SMART MOVE YOUR GUIDE TO LIVING AND WORKING Why Auckland Living in Auckland Need to know IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND CONTENTS 01 WHY AUCKLAND? 3 03 NEED TO KNOW 12 A city of opportunity 4 Find a job 13 The Auckland economy 5 Work visas 13 Education 14 02 LIVING IN AUCKLAND 6 Healthcare 15 People and culture 7 SUCCESS STORY: LAVANYA BOMMINI 16 Things to do 8 Housing 17 Getting around 9 Cost of living 18 SUCCESS STORY: MARC FORRESTER 10 Taxes 18 Support services and networks 11 Climate 19 Connected to the world 19 WHY 01 AUCKLAND When you start a new job in Auckland, you start a new way of life. One that offers both an amazing lifestyle and diverse possibilities for your career. RD MOST3 LIVEABLE CITY IN THE WORLD Mercer Quality Living Survey 2015 WELCOMING AND SAFE before. We’re big enough to be connected to outdoor activities at your fingertips. With more New Zealanders are well known for their other global business hubs around the world, free time you could be starting your day paddle friendly and welcoming nature. The traditional but small enough that making connections boarding or jogging along the waterfront then A CITY OF Māori spirit of manaakitanga (hospitality, is easy, and career progression can be relaxing after work with dinner and drinks, a OPPORTUNITY kindness and generosity) remains just as significantly faster than larger cities. It’s about bush walk or fish and chips on the beach. significant today. Safety is another major draw more than a job; you’ll be helping to build and FAMILY FRIENDLY shape a city. card – we value human rights, are nuclear-free, If you already have children or you’re planning politically stable, and have extremely strict gun CITY STYLE, NATURAL BEAUTY for the future, Auckland is a wonderful place From outstanding career control laws. Auckland combines all the energy and to raise a family. It’s safe, stable and culturally opportunities to an AN INTERNATIONAL CITY excitement of city life with spectacular diverse, with excellent public healthcare, a We’re a relatively young city, but we’re natural beauty in every direction. World-class lifestyle where children can enjoy our natural exceptional lifestyle, here’s making our mark on the world – and you can food, wine, coffee, designer shopping and a playground, and a world-class education why working in Auckland is too. Innovative companies and startups are thriving arts and culture scene is matched system. stepping onto the global stage and dedicated with beautiful harbours, islands, beaches, A CITY OF DIVERSITY forests and volcanic cones that offer countless a smart move. innovation hubs are expanding across the city. Auckland is the fourth most diverse city in adventure activities to enjoy, from sailing Auckland is the nation’s economic powerhouse the world – more than 200 different ethnic and surfing to mountain biking and hiking. and New Zealand’s largest city, home to communities call our city home and about And it’s all so close. We’re encircled by three about a third of the country’s population. a third of all people living here were born natural harbours, giving our region hundreds of We’re a global city, with easy access to key overseas. The majority of New Zealand’s beaches within easy reach of the city centre. international markets, particularly in the Asia indigenous Māori population lives in Auckland, Pacific region. BALANCED LIFESTYLE and we’re also the world’s largest Polynesian JOB OPPORTUNITIES Our great lifestyle is one of the main reasons city. Our huge mix of cultures not only makes With many large-scale projects and new people are drawn to Auckland. We believe for diverse cuisine, art, music and language, it companies springing up throughout Auckland, in hard work, but we know life outside is also makes it easy for new migrants to connect there’s never been a more exciting time to important too – whether that means quality with people with similar backgrounds. work here. Our population, economy and key time with family and friends, joining a social industry sectors are all growing rapidly, which sports team or making the most of the superb means more career opportunities than ever dining, shopping, entertainment, nightlife and 4 THE AUCKLAND ECONOMY WE’RE A GROWING ECONOMY Auckland’s economy has seen five years of Auckland is the economic consecutive growth, with an average growth powerhouse of New Zealand, rate of 3.3% per annum since 2010. WE’RE A GROWING CITY home to a third of the Auckland has a population of almost 1.6 population and contributing million, an increase of almost 10% since 2010. It is forecast to reach 2 million by 2025. over 36% of the nation’s GDP. WE CONTRIBUTE OVER A THIRD OF NEW ZEALAND’S GDP Auckland’s GDP was NZ$80bn in 2015 – 36.7% of the New Zealand economy. WE’RE GLOBALLY CONNECTED Auckland is internationally connected, serving as a gateway to New Zealand and markets in the Asia-Pacific region, and offers a competitive and stable business environment and business-friendly government services. We’re just one direct flight away from major cities in Australia, Asia and the western coast of the US. WE’RE DIVERSE AND INNOVATIVE TH Auckland has moved toward a more service oriented and innovation oriented economy. A strong and increasingly specialised MOST4 INNOVATIVE CITY manufacturing core is supported by a talented IN SOUTH EAST ASIA and globally focused service sector. AND OCEANIA Global Innovation Index 2015 Find out more about Auckland as an innovation city here. 5 LIVING IN 02 AUCKLAND When you arrive in Auckland, you’ll find a city rich in diverse cultures, friendly people and a huge range of things to see and do. % 39OF AUCKLANDERS WERE BORN OVERSEAS 2015 World Migration Report, International Organisation for Migration PEOPLE AND CULTURE New Zealanders are known for their warm SETTLING IN OUR LANGUAGES nature and hospitality – and Auckland is no In the 2015 Expat Insider survey, 94% of New Zealand has three official languages Our sense of hospitality and different. Kiwis (as New Zealanders are often respondents said they found New Zealand – English, Māori and New Zealand Sign called) love travelling, so we understand the people ‘friendly’ or ‘very friendly’ – one of the Language, with English the most commonly many diverse cultures make importance of welcoming new people to our reasons we scored so highly (second of 64 spoken. own land. Auckland an exciting and countries) for ‘ease of settling in’. There are many classes and programmes OUR DIVERSE CULTURES We are by far New Zealand’s largest city, but across the Auckland region for people welcoming place to live. We’re the fourth most culturally diverse city in there’s a real sense of community here. We who want to improve their English or learn the world – more diverse than Sydney, London, often socialise with colleagues outside of work, Te Reo Māori. Los Angeles and New York – and over a third joining a social sports team is a popular way of all Aucklanders were born overseas. This to make friends and every area of Auckland diversity is reflected in our art, music, cuisine, has different events, places and programmes festivals and cultural experiences, as well as in where people come together, whether it’s a our workplaces, schools and universities. favourite local restaurant or helping out in + Our Māori heritage gives us a unique place the community as a volunteer. 200 in the world, and our city is home to more DIFFERENT ETHNIC COMMUNITIES CALL AUCKLAND HOME than 200 different ethnic groups. Auckland 2015 World Migration Report, is strongly influenced by Pacific pride and International Organisation for Migration passion – we are the world’s largest Polynesian community – and nearly a quarter of people living here are of Asian descent. 7 THINGS TO DO WINE REGIONS > Rolling vineyards, award-winning From fine food and wine to vintages and an island of wine rainforest walks, thriving nightlife to native wildlife, WALKS AND HIKING > there’s so much to see and Hidden waterfalls, untouched do in Auckland when the native forest and coastal climbs BEACHES > working day is done. Sheltered golden bays and wild black-sand surf beaches WATER ACTIVITIES > We’re surrounded by sea, EVENTS AND FESTIVALS > DINING > and we make the most of it Concerts, international sports, Restaurants, cafés, bars and cultural festivals and free events ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES cuisine from around the world > Mountain biking, indoor skiing, kayaking, abseiling and more SHOPPING > THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT > From designer boutiques and luxury Cosy cocktail bars, local pubs, ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORY > HAURAKI GULF ISLANDS > labels to local farmers’ markets lively clubs and gigs galore Galleries, museums and Discover the beautiful islands heritage experiences right on our doorstep 8 GETTING AROUND PUBLIC TRANSPORT – CYCLING DRIVING TRAIN, BUS AND FERRY For a great way to get outdoors and improve You can legally drive in Auckland and New Our public transport network is a great your health and wellbeing, try cycling or Zealand for up to 12 months per visit, with way to get around the city and throughout walking. A number of cycle paths have popped either a current driver’s licence from your Getting around is easy and the region. As well as inner city buses, you up over Auckland in the last few years to make home country or an International Driving can travel by train or bus from your suburb commuting on bike or foot even easier and Permit (IDP). Make sure you have these affordable, whether you’re to most major work hubs, plus schools, more new cycle ways are planned in the near organised before you arrive in New Zealand.