Fantastic - of course we're biased - but don't take our word for it, click here to read what recent migrants think.

With a temperate climate, and stunning variations in our geography - all surrounded by the Pacific and Tasman Oceans – people in New Zealand happily lead an outdoor life. Knowing that you'll spend far less time commuting in New Zealand than in most world cities, you'll also enjoy far more time with your friends and family. No matter where you live in New Zealand, for instance, you are probably less than an hour from the ocean, and less than 4 hours from a ski field. Which means on the same day you can mountain bike, snowboard and surf!

At the same time, cafe society and cultural activities rival those anywhere. New Zealand has produced some of the world's top opera singers, musicians, writers, painters - all of whom are easily accessible for your enjoyment. New Zealand cuisine and regional wineries are well-regarded internationally - so you'll have plenty to tempt your taste buds.

With just over 4 million people living in New Zealand, it's easy to find - or get away from - the crowd. So if your preference is access to big-city shopping, check out Auckland (the largest city with over 1.5 million residents), Christchurch, Wellington (the capital) or Dunedin. But one of the joys of New Zealand is that you can also choose to live a more rural lifestyle, and still live within an hour's drive of the centre of any of these cities. Or you can choose to settle in the country - there's plenty of room for expansion here!