Thinking of Moving to New Zealand?
What it's Like to Live in Aotearoa- Land of the Long White Cloud
Increasing numbers of people are leaving their home countries and moving down under. Find out why so many people are flocking to New Zealand.
You will no doubt recognise the exquisite New Zealand landscape from such famous films as "The Lord of the Rings", "The Chronicles of Narnia", "King Kong" and "The Last Samurai". However, for a long time, New Zealand, the little country at the far corner of the Southern Hemisphere, stayed under the radar.
It is only fairly recently, after a monumental effort on the part of Tourism New Zealand and due to the excellent PR that the New Zealand based films have attracted, that people have started to become aware of New Zealand and the wonderful lifestyle that can be enjoyed there.
In recent years, people from far and wide, from countries such as the United Kingdom, the USA and South Africa, have been upping sticks and heading to New Zealand for what they hope will be a happier, healthier existence.
A Healthier Lifestyle
The air quality is very good in New Zealand. According to Statistics New Zealand, the country’s official statistics agency, this is mainly because of New Zealand’s geographical location in the South Pacific Ocean, the constantly blowing westerly winds, the coastal location of most of the main cities and the limited amount of heavy industry. New Zealand has very low pollution levels, contributing to only 0.2% of the world’s carbon emissions.
Outdoor sports are also extremely popular in New Zealand. This is largely down to the diverse landscape of the country, coupled with the comfortable temperatures and climate that can be enjoyed in many areas. Skiing, snowboarding, cycling, running, hiking and horse-riding are activities that many New Zealand citizens participate in.
A Diverse Climate and Landscape
New Zealand has an incredibly varied climate and landscape. Whether you want snow capped mountains and an alpine village atmosphere, as can be found in Queenstown on the South Island, or you want a temperate climate and access to some of the world’s best sailing, which is what Auckland on the North Island offers, you will find the perfect place to suit your needs.
Because New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere, temperatures get colder the further south you travel. This means that areas such as Auckland and Hamilton on the North Island are generally much warmer than Invercargill or Dunedin on the lower part of the South Island. The warmest months are December, January and February with the coldest months being June July August. On average, New Zealand temperatures range from 20-30 degrees Celsius in the summer to between 10-15 degrees Celsius in the wintertime.
Friendly People
The indigenous people of New Zealand are called Maoris. They are believed to have arrived in New Zealand, from Eastern Polynesia, in large wooden canoes called waka, sometime between AD 800 and 1300. They developed a very distinct culture and the Maori of today still treasure traditions that were established hundreds of years ago. This includes performing arts such as the haka, which the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team still performs before each and every game. Carving and weaving are also much valued Maori traditions. Most young Maoris are also taught how to speak the ancient and beautiful Maori language.
Europeans, which the Maori have always referred to as Pakeha, arrived in the late to mid 1700s, after the famous explorer, James Cook, discovered the island. The Kiwis that originate from Europe are well known for being friendly and accommodating. However, in general, they can also be quite shy and it may take some time before you are accepted into their social groups and networks.
In past years, people from countries all over the world, including China, Japan, India, the UK, South Africa and Russia, have moved to New Zealand, turning major cities, like Auckland, into vibrant cultural melting pots.
Is New Zealand the Place for You?
If you thrive in a fast-paced, high stress atmosphere then the slower paced Kiwi lifestyle might frustrate you slightly. Also, if you can’t imagine being away from the castles, museums and history of a place like London, then you might not like the fairly new culture of New Zealand which hasn’t had as long to develop as many European destinations.
However, if you watched Lord of the Rings and wished that you lived somewhere with such an enchantingly beautiful landscape then New Zealand might be the right choice for you. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors and trying out lots of different sports and exciting activities, such as bungee jumping and sky diving, will also have a whale of a time here. Finally, if you are after the ‘good life’, where the air is clean, pollution is minimal and nuclear and non-renewable power is shunned then maybe, just maybe, you are a Kiwi in the making.
