New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. New Zealand is a small country, similar in size to Great Britain or Japan. With a population of only four million people it’s also gloriously uncrowned. Māori were the first to arrive in New Zealand, journeying in canoes from Hawaiki about 1,000 years ago. A Dutchman, Abel Tasman, was the first European to sight the country but it was the British who made New Zealand part of their empire.

The country geographically comprises two main landmasses – that of the North Island (or Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu) – and numerous smaller islands. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life; most notable are the large number of unique bird species. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions.

History - Polynesians settled New Zealand in 1250–1300 CE and developed a distinctive Māori culture. Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer, was the first European to sight New Zealand in 1642 CE. The introduction of potatoes and muskets triggered upheaval among Māori early during the 19th century, which led to the inter-tribal Musket Wars, killing 30,000–40,000 Māori. From the early 19th century, Christian missionaries began to settle New Zealand, eventually converting most of the Māori population. Much of New Zealand's culture is derived from Māori and early British settlers. The country's culture has also been broadened by globalization and increased immigration from the Pacific Islands and Asia.

Climate and Environment- New Zealand has a temperate climate with moderately high rainfall and many hours of sunshine. While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, and 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. The average New Zealand temperature decreases as you travel south. January and February are the warmest months, and July is the coldest month of the year. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30ºC (70-90°F) and in winter between 10-15ºC (50-60°F).

New Zealand's geographic isolation for 80 million years and island biogeography is responsible for the country's unique species of animals, fungi and plants. They have either evolved from Gondwanan wildlife or the few organisms that have managed to reach the shores flying, swimming or being carried across the sea. Before the arrival of humans an estimated 80 percent of the land was covered in forest, with only high alpine, wet, infertile and volcanic areas without trees. Marine mammals however are abundant, with almost half the world's cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and large numbers of fur seals reported in New Zealand waters. New Zealand is considered a "strong performer" in environmental protection, ranking 14th out of 132 assessed countries.

Culture and Religion- Early Māori adapted the tropically based east Polynesian culture in line with the challenges associated with a larger and more diverse environment; eventually developing their own distinctive culture. The British and Irish immigrants brought aspects of their own culture to New Zealand and also influenced Māori culture, particularly with the introduction of Christianity. New Zealand’s society is most secular in the world after Christianity became predominant religion in New Zealand. From the early 20th century until the late 1960s Māori culture was suppressed by the attempted assimilation of Māori into British New Zealanders. In the 1960s, as higher education became more available and cities expanded, urban culture began to dominate. Even though the majority of the population now lives in cities, much of New Zealand's art, literature, film and humour have rural themes. More recently American, Australian, Asian and other European cultures have exerted influence on New Zealand.

New Zealand's education system is 7th best in the world; with students performing exceptionally well in reading, mathematics and science. New Zealand has an adult literacy rate of 99 percent, and over half of the population aged 15 to 29 holds a tertiary qualification. There are five types of government-owned tertiary institutions: universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, specialist colleges, and wānanga (publicly owned tertiary institution). Educational programmes are accredited through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), New Zealand Qualifications Framework and the Ministry of Education and are partly governed by New Zealand's Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

Education programs and degrees are based on world’s most recognized and accredited system – the British System. New Zealand offers students the most prestigious education system in the world without the expense and inconvenience of living in the Northern Hemisphere. A degree from a New Zealand Institution is seen as internationally desirable because students have high level of practical as well as theoretical competency when they graduate. All aspects of education in New Zealand have undergone transformation in the past two decades, including the areas of governance, curriculum, assessment, qualifications, and teaching and learning. As a result, a range of new ideas and methods have been adopted, based on evidence and research.

Benefits:

• A certificate, diploma or degree is defined by an agreed set of criteria which includes the level at which the qualification is listed and the number of credits required at each level.
• Extremely safe country known for its natural beauty & scenic landscapes.
• Warm & friendly population welcoming international students. Student can study 1-2 or 3 years and get 1 year work permit.
• 20 hours part time a week job permissible during studies.

International students who have graduated with a NZ qualification are now eligible to apply for the Graduate Job Search Work Visa. This one year visa allows International Graduates to work for any employer in New Zealand.

If during the one year period you find employment relevant to the qualification you studied, you may then apply to New Zealand Immigration to have your work /visa extended for up to 2 years.

Student Job Search is a national organization that helps student find work. It has offices on tertiary institution campuses. For student jobs, such as working in a restaurant or bar, or doing manual labour, you could expect to earn about NZ$9 – $15 per hour before tax. Everybody who works in New Zealand must pay tax on what they earn.

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers you the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently. It is for people who have the skills, qualifications, and experience, and who want to live and work permanently in New Zealand.