Life In NZ

Hidden away at the bottom of the world lies Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud.  A Mecca for the adventurous and innovative, New Zealand has become home to people from around the world, resulting in a diverse multi-cultural population of just under 4.4 million.

Separated by the Cook Strait, New Zealand’s two main islands (North and South) provide a varied landscape made famous by movies such as The Lord of the Rings, The Piano, The Last Samurai and Whale Rider.

While Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, Wellington is actually our capital city and is home to our democratic parliament. New Zealand still retains connections to the United Kingdom, in particular, as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

New Zealand’s first European settlers were a brave independent group of people and as such have shaped New Zealand into what it is today – dynamic, pioneering and always ready with the Kiwi ingenuity for which we have become famous.

Kiwi culture has been largely influenced by both European (Pakeha) ideals and indigenous Maori culture. The Maori people were the first settlers in Aotearoa, travelling here in canoes (waka) over 1000 years ago. Today, the rich and vibrant Maori culture and language are an integral part of New Zealand life.