Can somebody give me information on New Zealand?
Answer:
Actually, immigration laws are quite a bit more relaxed in New Zealand than Australia.
New Zealand is a welfare state, so they take good care of residents who are struggling. Emergency medical care (such as hospital care) is completely free, and doctor's visits and prescriptions are heavily subsidised by the government (the government pays part of the cost so you don't have to).
New Zealand has a developed, western style economy. Income is generally high, people are well off and the standard of living is just as good as America.
Homeless people are very rare in New Zealand, because there is such an enormous amount of welfare and support available. People are really only homeless by choice in New Zealand, usually because they refuse to accept assistance from the government.
Homeschooling is most certainly allowed in New Zealand! But the public education system is great too. It's free of course, all 13 years of primary and high school education.
You can certainly bring your pets to New Zealand, but moving your pets from one country to another is never cheap (although I'm sure you know that) and you may have to leave them in quarantine for 30 days while they're checked out for any diseases and such (although this would happen in just about any country you moved to).
The current Prime Minister of New Zealand is Helen Clark, who has been elected for three successive terms. Each term lasts for three years. She's quite a strong activist for peace, as most of the previous PMs been, and you'll find that the New Zealand government is extremely hesitant to get involved in war. The only troops New Zealand sent to Afghanistan were support troops (i.e medics and helpers and the like) and NZ didn't take part in the Iraq war at all. Of course, New Zealand's geographic isolation helps it to keep out of foreign conflicts too, and New Zealand is probably one of the least likely possibilities for any terrorism.
The Prime Minister is the leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, which generally supports welfare and minority rights, rather than having an economic focus.
New Zealand has a strong nuclear free policy, which has rather soured relations with the United States government. Nuclear warships are no longer permitted to dock in New Zealand or pass through it's territorial waters and New Zealand uses no nuclear power, therefore producing no nuclear waste.
New Zealand cuisine is really not very different from British and Australian cuisine. What you won't find is anything in the vein of haggis or fried cats and dogs. Cuisine is rather mild, you won't often come across anyone eating anything you would consider distasteful. People are just likely to eat steak and potatoes, or a pasta dish, as Americans are. However, there may be one or two things that you take for granted in America that New Zealanders have never heard of. Perogies, for example.I didn't even know they existed until I visited Canada when I was 17. (I am a New Zealand citizen now living in Australia.) The burger and chips culture is thriving in New Zealand, you'll find most of the fast food restaurants you're used to seeing (McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys, KFC and all that).
I don't think I need to say anything about New Zealand's extraordinary flora and fauna. Just look up a few photos of New Zealand's natural wonders: a picture speaks a thousand words. What's more, a slice of nature will never be more than 15 minutes from your door, in fact, in most places, you only have to leave the suburb to find a stand of forest. If you choose to live in Auckland, you will always be very close to the ocean, and not much further away elsewhere. Being a long, thin island, it's never a very long journey to the sea.
New Zealand is highly lacking in dangerous animals. They've got no snakes, and only one poisonous spider that is very rarely seen and has never killed anyone.
The weather is mild and temperate, especially in the upper half of the North Island. If you want to live somewhere that doesn't often get very cold, I'd suggest Auckland. Hamilton and Wellington aren't so bad but they can get a bit windy. The South Island is considerably colder, with lots of snow in the winter of course.
Hmmm. What more can I say? Laws are always difficult to talk about, because of course there are so many. You certainly won't be allowed to own a handgun in NZ. Gun related crime is very rare as a result of a lack of gun culture in New Zealand. You'll also be driving on the left side of the road in New Zealand, as opposed to the right. I really can't think of anything else that is shockingly different. Apart from gay people being allowed to tie the knot I suppose, that's something Australia and America have been trying to stamp out while the rest of the world looks disdainfully on.
That's probably about all I can say.enjoy your time in New Zealand should you choose to move! I personally would suggest Auckland as a first choice, and Wellington second. However, you may of course wish to be close to your friend. All areas are great to live in of course, but Auckland is the most metropolitan (not to say it's crowded or polluted, not at all, it's mostly suburban, all I'm saying is you'll always be close to a shopping center or a school) and therefore the culture shock will be minimized there.
As an American immigrant, you may find yourself subject to some generalizations (for example, some non-Americans see all Americans as big-headed with an overinflated sense of self-importance). You will find these in nearly every country, fortunately there are very few people who think like this in New Zealand. My advice is: ignore them. Most people will judge you on your own merits, and even the naysayers will get over themselves sooner or later. ;)
I've always wanted to go there too. I heard Australia is tough to get citizenship, so maybe it's just as tough in New Zealand. Good luck.
OMG, that is like my dream country. I always wanted to go there since i was 15. The country is the largest of all the Polynesian islands, its capital is Wellington. It compromised of mainly two islands, called the north and south island. The wealthiest (and biggest) city is Auckland, the city has the largest Polynesian population. The population of the country is surprisingly small, only four million. The prime minister, Helen Clerk is the prime minister, elected in 1999, and of course Queen Elizabeth is head of state, also in a bunch of other countries. The south is mostly mountainous and the majority of the population lives in the north island. The country's export are primarily agricultural goods, and major trading partners are Australia, the United States, the UK, and Japan. The climate is similar to that of NYC and Massachusetts. Its also one of the world's least corrupt countries, according to wikipedia. I find the country fascinating, these are the major things i know.
The country is home to one of the most exotic animals , due to isolation, and i am pretty sure you can take your pets there with a reasonable fee, you should contact the gov. The government has various laws protecting endangered species, and its very concerned about the country's wildlife.
I guess these links will be able to answer most of your questions and then some.**
Life in New Zealand
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/...
It is near Austrailia
Well, I'm a Kiwi, but I haven't lived there for a few years now. I think I can answer some of ur questions.
The Prime Minister is Helen Clark. She's a right b.i.t.c.h. She's been in power now for about 15 years. Most government systems are no good, but if u want to try something different, New Zealand is very different to the US. They don't have states like u do or we do in Australia, all one state, I guess. Lol, the Aussies would like NZ to be a state of Australia but try telling that to the New Zealanders.
It is a lovely place to visit, though unless u have quite a bit of money it can be a hard place to live.
Depends where u live, city or country, whether it's peaceful. I grew up in the fifth largest city, Hamilton, population about 150,000 people. It's in the North Island about 100km south of Auckland, the largest city. The capital city is Wellington. The population, when I left, was about 3 and a half million, but I think it's more like 4 million now.
If u live in a smaller city like Rotorua or Tauranga the pace is nice and slow. Rotorua is on the volcanic plateau so there is a lot of thermal activity there. Tauranga is near the sea and is in the Bay of Plenty, so called by Captain James Cook in the 1700's. It's a beautiful place to visit.
About ur pets, u have to register dogs but cats are okay, no registration necessary.
The school system is quite different to the US. The children start at 5 years old and attend primary school till they are 10. Then they go to intermediate school for two years and then secondary or high school till they are about 17 or 18 years old. I think the legal age to leave school is 15 though.
I think home schooling is allowed but don't quote me on that one. I'm not really sure, u'd have to check that out for urself.
As for food, fresh fruit and vegetables are readily available in most supermarkets and the prices of food and groceries are pretty reasonable.
They are sort of similar to the British in their customs, unlike Aussies who are more Americanised. They are part of the Commonwealth, same as Britain and Australia.
Well, I hope I've been a little bit of help to u. I'm sure u'll like it if u move to New Zealand. It is quite a bit slower in pace than the US. Oh, and congratulations on ur new little one. All my best wishes, love and good luck.
The Immigration information post by website user , MyTend.com not guarantee correctness.
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