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New Zealand has long been a favorite of IGS interns. Fifteen hours of sunshine in January is a big draw for many of our northern clientele. Add Kiwi hospitality that is second to none and a vibrant business and government sector in Auckland and Wellington respectively and the key components for a highly sought-after location is present. One of our favorite Kiwi placements is at the yacht club that won the America’s Cup sailing race in Bermuda. They host our clients who are interested in marketing, boat design, and serving as a race technician. Other Auckland favorites include a major event planner, community garden, and rugby club. In Wellington, our politically-minded students have written for a local political newspaper and produced some great articles on local happenings around the Beehive (The Kiwi nickname for their capital building.) Excursions to the South Island are a favorite. Our fly-fisherman have landed some impressive trout with the help of local guides.
Because of its remoteness, New Zealand was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, the islands developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life. The varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand is recognized as one of the world’s most stable and well-governed states.
In New Zealand, the transport networks are well developed with airports throughout the country and well maintained highways. Buses are the main form of public transport, with some areas also offering trains, ferries and trams. There are many ways to get around New Zealand, domestic flights are often cheaper than driving or taking the train, especially if crossing between the North and South Islands. Riding bikes can be fun, but there are very few cycle lanes and limited shoulder space on roads. Buses are relatively cheap and environmentally friendly, however services even between major towns are usually only once per day. You can reach most of New Zealand’s sights in a normal, two-wheel-drive car or camper van. The volume of traffic is normally low and drivers are usually courteous. New Zealand is a motorbike rider’s dream country. Motorcycle rentals of many makes are available throughout the country. You can reach your desired destination also by train both Auckland and Wellington have commuter rail services. A number of communities are served by boat, rather than road, while charter boats are available for expeditions in several places. There are regular sightseeing cruises in several tourist destinations, particularly in the Southern Lakes and Fiordland area.
New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic freedom, the main reason why New Zealand is the tourist’s number one choice when it comes to peaceful getaway, holiday destination, and those who are planning to settle down. New Zealand is one of the best places many tourists and vacationers rant about, it is one of the world’s least crowded countries, this small island nation is appealing to those with families. Your family will live comfortably with perfect home, excellent healthcare and public facilities, along with affordable, quality education, your children will be able to get close to nature and enjoy a happy life without worrying too much for their safety. New Zealand cities generally rank highly on international livability measures, in 2016 Auckland was ranked the world’s third most liveable city and Wellington the twelfth by the Mercer Quality of Living Survey. Wellington has become more affordable in terms of cost of living relative to cities worldwide, with its ranking moving from 93rd (more expensive) to 139th (less expensive) in 2009. The cost of living is similar to other countries, and is teamed with an excellent work/life balance. In New Zealand you get to live a good quality of life without spending too much at the same time and you will be able to enjoy the beauty of its paradise.
The official currency of New Zealand is New Zealand Dollar(NZD or NZ$).
Nationals from Visa Free countries can enter New Zealand without a visa as a visitor as long as they present a valid passport. Visitors from countries not in the Visa-Free list or those wishing to stay longer than the maximum visa-free period for their nationality will need to apply for an appropriate visa. For those who need a visa and are travelling in a group (having the same travel plans and itinerary), it may be better to apply for the considerably Group visa. With the exception of Australian citizens and permanent residents, entry as a visitor does not permit employment in New Zealand. New Zealand citizens (and permanent residents) and Australian citizens (and permanent residents) need only present a passport which is valid on the dates they arrive in and depart from New Zealand.
The 2017 Global Peace Index, which compares 162 countries for the risk of personal violence, rates New Zealand as the world’s second safest country just after Iceland. New Zealand has been highlighted as the world’s most prosperous country outside of Europe in the annual Legatum Prosperity Index. New Zealand is an attractive travel destination you can have peace of mind while enjoying the spectacular scenery from mountain ranges, active volcanoes, sandy beaches, lakes, fiords, glaciers and lush rainforests. New Zealand is a very safe country to visit. Crime rates are low however, dishonesty offences, such as theft from tourists and break-ins from parked vehicles especially in remote areas are by far the most frequent type of crime. Violent crime in public places is generally associated with alcohol or illicit drug consumption. Rowdy bars or drunken crowds in city centers, or groups of youths in the suburbs, are best avoided. New Zealand has one of the lowest recorded rates of gun crime in the world. Because it’s pretty safe and secure it’s always be smart to use common sense to look after yourself and your belongings and take normal safety precautions, especially after dark on city streets and in remote areas.
English is the predominant language and the de facto official language. It is the primary language used in parliament, government, the courts, and the education system. The New Zealand English dialect is most similar to Australian English in pronunciation, with some key differences. The Maori language of the indigenous Maori people was made the first de jure official language in 1987. New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), the main language of the deaf community in New Zealand, has been an official language by statute since 2006. Many other languages are used by New Zealand’s minority ethnic communities.
Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island within Fiordland National Park. It is one of the most famous attractions in the country. It has been judged the world’s top travel destination in an international survey and is acclaimed as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling had previously called it ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’. As a fiord, Milford Sound was formed by a process of glaciation over millions of years. It offers one of the most staggering coastal scenery in the world with its majestic peaks and dark blue waters. Milford Sound attracts between 550,000 and 1 million visitors per year. Activities like tramping, canoeing, boat tours, and some other water sports are possible, it is also a popular destination for cruise ships an excellent way to experience the Sound. Seals, penguins, and southernmost population of bottlenose dolphins frequent the waters, and whales especially humpback whales and southern right whales are increasingly observed due to recoveries of each species. The sound has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it is a breeding site for Fiordland penguins. The Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory allows visitors to view the fiord’s unique marine environment and marvel at the rare black coral. Milford Sound’s natural beauty attracted national and international renown, and led to the discovery of the Mackinnon Pass in 1888, soon to become a part of the new Milford Track, an early walking tourism trail and New Zealand’s most well-known hiking trail. In the same year, the low watershed saddle between the Hollyford River and the Cleddau River was discovered, where the Homer Tunnel was to be developed about sixty years later to provide road access.
Bay of Islands is an area on the east coast of the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It contains 144 islands, numerous peninsulas and inlets. It is one of the popular tourist destinations in the country and has been renowned internationally for its big-game fishing. In a 2006 study, the Bay of Islands was found to have the second bluest sky in the world, after Rio de Janeiro. This picturesque area got its modern name from Captain James Cook when he stopped by the island in 1769. The region is renowned for its native wildlife and abundance of marine mammals such as whales, penguins, dolphins, the big marlin and more. You get to encounter these intelligent and playful mammals in their natural environment. With warm, calm water year-round, the Bay of Islands is a marine playground, perfect for swimming, boating, fishing, diving and kayaking. Surrounded by rolling farmland and native bush, the Bay is a popular spot for walking and hiking. Many of the islands have walking tracks and there is a camping ground. Bay of Islands is a favorite spot for diving enthusiasts, sailing yachts, world cruises and international sport fishermen, and also New Zealand’s number one destination for skydiving at the beach. It was the first area in New Zealand to be settled by Europeans, it has many interesting historic towns like Waitangi. Today, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is New Zealand’s most important historic site where the initial signing of the Treaty of Waitangi took place. With an abundance of marine wildlife, enormous historical significance, breathtaking forested slopes, secret white-sand coves, and glittering expanse of blue sea its a paradise to those seeking for an endless adventure.
Tongariro National Park is the first national park of New Zealand, has a rugged, volcanic landscape that is known for its surprises and extremes. It has a diverse range of ecosystem that includes tranquil lakes, active volcanoes, untamed forest and desert-like plateaus. A World Heritage site which has the distinction of dual status, as it has been acknowledged for both its natural and cultural significance. It is the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth national park established in the world, located in the central North Island. The park is well developed for tourism. There are a number of Maori religious sites within the park, and many of the park’s summits to them are sacred. Volcanic processes have been building the mountains of Tongariro National Park for over two million years. Erosion and deposition by mountain glaciers has also played an important role in shaping Tongariro and Ruapehu volcanoes. The main activities of the park are hiking and rock-climbing in summer, and skiing and snowboarding in winter. There is also opportunity for hunting, game fishing, mountain biking, horse riding, rafting and scenic flights. The most popular track in Tongariro National Park is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing widely regarded as one of the world’s best one-day hikes. Most of the track is also part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, a two- to four-day tour, which is one of New Zealand’s nine Great Walks.
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, located in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand’s North Island. It is a major destination for both domestic and international tourists, the tourism industry is by far the largest industry in the district. It is known for its geothermal activity, and features geysers – notably the Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa – and hot mud pools. This thermal activity is sourced to the Rotorua caldera, in which the town lies. It is widely known as the thermal wonderland of the country since 1880. The thermal springs, mud pools and geysers are the famous tourist attractions in the area. The Wai-O-Tapu nearby is another popular interest among tourist because of the hot springs noted for their colorful appearance. The smell of sulphur is an indication of thermal activity that is evident in the region. The Rotorua region has 17 lakes in which boating, fishing, waterskiing, swimming and other water activities are popular especially in summer. Several of the lakes are stocked for sports fishing with trout from the Fish and Game New Zealand hatchery at Ngongotaha. Rotorua is also a home to botanical gardens and historic architecture. Known as a spa town and major tourist resort since the 1800s, many of its buildings hint at this history. Another of Rotorua’s attractions is mountain biking with over 100 km of mountain bike trails.
Franz Josef Glacier is a 12 km long temperate maritime glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It descends from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres above sea level. It exhibits a cyclic pattern of advance and retreat, driven by differences between the volume of meltwater at the foot of the glacier and volume of snowfall feeding the neve. It is one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural attractions a remnant from the Ice Age. The glacier area is one of the major tourist attractions of the West Coast, with around 250,000 visitors a year, – guided and unguided walks up to and onto the glacier are possible but requires some specialised equipment, helicopter tours and be dropped between the first and second icefalls, for a guided 1–2 hour walk through the broken ground atop the glacier, or getting the big picture from the sky by a helicopter. Having retreated several kilometres between the 1940s and 1980s, the glacier entered an advancing phase in 1984 and at times has advanced at the phenomenal (by glacial standards) rate of 70 cm a day. Over the longer term, the glacier has retreated since the last ice age, and it is believed that it extended into the sea some 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. The glacier was still advancing until 2008, but since then it has entered a very rapid phase of retreat, the shrinking process is attributed to global warming. Although the glacial landscape changes almost daily, given the glacier’s unusually fast flow, and some walks including passages through ice tunnels, they are still considered quite safe and only somewhat strenuous.
New Zealanders, colloquially known as Kiwis are people associated with New Zealand, sharing a common history, culture, and language. Central to many cultural events is the marae, where families and tribes gather for special occasions, such as powhiri or tangi. Maori often call themselves “tangata whenua” (people of the land), placing particular importance on a lifestyle connected to land and sea. Communal living, sharing, and living off the land are strong traditional values. The distinct values, history, and worldview of Maori are expressed through traditional arts and skills such as haka, ta moko, waiata, carving, weaving, and poi. The concept of tapu (meaning taboo or sacred) is also a strong force in Maori culture, applied to objects, people, or even mountains. New Zealanders are by and large open-minded and believe people should be free to live the lifestyle they choose. New Zealand’s culture is mainly derived from Maori and early British settlers, with recent broadening arising from increased immigration.