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Overview of New Zealand
New Zealand is the one of the most popular study abroad destination in the world after the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK). It offers an unbeatable study and living experience where students have the opportunity to get a world-class education, gain meaningful employment experience during and post-study, and enjoy an excellent quality of life, all in one place.
Location and Geography
New Zealand is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa) is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, near the centre of the water hemisphere. It consists of a large number of islands, estimated around 700, mainly remnants of a larger landmass now beneath the sea.
States and Territories
New
This Act established a quasi-federal system of government and divided the country into the six provinces of
Climate and Weather
New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. While the far North has subtropical weather during summer, and inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as – 10°C in winter, most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine.
Seasons in New Zealand
Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure, family fun, rest and relaxation, food and wine, cultural experiences or a bit of everything, New Zealand has something to suit, no matter when you visit.
New Zealand’s busy ‘high season’ is summer, while the quieter ‘shoulder seasons’ are spring and autumn. Winter in New Zealand can be busy or quiet depending on where you go – ski areas like Queenstown and Wanaka in the South Island and the Central Plateau in the North Island are always buzzing in the depths of winter, whereas coastal areas and big cities like Auckland and Wellington are less crowded. Travelling in the shoulder seasons can be a good idea as you’ll often find more availability and better rates on accommodation and activities.
Summer (December-February)
This is the most popular time to visit New Zealand for sunny beach days, adventures on the water, beautiful bush walks and mountain hiking. Visitor numbers are high and summer holidays mean more Kiwis are travelling around New Zealand too, making the most of the sunshine and Christmas break.
Autumn (March-May)
If you would like sunshine but fewer crowds, then autumn is a fantastic time to visit New Zealand. The days are still quite warm early in the season (that means beach swims through March and well into April in some parts of the country) with cooler evenings, and there is beautiful scenery as the autumn colours spread through the countryside. Bush walks and hiking are great options now as the days are not as hot.
Winter (June-August)
Winter in New Zealand is the best time to visit if you’re into snow sports. Queenstown and Wanaka in the South Island and the Central Plateau in the North Island are the most popular spots for skiing and snowboarding. While many ski fields open in June, the highest snowfall is usually throughout July and August. If you’re planning on driving in areas of New Zealand that are prone to snow, you’ll need to carry chains and take extra care on the roads.
Spring (September-November)
Spring in New Zealand is when the weather starts to warm up, although there is a high chance of rainfall around this time of year. It’s the perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, and there is often spring skiing available at some ski fields too. You’ll find New Zealand’s countryside full of bouncing lambs and spring blossoms, so it makes for great photos! Warm days and cool nights are common.
Demographics and Culture
With a patchwork history of Māori, European, Pacific Island and Asian influences, New Zealand’s population of five million people is a melting-pot of cultures.
Today, the population of New Zealand(opens in new window) is made up of people from a range of backgrounds; 70% are of European descent, 16.5% are indigenous Māori, 15.1% Asian and 8.1% non-Māori Pacific Islanders.
Geographically, over three-quarters of the population live in the North Island, with one-third of the total population living in Auckland. The other main cities of Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton are where the majority of the remaining Kiwis dwell.
New Zealand demographics don’t tell the full story. Beyond the numbers, what are Kiwi people really like?
Why are New Zealanders called Kiwis?
The name ‘kiwi’ comes from the curious little flightless bird that is unique to New Zealand.
Māori people have always held the kiwi bird in high regard. Their feathers were used to make ‘kahu kiwi’, valuable cloaks worn by tribal chiefs.
In the early 1900s, cartoonists started to use images of the kiwi bird to represent New Zealand as a country.
During the First World War, New Zealand soldiers were referred to as ‘kiwis’, and the nickname stuck.
Eventually, the term Kiwi was attributed to all New Zealanders, who proudly embraced the moniker. Just like the bird, New Zealanders are unique, adaptable and a little quirky.
Cultural Diversity
Over four hundred years before Christopher Columbus and the rest of Europe worried about falling off the edge of the world, Māori people voyaged thousands of miles across the vast unknown Pacific Ocean in small ocean-going canoes and became the first inhabitants of Aotearoa New Zealand.
To this day, Maori culture is a core part of New Zealand’s national identity.
Languages
English is New Zealand’s primary language,
Since 2001, the total number of responses for people able to speak an international language has grown from 481,314 responses to 720,039 by 2013. This growth has largely been driven by the increasing number of people speaking Hindi, Northern Chinese and Sinitic.
Between 2001 and 2013 the number of Hindi speakers has tripled (from 22,759 to 66,309), and the number of speakers of Northern Chinese (26,514 to 52,263 people) and Sinitic (22,851 to 42,753 people) have almost doubled. The number of people speaking ‘Other international languages’ also grew significantly, from 288,351 speakers in 2001 to 373,851 speakers in 2013.
In comparison, the number of French and German speakers grew between the years 2001 and 2006, but by 2013 had decreased again. The number of speakers of French and German remained relatively stable (French with around 49,000 speakers in 2001 and 2013, and German with 33,871 speakers in 2001 and 36,642 in 2013).
Religions
New Zealand is a nation, meaning there is a formal separation between the state and religious entities.1 There is a high degree of religious freedom and diversity throughout the country. While state and religious groups remain separate, religious institutions (especially those part of Christian traditions) continue to play a large role in New Zealand society. For example, many primary and secondary schools, hospitals, aged-care facilities and charity organisations are owned and funded by religious organisations.