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New Zealanders are known as 'Kiwis' after the famous flightless birds endemic to the islands and now an endangered species. The human 'Kiwis' are very proud of their country and its spectacular natural scenery, made famous in the 'Lord of the Rings' and Hobbit movies filmed on South Island.

Standards of living here are high, and it's an easy and enjoyable place to live, particularly for migrants from the UK as there's a great deal of Britishness in the culture due to the huge number of immigrants from the UK who arrived to populate the islands between the 1840s colonial period up to the mid-20th century. Kiwi culture is a mix of Maori and English elements, particularly in the country's arts and gastronomy.

The spectacular 'great outdoors' is where the majority of activities take place, with sports of all kinds a popular way to let off steam. Rugby plays a strong part in the national identity and draws the biggest crowds, having earned its place in the 60s as number one in the 'Rugby, Racing and Beer' culture. The country is world famous for its adventure sports and mountaineering, with much recreation time taken up with there and gentler versions in the same vein.

To a large extent, the lifestyle is more traditional, even in the 21st century, than in present-day Britain, the original country of origin of the majority of new Zealanders. The evening meal is the time for families to gather together, with the gastronomy of the islands still British cuisine-based, using products from the country's extensive agricultural regions.

Life in the cities is mostly laid-back, based on work and play as in most modern conurbations, with sophisticated facilities in the dining and clubbing sector and plenty of entertainment options. One of the best aspects of the country is that, given the land area and the 4.4 million inhabitants, it's not crowded!

The proportion of church-goers is much higher than in the UK nowadays, with the church and its associated activities being the social centre for many small towns and villages. Migrants living outside the major towns will find commuting far easier than in most other first-world countries, giving more time for leisure activities.

The café society and diverse cultural events in the cities are international in ambience and standards, and shopping in Auckland as well as in the capital Wellington is also international. Wherever you choose to settle you'll be no more than an hour's car journey from the ocean and around four hours or less from a magnificent snowfield in the central mountains.