Located in the Southern Hemisphere, just east of Australia, New Zealand was separated from the rest of the world for a very long time. Being split from Australia thousands of years ago, New Zealand boasts of having animals and plants that are nowhere else in the world. The kiwi, a flightless bird, takes up residence here and the people of New Zealand are known as “kiwis.”…

The native people of this country are the Maori, but English is the spoken language. This is partly because the British made it a colony in the 1800s. It is a constitutional monarchy, ruled by Queen Elizabeth II, the head of state. A nuclear free zone, New Zealand refuses to get involved in any nuclear weapon production or any type of nuclear power. It is basically a peaceful nation that keeps to itself in many ways. The main religion of the country is Christianity.

New Zealand is a beautiful country with a vast array of landscapes which include forests, mountain peaks, beaches, pastures and waters of every kind. People enjoy sports of all kinds including bungee jumping, white water rafting, biking, hiking, golfing, swimming and more. The most popular team sport is rugby.

The country of New Zealand is known for her friendly people and laid-back lifestyle. It is not an over-crowded, bustling type country, but tends to have a much slower pace than some of the larger countries. In fact, many people will move to New Zealand to get away from the hectic urban life and slow down. Going to New Zealand is almost like stepping back in time, to when neighbors were friendly and helpful and life was not as stressful.

With all of this relaxation, do not be fooled into thinking that New Zealand is behind the times in regard to technology. They have cutting edge technology and are one of the top five connected countries in the world. Internet communication and connection is available everywhere and is used by most people. Many IT professionals have moved to New Zealand because of the great potential here for education and growth that can help others worldwide.

One of the most interesting things about New Zealand is the weather – it is known to change very quickly. People who move here need to be prepared for anything – rain, sun, wind, snow, hail, and sleet! Wearing layers of clothes is what most people do, because then they can make the necessary changes and stay comfortable. People here tend to dress casually and it’s not unusual to see people without any shoes.

If you plan to work in New Zealand, you will need to get a work visa or work permit. This mostly depends on how long you plan to stay here. If you are going to get a temporary job, in order to check out the country or you are a student, there are certain rules that apply in order to work here temporarily. New Zealand has agreements with several countries where they grant temporary employment visas to people looking for employment on a short-term basis. To work permanently here, you will need a work permit which will be worked out between you and your employer. The nice thing about working in New Zealand is that there are many higher skilled and technical positions.

When you are planning your move to New Zealand, don’t forget to spend some time thinking about your international shipping company. Call at least three moving companies and ask some questions so you can get an idea of how they operate and rather or not their services will work for you. Find a company that has some experience. Learn about their background, insurance and licensing to operate. Ask as many questions as necessary. Find out how they do quoting, what are the extra charges and how do they compare with other moving companies.

Make sure that you choose a moving company that specializes in international shipping. Although the guy down the street may be nice enough, it takes extra knowledge to move things internationally. Do not be someone’s guinea pig. If they don’t major on international moves, they will not know the laws, the timing and the things that can go wrong.

Do you want your car shipped also? If so, make sure you let the moving company know this as well, so they can answer your questions about that. You want your vehicle to be well taken care of, but you also want to get a good deal.

When you have all of your information about the various shipping companies, you can begin to compare services available, customer service, timing and pricing. Do not pick a company just because their prices are lower. Many times, the quoted price will be lower, but then other prices will be added on and you will end up paying more.

Your move to beautiful New Zealand should be one of anticipation, preparation and education. You will learn a lot in this process of moving internationally. However, it will all be worthwhile when you arrive with your belongings, get moved in and find yourself getting settled into one of the most beautiful countries on earth.

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Written by Einat Mazafi
Einat Mazafi is the owner of NY International Shipping, an International Shipping and moving company based in New York. She is also a specialist in providing the best relocation solutions to clients worldwide.