Living in New Zealand
Given below are a few pointers towards your long stay in New Zealand. Besides the basics, the guide includes other details such as climate, clothing to suit the seasons, transport and even tips on shopping and staying healthy.
Accommodation in New Zealand
There are various options of stay in New Zealand for students. Since the quality of living in New Zealand is fairly good for students, the preferred options are:
- Home-stay
- Student Accommodation or Halls of Residence
- Living in apartments/flats
- Backpackers
Home-stay
This usually means that the student lives within the home of a family that has room to spare. Although the student is invited to take part in many of the family activities such as sharing meals and chores, he or she would have an independent room.
Student Accommodation or Halls of Residence
Every educational institute in NZ is duty bound to find accommodation for their international students if informed in time. The types of accommodation may vary from sharing with several students to single occupancy rooms. Living rooms and kitchens are shared, and as per students requirements and financial means, rooms may be en-suite or with sharing baths/toilet. Halls of Residence is popular with domestic students as well, so may get booked early or may often have deadlines for room booking. However, since pre-departure processes such as loans and visa processes take very long, it is always in the interest of the student to at least decide on what accommodation he would like and make a deposit on the room.
About New Zealand
You will find this section a useful guide about New Zealand. It explains everything from the basics, such as New Zealand Political system, Religion, Tax system, etc.
Political System in New Zealand
The Government
The Government of New Zealand consists of a democratically elected House of Representatives, usually of strength of 120 members. It is a single chamber of Parliament in that there is no upper or lower House. The Cabinet is the decision making body, led by the Prime Minister who is appointed by the Governor General. New Zealand has an unwritten Constitution and is a Monarchy.
Cities & Regions In New Zealand
New Zealand is divided into ‘regions’ for the purpose of both political and environmental management. There are 20-odd regions each having a capital city and a regional council.
Each region is unique in its own way, be it landscape or culture or tourist attractions.
Some of the main (and popular) cities are Auckland (the largest), Hamilton in the Waikato region, New Plymouth in the Taranaki area, Wellington (Wellinglton / Kapiti region) and Christchurch (Canterbury region). Others such as Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty area and Nelson in the Nelson/Tasman area are known for their recreation parks and marine reserves. Queenstown is in Otago, a nature-lover’s delight, known for its inland lakes, wildlife and plants.
Privacy Laws In New Zealand
New Zealand’s legislation on privacy and official information regulates the collection, holding, use and disclosure of personal data. Information about you cannot be given out without your assent.
This means that:
- Your education institution cannot tell anybody else about you or your results; it is up to you to keep your family up to date with your progress.
- Airlines are not allowed to tell anyone the names of passengers on a flight. This makes it difficult for the person meeting you at the airport in cases of flight change.
- Without your specific authority in advance, friends cannot deal with your bank or the Inland Revenue Department on your behalf while you are out of New Zealand.
