Famed for its ‘All Black’ rugby team dominance and hospitality of the Lord of the Rings productions, New Zealand is brimming with national distinctiveness and landmark attractiveness. A convincing business climate also makes New Zealand a prime location for serviced accommodation.
Made up of two islands, New Zealand and its near five million population is out on its own in the southwest Pacific. The Oceanic state is defined by its geological traits, sat on two tectonic plates; the Pacific and Australian. Volcanic plateau and mountainous regions are the backbones of the North and South islands, surrounded by rolling farmlands and vast plains. The island nation is split numerously too, with a third Stewart Island and around six hundred other smaller islands comprising New Zealand’s entirety. The capital Wellington is south of the northern island and Auckland is in the north of the same island, whilst Christchurch is the southern island’s largest city. All these locations have individual identities, but all significantly contribute to the three million international visitors to New Zealand each year.
New Zealand has one of the shortest histories, known as one of the last locations to be discovered. The ancestors of the indigenous Māori people are credited with this discovery in 1200AD. It was not until the mid-seventeenth century though that the first Europeans discovered the land. The Dutch were followed by British explorer Captain James Cook who voyaged to the land in 1769. The Declaration of Independence in 1935 and the Treaty of Waitangi 1840 symbolised how the British succumbed to Māori pressure for independence but still did not want to lose complete rights of the country. Eventually though, in 1907, Britain declared New Zealand its dominion status within the British Empire, and nowadays the sovereign island nation is a member of the Commonwealth.
Recent decades have seen New Zealand become one the freest economies. In fact, the Kiwi economy is the third freest according to the economic freedom index, and this is down to the government’s attention towards both international relations and the welfare of its home population. For instance, internally, the people can trust the judicial system, with the country ranking first out of 176 countries on the Corruption Perception Index. Its open economy is also evident when judging export trade, which accounts for 30% of the GDP. New Zealand prides itself as one of the top five dairy exporters in the world. Trusting key industries, such as tourism, manufacturing and agriculture, all perform, and exportation continues to grow, the economy is projected to grow by 3% each year.
The 2018 World Bank ‘Doing Business’ report also ranks New Zealand as the easiest country to conduct business. Forbes say that the country is the best regarding investor protection and red tape. These qualities emerged after 2005, when a foreign investment law was introduced, establishing tax incentives and overseas investment equality. Limitations are minimal too on where and how you can invest in the country, reiterating New Zealand’s open market economy status. As mentioned before, New Zealand has a reputation for safety and scrupulousness, as well as a welcoming attitude towards foreigners and their investments. Surveys say that nine out of ten international arrivals find the welcome they receive meets or exceeds their expectations. For these reasons, New Zealand’s business climate is one of the best worldwide, and the trustworthy, extensive transport infrastructure make business living in Kiwi serviced apartments incredibly easy.
New Zealand’s visa policy allows passport holders of sixty states visa-free travel to New Zealand for up to ninety days. These include residents of the US, Canada and all EU states. United Kingdom citizens can stay for up to six months visa-free whilst Australians are allowed complete free access. For those not residents of these mentioned states, or those just looking for more information, visit www.immigration.govt.nz.
Safety and peace are the two words that come to mind when thinking about New Zealander lifestyle. The country ranks second out of 163 on the Global Peace Index, and the population have a reputation for being friendly and welcoming towards foreigners. Laws are not known to be abnormal, but there are some advisories. These include being aware of the very changeable weather and being prepared for the rare circumstance of extreme climates. Also, although what currency you can use is flexible, having New Zealand Dollars (NZ$) to hand is helpful. The exchange rate is 2:1 to the British pound, but for other exchange rates, visit www.xe.com.
You can drive in New Zealand without a Kiwi driving license for up to twelve months, belongs as you have a valid overseas license, which is translated to English. New Zealand also has the same road rules and signs as the UK, which includes driving on the left-hand side. It is not until you hit the road though that drivers can discover what a delight it can be. Besides expected city congestion, countryside driving can beautifully complement your trip. Of course, it is important to be aware of potentially hazardous road conditions towards the mountains or during the winter season, but overall, driving in New Zealand can put you in touch with the country’s hidden qualities.
New Zealand is truly nature’s gift. For example, the region of Rotorua is one of the most active geothermal areas in the world. Here is where the earth’s heart beats, with boiling mud pools, steaming thermal springs and sizzling geysers born out of the extreme topography. The glaciers are another landform that dominates the country, and they are most accessible from Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Or you could visit the country’s tallest mountain, Aoraki and its national park. Here you can stumble across some of the country’s highest peaks, whilst also enjoying organised ski touring or hiking activities. These attractions make up such a small percentage of New Zealand’s natural attractiveness and staying in serviced accommodation grants you access to all the country’s beauty.
Its hard to avoid New Zealand’s natural qualities, and there is no reason why would want to. However, New Zealand does have business hubs, expressing modern urbanisation and economic prosperity, including the largest city in New Zealand, Auckland. Auckland is the perfect place for serviced accommodation and business living, swanking world-class eateries, two beautiful harbours, an extravagant shopping experience, topped off by stunning skyline on display at the Sky Tower viewpoint. Contrasting in several ways is the diminutive capital, Wellington, which surprisingly possesses a more relaxed vibe. The cable car tour and Kelbrun Lookout are tourist favourites. Nearby is the luscious Botanic Gardens, whilst two kilometres from the city centre is the conserved eco-sanctuary Zealandia. Relaxation is at the forefront in Wellington, which many corporates value as essential to city apartment living.
New Zealand boasts qualities that no other country has any hope of possessing. The country has always had a reputation for being astonishingly beautiful on the eye, but the additional emerging economic affluence makes staying in serviced accommodation here irresistible.
Auckland airport is the busiest in New Zealand, followed by Christchurch Airport (CHC) and surprisingly the capital-serving Wellington Airport (WLG). Collectively, these airports serve around thirty million passengers a year.
All these airports sit no further than ten miles away from their respective city centres and are all accessible to-and-from your serviced accommodation via many available bus services and taxi operators. Air New Zealand is the country’s main domestic carrier.
KiwiRail is the main provider of rail transport in New Zealand, functioning out of its headquarters in Wellington. You can visit www.kiwirail.co.nz for live train times, schedules and ticket prices.
Trains are wide-spread across the country, through major cities and smaller towns. Particularly popular though are the scenic ‘Great Journeys of New Zealand’. Four routes are run through this service including the Capital Connection, Coastal Pacific, Northern Explorer and TranzAlpine.
InterCity and Naked Bus are the main providers of bus services in New Zealand. Bus travel is simple and cheap in New Zealand and provides transport to far-reaching areas that trains and flights cannot.
New Zealand buses do not have upper classes from the standard, but reservations can be made for more popular routes. Visit either www.nakedbus.com.nz or www.intercity.co.nz for available bus passes, bus routes, times and more background information.
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