Kiwi News

Below, you will find links to offsite news and other information related to living in New Zealand. Please note that New Zealand Expert has no affiliation with these other websites and is not responsible for their content, but provides links to this news and information about living in New Zealand as a service to our website visitors who choose to visit these external websites.

Auckland Ranked #1 Most Livable City in the World for 2021

Auckland and Wellington have been listed among the top five most livable cities in the world for 2021. In the annual ranking of 140 cities published by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on June 9, 2021, New Zealand’s largest city was ranked as the world’s #1 most livable city, while the national capital, Wellington, came in fourth place in the worldwide survey. Each year, the EIU evaluates 140 cities around the world based on 30 livability indicators which are then grouped into five major categories: culture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and stability. This year’s assessments were strongly influenced by the impact of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, which New Zealand has handled very well. People living in New Zealand have been able to enjoy normal lives while the rest of the world has been dealing with multiple lockdowns and high casualties. New Zealand employment and economic activity have also been able to thrive during the pandemic, with the unemployment rate currently a very low 4.7 percent. The eastern Pacific region dominated the top 10 list this year with eight of the top 10 most livable cities. Auckland was ranked #1, Osaka #2, Adelaide #3, Wellington #4, Tokyo #5, Perth #6, Zurich #7, Geneva #8, Melbourne #9 and Brisbane #10 (Sydney came in 11th place). To read more, click here!

New Zealand Job Creation Drops Unemployment Rate to 4.7%

In May 2021, Stats NZ reported an increase of 15,000 jobs in New Zealand during the first three months of the year and that New Zealand’s low unemployment rate of 4.9 percent had fallen even further to only 4.7 percent. Most of these New Zealand jobs were filled by women, continuing a hiring trend from the previous quarter. According to economists, these statistics show that the New Zealand jobs market is stronger that previously anticipated and that wages are expected to increase this year. Despite concerns expressed at the start of the global pandemic, New Zealand has maintained one of the world’s lowest unemployment rates. To read more, click here!

New Zealand Employment and Economy Growing Rapidly

New Zealand’s Finance Minister reported that economic growth in the third quarter of 2020 was an impressive 14 percent, which is the best GDP growth in the modern history of New Zealand. Furthermore, a top New Zealand job search agency stated that advertisements for jobs in New Zealand increased by an incredible 19% during the last quarter of the year, approaching pre-pandemic levels. Vacancies for jobs in New Zealand are booming, following the country’s successful suppression of the coronavirus. The majority of New Zealand job postings were for information technology. communications, logistics and transportation, manufacturing, services and trades. New Zealand job advertisements soared 24% in Auckland, jumped 20% in Wellington, and climbed 17% in the Canterbury region. Many industries across the country have reported a shortage of foreign workers. To read more, click here!

People Living in New Zealand Welcome 2021 with Optimism

Kiwis across the country gathered by the thousands with family and friends to listen to music, watch fireworks and celebrate the New Year of 2021. During the festivities, it was easy to perceive the genuine joy and optimism of people living in New Zealand, particularly because their smiles were easy to see since masks and social distancing are no longer needed to protect against Covid-19. The celebration in Auckland was the same as last year, as thousands of Kiwis watched the fireworks and light show at the city’s iconic Sky Tower. Many families enjoyed the nice weather at nearby parks, while others celebrated early in the summer sunshine on yachts and sailboats in the harbors. A woman from Wellington, who was celebrating with family in Rotorua, was asked what she hoped for in the new year. She replied that her wish is simply for the entire world to be able to live the way people are once again living in New Zealand. To read more and view photos and videos, click here!

Discover New Zealand’s Cities in Summer!

Summertime is here and the holiday season is upon us, so here are some suggestions for summer activities in New Zealand’s top cities! Auckland’s North Shore beaches (e.g., Cheltenhamare, Orewa,  Narrow Neck and Takapuna) are ideal locations to soak up the sun and play in the surf. On Waiheke Island, which is a brief boat ride from Auckland’s CBD, you can visit wineries and also relax on beautiful beaches. Several events to enjoy in Auckland during the summer include the Auckland Art Fair, America’s Cup and the Summernova festival. The Auckland Museum has interesting exhibits to see and Cornwall Park is the perfect place for a picnic. Wellington has excellent eateries and the Wellington Wine and Food Festival is one of the highlights of the summer season. You can get some incredible views of Wellington by renting a kayak  or riding the iconic red Wellington Cable Car. The Botanic Gardens in Christchurch offer a scenic venue for a picnic and the Great Kiwi Beer Festival provides the opportunity to sample beers from over 35 craft breweries, as well as a variety of tasty treats. Of course, Queenstown and the surrounding area is one of the best places in New Zealand for outdoor adventure. To read more, click here!

New Zealand’s Economy Is Forecast to Outperform the EU, UK and Japan

The economy of New Zealand is forecast to outperform the economies of Japan, the Eurozone and UK in 2021, thanks to its rapid recovery following  the strong measures taken by the government to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the lockdown initiated early during the coronavirus crisis caused New Zealand’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to drop by 12.2% in the second quarter of 2020, Kiwi GDP is anticipated to have jumped 12.9% in the third quarter of the year. According to New Zealand’s Finance Minister, New Zealand’s economy “is forecast to rebound strongly in 2021”. Today, people living in New Zealand are preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Years without the restrictions still imposed in countries around the world. To read the full article, click here!

Business Is Booming in New Zealand’s Film Industry

New Zealand’s film industry is flourishing during the global pandemic as international movie makers seek the safety and scenery available in New Zealand. The rapid response of New Zealand’s government to the COVID-19 pandemic has been very effective and allows people to live and work in New Zealand without wearing masks and social distancing. Film crews from around the world have been traveling to New Zealand to shoot scenes for their next blockbuster movies without worrying about catching the novel coronavirus that continues to plague much of the planet. New Zealand’s own domestic movie industry is also thriving in the healthy New Zealand work environment. Many Kiwi movie makers are thankful to be working in New Zealand, which has been referred to as the Hollywood of the Pacific. To read more, click here!

Several Spectacular Photos of New Zealand

There is a saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” and that definitely holds true when it comes to photos of New Zealand’s spectacular scenery published on The Atlantic website November 3, 2020. These 33 high-definition panoramic images of New Zealand include a lone car traveling along the Milford Sound Highway in a rugged, yet, beautiful, valley; an incredible view of Auckland, its iconic Sky Tower and the harbor; Queenstown against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains; the top of Huka Falls and its roaring light-blue water; the Southern Alps and Franz Josef Glacier; Sutherland Falls and Lake Quill; the Awatere Valley Vineyards; a red cable car above Wellington; mighty Mount Cook – and more! After viewing these photographs, it is easy to see why so many people want to visit or move to New Zealand! To see these amazing images, click here!

Postings for Jobs in New Zealand Increase 66 Percent

Data released by a top New Zealand job search website in October 2020 shows a 66% increase in advertisements for jobs in New Zealand during the third quarter of 2020 compared with the second quarter of the year. New Zealand jobs with the highest growth by volume during the past three months included services and trades, information and communication technology (ICT), manufacturing, logistics and transport. The largest rise of ads for New Zealand employment during the third quarter in terms of percentage increase  was in advertising, arts and media, which soared 193 percent. Even the tourism and hospitality sectors enjoyed a 45% spike in New Zealand job openings that were advertised. New Zealand has done better than many countries in effectively dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and the country’s unemployment rate actually dropped from a very low 4.2% in the second quarter of 2020 to just 4% in the third quarter of the year. Now that New Zealand’s national election is over and the prime minster’s Labour Party scored a significant victory, keeping her in office, many anticipate that employers will further increase advertisements for jobs in New Zealand. To read more, click here!

New Zealand #1 for Economy, Stability, Resilience & Pandemic Response

A Bloomberg Media survey of several hundred international business leaders published on October 8, 2020, has ranked New Zealand the best country for responding to the Covid-19 global pandemic as well as for its economic recovery, social resilience and political stability (#1 in the world for each category and overall). Approximately 700 business leaders worldwide participated in the telephone survey, mainly top executives in various industries, with 47% from small or medium sized firms and 53% from big corporations. New Zealand received the best score on the Bloomberg Market Crisis Management Index, ahead of 2nd place Japan and 3rd place Taiwan. Global business leaders also named New Zealand as their top holiday destination. To read the full article, click here!

Easier for New Zealand Employers to Hire Critical Foreign Workers

On September 11, 2020, the New Zealand Immigration Minister announced relaxed rules that could make it easier for employers in New Zealand to hire “critical” foreign workers with high-demand skills needed in New Zealand. Before the New Zealand immigration regulations were updated, the critical foreign worker was required to have specialist or technical skills and experience not “obtainable” in New Zealand. The relaxed regulations, which took effect on September 11, 2020, have been changed to say not “readily obtainable” in New Zealand. This change in the wording will potentially give New Zealand employers more skilled foreign workers to choose from. To read more, click here!

Thousands of Kiwis Relocate to New Zealand from Overseas

Thousands of Kiwi expats have been relocating to New Zealand from overseas and this “brain gain” is expected to give a big boost to New Zealand’s economy. New Zealand has the second highest percentage of its population living abroad following Ireland, with between 600,000 and one-million Kiwis living overseas, compared with 5 million people living in New Zealand. Kiwis have a reputation for being friendly to newcomers and also for being world travelers, but thousands of them have been relocating to New Zealand during 2020 because of the global pandemic (50,000 since the beginning of the year). Many Kiwi expats are moving to New Zealand from abroad, where they were studying or working in other countries, in part because of New Zealand’s success in eliminating Covid-19, which has made their South Pacific island nation a safe haven. Like most countries around the world, New Zealand’s economy has been affected by the pandemic and the earlier lockdown, which was effective in halting the spread of the coronavirus, however, the country’s very low unemployment rate of 4% makes working in New Zealand more attractive. Living in New Zealand is now more desirable for many Kiwi expats than working in Hong Kong, London, New York or other popular overseas destinations. When they relocate to New Zealand from abroad, they bring with them international work experience and connections which can be beneficial to businesses in New Zealand and the country’s economy. To read the full article, click here!

Over 250,000 Americans Consider Moving to New Zealand

Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world, including 250,000 Americans, have considered immigration to New Zealand since the start of the Covid-19 global pandemic earlier this year. New Zealand’s success in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic has been praised by the head of the World Health Organization and as the virus continues to surge worldwide, New Zealand is increasingly viewed as an attractive safe haven. According to a Distinguished Professor and demographer at Massey University, middle class American professionals are asking themselves where they and their families can relocate for safety and New Zealand immigration has become a popular option. In fact, American interest in New Zealand relocation has soared by 160% compared with last year, with an average of one person living in the US visiting the Immigration New Zealand website every 30 seconds. Americans are not the only people thinking about moving to New Zealand. Hundreds of thousands of individuals and families in many other countries are looking into New Zealand relocation. To read more, click here!

Life Returning to Normal After New Zealand Eliminates Coronavirus

People living in New Zealand are able to enjoy life without lockdowns, wearing a mask or social distancing after the government declared the novel coronavirus eliminated in June 2020. New Zealand has several advantages that helped it to combat COVID-19 , such as being an island nation that can more easily control its borders, effective measures taken by New Zealand’s government at the very start of the global pandemic, and cooperation by people living in New Zealand in complying with the safety guidelines. Now, with no new infections and no active cases of the novel coronavirus, life in New Zealand has gone back to a kind of pre-pandemic normal. People living in New Zealand are enjoying celebrating weddings without worries, eating in crowded restaurants, and watching soccer matches in full stadiums with no one having to wear a mask. New Zealand’s prime minister thanked Kiwis for working together to reach this major milestone and said that work needs to continue to keep New Zealand a safe place to live. To read the full article, click here!

Record 5 Million People Living in New Zealand

On May 18, 2020, Statistics New Zealand announced that New Zealand’s population reached a record high of 5 million people in March. New Zealand’s population hit 4 million residents in 2003, and during the past 17 years, net immigration to New Zealand has added about 500,000 new residents, while natural increase (births minus deaths) accounts for the other additional half-million people living in New Zealand. Since 2013, the country’s population has increased by an average of 1.8 percent per year, driven mostly by immigration to New Zealand. The country’s population hit 1 million in 1908; 2 million in 1952; 3 million in 1973; 4 million in 2003; and now 5 million in 2020. The three regions with the most rapid population growth are Northland, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato. To read more, click here!

Equality Is Important in Progressive New Zealand

New Zealand has a long history of being one of the world’s most progressive and pragmatic countries where equality is considered important for society. For example, as early as 1840, an eight-hour work day was being promoted in New Zealand. Back in 1857, New Zealand established seats in Parliament for the indigenous people. Women living in New Zealand were given the right to vote in 1893, decades before women were allowed to vote in the United States (1920).  In 1898, New Zealand created old age pensions that were funded by the state. That progressive and pragmatic spirit can be seen today in New Zealand’s young, progressive prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, who has set “well-being targets” to evaluate the country’s efforts to boost incomes, improve the social welfare of Kiwis and protect the environment. New Zealanders are so progressive, that the country’s first political science professor, Leslie Lipson, declared in 1948 that if New Zealand ever had a large statue like America’s Statue of Liberty to symbolize the country’s political outlook, Kiwis would probably erect a Statue of Equality, reflecting the view that equality is more important than freedom. Today’s New Zealanders are both idealistic and pragmatic, possessing a “can do” spirit that believes Kiwis can can accomplish anything by working together for the common good. To read the full article, click here!

Report Says New Zealand Is in Good Shape for Pandemic Recovery

New Zealand is one of the top countries in the best position to bounce back  from the global pandemic, according to a recent report. In 2019, the Global Resilience Index ranked New Zealand as the world’s 12th most resilient country, The Global Resilience Index evaluated 130 countries based on political stability, transparency, risk environment, corporate governance, and supply-chain logistics, among other factors. The high ranking that New Zealand received for resilience, combined with the swift actions taken by its government and the cooperation of its people with safety regulations, place New Zealand in a strong position to quickly recover from the global pandemic. To read more, click here!

New Zealand Has the #1 and #8 Friendliest Cities in the World

The winners of the 2020 Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards were announced in March 2020 and after counting a record 600,000 votes from around the globe, the #1 Friendliest City in the World is…Queenstown, New Zealand! Queenstown is located on New Zealand’s South Island and has been referred to as the adventure tourism capital of the world. Not only is Queenstown and the surrounding area a great place to enjoy outdoor adventure, including white water rafting and bungee jumping, but the locals really make visitors feel welcomed. It is impressive that a small country like New Zealand boasts the most friendly city in the world, but this South Pacific paradise also has the 8th friendliest city – Auckland, the scenic “City of Sails.” Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and is situated toward the top of the North Island. As the prime destination for people who immigrate to New Zealand, 40% of Auckland’s population was born overseas. The multicultural character of this seaside city may help to explain why Auckland’s residents are so open and friendly to newcomers. To read the full article, click here!

Salary Growth for People Working in New Zealand Highest in 10 Years

On February 4, 2020, Statistics New Zealand released a report saying that the growth in salaries and wages in New Zealand was the highest in a decade. The government’s statistics agency reported that the Labour Cost Index (LCI) for all wages and salaries (overtime included) rose 2.6% in the year to the December 2019 quarter. Between December 2018 and December 2019, people working in New Zealand’s public sector enjoyed an average annual increase in pay of 3.3 percent, while those working in New Zealand’s private sector saw their income increase by an average of 2.4 percent over the 12-month period. Education and Training, Public Administration and Safety, and Healthcare and Social Assistance were the drivers for salary growth in New Zealand’s public sector, which saw 61% of worker wages rise during 2019.  According to one official, “This is the highest percentage of wages that have seen increases since September 2008.” Statistics New Zealand also reported on February 4, 2020, that the country’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.0% in the December 2019 quarter from 4.1% in the third quarter of the year. A labour market and household senior manager stated that, “The unemployment rate has largely been tracking down since late 2012, but has remained stable at around 4.0 percent throughout 2019.” To read the full report, click here!

New Zealand Ranked #8 Best Country for Quality of Life in 2020

According to the 2020 Best Countries report, New Zealand is ranked #8 for quality of life and is consider the #11 best place to live overall in 2020.  The annual report is based on the results of a global survey of more than 20,000 people rating 65 country attributes that was conducted as a collaborative effort of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, BAV Group and US News & World Report. The 65 country attributes were grouped together into nine sub-rankings: Adventure, Citizenship, Cultural Influence, Entrepreneurship, Heritage, Movers, Open for Business, Power, and Quality of Life. The countries received a score on each of the nine sub-rankings and were also given an overall country ranking. New Zealand was rated as the 11th Best Country Overall, 7th for Adventure, 8th in the world for Quality of Life, and the 9th top country for Citizenship.  In regards to the Quality of Life sub-ranking, New Zealand was given especially high ratings for being safe, politically stable, and family-friendly. The results of the survey were analyzed to create additional evaluations in which New Zealand was ranked as the #1 Best Country for a Comfortable Retirement, #8 Best Country to Be a Woman, and the #8 Best Country for Raising a Family, among other ratings, In sum, New Zealand is a great place to live and has something for everyone. To read the full report, click here!

Legatum Prosperity Index 2019 Rates New Zealand 7th Overall

On November 25, 2019, the Legatum Institute released its 2019 Prosperity Index and ranked New Zealand 7th overall out of the 167 countries it assessed around the globe. It also stated that New Zealand has moved up three places in the annual rankings since 2009. Only #1 Denmark, #2 Norway, #3 Switzerland, #4 Sweden, #5 Finland, and #6 Netherlands were rated higher overall than New Zealand on the Legatum Prosperity Index 2019. By comparison, Germany was rated #8 overall, Luxembourg was #9, Iceland was #10, the UK was #11, Canada was #14, Australia was #17, the USA was #18, followed by #19 Japan, #23 France, and #25 Spain. Each of the 167 countries was evaluated according to 12 major factors: Safety & Security, Personal Freedom, Governance, Social Capital, Investment Environment, Enterprise Conditions, Market Access & Infrastructure, Economic Quality, Living Conditions, Health, Education, and Natural Environment. New Zealand received its highest ratings for Investment Environment (3rd place), Governance (5th place), Natural Environment (6th place), Social Capital (7th place), Education (10th place), and Personal Freedom (10th place). To read the full report, click here!

New Zealand Rises to World’s 5th Richest Country in 2019

The wealth of Kiwis keeps climbing higher each year, making New Zealand the fifth richest country in the world as measured by wealth per adult, according to the 2019 Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report. The overall wealth of adults living in New Zealand increased 4.2% over a 12-month period to an average of $304,120 USD. Furthermore, New Zealand has the world’s fifth highest median wealth ($116,440 USD), which is half-way between the highest and the lowest, indicating greater distribution of wealth (i.e., less inequality). In fact, wealth inequality in New Zealand is below-average for a country with high income like New Zealand. For example, just 9.3% of people living in New Zealand have assets lower than $10,000 USD, while 54% of of Kiwis have wealth over $100,000 USD (around five times higher than the global average). Since 2000, the overall wealth for each adult living in New Zealand has increased at an average yearly rate of 5.7% in New Zealand Dollars or 8.1% in US Dollars. To read more, click here!

Statistics Show 142,900 Migrants Moved to New Zealand in 2018

Following an analysis of the data, Statistics New Zealand reported on July 15, 2019, that immigration to New Zealand remained strong during 2018, with a total of 142,900 migrants arriving in the island nation between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. The government’s statistics agency also reported that when arrivals and departures are taken into account, there was a net increase of 50,200 migrants living in New Zealand at the start of 2019. During the past four years (2014 thru 2018), the statistics agency reported that there was a net increase of 224,000 people moving to New Zealand, which was a net growth in the country’s population of about 150 additional residents per day. Asia  was the top region in terms of net relocation to New Zealand in 2018, accounting for over half of net migration, with India and China the top two countries of origin. To read the full report, click here!

2019 HSBC Expat Explorer Survey Ranks New Zealand #5 Best Country

The 2019 HSBC Expat Explorer Survey has ranked New Zealand as the 5th best country overall for expats to live and work. Thousands of expats around the globe were surveyed regarding factors considered important to people living and working abroad. In addition to being rated as the #5 best country for expat workers, New Zealand came in 2nd place for work-life balance, 2nd place for political stability, 3rd place overall for living, 3rd place for physical & mental well-being, 3rd place for economic stability, 7th place for quality of life, 8th place for making friends, and also received high ratings for other factors. The only countries that were rated by expats higher overall than New Zealand were #1 Switzerland, #2 Singapore, #3 Canada and #4 Spain. By comparison, Australia was rated as the #6 best country for expat workers, Turkey was #7, Germany was #8, the United Arab Emirates was #9, Vietnam was #10, France was #13, Mexico was #21, the United States was #23, and the United Kingdom was ranked #27 overall. To read more, click here!

New Zealand Is World’s 2nd Most Peaceful Country in 2019

The 2019 Global Peace Index has named New Zealand as the #2 most peaceful country in the world. The annual assessment rated 163 countries worldwide according to different measures of “peacefulness” such as deaths from conflict and terrorism, amount of military spending, cost of violence on the economy, etc. According to the report, “New Zealand maintained or improved its scores in 22 out of 23 indicators.”  The most peaceful countries for 2019 were #1 Iceland, #2 New Zealand, #3 Portugal, #4 Austria, #5 Denmark, #6 Canada, #7 Singapore, #8 Slovenia, #9 Japan and #10 Czech Republic. By comparison, Germany was ranked #22, the United Kingdom was #45, France was #60, and the United States fell four spots to become the 128th most peaceful country for 2019. To read more, click here!

Being One of the Happiest Countries Makes New Zealand More Resilient

In March 2019, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network released its World Happiness Report which named New Zealand as the 8th happiest country in 2019. Countries around the globe were rated based on six factors: healthy life expectancy, generosity, freedom, social support, absence of corruption, and GDP per capita. The co-editor of the 2019 UN Happiness Report said that the top 10 happiest countries tend to do well in all six factors along with having high ratings on emotional indicators of well-being. Countries like New Zealand, where the people are generally well-connected and happy, also tend to be very resilient, which makes it easier for them to deal with challenges when they occur. One of the reasons New Zealand received such a high rating for happiness this year is because of the strong social support that Kiwis have through their close connections with family and friends. To read more, click here!

Auckland #3 for Quality of Life 8 Years in a Row

New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, has once again, for the 8th year in a row, been named the world’s #3 best city for quality of life. The 2019 Mercer Quality of Life Index ranked 231 cities around the globe based on measures such as the economy, safety, housing, health and medical considerations, education and schools, public transportation, recreation and other indicators for quality of life. Auckland came in 3rd place after #1 Vienna (Austria) and #2 Zurich (Switzerland). Wellington, the national capital of New Zealand, also received high marks for the quality of life enjoyed by its residents, ranking #15 in the world. According to the CEO of Mercer New Zealand, Auckland is an attractive destination for expat workers and is a prime location where businesses want to locate their headquarters. He said, “New Zealand’s natural environment and subtropical climate, stable political and social environment, and good medical and health services are the top three contributing factors for Auckland retaining third spot in the global rankings.”  To read the full article, click here!

Top 100 Places to Work in New Zealand for Recent Graduates

A list of the top 100 places to work in New Zealand for new or recent university graduates has been released. GradNewZealand conducted a survey of university students in New Zealand during 2019 and discovered that the top places where university students and recent graduates want to work in New Zealand are in the public sector for the government, in technology and also accounting. The top government jobs in New Zealand most sought after by recent university grads were in the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE); Ministry of Education; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ministry of Social Development  – among others.  The 2019 GradNewZealand survey also found the 100 top employers where university graduates want to work in New Zealand the most. A representative of the group that oversees the survey said that this list of top 100 employers could be helpful for university graduates looking for jobs in New Zealand. To read more, click here!

People Living in New Zealand Are the 6th Wealthiest in the World

According to the 2018 Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report, New Zealand is the world’s 6th wealthiest country in terms of median wealth per adult. The annual report by the international investment bank says the median wealth per adult living in New Zealand is $289,800 USD. Only adults residing in #1 Switzerland ($530,240 USD), #2 Australia ($411,060 USD), #3 United States ($403,970 USD), #4 Belgium ($313,050 USD) and #5 Norway ($291,100 USD) have a higher median wealth per adult than those living in New Zealand, Adults living in New Zealand are wealthier than adults living in #7 Canada ($288,260 USD), #8 Denmark ($286,710 USD), #9 Singapore ($283,260 USD) and #10 France ($280,580 USD). This is, of course, only one measure of the quality of life enjoyed by people living in New Zealand. To read more, click here! 

New Zealand Gets High Marks for Travel Experience

TripAdvisor recently released its ranking of the world’s top tourist destinations and named New Zealand as having the #2 best travel experience in 2018, based on ratings and reviews provided by travelers. Some of best experiences that tourists reported enjoying while visiting New Zealand included an Auckland food tour, parasailing above the Bay of Islands, bungy-jumping near Queenstown, zip-lining and riding jet boats in the Tutukau Gorge, rafting in the Kaituna River, and kayaking to Māori Carvings from Taupo. Rotorua (located in the central region of New Zealand’s North Island) was also rated as the #4 best travel destination in the survey, while Queenstown (found in the southern section of New Zealand’s South Island) was the #7 top destination. To read more, click here!

Tourism Gives New Zealand’s Economy $11.1 Billion Boost

There were 3.78 million visitors who traveled to New Zealand between June 30, 2017, and June 30, 2018, and they spent an average of $3,290 per person, boosting New Zealand’s economy by $11.1 billion during this 12-month time-frame. Statistics reported by New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) also revealed that the number of people visiting New Zealand rose by 4% and they spent an additional $879 million (a 9% increase) compared to the previous 12-month period. This included 449,000 people from China (an increase of 13 percent) who spent an average of $4,000 each while visiting New Zealand, and 337,000 individuals from the United States (a rise of 4 percent) who spent a per person average of $4,200 during their stay in the country. Millions of tourists travel to New Zealand each year to see the spectacular scenery and take part in outdoor activities. To read the full article, click here!

Enjoy Peace & Tranquility Living in New Zealand!

Millions of people in today’s world are searching for peace and tranquility in their lives and many are finding it living in New Zealand, which was ranked as the #2 safest country in the world in the Global Peace Index 2018. The Institute for Economics and Peace think-tank evaluated the peacefulness of 163 countries around the world, based on 23 factors, such as the homicide rate, deaths resulting from internal conflict, terrorism, etc. Iceland came in first place as the world’s most peaceful country for 2018, followed by #2 New Zealand, #3 Austria, #4 Portugal, #5 Denmark, #6 Canada, #7 Czech Republic, #8 Singapore, #9 Japan, and #10 Ireland, which were ahead of 153 other countries in the Global Peace Index 2018 rankings. Not only is New Zealand the second safest country on Earth, but people living in New Zealand also tend to enjoy a sense of tranquility (i.e., inner peacefulness, peace of mind) due to the relaxed lifestyle, excellent work-life balance, nice weather, spectacular scenery, friendliness of the residents, and overall quality of life found there. To read more, click here!

Quality of Life in New Zealand Cities Among World’s Best

This year’s Mercer Quality of Living Survey has listed Auckland #3 out of 450 global cities assessed for quality of life. Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, also received a high rating, coming in at #15 in the Mercer Quality of Living Survey, which was released in March 2018. Each year, the Mercer international human resources firm evaluates hundreds of cities based on 39 factors that are grouped into 10 larger categories which include: economic environment, medical and health considerations, natural environment, housing, public services and transport, education and schools, political and social environment, consumer goods, recreation, and socio-cultural environment. Only 1st place Vienna (Austria) and 2nd place Zurich (Switzerland) received a higher rating for quality of life than 3rd place Auckland, which has held this high position during 2014-2018 . To read more, click here!

UN Ranks New Zealand 8th Happiest Country in 2018

The United Nations ranked New Zealand as the #8 happiest country in its 2018 World Happiness Report which was published in March 2018. When evaluating the happiness of people living in 156 countries around the globe, researchers examined such issues as GDP per capita, social support, freedom to make life choices, healthy life expectancy, perception of corruption, and generosity. According to the UN report, the top 10 happiest countries in the world for 2018 are: #1 Finland, #2 Norway, #3 Denmark, #4 Iceland, #5 Switzerland, #6 Netherlands, #7 Canada, #8 New Zealand, #9 Sweden, and #10 Australia. New Zealand also came in 8th place for happiness in 2017. To read more, click here!

More Foreign Workers Move to Regions Outside of Auckland

A recent trend for New Zealand immigration is for growing numbers of skilled foreign workers to live and work in regions outside of the Auckland area. For many years, New Zealand’s largest city has been the top destination for skilled foreign workers who move to New Zealand. This is partly because Auckland is a good place to find jobs in New Zealand, has a large immigrant population, and offers a high quality of life for its 1.4 million residents. Changes recently made to New Zealand immigration regulations which gave more points to skilled foreign workers who move to areas outside of Auckland, and increased demand for overseas workers in other parts of the country, have resulted in more skilled foreign workers moving to areas such as Canterbury, Waikato and Wellington. To read the full article, click here!

Auckland Ranked #8 City in the World for Quality of Life

In August 2017, The Economist released its yearly assessment regarding the quality of life in 140 international cities and ranked Auckland as the world’s #8 “most livable city” for 2017. Researchers at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) rated each city on 30 quality of life indicators which were grouped into five key categories: (1) stability, (2) healthcare, (3) culture & environment, (4) education, and (5) infrastructure. An overall score was then calculated on a scale ranging from a low of zero to a perfect score of 100. Auckland received an overall score of 95.7 out of 100 and came in 8th place in the world for quality of life, after #1 Melbourne, #2 Vienna, #3 Vancouver, #4 Toronto, #5 Adelaide & Calgary (tied for 5th place), #7 Perth, and ahead of #9 Helsinki, #10 Hamburg – and 130 other cities around the globe. To read more, click here!

Healthcare Workers Needed for Unfilled Jobs in New Zealand

An ongoing skills shortage, combined with increased demand, has resulted in many healthcare jobs in New Zealand going unfilled. Consequently, more skilled foreign healthcare professionals are being sought from overseas to work in New Zealand. There is a particularly high demand for anaesthetists, counselors, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists and social workers in New Zealand. The shortage of skilled workers is not limited to the healthcare sector, however, as more skilled tradespeople and high-tech professionals are also needed for unfilled jobs in New Zealand. To read more, click here!

Most People Who Live in New Zealand Are Satisfied with Life

According to national survey results released by Statistics New Zealand on July 20, 2017, a large majority of people who live in New Zealand are satisfied with life. The General Social Survey was conducted between March 2017 and April 2017 and surveyed close to 9,000 individuals living in New Zealand. A respondent’s personal sense of well-being was measured using four indicators in the survey: (1) health; (2) perception of having more than enough money vs. having just enough money; (3) feeling lonely; and (4) experiencing problems with housing. The survey discovered that 83% of individuals living in New Zealand rated their overall sense of well-being at seven or higher on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest score possible for life satisfaction. This means New Zealand ranks #5 in the OECD countries for the high sense of well-being experienced among its residents, after Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Denmark. To read the full article, click here!

Enjoy Spectacular Scenery Living in New Zealand!

Many people move to New Zealand for the opportunity to experience a high standard of living in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. From sunny beaches and sailboat-filled harbors to peaceful forests and snowy peaks, people who live in New Zealand are surrounded by spectacular scenery wherever they go. In addition to having access to breathtaking beauty, people who work in New Zealand also enjoy an excellent work-life balance which allows them to spend time with family and friends and discover all that New Zealand has to offer. Some of the top places to visit, whether you immigrate to New Zealand or travel there on vacation, include the Great Barrier Island, Milford Sound, Queenstown, and the Franz Josef Glacier. In the Auckland area, Bethell, Karekare, Muriwai and  Piha beaches are very special places to visit, while surfers will want to ride the incredible breaks found at Manu Bay in Ragland. Hikers and backpackers will find tranquil trails with amazing views in Tongariro National Park, which is also a great place for snowboarders and skiers to hit the slopes. Whether you want to relax at the beach, ride a bicycle through the forest or participate in more “extreme” outdoor activities, amazing adventures await you and your family if you move to New Zealand. To read more and see some nice photos of top places to visit in New Zealand, click here!

New Zealand Among the Best Places for Immigrants to Live

According to a study published July 10, 2017, by US News & World Report, New Zealand is one of the best places in the world for immigrants to live. For this evaluation, the researchers examined each country’s immigration policy, data about its economy and the perceptions of individuals regarding each country being assessed in the survey. Over 21,000 people around the globe were asked to rate 80 countries on such criteria as economic stability, income equality,  having a good job market and whether they thought the country was a place where they would like to live. The study also rated each country on the percentage of immigrants in its population and looked at integration measures, such as language training, among other issues. When the various factors were taken into account, New Zealand was ranked as the 13th best country for immigrants in 2017.  Another examination of the responses from this large survey, which was published earlier in 2017, assessed the best countries to live for people in general (i.e., regardless of whether they were born there or an immigrant). In that study, each of the 80 countries was evaluated based on nine factors: quality of life, open for business (i.e., the ease of doing business in the country), entrepreneurship, citizenship, cultural influence, heritage, power, movers (i.e., dynamic, unique, etc.) and adventure. In that previous assessment, New Zealand was ranked as the #14 best country overall for 2017 and received its highest ratings for the adventure, open for business, citizenship, and quality of life factors. The main point is that people all over the world consider New Zealand to be a great place to live, whether an individual is born there or if they immigrate to New Zealand. To read more, click here!

More Expats Want to Live and Work in New Zealand

More expats around the world are considering immigration to New Zealand, according to the Global Moving Trends 2017 report recently issued by an international relocation firm. Data from more than 350,000 moving inquiries that were made between April 2016 and April 2017 was analyzed for the report, which found a significant increase in expats interested in moving to New Zealand, particularly from the United Kingdom and the United States. Among the reasons given for the growing popularity of New Zealand as an immigration destination for expats are its strong economy, sense of community and spectacular scenery. To read more, click here!

New Zealand Immigration Sets Yet Another Record!

Net immigration to New Zealand has soared to yet another record high, according to data released by Statistics New Zealand in June 2017. When total arrivals and total departures are taken into account, a record net of 71,964 people were able to immigrate to New Zealand between May 31, 2016, and May 31, 2017. This beats the previous record of 71,855 for net New Zealand immigration which occurred between April 30, 2016, and April 30, 2017. New Zealand work visa holders accounted for the majority of new long-term arrivals during the past 12 months. Short-term visitors staying less than a year also set a new record high, with 3.6 million people traveling to New Zealand between May 31, 2016, and May 31, 2017 (a 10% increase). People from China accounted for the largest percentage of individuals to immigrate to New Zealand during the past year, but there were also high numbers of people moving to New Zealand from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among other countries. Many foreign workers are moving to New Zealand because strong economic growth there has been creating many New Zealand employment opportunities. To read more, click here!

New Zealand Ranked #2 Most Peaceful Country for 2017

The 2017 Global Peace Index was released on June 1, 2017, and New Zealand was ranked as the 2nd most peaceful country in the world. This was the 11th year that researchers at the Sydney-based Institute for Economics & Peace had evaluated the peacefulness of 163 countries and territories around the globe, accounting for approximately 99.7% of the world’s population. Each country was assessed based upon 23 indicators that have been designed to measure their level of peacefulness.  Iceland was named as the #1 most peaceful place on the planet, followed by #2 New Zealand, #3 Portugal, #4 Austria, #5 Denmark, #6 Czech Republic, #7 Slovenia, #8 Canada, #9 Switzerland, with Ireland and Japan both tied for 10th place. Thousands of people move to New Zealand every year, partly because it is a peaceful place to live and raise their families. Others want to live in New Zealand because of its strong economy, many job opportunities, spectacular scenery and overall high standard of living. To read more, click here!

Immigration to New Zealand at Record High

In May 2017, Statistics New Zealand reported that net annual immigration to New Zealand soared to a record high as of April 2017, compared to the same time during the previous year. After taking into account arrivals and departures, net annual immigration to New Zealand stood at 71,885 in the year ending April 30, 2017, compared to 68,110 in April 30, 2016.  China was the #1 source country of foreign nationals who were able to move to New Zealand long-term during this 12-month period, according to Statistics New Zealand. Auckland, which is the country’s largest city, continued to be the top destination for people moving to New Zealand. Many people who immigrate to New Zealand want to live in Auckland due to the high quality of life available there and also because large numbers of jobs in New Zealand are concentrated in the Auckland area. Not only has there been an increase in long-term immigration to New Zealand, but a record number of people were able to travel to New Zealand on short-term visas as well. To read more, click here!

Trends in New Zealand Immigration Over the Years

Although New Zealand is comparable in size to the UK or Japan, this beautiful island country only has a population of around 4.6 million people, partly because New Zealand was one of the last places on the planet to be discovered and settled. Different peoples have been moving to New Zealand since around 1,250 C.E., such as various Polynesian groups, including the Maori. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European known to have seen New Zealand and in 1769-1770, an expedition commanded by British Navy Captain James Cook mapped what became known as New Zealand. Since the early 1800s, thousands of people from the United Kingdom have been moving to New Zealand in search of better opportunities. During the past four decades, however, there has been a greater diversity of individuals from different regions of the world immigrating to New Zealand. Data provided by Statistics New Zealand reveals that immigrants from Africa and the Middle East were the #1 largest regional group of people to immigrate to New Zealand in 2016, followed by immigrants from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania. To read more about New Zealand immigration trends, click here!

More Foreign Students Want to Study in New Zealand

Education New Zealand has reported a significant rise in the number of international students who will study in New Zealand during 2017. Over 130,000 foreign students will live and study in New Zealand this year and they are forecast to contribute at least $4.5 billion to New Zealand’s economy in 2017 through living expenses, educational fees and other spending. This makes international students the fourth largest export revenue generator for New Zealand’s booming economy. There has been a substantial increase in the number of international students from China, the United States and Latin America studying in New Zealand in April 2017 compared with the same time last year. For example, there are 18% more Chinese studying in New Zealand in April 2017 than in April 2016. International students from various countries in Latin America who are attending educational institutions in New Zealand increased by an amazing 31% in April 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. To read more, click here!

New Zealand’s 16 Regions Offer a Variety of Attractions

New Zealand is an incredible country consisting primarily of two large islands which are divided into 16 diverse regions. From the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, New Zealand offers residents and visitors a variety of attractions to enjoy. For example, the Rikoriko cave in the Northland region is the largest sea cave in the world; Queensland in the Otago region has many fun outdoor activities nearby; and Milford Sound in the Southland region has been referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Even if you aren’t into scuba diving, bungy jumping, sea kayaking, mountain biking, camping or swimming with the dolphins, New Zealand has wonderful indoor activities to experience as well. Examples include the National Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa) at the Wellington waterfront or the World of Wearable Art and Classic Cars Museum in Nelson. Of course, you can always just relax on one of New Zealand’s many beautiful beaches and bask in the sun as the sailboats glide past. Whether you immigrate to New Zealand or visit as a tourist or on business, you will find that many amazing attractions await you in New Zealand. To read the full article and see some great photos, click here!

Aurora Lights Illuminate New Zealand with a Kaleidoscope of Colors

People who live in New Zealand were treated to a kaleidoscope of colors as the spectacular Southern Lights illuminated the skies across New Zealand during the evening of April 22, 2017. The Southern Lights, also known as the Aurora Australis, were seen dancing high in the sky above Auckland, Christchurch and other locations on both major islands of New Zealand. These colorful hues of red, green and yellow are caused when the Earth’s magnetic field and certain gases in the upper atmosphere interact with electrically charged particles above the planet that are delivered via solar winds. In the Southern Hemisphere where New Zealand is located, this dazzling display is referred to as the Aurora Australis (or Southern Lights), while in the Northern Hemisphere this natural light show is known as the Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights). To read the full article and see amazing photos and videos, click here!

Wellington’s Vibrant Nightlife and Creative Events Showcased

As winter approaches in New Zealand (and the rest of the Southern Hemisphere), Wellington is promoting the city as the “creative heart” of New Zealand and the perfect place to visit. Wellington is known for being the national capital of New Zealand, but the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) also wants to highlight Wellington’s vibrant nightlife and the city’s creative spirit. Several events that take place during the winter in Wellington are being showcased in a new marketing effort (Wellington: Always On), including the Wellington Light Lux Festival in May and the Wellington Jazz Festival which occurs in early June. To read more and view the video promoting Wellington in the winter, click here!

Most Regions of New Zealand Are Enjoying Strong Economic Growth

Here is more good news for people who live in New Zealand! A report released in March 2017 by Statistics New Zealand reveals that most regions across New Zealand have been enjoying strong economic growth, as measured by a significant rise in each region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). People who live in New Zealand’s “Bay of Plenty” region have plenty to be happy about, since their region has been experiencing an impressive 7.7 percent increase in GDP – the strongest regional economic growth in New Zealand. The Bay of Plenty is located southeast of Auckland and known for its thriving kiwifruit agricultural sector, which has helped to boost the region’s booming economy. Auckland boasted the 2nd highest rate of regional economic growth with an increase in GDP of 6 percent. Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and famous for its sunny beaches and its two sailboat-filled harbors, resulting in its nickname as the “City of Sails.” Finance, professional services and the transportation sector have been key contributors to Auckland’s robust economic growth, according to the report. By comparison, the Wellington region was among several areas of New Zealand to have healthy economic growth of at least 3 percent. Wellington is situated at the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, is the country’s national capital and has become a major high-tech hub, creating many good-paying IT jobs in New Zealand. Prosperity has not been limited, however, only to New Zealand’s North Island (where the Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Wellington regions are located). The third strongest regional GDP growth in New Zealand is taking place in the southern section of the country’s South Island, where the Otago region is seeing its economy soar by an impressive 4.8 percent. To read more, click here!

Auckland & Wellington Among World’s Top Cities for Quality of Life

The 2017 Mercer Quality of Life Survey was released in March 2017 and named Auckland as the #3 best city in the world for quality of life, out of 450 cities evaluated around the globe. Not only did New Zealand’s largest city receive high marks in the annual survey of cities conducted by the Mercer international human resources firm, but New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, was ranked #15 in the world for quality of life. Each year, Mercer researchers assess hundreds of cities through the world and rate them based upon such “quality of life” factors as economic environment, crime level, health services, transportation, education standard, housing and environment, cultural and personal freedom, and political stability. A key goal of the annual Mercer Quality of Life Survey is to provide employers with useful information about the standard of living in various cities throughout the world, which then helps many employers to decide how to compensate expatriate workers appropriately. People who live in New Zealand generally enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world (including a good “work-life balance”) and, therefore, it is not surprising that thousands of expat workers move to New Zealand every year. To read the full article, click here!

UN Ranks New Zealand #8 Happiest Country in the World for 2017

In March 2017, the United Nations released its World Happiness Report 2017 and ranked New Zealand as the #8 happiest place on the planet! Every year since 2012, UN researchers have been evaluating the happiness of people who live in countries around the globe, based upon six major measures of happiness: freedom to make life choices; generosity; healthy life expectancy at birth; income; perception of corruption; and social support. Each country is then given an overall “happiness” score on a scale of 0-10, with ten being the highest score possible and zero considered the lowest score. For 2017, New Zealand received an overall score of 7.314 out of 10 points possible on the UN “happiness” scale. According to the UN researchers, people who live in New Zealand are the 8th happiest people in the world, after #1 Norway, #2 Denmark, #3 Iceland, #4 Switzerland, #5 Finland, #6 Netherlands, #7 Canada, and ahead of #9 Australia, #10 Sweden, and the other 145 other countries that were assessed. The United Nations was not alone in saying that people who live in New Zealand enjoy one of the highest standards of living on Earth. For example, Transparency International declared New Zealand tied with Denmark as the #1 least corrupt country in the world in its January 2017 report. Additionally, the Legatum Institute ranked New Zealand the #1 country in its November 2016 Prosperity Index. Furthermore, the World Bank considered New Zealand to be the #1 top country in which to do business in its October 2016 report. In short, people who live in New Zealand tend to enjoy a high quality of life that is considered by a variety of measures to be among the best in the world. To read more, click here!

High-Tech Workers Wanted in Wellington

Wellington, the national capital of New Zealand, has become an innovative high-tech hub for the South Pacific region, but the city’s booming technology sector cannot find enough skilled workers locally. Consequently, a unique New Zealand job search program called “Looksee Wellington” has recently been promoted to recruit qualified skilled foreign workers to travel to Wellington “all expenses paid” for pre-arranged job interviews with some of the top high-tech firms found in Wellington. Information Technology (IT) workers from overseas will have until March 20, 2017, to submit their applications for this New Zealand job search competition which will provide 100 “lucky winners” with free travel to New Zealand and also pay for their accommodations in Wellington so they can have the opportunity to meet with potential employers and, hopefully, receive an offer of employment in New Zealand. According to the Looksee Wellington promotion, “Our tech industry is flying along and we need more people. We’re looking for the best tech talent in the world to come on the career trip of a life-time.” Interviews for these high-tech jobs in New Zealand will take place in May 2017 for the 100 skilled foreign workers selected in the Looksee Wellington promotion. To read more, click here!

Strong New Zealand Job Growth Predicted for the Next 10 Years

New Zealand’s government issued a long-term employment forecast in February 2017 which predicts that approximately 48,000 new jobs in New Zealand will be created each year between 2017 and 2027. According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the construction sector is expected to generate the largest number of new jobs in New Zealand over the coming 10-year period, creating around 6,800 new jobs annually. The New Zealand government’s employment forecast further states that much of the New Zealand job growth anticipated for the next 10 years will be stimulated by immigration to New Zealand and that there is likely to be an especially strong demand for highly-skilled jobs in New Zealand. In fact, approximately 27,400 New Zealand jobs are expected to be available for skilled workers in New Zealand each year during the 2017-2027 timeframe. To read the full article, click here!

Booming Economy Boosts New Zealand Immigration

According to government statistics released in February 2017, travel to New Zealand hit record levels between January 2016 and January 2017. A total of 128,300 people were able to move to New Zealand last year and when arrivals and departures are taken into account, there was an overall net gain of 71,300 new residents living in New Zealand during this 12-month time period – both new record highs. Furthermore, an additional record 3.54 million people were able to visit New Zealand in the January 2016 to January 2017 time-frame, with a record 381,100 visitors arriving in New Zealand in January 2017.  Increased immigration to New Zealand is being fueled by the country’s strong economic growth and the many jobs in New Zealand that are available to skilled foreign workers. For example, government data reveals that one third of the 128,300 people moving to New Zealand between 2016 and 2017 had a New Zealand work visa. In fact, even many New Zealand expats who were living abroad have recently decided to move to New Zealand to enjoy its booming economy and take advantage of the strong New Zealand job market. To read more, click here!

New Zealand’s Best Beaches Revealed!

In February 2017, the TripAdvisor website published a ranking of New Zealand’s best beaches, which was based on the ratings and reviews gathered by its users around the world. The magnificent Mt. Maunganui beach in Tauranga was listed as the #1 best beach in New Zealand – an honor this scenic beach in the Bay of Plenty has held for the third consecutive year (2015, 2016 and 2017). Coming in 2nd place in New Zealand is Auckland’s amazing Piha Beach, followed by #3 Oriental Bay Beach in Wellington; #4 Ninety Mile Beach in Kaitaia; #5 Whangamata Beach (in Whangamata); #6 Ohope Beach in Whakatane; #7 Takapuna Beach in Auckland; #8 Kaiteriteri Beach (in the Nelson region of South Island); #9 St. Helier’s ​Bay Beach in Auckland; and #10 Papamoa Beach (overlooking the Bay of Plenty in Papamoa, south of Tauanga). As a large South Pacific island nation, New Zealand is famous for its many beautiful beaches, spectacular scenery, relaxed lifestyle, peaceful environment and strong economy. The high quality of life helps to make New Zealand a top tourist destination and attracts thousands of people to move to New Zealand every year. To read the article and see the photos, click here!

English-Speaking Expats Enjoy Living in New Zealand

A survey of 14,300 expats living in 191 countries ranked New Zealand the #2 country for English-speaking expats to live and work abroad. Only Malta was rated higher by English-speaking expats in the poll, with New Zealand ranked higher than #3 Australia, #4 Canada and #5 Singapore. The large InterNations expat network survey also found that 95% of English-speaking expats who live in New Zealand appreciate the quality of the country’s environment and 79% are happy with the balance between living and working in New Zealand (i.e., “work-life balance”). People who live in New Zealand have a relatively short work week, which gives them plenty of time to spend with family and friends and allows them to enjoy the spectacular scenery and many outdoor activities that New Zealand has to offer. To read the full article, click here!

Legatum Institute Ranks New Zealand #1 Best Place to Live

In November 2016, the Legatum Institute released its annual list of the world’s best places to live and ranked New Zealand the #1 country in its 2016 Legatum Prosperity Index. Researchers at the Legatum Institute evaluated 149 countries around the globe, based on such factors as: economic quality; business environment; governance; education; health; safety and security; personal freedom; social capital; and natural environment. New Zealand came in 1st place overall for the sixth time in the past 10 years, ahead of #2 Norway, #3 Finland, #4 Switzerland,   #5 Canada, #6 Australia, #7 Netherlands, #8 Sweden, #9 Denmark and #10 United Kingdom. Although New Zealand was rated #1 overall in the 2016 Legatum Prosperity Index, New Zealand did particularly well on several of the sub-indexes, such as economic quality (ranked #1); social capital (ranked #1); business environment (ranked #2); governance (ranked #2); and personal freedom (ranked #3). In describing New Zealand, the Legatum Institute declared, “Free markets, free people, and the world’s strongest society ensure that New Zealand takes the top spot in the Prosperity Index.” To read more, click here!

New Zealand’s Economy Among the Most Competitive

According to the Global Competitiveness Index 2016-2017, published by the World Economic Forum in September 2016, New Zealand’s booming economy has become significantly more competitive during the past several years, rising from #23 in 2012 to #16 in 2015 and now to the world’s 13th most competitive economy in 2016. The World Economic Forum report defines competitiveness as “the set of institutions, policies, and factors that determine the level of productivity of an economy, which in turn sets the level of prosperity that the country can achieve.” The Global Competitiveness Index 2016-2017 examined the economies of 138 countries using 114 indicators which were grouped into 12 categories: business sophistication, financial market development, goods market efficiency, health and primary education, higher education and training, infrastructure, innovation, institutions, labor market efficiency, macroeconomic environment, market size, and technological readiness. New Zealand’s economy did particularly well for competitiveness in regards to financial market development (ranked #1), institutions (ranked #3), and health & primary education (ranked #6). To read more, click here!

People Who Work in New Zealand More Optimistic

The confidence of people who work in New Zealand is at its highest level since 2014, according to the Westpac McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index published in September 2016. A strong economy and low unemployment rate of just 5.1% are contributing to increased optimism about jobs in New Zealand and the future. With an expanding economy and plentiful employment, however, many companies are finding it difficult to find enough workers for jobs in New Zealand. To read the full article, click here!

HSBC Expat Explorer Survey Ranks New Zealand #2 for 2016

A massive survey of over 27,000 expats in more than 190 countries and territories around the globe conducted by HSBC found that New Zealand is considered to be the #2 best country for people to live and work abroad in 2016, behind #1 Singapore and ahead of #3 Canada. Results of the 2016 HSBC Expat Explorer Survey were released in September 2016 and revealed that expats who live and work in New Zealand rated this scenic South Pacific island country #1 in the world for healthcare, finance and quality of life and gave it particularly high marks for work-life balance, health and tolerance. New Zealand was also named the #2 top country in the world for expats in the 2015 HSBC Expat Explorer Survey, after #1 Singapore and ahead of #3 Sweden. To read more, click here!

Ten Places in New Zealand Made Famous in Films

People who live in New Zealand and millions of tourists know that New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth. What many people don’t realize is that New Zealand has also been a favorite location for filmmakers looking for unique places to make movies. The spectacular scenery found in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, Lake Pukaki, and Kawarau Gorge are among 10 places made famous in recent blockbuster movies. To read the full article, click here!

New Zealand’s Universities Ranked Among the Best in the World

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016-2017 was released in September 2016 and all eight of the universities in New Zealand were listed among the best institutions of higher education in the world. Over 16,000 institutions of higher education around the globe were evaluated based upon such factors as international outlook, knowledge transfer, research and teaching. All eight of the universities in New Zealand were ranked in the top 600 of the list of the 980 best universities in the world. Times Higher Education named the University of Auckland as the #1 university in New Zealand for 2016-2017 and ranked it #165 in the world. To read the full article, click here!

Rise in Consumer Confidence and New Zealand Job Advertisements

New Zealand’s growing economy is fueling a strong increase in advertisements for jobs in New Zealand and helping Kiwi consumer confidence to soar. A recent survey released in September 2016 revealed that New Zealand job advertisements are at their highest level in over a year and have been increasing for seven consecutive months. Furthermore, a senior economist at ANZ Bank has forecast that New Zealand’s trend toward lower unemployment rates is likely to continue. Results of another recent survey found that consumer confidence in New Zealand is at its highest level this year and that people who live in New Zealand are optimistic about the economic outlook in the country over the long-term. The strong New Zealand Dollar has made imports less expensive and boosted sales of cars, appliances and other big-ticket items. To read the full article, click here!

Foreign Workers Needed for Skilled Jobs in New Zealand

A record 125,000 people were able to immigrate to New Zealand between August 2015 and August 2016, however, more skilled foreign workers are needed to fill high-demand jobs in New Zealand. Despite the large number of people who move to New Zealand each year, Kiwi employers are still having a difficult time finding enough qualified individuals to work in New Zealand in many skilled occupations, particularly in the construction industry and high-tech sector. To read the full article, click here!

New Zealand Enjoys Fastest Economic Growth in 2 Years

According to government figures released in September 2016, New Zealand is enjoying its fastest rate of economic growth in two years. With an annual GDP growth rate of 3.6 percent, New Zealand boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Strong economic growth in New Zealand is being fueled in large part by a construction boom, increased manufacturing, low interest rates, expanding exports, rising household spending and a surge of immigration to New Zealand. To read more, click here!

Auckland’s Economy Creating Many New Zealand Jobs

Many jobs in New Zealand are being created in Auckland, where New Zealand’s largest city is enjoying a booming economy. Retail sales in Auckland are at a 10-year high as Kiwi consumers express confidence about the economy through their increased purchases. Construction is up, Auckland is attracting more immigrants and tourists, and the “City of Sails” has also become the “City of Sales.” Various economic indicators, including a low unemployment rate of 4.7% and annual GDP growth of 3.2 percent, strongly suggest that Auckland is experiencing its strongest economic growth in recent history. To read the entire article, click here!

New Zealand Ranked #5 Country in the World for Expats

A global survey of over 14,000 expats in 67 countries has found that New Zealand is considered to be the 5th best place on the planet for expats and their families to live and work abroad. The 2016 Expat Insider report was released in August 2016 and revealed that expats who live in New Zealand enjoy a high quality of life, think it is easy to get settled there, like the work environment, are satisfied with personal finances and believe that New Zealand is a good place for families. The survey also discovered that 83% of expats who live in New Zealand say that New Zealanders have been very friendly to them. Although New Zealand is ranked as the #5 top destination for expats to live, the survey indicates that expats who work in New Zealand consider it the #4 best country to work abroad. The 2016 Expat Insider survey further found that expats who live and work in New Zealand think New Zealand is the #1 country in the world for work-life balance. To read more, click here!

Immigrant from The Philippines Thankful to Live in New Zealand

There are a variety of reasons why people immigrate to New Zealand, but they can all be summarized in one word – opportunity. This can be illustrated in the account of a Filipino family approved for New Zealand immigration in 2013. They decided to move to New Zealand to escape poverty, find safety and pursue opportunities. Today, the high quality lifestyle that this immigrant family enjoys living in New Zealand is so much better than what they left behind in their home country. Like many people who move to New Zealand, this immigrant’s journey started with a vacation in New Zealand on a visitor’s visa during 2008. They were so impressed with this incredible country, that they returned five years later on a work visa to New Zealand. To read the entire article, click here!

Immigration to New Zealand’s Nelson Area at 24-Year High

Although Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are more famous New Zealand immigration destinations, the Nelson area is currently experiencing a surge in new immigrant arrivals. In fact, immigration to New Zealand’s Nelson-Tasman region is at a 24-year-high. Located at the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, the city of Nelson has been attracting around 70% of New Zealand newcomers who settle in this region, while the neighboring city of Tasman is home to about 28% of immigrants moving to the area. One reason that many people who immigrate to New Zealand are settling in the scenic Nelson-Tasman region is that there are good New Zealand jobs there, particularly in the construction industry. Agriculture, fishing, forestry and tourism are other key sectors of the Nelson-Tasman economy that employ many people in the area. To read the full article, click here!

New Zealand Boasts Three of the World’s Friendliest Cities

New Zealanders are famous for their friendliness and the warm welcome they give to visitors and people who immigrate to New Zealand. This hospitality, known as “Manaakitanga” in the Maori language, is especially evident in Queenstown, Auckland and Wellington, which were listed among the top 20 friendliest cities in the world by Conde Nast Traveler magazine in August 2016. Queenstown, which is located on New Zealand’s South Island, is a popular vacation destination for both international tourists and people who live in New Zealand and it was named as the 4th friendliest city in the world for 2016. The two largest cities on New Zealand’s North Island, Auckland and Wellington, were also honored for their hospitality. Auckland, known for its two sailboat-filled harbors, was considered the 15th friendliest place on the planet, while Wellington, New Zealand’s national capital, was rated as the world’s 17th friendliest city. To read more, click here!

EIU Ranks Auckland #8 Most Livable City in the World for 2016

In August 2016, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Auckland as the world’s 8th most livable city for 2016. Each year, The Economist researchers evaluate 140 cities around the globe based upon 30 “livability” factors that are grouped into five major categories: culture & environment, educational resources, healthcare, infrastructure and stability.  Each city that the EIU researchers examined is given an overall livability score on a scale of 0-100, with 100 being a perfect score. New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, received an overall livability score of 95.7 on the EIU livability scale, allowing the “City of Sails” to move up in the global rankings from 9th place in 2015 to the 8th most livable city in the world for 2016. Auckland received especially high marks for education (100%) and culture & environment (97%), while this scenic seaside city also rated well for healthcare (95.8%), stability (95%) and infrastructure (92.5%). To read the full article, click here!

Record 200,000 People Issued Work Visas to New Zealand

Over 200,000 people were issued a temporary work visa to New Zealand between June 2015 and June 2016. This is the highest number of foreign nationals ever approved to work in New Zealand during a 12-month period. According to Professor Paul Spoonley, who is a demographer at New Zealand’s Massey University, “The thing that surprises me is that month on month, and year on year, the numbers of visas given to both residents and temporary workers is continuing to increase, as it is with students.” There is an ongoing skills shortage which is making it difficult for employers to fill high-demand jobs in New Zealand. For example, there are not enough skilled workers for construction jobs in New Zealand, particularly in the Auckland area where there is an increasing demand for new housing. Skilled foreign workers are needed for many other types of jobs in New Zealand for which there are not enough qualified workers available. To read more, click here!

Wellington Ranked #2 in the World for High Standard of Living

New Zealand’s capital city has been ranked #2 in the world for quality of life, according to a new survey released in July 2016. According to data gathered by the Numbeo.com website, Wellington is the world’s #2 best city to live for high standard of living, second only to Australia’s national capital, Canberra, which came in 1st place on the planet. Cities around the globe were evaluated based on such factors as climate, commuting times, cost of living, healthcare, pollution, purchasing power, ratio of house-price-to-income, and safety. The Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown, was clearly happy with the survey results, declaring, “Wellingtonians should be very proud of our city’s ranking.” To read the full article, click here!

More Australians Move to New Zealand for Higher Quality of Life

Data released by Statistics New Zealand in July 2016 reveals that a growing number of Australians are deciding to move to New Zealand. Two of the major reasons more Aussies want to move to New Zealand is because they think people who live in New Zealand enjoy a higher quality of life and the cost of housing is lower than in Australia.  According to Statistics New Zealand, a net of 5,413 people were approved to immigrate to New Zealand from Australia between June 2015 and June 2016 (not counting New Zealanders living in Australia who returned home). Overall, a net total of 69,100 people from around the globe were approved to immigrate to New Zealand long-term between June 2015 and June 2016. Many people who move to New Zealand are settling in Wellington due to its lower cost of housing and because many new jobs in New Zealand are being created in the country’s capital city. To read more and see the videos, click here!

Hawke’s Bay Region of New Zealand Wants More Skilled Migrants

The Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand has launched a new economic growth plan which seeks to attract more skilled foreign workers. The “Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2016” was officially initiated in the city of Napier on July 27, 2016, and one of its key goals is to make Hawke’s Bay an innovation hub that creates many new jobs in New Zealand. The plan hopes to diversify the economy, attract business investment, and build up infrastructure which is likely to create many new construction jobs in New Zealand. To read the full article, click here!

Women Who Live in New Zealand Safer Than in Most Countries

According to the New World Wealth report, one of the many reasons that people decide to immigrate to New Zealand is because it is among the safest countries in the world. In particular, this study found that women who live in New Zealand are safer than women who live in any other country, except #1 Australia. The report also revealed that more millionaires are deciding to move to New Zealand because it is the #2 safest country in the world for women to live, New Zealand’s police force is efficient, plus people who live in New Zealand tend to have shared values and tight communities. Many of the reasons motivating the world’s wealthy to immigrate to New Zealand are, of course, the same quality of life factors leading tens of thousands of middle-class people to move to New Zealand each year. To read more, click here!

Economic Growth Creating More Jobs in New Zealand

Strong economic growth, boosted by the booming construction sector, is creating many new jobs in New Zealand. In July 2016, Business New Zealand (BNZ) released data indicating a continued healthy expansion of New Zealand’s economy. Both BNZ and ANZ Bank also reported a significant rise in advertisements across the country for people to work in New Zealand. Cameron Bagrie, Chief Economist at ANZ Bank, revealed that ads for jobs in New Zealand have increased by 9.1% over the same time last year. According to the ANZ Bank Chief Economist, “Job ads data suggests that employment demand is strengthening as the housing and construction sectors boom around the country.” A challenge facing many employers, however, is a shortage of skilled workers to fill new jobs in New Zealand, particularly in the construction sector. To read the full article, click here!

New Zealand Is World’s 4th Most Prosperous Country for 2016

New Zealand has been ranked as the 4th most prosperous country in the world in the 2016 Legatum Institute Prosperity Index. Legatum also rated New Zealand as the #1 most prosperous non-European country for 2016. Each year, the London-based Legatum Institute publishes its evaluation of the level of prosperity in 142 countries around the globe, based upon 89 factors that are then grouped into eight sub-indexes: economy, education, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, health, personal freedom, safety and security, and social capital. New Zealand received particularly high marks (ranked #1) for its sense of community and social cohesion (i.e., “social capital”). The Legatum Institute also considered New Zealand as the world’s #4 most prosperous country in 2015 as well. To read more, click here!

New Zealand Immigration Sets Record 22 Months in a Row

According to official statistics released in June 2016, net immigration to New Zealand has remained at record levels for 22 consecutive months. Approximately 5,500 people move to New Zealand every month as more people around the world seek jobs in New Zealand. Phil Borkin, who is a top economist at ANZ Bank, stated that New Zealand’s economy is “performing very well” and this is helping to attract more people to move to New Zealand each year. To read the full article, click here!

2016 Global Peace Index Ranks New Zealand as 4th Safest Country

The 2016 Global Peace Index (GPI), released in June 2016, has ranked New Zealand as the 4th safest country in the world. This is the third year in a row that New Zealand has been rated #4 for safety out of the 163 countries evaluated around the globe. Only #1 Iceland, #2 Austria and #3 Denmark were considered to be safer places to live than New Zealand. According to Professor Kevin Clements, Chairman of the Global Peace Index expert panel, “New Zealand has been fairly constant on both internal and external indicators of peace.” To read more, click here!

New Zealand #2 in the World for How Older Workers Are Treated

People who live and work in New Zealand, including older workers, enjoy some of the best employment conditions in the world. In June 2016, PricewaterhouseCoopers  (PwC) released its evaluation of how older workers are treated in the 34 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and ranked New Zealand #2 (behind #1 Iceland and ahead of #3 Sweden) for its treatment of workers age 65 and older. Currently, 20% of “Kiwis” who are 65-years-old or above work in New Zealand and this percentage is predicted to increase to about 33% in the next two decades. The 2016 PwC Golden Age Index report says that older people who work in New Zealand are appreciated for their job skills and flexibility in the workplace. To read the full article, click here!

Skilled Foreign Workers Needed for IT Jobs in New Zealand

New Zealand has become a regional hub for the high-tech sector, but there are not enough workers to fill thousands of IT jobs in New Zealand. The New Zealand Technology Industry Association recently estimated that over 10,000 skilled foreign workers will be needed for high-tech jobs in New Zealand during a three year period (approximately 3,000 per year). In addition to having the required education and work experience for high-demand jobs in New Zealand, skilled foreign IT workers must also have good English language skills and meet other criteria for the appropriate New Zealand visa. Many foreign IT workers immigrate to New Zealand through the Skilled Migration Category (SMC) Resident Visa Program, while others obtain a temporary work visa to New Zealand. High-tech professionals who work in New Zealand enjoy close proximity to sunny beaches and other spectacular scenery, among many additional benefits. To read more, click here!

New Zealand Immigration Policy Attracts Workers to Regions

There has been a significant increase in the number of skilled foreign workers being approved for a Residence Visa to New Zealand through a new policy that encourages settlement outside of the Auckland area. Approximately half of all immigrants who move to New Zealand decide to live in Auckland (New Zealand’s largest city) or its surrounding region, but skilled foreign workers are also in high-demand in other regions of the country. Therefore, New Zealand’s government announced a new policy in July 2015 which gives triple the amount of bonus points toward New Zealand immigration for skilled migrant workers who have obtained a qualifying job offer outside of the Auckland region and who agree to live in that region for at least 12 months. Since this policy was launched, there has been a 45% increase in the number of skilled foreign workers who have been granted a Residence Visa to New Zealand and settled outside of Auckland. To read the full article, click here!

Auckland Ranked #1 Coastal City in the World for 2016

Auckland has received the honor of being named the #1 best coastal city in the world for 2016. New Zealand’s largest city, nicknamed “The City of Sails” because of its two sailboat-filled harbors, beat 24 other scenic seaside cities such as Barcelona, Copenhagen, Honolulu, New York, Sydney and Vancouver in the survey conducted by Chicago Line Cruises. Among the criteria used to evaluate coastal cities around the globe were overall quality of life, cost of living, recreational activities available and cultural characteristics. To read more, click here!

Several Reasons Why New Zealand Is a Great Place to Live

New Zealand is one of the most incredible countries on Earth, unique in so many wonderful ways. From its spectacular scenery and diverse wildlife to its local produce and endless enjoyable activities, New Zealand is a great place to live. People who live in New Zealand don’t even have to worry about dangerous animals – there are none! In fact, Kiwis live in one of the safest countries in the world. To read the entire article, click here!

More Women and Seniors Work in New Zealand

According to the 2016 Household Labour Force Survey released by Statistics New Zealand in April 2016, more women and seniors are working in New Zealand. The increasing numbers of women and Kiwi workers 65-years-old and above is being driven in large part by a growing skilled worker shortage in New Zealand. Paid parental leave is another key reason that more women work in New Zealand than in the past, while prosperity, good health and greater longevity enjoyed by Kiwis is contributing to more older workers being employed in New Zealand. To read the full article, click here!

Global Impact Visa to New Zealand Created For Entrepreneurs

At the end of April 2016, New Zealand’s government launched its new “Global Impact Visa” (GIV) which was created to attract foreign entrepreneurs to immigrate to New Zealand. Some of the goals of this New Zealand visa program is to increase new start-up businesses in the country, create more jobs in New Zealand, and boost innovation. To read more, click here!

“Must-See” Places to Visit in New Zealand

If you move to New Zealand, there are several “must-see” places that you will want to visit. One of the top tourist destinations in New Zealand is the Queenstown area of South Island, which is popular with international travelers as well as with Kiwis due to its beauty and many fun outdoor activities. Another spectacular spot is Waiheke Island, located a short ferry ride from New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. To read the full article, click here!

New Zealand Voted World’s Best Country 4th Year in a Row!

In April 2016, the Daily Telegraph in the United Kingdom announced the top winner of its 2016 Travel Award and named New Zealand as the world’s best country. Over 75,000 Daily Telegraph readers were surveyed and New Zealand was selected as the #1 country on Earth for the 4th year in a row. Among the many reasons given for why New Zealand is the world’s favorite travel destination include its spectacular “landscapes that make you want to applaud” as well as its beautiful “90-mile beaches” and New Zealand’s “cool” capital city of Wellington. To read the full article, click here!

Mercer Ranks Auckland #3 For Quality of Life in 2016

The Mercer international human resources firm assessed 230 cities around the globe and declared Auckland to be the #3 best city in the world for quality of life in February 2016. Wellington also received an excellent evaluation from Mercer, which rated New Zealand’s national capital as the #12 top place on the planet for quality of life. To read more, click here!

Kiwis Are the 2nd Most Charitable People in the World

On February 14, 2016, the Charities Aid Foundation released its report regarding philanthropy around the globe and ranked New Zealand as the #2 most charitable country in the world. The United States was rated as the #1 country for giving to charity, while Canadians were the third most charitable, people who live in the United Kingdom were #4 for charitable contributions, and South Koreans were the 5th most philanthropic. To read more, click here!

Record 64,900 Immigrants Move to New Zealand in 2015

Statistics released in January 2016 by New Zealand’s government reveal that a record number of people were approved to move to New Zealand during 2015. In addition to the record 64,900 foreign nationals granted a Resident Visa to New Zealand or issued a temporary New Zealand work visa last year, a record 3.1 million tourists also visited New Zealand in 2015. To read the entire article, click here!

New Zealand Job Market at Strongest Level in 6 Years

According to a new report released in January 2016, hiring by New Zealand employers during 2016 is expected to be at the highest level since 2010. The Hudson Report survey found that 92.5% of employers in New Zealand said they would either hire more workers or keep staffing levels at the current level in 2016. While healthy New Zealand job growth is anticipated in a variety of business sectors, the strongest hiring is forecast in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT); Accounting and Finance; Technical and Engineering; Office Support; Marketing; Public Sector; Procurement and Supply Chain; Banking and Financial Services; Sales; and Human Resources. To read the full article, click here!

New Zealand Ranked #4 in the World on 2015 Legatum Prosperity Index

The London-based Legatum Institute has ranked New Zealand #4 in the world on its 2015 Legatum Prosperity Index. Researchers at the Legatum Institute evaluated 142 countries around the globe, based on the following factors: economy, personal freedom, entrepreneurship & opportunity, safety & security, health, education, governance, and social capital. Overall, New Zealand came in 4th place out of the 142 countries assessed, after #1 Norway, #2 Switzerland and #3 Denmark. New Zealand received especially high ratings for its “social capital” (1st place), “personal freedom” (2nd place) and “governance” (2nd place).  To read more, click here!

Credit Suisse Report Says New Zealand Is World’s #2 Wealthiest Country

In October 2015, Credit Suisse released its 2015 Global Wealth Report and listed New Zealand as the 2nd most prosperous country in the world. Of the 200 countries examined, only Switzerland was considered wealthier than New Zealand. The Credit Suisse report evaluated the prosperity of each country based on the average net wealth of each adult resident, which was $400,811 USD for adults who live in New Zealand and was $567,100 USD for Swiss adults. The average net wealth for adults living in #3 Australia was $364,900 USD, in #4 United States it was $353,000 USD, and in #5 Norway the average net wealth for adults was $321,400. In terms of the median wealth for adults (i.e., half way between the highest and lowest), the Credit Suisse 2015 Global Wealth report said that New Zealand was #1 in the world at $182,600 USD, followed by #2 Australia ($168,300 USD), #3 Belgium ($150,300 USD), #4 United Kingdom ($126,500 USD), #5 Norway ($119,600 USD), and #6 Switzerland ($107,600 USD). Being ranked #1 in the world for having the highest median wealth per adult is significant, because it means that New Zealand has a much lower level of inequality than, for example, #6 Switzerland. To read a full summary of the report, click here!

Expats Consider New Zealand #2 Best Country to Live and Work

The results of the 2015 HSBC Expat Explorer Survey of more than 21,000 expatriate workers around the world was released in September 2015 and has found that New Zealand is considered to be the #2 best place on the planet to live and work, after #1 Singapore and ahead of #3 Sweden. Foreign workers particularly rated New Zealand highly for its quality of life, the ease of entrepreneurship, and its excellent work-life balance. To read the full report, click here!

In August 2015, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its survey of 140 cities around the globe and ranked Auckland as the #9 “most livable city in the world” for 2015. The EIU researchers evaluated each city based on 30 factors that were grouped into five major categories (educational resources, environment, healthcare, infrastructure, and safety) and gave them a score ranging from a low of 0 to a perfect score of 100. Auckland, also known as the “City of Sails” because of its two sailboat-filled harbors, received an excellent score of 95.7 on the EIU livability scale. To read the full article, click here!

More Points For New Zealand Immigration For Living Outside Auckland

New Zealand’s government announced in July 2015 that it will award more points for New Zealand immigration to skilled foreign workers and entrepreneurs who are willing to settle outside of the Auckland area. This change to New Zealand immigration policy was made because many regions in New Zealand are facing a challenge finding enough qualified workers to fill high-demand jobs. To read more, click here!

According to the 2015 Global Peace Index (GPI), New Zealand is the #4 safest country on Earth. In June 2015, the Institute for Economics and Peace released the results of its evaluation of 162 countries around the globe and considered New Zealand to be the fourth most peaceful place on the planet, after #1 Iceland, #2 Denmark and #3 Austria and ahead of #5 Switzerland, #6 Finland, #7 Canada, #8 Japan, #9 Australia, and #10 Czech Republic. To read the full article, click here!

United Nations Says New Zealand World’s 9th Happiest Country

In April 2015, the United Nations (UN) released its 2015 World Happiness Report and considered Kiwis to be the 9th happiest people on Earth. Researchers evaluated 158 countries around the globe, based on various “happiness factors” such as how many healthy years a person can expect to live, per capita GDP and social support. To read the full article, click here!