What's life like in New Zealand?
With a temperate climate and stunning variations in our geography - all surrounded by the Pacific and Tasman Oceans – people in New Zealand love the outdoor life.

Multicultural Mix
You may be wondering whether or not you’ll fit in as a Singaporean or Malaysian coming to New Zealand. Well, you have nothing to worry about! Nearly every person you’ll meet here is either an immigrant or descendant of one, which gives New Zealand a true multicultural feel. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity country where people are not judged on their gender, how they sound, what colour they are, how they vote, or where – or if – they go to church. Click here to read what recent migrants think.

Lots to see and do
No matter where you live in New Zealand, 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!

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. Click here to search each city for events.

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!

Mad on sports
Football (soccer) is becoming more and more popular in New Zealand. The All Whites are our national team and play worldwide. The team qualified to be in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa—for the first time since 1982! You can learn more about how to get involved here.

Rugby is a favourite pastime of New Zealanders – you’ll find that people have a passion for this rough and tough sport! There’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved in rugby culture – you can learn the basics or watch the pros!

Cricket and netball are also popular sports in New Zealand. National teams compete around the world. Local teams provide a great social scene. Whether spectator or participant, you’ll find plenty of athletics in New Zealand.

Golf is another sport which you’ll find many Kiwis enjoy. With plenty of rolling hills and plush green landscape, New Zealand provides a beautiful environment for golfers. You’ll also find golf to be very affordable (you can play 18 holes for as little as $20)!

Other sports, like table tennis and badminton, have clubs and facilities throughout New Zealand. They often host events or tournaments where you can develop your skills and get involved in the competition.
The Arts & Culture
Café society and cultural activities rival those anywhere. New Zealand has produced some of the world's top opera singers, musicians, writers, painters – there are 100s of event venues, large and small, so you can usually get tickets easily.

For an idea of the range of creative arts New Zealanders support, check out the Arts Council of New Zealand’s website. And for something unique, the World of Wearable Art is gaining international recognition for its devotion to imaginative fashion design. There are lots of festivals devoted to the arts and cultural events around New Zealand. Click here to search for a list of upcoming events on NewZealandNow.

With a diverse population, New Zealand cuisine and regional wineries are well-regarded internationally - so you'll have plenty to tempt your taste buds.

With most shops closing around 5.30pm, evenings provide time to enjoy a show, dine in the city or simply relax. You’ll find the pace of life to be more laidback and this lifestyle allows you to enjoy all that New Zealand has to offer.