GEMACD

GEOGRAPHY
New Zealand (Aotearoa) is located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean approximately 1900km east of Australia. The country consists of 2 islands called the North Island and the South Island and a number of small outlying islands. The country is about the same size as Japan. Half the country total land area is pasture land and about a quarter is under forest cover.

POPULATION
The population of New Zealand is urbanised and is estimated at just over 4 million people and approximately 75% of people live on the North Island, with the greatest percentage living in Auckland. NZ is a multicultural country which makes the country very diverse and great emphasis is placed on cultural safety.

CLIMATE
New Zealand has a temperate climate with moderately high rainfall and many hours of sunshine. While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, the inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10°C (14°F) in winter. Most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures & Seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. It varies from warm subtropical in the north to cool temp climates in the south. The warmer months are generally in January and February while June and July are the coldest.
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EDUCATION
New Zealand has a range of education systems and services starting from early childhood education. Education is free (excludes foreign students) and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 16 in state primary, intermediate and secondary schools. There are also private or independent schools. The Education system in New Zealand is a three-tier model which includes primary schools, followed by secondary schools (high schools) and tertiary education at universities and/or polytechs. The academic year in New Zealand varies between institutions, but generally runs from late January until mid-December for primary schools, secondary schools, and polytechnics, and from late February until mid-November for universities. Tuition fees at private institutions vary, many however receive Ministry of Education tuition subsidies and or funding from Skill NZ programmes.
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ECONOMY
NZ is a mixed economy, i.e. imports/exports/manufacturing. The agricultural, horticultural, forestry, mining, fishing industries play a major and important part in NZ economy especially for the export sector. The primary sector contributes over 5-% of NZ total export earning. The service sector accounts for 60% of the economy and employs about 72% of the workforce. The country is strongly trade orientated. The largest exports markets are Australia, Japan, China, USA, Japan, Korea and the UK. For an extensive summary of the NZ economy see the Treasury website

EMPLOYMENT
New Zealand’s employment market is picking up gradually from the global financial crisis – a trend that’s set to continue, so if you have the right skills, it is a good time to be looking for jobs in New Zealand. Overall employment is up & unemployment rates are falling. (Our unemployment has been below the OECD average for over a decade).
The Government predicts employment growth will begin rising more quickly in 2013 as the rebuilding of Christchurch increases demand. It sees employment continuing to grow through to 2015, though at a relatively restrained rate of around 1-1.5% a year. Unemployment is tipped to fall further to 4.7% in the March 2016 quarter reflecting ongoing employment growth.
There are job opportunities across the board, but some specific skills are urgently needed. High priority skills are posted in the Skill Shortage Lists. If you have those skills you could find it a lot easier getting a work or resident visa.
We also have a Canterbury Skill Shortage List. Rebuilding after the earthquakes in Christchurch and the surrounding area of Canterbury has also created an urgent need for particular skills. If your skill is on that list you may qualify for a temporary visa or, if it’s also one of the Long Term Skill Shortages, a visa that can lead to residence. We guide clients on the current employment opportunities & Skill Shortages in New Zealand.
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TAX SYSTEM
New Zealand Taxes are collected at a national level by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) on behalf of the Government of New Zealand. The Tax year begins on the 1st April of every year and PAYE is deducted from wages and salaries. National taxes are levied on personal and business income, as well as on the Consumption of goods and services via Goods and Services Tax - GST now set at 15%. There is no capital gains tax although certain "gains" such as profits on the sale of patent rights are deemed to be income. Local property taxes (rates) are managed and collected by councils. Some goods and services carry a specific tax, referred to as an excise or a duty such as alcohol excise or gaming duty. These are collected by a range of government agencies such as the New Zealand Customs Service. There is no Social Security (Payroll) tax in New Zealand.
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HEALTHCARE
New Zealand residents benefit from a public health system that is free or low cost thanks to heavy Government subsidies. The NZ health system caters for both private and public sectors. Level of state health care is very high, 60% of the population chooses to supplement this with private health insurance. Non-residents can also use healthcare services at a cost. You can choose to take out medical insurance for private healthcare, although most New Zealanders do not opt for this additional cover. Health care provided by GP's is partially funded by Government and funding is also extended to specialist and laboratory diagnostic services. All maternity care to the birth of the child is 100% paid for by the state.
If you have a residence permit, you will be entitled to the same care and access to health services. If you have a 2 year or more work permit, you will also have access to the health care system. Doctors' visits cost from $20 to $60 for adults and children under the age of 6 have free access to doctors.
Basic dental care for children under 18 is free. For adults the costs for a visit to a dentist is varies depending on procedure. Medical Insurance schemes do not generally provide cover for dental care.
Pharmacy prescriptions are subsidised by the government. Surcharges (levies) on approved medicines and drugs are charged by pharmacies.
A stay in a Government funded hospital is free while a private hospital stay will be covered by private medical insurance or by personal means. A waiting period will apply for public hospitals depending on the severity of the illness or injury.
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ACCIDENT COMPENSATION COMMISSION (ACC)
New Zealand's accident compensation scheme provides 24-hour no-fault personal injury insurance cover.
ACC provides personal injury cover for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand. In return people do not have the right to sue for personal injury, other than for exemplary damages.
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GOVERNMENT
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the Maori and the Crown in 1840. NZ was a British colony but is now fully independent from Britain. It is an independent state within the Commonwealth and is currently being governed by the National Party & has an MMP Parliament. Government elections will take place again in 2014.

LEGAL SYSTEM
New Zealand law is based on three related principles: parliamentary sovereignty; the rule of law; and the separation of powers. As a former British colony, the legal system is heavily based on the English legal system, and remains similar in many respects. There are also important differences, which reflect the unique legal culture that has developed in New Zealand. The legal and judicial systems in New Zealand are efficient and it is a country with an independent judiciary. There are also specialist courts such as employment courts, family court, youth court and environment court.
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