New Zealand Country Overview

QUICK FACTS

Location: New Zealand is a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean consisting of 2 main islands, both marked by volcanoes and glaciation.

Capital: Wellington

Major Cities/ Counties: Auckland, Wellington, Christ Church, Hamilton, Dunedin, Palmerston North

Main Language: English and Maori

Climate: New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, and inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10 C in winter, most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine.

Economy

GDP: 185 billion USD (2016)

Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)

Government: The politics of New Zealand function within a framework of a unitary parliamentary representative democracy. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy in which a hereditary monarch—since 6 February 1952, Queen Elizabeth II—is the sovereign and head of state.

Area: 268,021 km2 (103,483 sq mi)

Distance from India: 13.2 hours

Population: 4,773,970 (2017 estimate)

Time Zone: NZST (UTC+12)

Study in NEW ZEALAND

• Teaching standards are high and with small class sizes you will enjoy high levels of personal attention.
• Staying in NZ is an amazing opportunity for anyone who looks for adventure. In New Zealand, there are literally thousands of things to do. Do you like to hike? There are plenty of mountains for you to explore. Do you enjoy being a beach bum? Then you get to enjoy the beaches throughout the year. Want some excitement? There are always new things to do. The scenery is different depending on where you go; you could drive an hour and have a completely different geography.
• All 8 Universities are among the world’s top 500 in the 2015/16 QS rankings. On individual subjects, the 2015/16 QS rankings also placed New Zealand universities amongst the world’s top 50 for teaching accounting and finance, business and management, computer science, civil and structural engineering, agriculture and forestry, veterinary science and nine other important disciplines.
• Employers around the world respect New Zealand’s education system for its ability to balance academic achievements with skills, producing creative, flexible thinkers who are competent at both practical and theoretical levels. NZ is also part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention which means our certificates, diplomas and degrees have international recognition.
• The education system is regulated with strong quality assurance systems across the board. It creates a consistency that gives you flexibility to pick the institution you want, in the city or town that interests you most, knowing that you will get a quality education.
• The country has a comparatively low cost of living, abundant fresh food at reasonable prices and a wide variety of student accommodation options.

LIFE IN NEWZELAND

Traditions & Culture: Maori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practiced throughout the country. Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Maori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop.

Food: Māori cuisine was historically derived from that of tropical Polynesia, adapted for New Zealand’s colder climate. Key ingredients included kūmara (sweet potato), fern root, taro, birds and fish. Food was cooked in hāngi (earth ovens) and roasted, and in geothermal areas was boiled or steamed using natural hot springs and pools. Various means of preserving birds and other foods were also employed. Māori were one of the few peoples to have no form of alcoholic beverage.

Safety: The 2015 Global Peace Index, which compares 162 countries for the risk of personal violence, rates New Zealand as the world’s fourth safest country just after Iceland, Denmark and Austria.

Welfare: All Education members are signatories to the Code or Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. This is a quality assurance document administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Education institutions take this seriously and are committed to providing the best quality care for students. Long before students step off the plane, the education providers are there helping students with learning assistance, affordable accommodation, and ongoing care and support.

Health: Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment.
Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website at www.moh.govt.nz

Transport: Most of New Zealand’s cities are relatively small, so it is easy to get around. Day to day commuting in the city is often by bus, biking or walking. There are good bus networks in the main cities (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin), plus Auckland and Wellington also have commuter rail and ferries.

Rail, bus, ferries Intercity rail travel in New Zealand is majorly connecting services between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Greymouth. However, there are extensive bus services that can take you to just about anywhere you want to go.

FEE STRUCTURE

• Approximate Cost of the Course at ITP’s : NZ $ 16,000 – NZ $ 25,000
• Approximate Cost of the Course at Universities:
• Undergraduate – $18000 – $25000
• Post Graduate – $25,000 – $40000
• Approximate Cost of Living: NZ $ 12,000 – NZ $ 15,000 per annum

VISA PROCESS

Basics:

• In order to apply for the student VISA the student needs to have good academics
• Relevant background to the course of choice.
• Justified intention to study in New Zealand
• Proof of funds to support the tuition fees and the living expenses Dependents information: Dependents can accompany if the applicant is traveling for the post- graduate course or a Level 7 course which is under skill shortage area.

Immigration on Arrival: Your passport will be checked when you arrive at the airport to make sure you’re allowed to come into the country. It must be valid for the whole of your stay.

ARRIVAL AND ACCOMODATION

Planning & Housing:
It’s a good idea to have some accommodation organized before you arrive in New Zealand. As a student. Living in a sharing or an apartment are probably the best options for someone who is new to New Zealand, because it will allow you to make new friends quickly. Make sure you check how the accommodation you choose is heated, as some older houses in New Zealand are not insulated and can be very cold.

Another accommodation option is a homestay. You can live with a host family, in a room of your own, and they provide meals. Interacting with your hosts and meeting their neighbours and friends is a great way to advance your English and get ‘up close’ with New Zealand’s way of life and culture. Welcome week: Welcome Week is your opportunity to make friends, learn more about studying at the university and living in the country. You will be invited to attend a number of events throughout Welcome Week – some of which are optional and others compulsory.

Opening a bank account: Although you open the bank account with ANZ Bank when you apply for the student VISA under FTS but still if you wish to open another account you will need two documents: one to prove your identity and one to prove your address. This applies both in branch and online. Proving your identity is simple. You just need your passport.

EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS

Part Time: 20 Hours

Can you work: Yes

What kind of work can you do?

There are various part-time jobs available in all the sectors across hospitality/catering to call centre to banking and finance and etc. Depending on your skills and expertise you may be able to find a job that suits you. Numerous job opportunities are available if you try in the right direction.

How many hours can you work?

20 hours per week during studies; 40 hours per week during vacations. Job vacancies here have been growing strongly in the last few years. Post Study Work Visa (Open)

The Post Study Work Visa (Open) allows you to find a job that is relevant to your qualification. It’s valid for 12 months, and during this time you can work for almost any employer in New Zealand. After you have found a job relevant to your qualification you can apply for a Post Study Work Visa (Employer Assisted).

Post Study Work Visa (Employer Assisted)
The Post Study Work Visa (Employer Assisted) allows you to stay in New Zealand and work for a specific employer for a further two years, if your job is relevant to your qualification. To be granted a visa, you must hold a Post Study Work Visa – Open or apply no later than 3 months after the end date of your student visa (no later than 6 months if the qualification was a Doctoral Degree).

Average Salary?

NZ$ 40, 000- NZ$ 70, 000 per annum