6 Best Places To Live In New Zealand – that will be the topic of today’s article.
Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here.
The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.
Introduction
New Zealand is a fantastic place to live in today’s 21st century. As we’ve discussed earlier in our previous post, there are many people that’d love to make this country their permanent place of residence. While you might fall in love with great outdoor activity, you’ll enjoy the vibe here.
Now, it can be difficult to capture the magic behind this beautiful nation. You can find heaps of lists out there that’d tell you about the cheapest places. On the other hand, it’s crucial to know the best places suitable for expats. Do you wish to live in New Zealand? As expats, we understand what you need!
However, moving to New Zealand for many could boost their portfolio. Depending on the reason you’d like to travel, the country has a reputation for provincial friendliness, and this is a boon to newcomers. Moreover, the country is divided into 16 regions, which all have their distinctions and advantages today.
Have you been surfing the internet to get the right information about the best places to live in New Zealand? Well, today might be the end of your search as you’ve landed on the right platform. We will take a look at the most popular cities for expats in the North and South islands. Does that sound interesting?
If you answered yes, continue reading to understand the concept. Moreover, in this article, we will walk you through the six best places to live in New Zealand. Aside from this fact, we have compiled some expats guide that’d help you understand the process of living or relocating to New Zealand better today.
Expat Guide to Living in New Zealand
While New Zealand is a relatively small country, it offers a happy life due to its natural and diverse scenery. The majority of its cities are located on the north island, whilst the South Island is more well-known for its breathtaking countryside. But you need to know some certain guides before you relocate. Without further ado, below are the expat guides to living in the country.
New Zealand Lifestyle
Whenever you’re planning to relocate to any country, the lifestyle that you’ll expect is one thing to consider. As a general rule, the country embraces a relaxed lifestyle, remembering the importance of rest and a healthy work/life balance. In fact, the locals also take pride in the great outdoors, especially the beaches, fitness centers, and many others. So, you may need to adjust to this environment.
New Zealand Accommodation
As a popular travel destination, there are many different accommodation options available for you in this country. Nevertheless, we recommend that you first stay a few days in the hotel to search for the right place. Sometimes, the real estate agent might increase the price of the house because you’re new. That’s why it would be better if you have family and friends in the country to avoid been scammed.
New Zealand is a Digital Haven
You should always know that the quality of life nowadays is the digital advancement of a country. And living in New Zealand is no exception! With that being said, you should prepare to utilize the digital haven space to your advantage. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about digital barriers because you’ll be able to stay in touch with family and friends.
Understand the Liberal Voting Rights
As an expat, you might already have felt left out when it comes to taking part in important elections in your new home abroad. Perhaps, you might have been living in a country and still find it challenging to participate in elections. However, New Zealand is among the list of countries to implement women’s right to vote in parliamentary elections in 1893, and this is a good example of liberal voting rights.
Consider the Downsides
Since the perfect nation does not exist, it’s quite better to know the downsides of living in New Zealand. This will help you plan ahead, and you’ll know the likely obstacles to face during your stay in the country. Some might argue that a high income is more important than a work-life balance, but you should know that this country has a lot of sheep. This way, you can check the pros and cons as listed in our previous post to understand the concept better.
New Zealand Visa Applications and Requirements
There’s a wide range of visa options in New Zealand. Choosing the right one and submitting the perfect visa application is vital for the success of your migration. We have compiled a list of visa types to help you know which one could match your stay in this country. Now, take a look at the visa types below.
● Work Visa – New Zealand work visas are available for young people, usually aged 18 to 30, but 18 to 35 in a select few countries. This visa allows you to travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months as the case may be (if you’re from the UK or Canada). Meanwhile, if you apply for a 23-month visa, you must provide a general medical certificate for it to be approved.
● Essential Skills Visa – Essential skills visa is another type of visa that could allow you to enter New Zealand with ease. This kind of visa is issued if you’ve been offered a full-time job and you have the necessary qualifications and experience to work in that job. In addition, the length of stay with this visa is up to 3 years. Similarly, you can work in New Zealand for an employer who has offered you a full-time job in New Zealand.
● Work to Residence Visa – This kind of visa is a pathway to a residence after you have held it for about 24 months. More so, it’s the kind of visa dedicated for people who are looking for a pathway to live in New Zealand accredited by an employer. This way, if you continue to work for the same employer for 2 years, you’ll be able to apply to live in this country permanently.
● Skilled Migrant Visa – The skilled migrant visa category visa can give people residence in New Zealand as well. Before the country can invite you to apply for this visa, you’ll first need to send an expression of interest (EOI) telling them about your employment, work experience, qualifications. The length of stay for this kind of visa is indefinite, and with this, you can live, work, and study in the country.
Other types of visas in New Zealand include the following;
Business Visas – Available for the entrepreneur that plan to travel to this country for business purpose
Student Visas – The student’s visa, as the name implies, is meant for students planning to take a full-time course that runs for more than three months
Investment Visa type – The investment visa type is intended for people that’d to invest here. If you have at least NZD 3 million to invest, you may be eligible for an investor visa. Here, investors accepted into the Edmund Hillary Fellowship can also apply for a Global Impact Work Visa.
Partner and Children Visa – In New Zealand, you’ll have a choice of visa if you want to bring your partner, children, or parent. Not only that, but the visa requirements vary depending on whether your family wants to stay temporarily or permanently.
Best Places to Live In New Zealand
Though New Zealand is a popular expat destination, and many people want to relocate and start a new life. While you’re planning to do so, knowing the right place to reside is essential. The locals are friendly; the scenery is nothing less than magnificent, and you’ll enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. Depending on the kind of cities you want and your budget, New Zealand’s cities can seem both buzzing and sleepy. Without much talk, below are the best places to live in the country.
1. Auckland
Auckland is one of the biggest cities and leading commercial center in New Zealand. Aside from this fact, it’s a place where expat can seek out a wide range of jobs, from the creative industry to high finance positions and plenty of construction work. On the flip side, it’s also a big beach town, with more boats per capita than anywhere on Earth. Some of the cons of living here are high traffic jams and the cost of living.
2. Wellington
This is the capital of New Zealand. It’s not only known for being the political center of the country but also the cultural capital of Aotearoa, with world-class film studios, national opera, ballet troupes, cutting-edge professional theatre, and many others, to mention a few. Some of the pros of living in this capital city include specialist job opportunities, access to nature, and a rich cultural scene. On the other hand, one of the disadvantages of living here is that you might be blown away by the wellington weather.
3. Christchurch
This city was rejuvenated and revitalized after a devastating series of earthquakes after 2010. In recent years, Christchurch has flipped from being one of New Zealand’s most set-in-its-ways to being arguably the place for young people and creative minds to set up shops and start a new business. Aside from this fact, it’s a large city with plenty of employment opportunities and a diverse range of attractive suburbs.
Some of the pros of living in this city include a strong sense of community post-earthquake, rich heritage, and access to wilderness areas. On the other hand, its cons include sprawling suburbs, earthquake protocols, and many others, to mention a few.
4. Hamilton
Hamilton has made it to the fourth on our list of the best cities to live in New Zealand. The rise of The Tron has flown largely under the radar of people living outside the central North Island, but it has grown into a thriving agricultural and commercial center. Given the city’s location, it has attracted many expats who have relocated from Auckland. Some of the pros of living here include; healthy local economy and affordability. On the other hand, expats can suffer from a stigma for being flat and boring.
5. Dunedin
Dunedin is known as a chilly old colonial capital. Besides, it’s always the second to the last when it comes to listing the best New Zealand cities. Some of the pros of living in this city include; gorgeous heritage buildings, being home to a vibrant student population, and getting around easily compared to the big cities. Moreover, the cons of living here include; weather and connection with major cities are limited.
6. Tauranga
This city is known to have the biggest cargo port in New Zealand. Aside from this fact, Tauranga is also adjacent to the iconic Mt. Maunganui and its famous surf beach. However, house prices are certainly on the rise, but if you like delicious avocados and the relaxed beach lifestyle, then you could probably swallow that.
What to Know About New Zealand
As you’re planning your Kiwi adventure, there are few things to know. We had few surprises, and we are also ready to share certain things you should know before moving to the country. Are you ready to see what we have unleashed for you today? If that sounds like a yes, read further to know what all is about.
Expect Many Sheep
You might have been hearing people say that this country has plenty more sheep than a human being. If that’s one thing you want to argue about, it would be better to remain calm. New Zealand’s a sparsely populated country, and it’s close in size to the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, its population is only 4.47 million compared to the UK’s 64 million or more.
Beaches are Near
One first outdoor activity you should ever think of while relocating to this country is the beaches. And this is because; they’re never more than a quick day trip away. In fact, research made it known that no part of the country is more than 128km from the ocean. This way, you could easily ski and surf in one day. In addition, you’ll see big birds around because New Zealand used to be home to a monstrously big bird.
A haven for Nature Lovers
If you think of New Zealand, the first thing that should be on your mind is nature. Not only is the country full of magnificent mountains and beautiful beaches, but more than one-third of the country is said to be a protected nature reserve. And we can ensure you that the country will stay pristine for decades to come. Moreover, it’s where the world says good morning. This means a small city called Gisborne is the first in the world to see the sunrise over the horizon in the early part of the year.
Only Driving left-hand is Allowed
If you finally found yourself in New Zealand, always remember to look right before crossing the street. In big cities like Auckland, we gathered that there are reminders on the curb telling tourists that traffic is coming from the opposite direction as they’re most used to it. Also, New Zealand roads are often quiet, and exiting the bridges without any cars on the opposite side of the road can be a little daunting.
Home to Special Accent
Don’t be surprised to hear the different accents in this country. More so, you can try to learn and do your assignment to know the language the local speaks. In fact, a Kiwi can sound Australian, American, and South African in the space of five words. Therefore, if you’re moving out there, you should forget everything you’ve learned about vowel sounds. This way, it’s wise to think about the kind of language before your arrival.
Cost of Living in New Zealand
New Zealand has consistently ranked as one of the best countries to live in recent years. On the flip side, it’s no argument to say that its natural beauty comes at a high price. This way, the average cost of living in New Zealand is not so attractive compared to other countries. In fact, the research disclosed that a family of four could spend around 6,000 NZD to 8,000 NZD per month.
Furthermore, another reason for the country’s high cost of living is tourists. According to the World Economic Forum, New Zealand ranked 104th in the world for tourism affordability. However, prices can go steadily up because tourists are willing to pay big money for their New Zealand first experience. More so, the biggest cities, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, are the common expat destinations, and they’re the most expensive cities to live in.
Cost of Living Analysis
| Description of Goods/Services | Cost of Goods/Services |
| Meal in inexpensive restaurants | 20NZ$ |
| One-way ticket local transport | 3.5NZ$ |
| Basic utilities (heating & cooling) | 193NZ$ |
| Fitness Club/Tennis Court Rent | 80NZ$ |
| 1 bedroom apartment in the city | 1,700NZ$ |
| 1 pair of Jeans in a Chain Store | 110NZ$ |
| Buy apartment per square meter | 7,300NZ$ |
| Imported Beer price (0.33 liter) | 4.8NZ$ |
Frequently Asked Questions about New Zealand
What is a fun fact about New Zealand?
Although the country is around the size of Japan, but it’s just over four million, making it one of the world’s least populated countries. Also, the research disclosed that in 1893, New Zealand became the first country to give women the right to vote. And as we’ve mentioned earlier, the country is also famous because the first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953 was a New Zealander.
Is New Zealand a rich country?
Research revealed that New Zealanders have the fourth-largest median wealth per adult in the world. Not only that, but the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report for 2021 puts Australia at the top of the global rankings of median wealth, measured in US dollars. However, Australians had a median wealth per adult of about USD238, 070 in 2020.
Does this country have royalty?
New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with the queen as sovereign. In addition to this fact, you should know that it’s the queen that’s responsible for appointing a governor-general of New Zealand, which she does on the advice of the country’s Prime Minister. Also, the queen’s personal representative in the country might last many years until the queen decides what to do.
Is it easy to move to New Zealand?
As of the time of writing this article, we can tell you that the New Zealand immigration process is quite easy compared to countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. So, people wondering how to move in this country are likely to be drawn by the work-life balance and generally high-quality life. In this case, New Zealand is an easy country to move to, especially if you speak English. On the other hand, it would be better to understand the pros and cons because the remote island can pose difficulties.
What jobs are available in New Zealand?
There are job opportunities in this country. However, skills shortage happens when employers find it hard to get staff with the right skills for the job. Meanwhile, some of the jobs you can see in this country include arts and media, health and community, education and science, hospitality, IT and communications, and many others, to mention a few.
Can I move to New Zealand during Covid-19?
As discussed earlier, moving to New Zealand will get you no stress. However, the entry to New Zealand from all countries remains strictly controlled to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, if you’re not in a Quarantine-free travel zone, you still have to go through Managed isolation as an expat coming to the country for the first time.
Is New Zealand Safe for expat?
As research made it known, New Zealand is overall the safest country to visit. Moreover, the crime rates are low, and the crime that exists is primarily petty theft and bag snatching. This way, be rest assured that you’re safe while relocating to this country for the first time. The latter is not only the safety but to enjoy staying in the country in the long run.
Conclusion
New Zealand is a beautiful country that’s great for visiting. The housing is quite affordable, and there are many outdoor activities to enjoy. However, it’s better to know the best places suitable for expat. This way, refer to this article to understand more about moving to New Zealand in this twenty-first century.
