorly insulated), the

surrounding transport systems (the quality and

availability of public transport varies

significantly across New Zealand), community

facilities and school zones.

Renting

Particularly when you first arrive in the country,

renting a property may be the best option for

you. A wide range of rental properties are

available on both short-term and long-term

fixed bases.

Rental prices vary depending on the size and

location of the property but tenants have had

reason to smile recently as the pressure on the

New Zealand rental market has eased. The

median weekly rent across the country is $420

per week.

In July 2015, Head of Trade Me Property, Nigel

Jeffries, said demand had eased from earlier in

the year. “While median weekly rents have risen

by a shade over six per cent over the last year,

the majority of that increase was seen at the end

of 2014 and earlier this year. We’re seeing the

rental market slowing down across the country.”

In New Zealand your landlord is responsible

for insuring the building and for paying local

rates. However, you as a tenant are responsible

for getting insurance for your possessions and

assume liability for any damage caused to the

property. Typically renters in New Zealand are

expected to pay independently for their utilities

(electricity, phone, internet etc).

Buying

Homeownership in New Zealand is about 65

per cent. Once you’ve settled in New Zealand,

you may decide that you too wish to purchase

a house of your own.

You can either visit a Real Estate agency to

enlist an agent to find one for you, or browse

houses for sale online. When you have found a

property you like, you would then typically put

in a written offer, usually through the agent

who has shown you through the property. Be

aware that a verbal offer to purchase a

property is not considered to be legally

binding.

You will make your offer via a Sale & Purchase

Agreement, which will often be conditional on

factors such as securing mortgage finance, title

searches and building reports – designed to

ensure you are covered should anything go

wrong during the purchase process. It is

common in New Zealand to barter over the

price of buying a house.

Banks in New Zealand offer home loans and

can talk you through the process of applying

for a mortgage. You can also hire a mortgage

broker who will deal with the banks on your

behalf.

Housing: Useful Websites

Buyers and sellers guide: www.reaa.govt.nz/ForBuyersAndSellers/Pages/ForBuyersandSellers.aspx?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Property Buying Toolbox: http://www.propertytoolbox.co.nz/house_buying_guide.php

Buying a house checklist: www.dbh.govt.nz/userfiles/file/publications/building/consumer/home-buyers.pdf

Real Estate: http://www.realestate.co.nz/

Trade Me (both rentals and properties for sale): http://www.trademe.co.nz/property

Advice for tenants: http://www.dbh.govt.nz/tenancy-index

Information about renting (available in many languages): http://www.dbh.govt.nz/pub-tenancy-generalinfo?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Housing utilities: http://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/housing/utilities

Finding a lawyer: http://www.lawsociety.org.nz/for-the-community/find-lawyer-and-organisation?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Building a home: www.consumerbuild.org.nz/publish/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Education

Primary/Secondary Schooling

If you have children, ensuring they receive a great

education will be high on your priority list when

moving to New Zealand. Happily, New Zealand

has a highly ranked education system, with

respected public and private schooling options

available.

Primary and secondary schooling is compulsory

for children aged 6 to 16, with the majority

attending from five years of age (of course, as

described below, most children also attend a form

of preschool or kindergarten prior to this

age). Attending public schools is free to New

Zealand citizens and permanent residents from a

person's fifth birthday to the end of the calendar

year following their 19th birthday. There are 13

school years, denoted as Year 1–Year 13.

Education in New Zealand is student-centred. It

is focused on supporting students to problem-

solve, process information, work with others,

create and innovate.

The OECD's Programme for International

Student Assessment ranks New Zealand's

education system as the 7th best in the world,

with students performing exceptionally well in

reading, mathematics and science. As described

in more detail below, secondary education in

most New Zealand schools focuses on the

National Certificate of Educational

Achievement (NCEA) curriculum, a

nationalwide set of assessment standards which

promote learning and ongoing assessment

throughout the school year. This curriculum

ensures that all students receive a grounding

education in the core subjects while also

providing students with flexibility in their final

years of schooling to choose the focus of their

studies.

Pre-school/ Childcare

In New Zealand a range of Early Childhood

Education (ECE) options exists for children

under five years of age. You may wish to enrol

your childhood at an ECE if you are working

part-time or wish your child to play with other

children. The first 20 hours per week of ECE

are government funded and largely free for all

children from age three until they start school.

Public and Private Schools

There are two types of schools in New Zealand,

public schools (funded by the Government) and

private schools. Public schools do not charge

school fees for attendance, although it is

common for a small optional donation towards

school costs to be requested from parents each

year, and parents will generally be responsible

for the costs of participation in extracurricular

school sports teams or field trips.

Children going to a public school are often

expected to attend the school within the

“zone” geographically closest to where they

live. This is why it is important when moving

into a home to check which “school zone”

your child will fall into. Not all public schools

restrict their roll to children from the zone in

but it is common. You can also apply for your

child to go to a school outside the zone but

there may be limited places available.

There is considerable variety amongst public

schools in New Zealand. Some schools will be

co-educational, with a mix of female and male

students, while others will be single-sex. Some

schools have a uniform, while others don’t.

School sizes also vary from a couple of

hundred pupils (or smaller in the case of many

rural schools) to several thousand. Even

amongst publicly funded schools, the quality

of facilities and amenities can vary

considerably depending on location and

demographics. These are all factors worth

considering in choosing where to live and

apply for schools.

While most children in New Zealand go to

public schools, there is also a variety of private

schools which you may pay for your child to

attend. These schools may be religiously

affiliated (though generally in New Zealand

there is no religious “requirement” for private

school eligibility) or run by private secular

boards or charities. Private school fees can vary

considerably depending on the nature and

location of the school.

Education Continued...

You can conduct research about a school before

enrolling your children there. The National

Education Review Office (ERO) publishes

reports on each school which you can read

online. You can visit the school in person to view

the facilities and you should also ask local New

Zealanders about which schools they

recommend.

The New Zealand curriculum for the first eight

years of school is based on National Standards.

The New Zealand Curriculum has eight learning

areas: English, The Arts, Health and Physical

Education, Learning Languages, Mathematics and

Statistics, Science, Social Sciences and

Technology. Students develop key knowledge,

skills and concepts in each area and learn how to

apply them in their lives. At secondary school,

children complete the National Certificate of

Educational Achievement (NCEA). This

assessment, generally required for admission to

tertiary education in New Zealand, is made up of

three certificates at Levels 1, 2 and 3, designed to

be undertaken in Years 11, 12 and 13 respectively.

As well as academia, practical skills are valued in

New Zealand’s school system. Children will be

taught a range of skills including information

technology, media studies, art and design,

cooking, woodwork, metalwork and sewing.

Students with aptitude and interest in practical

studies can pursue these skills through secondary

school in preparation for future apprenticeships

or careers.

Māori language is taught in all New Zealand

primary schools and learning another language

(Māori or otherwise) is encouraged. Children will

also be encouraged to undertake a wide range of

sporting and cultural activities, such as

interschool sports exchanges, music, debating,

art, dance, kapa haka, or theatre.

Higher learning

Tertiary education in New Zealand is defined as

any form of learning that happens after

completing secondary education. The New

Zealand tertiary sector covers private training

establishments, institutes of technology and

polytechnics, Private Training Establishments,

universities and workplace training.

Degrees are mainly offered at universities, where

programmes are research-led and generally

academically focused. Some degrees are also

offered through Institutes of Technology.

Vocational degree-level education is offered at

Institutes of Technology and some Private

Training Establishments. Private Training

Establishments programmes are mostly in

specific vocational niches at certificate and

diploma level.

New Zealand’s universities are all publicly

funded, and all are respected internationally for

the quality of research and education they

provide. Some universities are stronger in certain

fields than others, however, and some fields of

study are available only through certain

universities (e.g. medicine must be studied at

either Otago or Auckland universities, while

vetinary science is studied at Massey University).

Despite New Zealand universities being

publicly funded, students must still contribute

towards the cost of study, although this is

relatively low by international standards and

student loan assistance is often available from

the government.

There are many factors to weigh up when

choosing a tertiary course, such as which type

of provider you prefer, cost, how long the

course will take and what qualification you'll

receive at the end of it. It is important to talk

with a careers advisor or do some research

online before you enrol in a tertiary course to

ensure it meets your expectations and

requirements.

Contact Us - UK

The Talent Hive 27 Old Gloucester Street London, WC1N 3AX

+44 845 467 0292 lucy@thetalenthive.co.uk

Visit us on the Web: www.thetalenthive.co.uk

Education: Useful Websites

Find an ECE: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/parents/allages/ecelisting.aspx?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

ERO reports on ECE: http://www.ero.govt.nz/National-Reports/Early-Childhood-Education-A-Guide-for-Parents-June-

2007?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

20 Hours free: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/Parents/EarlyYears/HowECEWorks/20HoursECE.aspx?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Find a school: http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Choosing a school – checklist:

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/Parents/AllAges/UsefulInformation/ChoosingASchoolChecklist.aspx?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

What ERO does: http://www.ero.govt.nz/About-Us/What-ERO-Does?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

National Standards: http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/National-Standards/Key-information?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Understand NCEA: http://www.careers.govt.nz/education-and-training/still-at-school/how-to-understand-ncea/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

School terms and holidays:

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/EducationInNewZealand/SchoolTermsAndHolidays.aspx?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Tertiary study options: http://www.careers.govt.nz/education-and-training/tertiary-study-options/

Choosing a tertiary education option: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/studying-in-new-zealand/tertiary-education/choosing-a-tertiary-qualification/

Apprenticeships: http://www.tec.govt.nz/Learners-Organisations/Learners/Learn-about/Apprenticeships/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Finances

Getting Paid/Paying

Getting paid is probably going to be one of your

priorities when arriving in New Zealand.

Once you arrive, you should join a bank. There

are many banks in banks in New Zealand, all of

which must be registered with the Reserve Bank.

Many banks have international staff and have

experience dealing with migrants. Most banks are

privately owned, although KiwiBank is majority-

owned by the New Zealand government.

Although the banks all offer more or less the

same services and basic rates, it can pay to ask

around as to which bank locals prefer to deal

with.

Wages and salaries are usually paid directly into a

bank account by direct deposit. Using internet

banking or smartphone banking, you can easily

track your payments, transfer funds between

accounts, and pay bills and other people using

online payments.

Once you’ve set up a bank account here, getting

money transferred from overseas is easy. There’s

no restriction on how much foreign currency you

can bring in to or take out of New Zealand, but

if you arrive at an airport carrying more than

$10,000 in New Zealand cash you’ll need to

complete a Border Cash Report.

Using a card is the most common way to pay for

things in New Zealand. People in New Zealand

carry around much less cash than they used to

(and relatively little compared to most overseas

countries) and instead usually pay for things

a zero-fees debit card (called an EFTPOS card)

or a credit card. Virtually all shops and outlets

provide for payment by EFTPOS, and most

permit payment by credit card (though in some

small businesses there may be a small additional

credit card fee or a minimum purchase price).

You can withdraw cash from a bank or from an

ATM (automatic teller machine) which are found

in numerous locations around all towns and

cities.

Income Tax

Taxation in New Zealand is collected at a

national level by the Inland Revenue

Department (IRD) on behalf of

the Government of New Zealand. The personal

tax years run from 1 April to 31 March.

Income tax varies dependent on income levels in

any specific tax year (a progressive or graduated

tax system). When you begin earning income

you will need to apply for a tax number, called

an IRD number, or you will be taxed at the

highest possible level. To do this you simply

need to complete a form which can be

downloaded on the IRD website.

The highest personal tax rate is 33 percent for

income over $70,000, while at the bottom the

tax rate is 10.5 per cent on income up to

$14,000. The maximum company tax rate is 28

per cent. Tax on income for employees is

generally collected under the Pay As Your Earn

(PAYE) scheme, meaning tax is deducted before

the employee receives the salary or wage in the

hand. Self-employed workers, however, will need

to make their own arrangements for payment of

income taxes.

Goods and Service Tax

Goods and services tax (GST) is an indirect

tax introduced in New Zealand in 1986.

Most products or services sold in New

Zealand incur GST at a flat rate of 15%. When

you buy something in a store it will have

already had GST added (and prices are always

listed inclusive of GST), but some items or

services purchased elsewhere may be listed as

“GST excluded”. You do not pay GST on

residential rents and financial services.

All businesses are required to register for GST

once their turnover exceeds $60,000

annually. Once registered, businesses charge

GST on all goods and services they supply and

can reclaim any GST they have been charged

on goods and services they have purchased.

In New Zealand, significant excise or

duty taxes are charged on a number of

products, including alcohol products, tobacco

products, and some fuels. Again, these are

always included in the listed purchase price.

Other Taxes

Accidents and injuries in New Zealand (except

those which occur in the workplace) are

covered by the Accident Compensation

Corporation (ACC) scheme (the existence of

which means that accidental personal injuries

are generally not legally actionable in New

Zealand). All employees must pay an ACC

earners' levy to cover the cost of non-work

related injuries under the ACC scheme.

Employers deduct the earners' levy from

wages.

Finances Continued...

The ACC scheme ensures that if you are injured

or suffer an accident you will automatically

receive the medical and financial assistance you

need, including medical and treatment costs,

weekly compensation if you are unable to work,

and support to return to work or independence

as quickly as possible. (It should be noted that

ACC does not typically cover sickness or

illnesses, only accidents.)

Another tax to be aware of is the fringe benefit

tax, which applies to non-salary or wage benefits

given to employees, such as use of a company car

or a discount on a product.

Again, if you have any questions about taxation

laws in New Zealand, you should seek

professional advice from a lawyer or other tax

specialist.

Kiwisaver

KiwiSaver is a voluntary work-based savings

scheme set up by the Government to encourage

New Zealand earners to save for their retirement.

If you're employed, you can “opt in” and choose

to pay 3%, 4% or 8% of your gross (before-tax)

wage or salary to your KiwiSaver account. As

with the PAYE scheme, any Kiwisaver

contribution will be taken out of your salary or

wages automatically before you receive it. Once

you’ve joined you can also make lump-sum

contributions to your account if you wish. A

number of banks and other financial institutions

provide Kiwisaver schemes as a vehicle through

which your savings may be invested, and typically

a range of investment portfolios with varying

risk profiles is provided.

Your employer also has to contribute an amount

equivalent to at least 3% of your gross

salary/wages to your Kiwisaver fund (this

cannot be taken by the employer out of your

salary or wages). The government pays into your

KiwiSaver account with an annual “member tax

credit” of up to $521.

You can withdraw money from your Kiwisaver

when you turn 65 years old. You may also be

able to withdraw money from your Kiwisaver to

help you purchase your first home.

To be eligible for Kiwisaver you must be a New

Zealand citizen, or entitled to live in New

Zealand indefinitely. You can choose to join

KiwiSaver at any time. After 12 months in

KiwiSaver you also become eligible to take a

limited break from saving (a “contributions

holiday”) if you wish.

If you are automatically enrolled when you begin

employment, you can “opt out” of KiwiSaver if

you wish, but only in the narrow window

between 2 and 8 weeks of starting your job. If

you choose to join Kiwisaver, you must

contribute for at least 12 months. This is

something important to be aware of when

starting employment in New Zealand: although

Kiwisaver is optional to join, once you are in you

assume considerable obligations – so be

conscious of whether you are opting in or

opting out when starting a new job.

The Kiwisaver scheme can be complicated to

navigate. Again, if you have any concerns you

should seek professional advice from a lawyer or

financial specialist.

Finances: Useful Websites

Cost of living in New Zealand: https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/money-tax/comparable-living-costs

Cost of living calculator: http://www.enz.org/cost-of-living-in-new-zealand.html

Comparison calculator for cost of living in NZ vs home country: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

Finding a bank: http://rbnz.govt.nz/regulation_and_supervision/banks/register/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

An introduction to Tax: http://www.business.govt.nz/tax-and-reporting/business-tax-levies

Do I need to file a tax return?: http://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax-individual/filing-your-return/do-you-need-to/?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Apply for an IRD number: http://www.ird.govt.nz/how-to/irdnumbers/#02?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Tax exemption on foreign income: http://www.ird.govt.nz/yoursituation-nonres/move-nz/temp-tax-empt-foreign-

inc.html?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz

Tax system in New Zealand: http://www.dol.govt.nz/immigration/knowledgebase/item/3307

Kiwisaver: https://www.sorted.org.nz/a-z-guides/kiwisaver?utm_source=newzealandnow.govt.nz or http://www.kiwisaver.govt.nz/new/about/how/ks-

works.html

Immigration

In order to realize your potential to migrate to

New Zealand you will need to apply for and

obtain appropriate visas from Immigration New

Zealand (INZ). We set out here some useful

introductory information for you to consider.

New Zealand Immigration Policy Today

New Zealand Immigration Policy is substantive,

complex and changes frequently. With any

migration move therefore, there is a considerable

advantage to those migrants who undertake

sound planning at a very early stage in the

migration process.

As many migrants will undoubtedly identify

through the process, there is much more to the

visa processing merely identifying the appropriate

visa categories and filling out a few forms. A

good understanding of the immigration

categories that apply, the type of applications

required, and the criteria of these applications

that will need to be met by migrants needs to be

understood at an early stage, because what

should be avoided is significant visa or processing

delays, or in the worse case scenario visa declines

because an appropriate level of understanding

of the visa process was not held prior to making

the visa application.

Where Can I get Immigration Advice From?

In order to obtain visas and assistance with

migration, there are two choices open to you.

First you can assess, complete, submit and

process your own application(s) directly with

INZ. A common difficulty encountered in

taking responsibility for your own application(s)

is that you will not receive direct (or reliable)

assistance with the applications from INZ. INZ

are obligated by law to provide information to

you, they will not provide personalized/tailored

advice to your circumstances. There is a huge

difference between the two.

The second option you have is to engage a

professional service provider who can take full

responsibility to assess your eligibility for visas,

assist in employment negotiation (checking the

offer meets INZ requirements), trouble shoot

any identifiable issues, process the visas, and

manage your visa process from start to finish.

There are typically three main reasons as to why

individuals choose to engage a professional

service provider. They are as follows:

You may simply not have enough time

or the ability to research and understand

the regulations in sufficient detail to

ensure that you will obtain the visas

required;

You require confirmation that you will

qualify for the visas obtained, in a

manner that is both timely and takes as

much stress out of the immigration

process as is possible; and

A professional representative often

has the ability to navigate and guide

on unforeseen issues encountered

during the immigration process (such

as health or technical visa issues).

Such issues can create significant

stress due to the possibility of decline.

Contact The Talent Hive Visa Team to

discuss your requirements. Our

licensed professionals can offer you

advice and guidance on the visa

application process. We have two

special packages designed to help you

emigrate to New Zealand. Please

contact us on

VISA@THETALENTHIVE.KIWI

Immigration: Useful Websites

The Talent Hive Visa Team: http://thetalenthive.co.nz/new-zealand-work-visa/ Immigration New Zealand: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/