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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tonguez" data-source="post: 244193" data-attributes="member: 1125">New Zealand is a fully industrialised country with an active ferry link between the two islands (about a 3 hr trip) 4 times a day (I think). NZ also has a good domestic air flight service connecting the two (20 minutes?) as well as trains, buses etc etcSth Island is less densely populated and has many large sheep stations. Its an older continental-type landmass. Main cities are Christchurch and DunedinNorth Island is volcanic in origin and more diverse, it is more densely populated with a good range of towns and cities - Wellington (capital), Auckland (largest city), Hamilton, Tauranga, What conflicts?<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Most Maori(native) conflicts are with the Government and legal in nature (ie confined to the courtrooms and news media). In reality NZ has a LOT of intermarriage between the groups listed and relations are generally good. There is a growing Asian population also and some prejudice is focussed against 'them'. But most NZers don't actually care as long as your a 'good keen bloke' and a 'good mate' Average. Tourist are sometimes targeted by theives so be security concious.Crimes of violence are rare (but not unknown)If it helps we are at a similar lattitude to the UK. The north is subtropical the rest temperate warm summers, cool wintersOnly in a few alpine regions of the southisland (ie central otago etc) do you get havy ground level snow in winter)YesTourist are very well treated (Tourism is a major part of the economy) and very little (if any) resentment is shown imho - we like tourist. Immigration is common and in fact the current rate of immigration is equal to the birthrate!Generally new arrivals are welcomed (especially those of european background - who most do not even notice) although as I have said Asians have been targeted in recent yearsNew Zealand has the worlds highest per capita internet access, and in most cases the internet (and phone) service is good. In the urban centers hi-speed broadband, optic and satelite connections are common.The cities are well developed and Auckland is as good as any metropolis in the world (with its population of 1 million odd.)The other cities have an excellent mix of urban and rural which is what I like about themn (you can go from hi-tech shopping mall or hirise office towers to a vineyard or farm in less than 1/2hour) Farming is probably one of the smaller indutries in terms of actual employment with far more people involved in the service sector and a good number in manufacturing.NZ is also a leader in Hi-tech computer systems with quite a few innovations coming out of Christchurch (Canterbury) in particular see <a href="http://www.computerindustry.co.nz/" target="_blank">http://www.computerindustry.co.nz/</a> for moreEconomy is okay - but being small is dependent on the rest of the world - Goods and Services tax 12.5% on all purchases income tax from 18% - 38%.Hospital system good but some waiting lists for elective surgery.Education - excellent although Teachers underpaid (ps I'm a trained teacher - though not working in schools atm )Where I live (small rural town average rent for a 2 bedroom house is about $120 (weekly) and prices range from about 50 - 100000I'm not sure but prices in Auckland would be about 2 to 3 times greaterBest - its the greatest country in the worldWorst - its so far from everywhere else</blockquote>

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