Country Information
The quality of education in New Zealand is accepted as world-class. New Zealand accepts foreign students at all levels of learning and there is a wide variety of subjects to choose from. The cities are quiet, clean and beautiful and are ideal for studying in. New Zealanders speak English. The cost of living and education is not high when you compare it to other places with the same standard of education. The country is stable and safe. It is a country of natural beauty, with a comfortable temperature throughout the year.

Geography
New Zealand is a South Pacific country located midway between the Equator and the South Pole, and approximately 1600 kilometers east of Australia. The country consists of two main islands, the North and South Islands, which are together similar in size to Japan or Britain. New Zealand’s climate is oceanic, without extremes of hot or cold. Most parts of the country enjoy ample sunshine and rainfall, although the weather is changeable. There are almost 4 million New Zealanders of all races, but predominantly of European and Polynesian origin. The Maori population is around 13% of the total. 75% of all New Zealanders live in the North Island. English is the common language of business and everyday usage, but Maori is an official language recognized in the courts and of increasing significance nationally.

Politics
New Zealand is an independent parliamentary democracy within the British Commonwealth. The formal head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by a New Zealander as Governor-General. The capital city and seat of government is Wellington.


Economics
New Zealand has a worldwide reputation for agricultural products. Meat and wool are produced from 53 million sheep, and meat and dairy products from more than 8 million cattle. Almost half of New Zealand’s export earnings are derived from farming. Other major exports are timber and timber products, fish and horticultural produce. Tourism and education have increased dramatically in significance over the past decade and are now major earners for New Zealand. Other growth areas include the application of new technology, particularly information technology, genetics and biochemistry, biomedical science, industrial chemistry and areas of high-tech physics. The New Zealand dollar is stable and has a very favorable exchange rate with most countries.


Leisure
New Zealand is often considered an adventure playground and mountain biking, surfboarding, bungee jumping, snowboarding, skiing and hiking are popular ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Common sports include rugby, netball, cricket, squash, sailing and soccer. New Zealand maintains a high professional standard in a number of sports notably Sailing (The America’s Cup holders) and rugby (The All Blacks). New Zealand, well known for its natural beauty and for being the stunning location for many big budget films (e.g. The Lord of the Rings), offers an incredibly diverse environment. New Zealand offers geographical diversity with the volcanic plateau in the middle of the North Island to the coastal beauty of the lower North Island, the golden sands of the top of the South Island and the breath-taking mountains of the Southern Alps then the rugged country and fiords of the far south.

New Zealand offers a temperate climate all year round but the many mountains offer skiing and snow-boarding in the winter and in the summer it is possible, in the same day, to surf in the morning and visit a glacier in the afternoon.

Student Visa Policy

1. International students who have graduated from a course that would gain points under Skilled Migrant Category are Eligible for a 1 year open work permit(not six months)
   
2. Once Graduates have gained work this way, they can go on to apply for either a post-study 2 year work permit or, proceed directly to apply for residency under the Skilled Migrant Category.
   
3. Students are eligible to work up to 20 hours a week.
   
4. Anyone undertaking a course of 12 months or more are able to apply to work full-time over the summer holidays.
   
5. Partners of students studying in areas of absolute skill shortage and partners of all postgraduate students are able to apply for an open work permit valid for the duration of the student's course of study.