Living and working abroadNew Zealand

Medacs Healthcare is the leading provider of healthcare recruitment services throughout the public and private sectors, with more than 20 years’ experience and a reputation for quality of service and integrity that is second to none.

Operating in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Middle East, Medacs Healthcare provide career solutions for high-calibre professionals throughout the globe.

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Brochure contents 03 An Introduction to Medacs Healthcare

04 The country in brief

06 Culture and lifestyle

13 Finance and banking

15 Who to contact

We recognise that we can deliver effective solutions for our candidates only if we build strong relationships and deliver world-class service. We provide a range of permanent, temporary and interim roles for healthcare professionals both nationally and internationally.

Confidence in our ability to provide a complete service stems from our team of experienced consultants who are both qualified health and recruitment professionals. Having worked in New Zealand and overseas, they have the specialist knowledge to help develop your career and your lifestyle.

Working in New Zealand can be exciting, challenging and a wonderful opportunity to combine lifestyle with career choice. We provide international candidates with every possible support at each step of the way.

Living and working abroadNew Zealand

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The country in brief

Where else in the world can you surf in the morning then ski in the afternoon? Or lose yourself in an isolated rainforest only an hour from a crowded city bar? New Zealand is a playground for thrill seekers and adventurers or people who just want to get away from it all. Spectacularly beautiful landscape includes vast mountain chains, steaming volcanoes, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests.

New Zealand – in the southern Pacific Ocean, 1,600 kilometers East of Australia. It’s made up of the North and South Islands separated by Cook Strait - and a number of smaller islands, with a total land area of 270,500 square kilometers.

Perhaps the best-known kiwi is the delicious kiwifruit. Originating in China, kiwifruit were grown in New Zealand domestic gardens for decades as Chinese gooseberries. However, when enterprising New Zealand farmers began propagating the fruit intensively for export, it was given the name kiwifruit and has achieved worldwide fame.

Top Tip When you apply for a job, you could be asked about your understanding of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand’s founding document and established the country as a nation. Today the Treaty continues as a living document and is the subject of much debate on race relations in New Zealand.

An independent nation and a member of the British Commonwealth, New Zealand has a diverse multi-cultural population of around four million people. The majority are of British descent, living alongside many other cultures such as Greek, Italian French, Dutch, Dalmatian, Scandinavian and German. The largest minority is New Zealand’s indigenous Maori who make up around 14% of the population.

Interesting Fact: Kiwi’s New Zealand’s first settlers, the Maori, named the kiwi bird for the sound of its chirp – kiwi, kiwi, kiwi!

This flightless bird, about the size of a domestic hen, has an extremely long beak and plumage more like hair than feathers. New Zealanders have adopted this nocturnal, flightless and endearing creature as their national emblem.

Referring to New Zealanders as Kiwis probably dates back to the First World War, when New Zealand soldiers acquired this nickname.

In the international financial markets, the New Zealand dollar, the basic currency unit, is frequently called the Kiwi. The dollar coin features a kiwi bird on one side.

Location map of New Zealand

Bay of Islands

Auckland

Wellington

Christchurch

Dunedin

Stewart Island

The clear, unpolluted atmosphere and relatively low latitudes produce sunlight much stronger than in Europe or North America, so be prepared to wear hats and sun block if you plan to be out in the sun for more than 15-20 minutes.

Immigration Work permits are arranged through the New Zealand Immigration Department.

Visas currently available:

Work Visa valid for 3–5 years depending on qualifications.

Work to Residency Visa for healthcare professions who wish to stay permanently in New Zealand.

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Visa eligibility determined by a points based system assessment.

Working Holidays Visa valid for a period of up to 24 months and is open to people aged 18 to 30.

Professional Registration You will need to registered in your field of practice prior to seeking work in New Zealand. For healthcare professionals who are not from a comparable health system, a skills conversion course may be required. For certain professions, an English language assessment might also be needed.

Climate New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. While the far north has sub-tropical weather during summer, the inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10 C in winter. Most of the cities lie close to the coast, which means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine.

Snow-fall is mainly only in the central North Island where the Ski fields are located on Mount Taranaki. The South Island has cooler winters and some areas experience little rainfall in winter, so this is an excellent time to visit glaciers, mountains and other areas of scenic beauty.

Culture and lifestyle Culture and lifestyle

The society is diverse, sophisticated and multi-cultural and the honesty, friendliness and openness of Kiwis will impress you.

English is the common language spoken, although you’ll also hear ‘Maori’ spoken – the official language of the country.

The Maori were New Zealand’s first settlers. They made an epic journey from legendary Hawaiki, probably in Polynesia to the North, about 1,000 years ago. The great explorer Kupe, who legend says first discovered New Zealand, named the new land Aotearoa – Land of the Long White Cloud.

Economy and Government New Zealand is a modern parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster parliamentary system. The parliament is currently made up of 120 Members representing eight parties, with 21 members classing themselves as Māori.

Time Zone New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to see the new day. It is 12 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). In summer the country has daylight saving, when clocks are put forward one hour to GMT+13.

Daylight saving begins on the first Sunday in October and ends on the second Sunday of the following March, when clocks are put back to GMT+12.

Travel A three and a half hour flight from Eastern Australia, a non-stop overnight flight from the United States, and around 10 hours flight from most places on the Pacific Rim, like Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, it takes around 24 hours to fly to New Zealand from the UK. You can make the journey either via Asia or the US.

Protocol Dress is informal and relaxed on many occasions. Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants and nightspots. Men are generally not expected to wear suits and ties, except in more formal bars and restaurants in major cities.

Getting around In New Zealand, all motorists drive on the left-hand side of the road.

The speed limit on the open road is 100km/h (approx 60m/h). In built up areas the speed limit is 50km/h.

Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times and all children, from birth, must by law be restrained in an age-appropriate car seat/capsule.

Driving Licence You can legally drive for up to 12 months if you have either a current driver’s licence from your home country, or an International Driving Permit (IDP). Recent law changes mean all drivers, including overseas visitors, must carry their licence or permit when driving. If your licence is not in English, you should bring an English translation with you or obtain an International Driving Permit.

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Environment New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific ocean, between latitude 34’S and 47’S. The country runs roughly north-south with mountain ranges down much of its length. Its two main islands cover 266,200 sq km (103,735 sq miles), about the size of Japan or California and slightly larger than Great Britain.

New Zealand’s separation from other land masses for more than 100 million years has allowed many ancient plants and animals to survive and evolve in isolation. Complimenting the unique flora and fauna is a landscape that contains an unrivalled variety of landforms. In a couple of days’ drive it is possible to see everything from mountain ranges to sandy beaches, lush rainforests, glaciers and fjords and active volcanoes.

Nature After only 1,000 years of human settlement New Zealand has lost many native species. But impressive gains have been made in recent times to protect and enhance what is left. These include removing introduced pests from island wildlife sanctuaries, the establishment of 13 national parks, three maritime parks, two world heritage areas, hundreds of nature reserves and ecological areas, a network of marine reserves and wetlands, and protection for special rivers and lakes. In total, around 30 percent of New Zealand’s land area is protected conservation land.

New Zealand welcomes everyone to experience and discover its unique and precious natural heritage. They only ask that you make as little impact as possible, so future generations may also enjoy it all.

The characteristic New Zealand forest is a temperate, evergreen rain forest with giant tree ferns, vines and epiphytes – looking a bit like the popular image of a jungle. The giant kauri, among the largest trees in the world, is now restricted to relatively small forest pockets in Northland and on the Coromandel Peninsula.

New Zealand is a land of unique birds. The best known is the kiwi, New Zealand’s unofficial national symbol. Also flightless are the weka and the endangered kakapo, the world’s largest parrot which, at a pinch, is just able to scramble up into shrubs and small trees. Another unique bird, one capable of flight, is the inquisitive kea, which is renowned for its fearlessness of humans and its cheeky personality.

Alcohol Most nightspots, restaurants and cafes serve alcohol seven days a week. You can purchase alcohol from liquor outlets (beer, wine and spirits) and supermarkets (beer and wine only) seven days a week. Legally you must be 18 years old to buy alcohol or consume it in a public place, and you may be asked for a photo-ID.

Music Lively DJ and band scenes, particularly in the larger cities, have given New Zealand’s night-life a renewed vibrancy. You will find a variety of night-clubs, cabarets, pubs, concerts and live performances to choose from and there are also six casinos, in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown which are open 24 hours a day.

TV New Zealand has four national television channels. There are also regional television stations and some private, specialist channels.

Radio There are two main state-owned radio stations and about 120 privately-owned radio stations including ones that provide programmes in different languages.

Shopping Shops in New Zealand open most days of the year. Some shops (such as supermarkets, takeaway food outlets and petrol stations) stay open 24 hours a day.

You can buy almost every type of food in New Zealand – from specialty stores such as butchers and delicatessens to large supermarkets. New Zealand has most international fast food chain outlets.

Dining, tipping and service New Zealand’s ‘Pacific Rim’ cuisine style takes its inspiration from Europe, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Polynesia, Japan and Vietnam. This unique blend of influences has created a mouth-watering range of flavours and food available from cafes and restaurants nationwide.

For dishes that have a distinctly New Zealand style look out for lamb, pork and venison; salmon, crayfish, Bluff oysters, paua (abalone), mussels and scallops.

While the main cities support a few elegant, silver-service restaurants, the trend is towards more relaxed cafe-bar dining.

New Zealanders do not expect tips for normal service – even in restaurants and bars. However, tipping for extra special service or kindness is at the discretion of the visitor. Hotels and

restaurants in New Zealand do not add service charges to their bills.

Whilst in New Zealand take the opportunity to discover more about New Zealand wines. Their white wines, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, have achieved an international reputation for excellence.

To protect people from the health effects of second-hand smoke, smoking in all hospitality venues, including bars, restaurants, cafes, and casinos, is prohibited in New Zealand.

Sport The range of sports played in New Zealand reflect to a large extent its British colonial heritage. New Zealand’s most popular sports are rugby union, soccer, cricket, and netball (the top ranking female sport by participation); golf, tennis, rowing and a variety of water sports, particularly sailing. Snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding are also popular. Equestrian sports are highly popular especially with women and participation numbers begin to overhaul rugby and other contact sports in older age groups.

New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, has the best winning record of any national team in the world. The All Blacks traditionally perform a haka, a traditional Maori challenge, at the start of international matches. This practice has been mimicked by several other national teams, notably the national rugby league team and the basketball teams.

Leisure

The lifestyle is open and expansive. New Zealand has a thriving cultural life, with a unique mix of European, Maori, Polynesian, Asian, and increasingly other traditions. Traditional social constraints and class structures are less evident.

They have a firm belief in social equality and a dislike of formality and stuffiness. The differences between high and low income people are not pronounced and most New Zealanders have access to a range of affordable social and sporting activities. New Zealand is passionate about sport and have a great love of the outdoors.

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To find permanent accommodation in New Zealand it is best to use the internet, e.g. Trademe or checking the local real estate agents boards online:

Crockers Property Management

LJ Hooker

Harcourts

Bayleys

First National

Century 21

Raywhite

It is usually easy to find rental accommodation in New Zealand. A bond must be paid for a flat or house to the Tenancy Tribunal. Bond money is an amount paid to be refunded at the end of the lease unless there is any damage to the property. A Bond will usually be equivalent to 2 to 4 weeks rent. Landlords usually ask for two weeks rent to be paid before the tenant moves in.

There are deposits required to connect electricity, gas and the telephone. Most rental properties are un-furnished or semi-furnished. Single, family and shared accommodation is fairly easy to find in all parts of New Zealand. In the major centres as a rough rule of thumb, you will pay approximately $100 to $150 per bedroom per week. Therefore, a 3 bedroom house would be $300 – $450 per week. Landlords are generally looking for a minimum of six months commitment from the incoming tenant. Long-term rentals are also commonplace.

Finding accommodation You can choose from cities such as multi-cultural Auckland the subtropical ‘city of sails’, centre stage Wellington or the South Island’s garden city Christchurch. If city living isn’t your thing, There are stunning regional areas including the farming rich Waikato and the feted wine producing areas such as Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough and Central Otago.

Education Education facilities are located in all areas of New Zealand.

School is compulsory for children aged from 6 to 16 years, at primary, intermediate and secondary school, but most children start school at 5 years of age.

The New Zealand Government funds state schools, but you may have to provide additional funding for example, sports clothes, school trips, text books. School uniforms are not usually worn at primary schools but are worn at most intermediate and secondary schools. Private schools are also available.

The school year has four terms, with the new school year commencing in early February.

There are many good childcare facilities in New Zealand, which are required to be registered. Private childcare centres charge a fee to take care of the child. Kindergartens and play-centres also charge a small fee as these are subsidised by the Government.

After the age of 17/18 years, further study is from a choice of many New Zealand institutions: Polytechnics, Universities and Colleges of Education. Anyone attending tertiary education will be charged international student fees unless they are a New Zealand resident.

Registering with a GP New Zealand’s healthcare system is funded mainly through general taxation. Treatments are usually free or subsidised and medical treatment is generally very good. A visit to a GP costs around $50 between around 8:00am - 6:00pm. Visits at weekends or nights cost more, however, if you join a PHO (Primary Health Organisation - these are government funded and free to join) a visit to your GP will cost approximately $25 – $30. Nearly all New Zealanders have now joined PHOs and it can sometimes take about three months after submitting an application to a PHO to receive lower priced care. Therefore it is advisable to

join a medical practice and enrol with a PHO sooner rather than later.

To register with a GP, all you need to do is call your local medical practice and you will need to take along your passport as proof of identification.

Many New Zealanders have private health insurance because it allows them to bypass the waiting times in the public health system for treatment of non-urgent conditions. People who have private health insurance are also entitled to free public health services.

Health and living Health and living09 10

To register for a tax number you must contact the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) when you arrive in New Zealand and complete the required paper work.

Applying for a bank account To open a bank account in New you to need to be living in New Zealand with proof of an address and have two forms of identification. Banking hours are usually Monday to Friday 9am – 4.30pm and the occasional branch is open on a Saturday morning. Cash machines are located outside all banks and in shopping malls, or wherever there is a block of shops.

Exchange Rates Banks should be able to tell you what the current exchange rate is with the New Zealand dollar. Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centres.

Tax Tax in New Zealand is tiered and depends on how much you earn. The maximum tax rate in New Zealand is 33%. GST (Goods and Services Tax) is currently 15%.

To pay tax in New Zealand you must have an IRD number. If you do not have an IRD number then you will be charged the highest tax rate.

Finance and banking

New Zealand’s unit of currency is the dollar (NZ$), comprising coins with values of 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2, and notes with values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought in or taken out of New Zealand. However, every person who carries more than NZ$10,000 in cash in or out of New Zealand is required to complete a Border Cash Report.

A list of New Zealand banks are below:

Bank of New Zealand

BNZ

ANZ

ASB

The National Bank

Kiwi Bank

Westpac

TSB Bank

International credit cards and ATM cards will work as long as they have a four-digit PIN encoded. Check with your bank before leaving home.

Money Transfers Western Union provides worldwide money transfers. Agents are available in all Budget Travel and Trevelex branches.

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Post Post Offices are open 9am – 5pm on weekdays and some are open Saturday mornings. Mail within New Zealand can be sent in a variety of ways. Regular postage stamps are $0.50; delivery time is two days between major centres, a bit longer for rural areas.

For international mail use an airmail sticker. From New Zealand to Europe, letters will take between six and twelve days to deliver.

Telephone The monthly fee covers the following services; monthly home line rental, standard national and international calling rates, unlimited local calling, 111 Emergency operator assistance, your white pages listing and maintaining the telecom network.

Most public call phones take cards purchased from bookstalls and newsagents, with a minimum value of NZ$2. Some public callphones also accept credit cards, but very few accept coins.

Mobile phones There are several mobile phone networks in New Zealand. You can arrange a variety of payment plans or choose ‘pay as you go” options.

Computers You will need a RJ45 type plug to be able to connect your laptop into a computer socket in New Zealand, and an adaptor with a flat two or three-point power plug to connect to the power supply.

Emergency numbers The emergency number in New Zealand is 111 for Police, Fire or Ambulances.

Contact details

Medacs Healthcare Suite 1.1 72 Dominion Rd Mt Eden Auckland 1024 New Zealand (P.O. Box 74385, Greenlane, Auckland 1546) Telephone: +64 9 630 1769 www.medacs.co.nz

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