Information about New Zealand
New Zealand is a modern country with a well-developed economy and a government structure based on the British parliamentary system. New Zealand is governed by a democratically elected parliament while still retaining ties with Britain through New Zealand's membership of the British Commonwealth.
Comparable in size and/or shape to Great Britain, Colorado or Japan, New Zealand has a population estimated at approximately 4.4 million - making it one of the world's least crowded countries. New Zealand has a sizeable rural population and farming is a major export earner.
Part of a unique and vibrant multicultural society, New Zealanders are embracing 21st century technology and culture in record numbers. New Zealanders have a background of quiet, rugged individualism, self-reliance and a genius for invention - qualities still evident in the population today.
You'll find a variety of awesome landscapes in New Zealand, all within easy reach of each other. Spectacular glaciers, picturesque fiords, rugged mountains, vast plains, rolling hillsides, subtropical forest, volcanic plateau, miles of coastline with gorgeous sandy beaches and large metropolitan cities.
English and Maori are the official languages of New Zealand, however English is the most widely spoken by all New Zealanders.
New Zealand has a strong education system with New Zealand students aged 15 years old being ranked in the group of second highest performing countries in reading, maths and science out of 41 nations in the International Student Assessment Programme run by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Playcentres, childcare centres, and kohanga reo take children from birth the school age (5-6 years old). Kohanga reo are Maori early childhood centres which encourage children to use the Maori language. There are also pacific island childhood centres like this. Kindergartens also cater for three and four year olds.
Primary school education is compulsory for children from six years of age, but most children start at the age of five. Children spend two years in junior school and then progress through Standards 1 to 4 and in some schools, Forms 1 and 2. There are about 2,300 primary schools nation-wide in which children cover English, art, health, mathematics, music, physical education, science and social studies.
In some areas, children aged about 11-13 attend an intermediate school for two years for Forms 1 and 2 (rather than attending these years at Primary School).
About the age of 13, children enter secondary school. These are usually co-educational, however in some larger cities they may be single-sex, particularly if they are a private school. Secondary school provides three formal qualifications, School Certificate (sat in the third year), Six form Certificate (sat in the fourth year), and University Bursaries and Entrance Scholarships (sat in fifth year).
There are eight universities and 25 Polytechnics in New Zealand that provide a wide range of vocational and academic courses. These cover a large number of subjects at various levels of specialisation.
About education in New Zealand - from the Ministry of Education
While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10° C in winter. Most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine. New Zealand's summer months are December to February, bringing high temperatures and sunshine. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30°C and in winter between 10-15°C.
Waikato Ashburton & Methen
Taranaki Mid-Canterbury
Bay of Plenty Timaru
Gisborne West Coast
Wanganui North Otago
Hawke's Bay Otago
Manawatu Mackenzie
Twizel
Kapiti
Central Otago and Lakes
Hutt City Southland