Cost of living in New Zealand

New Zealand wages are typically lower than other major countries like the Australia, UK or USA. However, this doesn’t mean that you standard of living will suffer.

Moving to New Zealand from overseas is expensive, you have moving costs, travel costs, temporary accommodation, car hire etc.



You’ll also find that you mentally convert everything you buy back into your own currency, its takes about two years to stop doing this. This means everything can feel fairly cheap when you first arrive, but reality kicks in when you starting earning NZ $. You’ll still find that you will have a good standard of living though!


School fees can be reduced if you live in an area with good public schools.

You’ll enjoy a good quality of life for you and your family. It won’t take longer than 30mins to drive to a pleasant beach, and you can have a nice family day out for the price of fish and chips. Entry into attractions will generally cost $25 for a family.
Living in New Zealand is cheaper than Australia

Mercer Consulting’s 2006 annual survey that looks at the cost of living in 144 cities across six continents. The survey compares the cost for more than 200 items in each city, the items include housing, transport, food, clothing, entertainment, white and brown goods.
New Zealand cities were ranked in the middle of the 144 cities, Auckland and Wellington ranked 69th and 76th. Tokyo is the most expensive, followed by Osaka and London. Sydney was ranked 20th, Melbourne 68th and Perth was 93rd (although since 2006 Perth has experience a mini boom due to the mining industry boom).

All costs in New Zealand have 12.5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) added. Under law, the prices displayed must include the GST content.

Typical weekly New Zealand Household spending graph –

food
Bananas 2.00 per kg
Apples 3.50 per kg
Milk 1.65 per litre
Butter 2.50 per 500 grams
Chicken 14.00 per kg
Lamb 15.00 per kg
Instant noodles 0.55 per packet
Bread 2.00-3.00 per loaf


Clothing 
Jeans 20 – 100
T-shirt 10+
Shirts 25+
Woollen jerseys 50 – 100
Sweatshirts 40 – 100
Sports shoes 50+ (up to $250 for Nike Reebok)
Woollen socks 10 per pair
Warm padded jackets 100 – 300
Dress 40 – 200+


Miscellaneous
Hair cuts 10 – 45
Local bus fares 2.00 approximately
Movie 10.00
Takeaways eg McDonalds 3.00+
Paperback book 16+
Postage (local letter) 0.45
Bicycle (new) 300 – 1000+
Compact Disc 10 – 35
Iron 40 – 100

How to apply to study in New Zealand

Students Applying From Overseas
If you want to study as a full-fee student at an educational institution in New Zealand you should consult the accredited New Zealand Government office in your country about available courses. Applications should be made either directly to educational institutions or through an agent or by contacting TradeNZ offices overseas.


The closing dates for applications to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education are available from prospectuses held at New Zealand Government Offices overseas, or you can visit the websites of the institutions.

How to Apply for a Student Visa From Overseas:
Step One:

Complete the ‘Application to Study in New Zealand’ (NZIS 1012) form available from New Zealand Immigration offices in New Zealand and overseas.

Step Two:

Along with your completed and signed application form, you will also need to provide all the information listed at the front of the application form and the correct application fee. If you do not submit the required information with your application it will not be able to be accepted for processing.

Step Three:

If you are overseas, your application must be made and approved before you are able to travel to New Zealand.


To be included with your application form:
1. General Requirements:

• Your passport or travel document (which must be valid to at least three months past the date you plan to leave New Zealand).
• A recent passport sized photograph.

2. Health Requirements:

• If you intend to be in New Zealand for more than six months, you may need to submit a ‘Temporary Entry X-Ray Certificate’ (NZIS 1096) to prove that you have been screened for tuberculosis (TB).
• If you intend to be in New Zealand for more than two years you must submit a ‘Medical and X-Ray Certificate’ (NZIS 1007).

Pregnant women and children under 11 years of age are not required to have an X-ray, unless a special report is required.


3. Character Requirements:

If you intend to be in New Zealand for more than two years and are aged 17 or over you must submit a Police Certificate from your country of citizenship (or satisfactory evidence that you have never lived in that country), and any country that you have lived in for five years or more since attaining the age of 17 years. 

4. Financial Details:

• You must provide one of the following as evidence of your ability to support yourself in New Zealand:
• A completed ‘Financial Undertaking for a Student’ (NZIS 1014) form.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself for the period you will be studying (if you are studying in New Zealand for less than 36 weeks, you need to provide evidence of NZ$1000 per month. If you are intending to study in New Zealand for more than 36 weeks you need to provide evidence of NZ$10,000 per year, as well as sufficient funds to purchase an outward ticket); AND a guarantee of accommodation.
• If you are a student from Tonga or Samoa intending to study for any length of time you may supply a ‘Sponsorship Form for Visiting New Zealand’ (NZIS 1025).

5. Enrolment Details:

• An offer of a place at a New Zealand education or training institute.
• Evidence that you have paid, or are exempt from paying, the course fees.

If you already have a student permit or visa and are applying for a further student permit or visa, you must provide copies of the following:

• Evidence of previous study performance.
• Evidence of attendance (excluding tertiary) showing satisfactory progress.

The New Zealand Education System

Introduction    
New Zealand has an excellent education system and qualifications gained here are recognised as equal to the best in the world. For more than one hundred years it has had a state (public) school system that is ‘free, secular and compulsory’. At the same time there is a strong degree of tolerance, which enables communities to build and operate private schools along religious or cultural lines.

School Term Dates
Schools have a four-term year. There is at least a two-week break before each of the four terms. In summer it is six weeks.
Term dates for 2012 are:

Term 1: 30 January (at earliest) / 7 February (at latest) to 5 April
Term 2: 23 April to 29 June
Term 3: 16 July to 28 September
Term 4: 15 October to no later than 20 December

Private Schools
There are many private schools in New Zealand. They are allowed by law to teach particular religious values, but must also conform to the nationally set curriculum. They are allowed to give preference to children reflecting their special character, but can accept others if their roll is not full.

Primary Schools 
New Zealand law requires all children aged six years and over to be at school. Most begin as soon as they turn five. For the first three years children are in junior classes, moving up a grade each year. After leaving junior level, most children have five more years at primary and intermediate level. At the age of 12 or 13 children move to secondary school.

Secondary Schools
Students at secondary school progress through five levels and must stay until the age of 16. Free secondary education may be provided for children of New Zealand citizenship up to the age of 19. In the first two years of secondary school (Years 9 and 10) all students learn English, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, art, physical education, music and health education. Optional subjects in the first two years of secondary school vary. They may include economics, history, geography, electronics, sewing, keyboard skills, drama, journalism, French, Japanese and Maori. Other languages less generally available include Indonesian, Latin, German, Chinese and Samoan. In the last three years of secondary school there are a wide range of subjects to choose from; some of which are very practical e.g. photography, farming. Years 12 and 13, the last two years, may suit overseas students who wish to progress on to tertiary education in New Zealand.

Examinations & Assessments
The National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) is New Zealand’s main national qualification for secondary school students. There are three NCEA qualifications: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. Because the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is benchmarked internationally, NCEA will be recognised overseas.

Universities
There are 8 government-funded universities in New Zealand and all have internationally respected academic and research standards. A university education is open to anyone who meets the common entrance qualification prescribed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). However universities often have higher entry criteria for specific courses e.g. medicine, dentistry. Students can work towards bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees, as well as diplomas at various levels. Having a New Zealand degree can be a lever to further study in other countries.

Polytechnics
There are 20 polytechnics, many of which are called Institutes of Technology. They provide a wide range of courses, up to and including degree-level. Semester times are roughly equivalent to those for universities but short courses may begin at any time of the year.

English Language Programmes
English Language Programmes are run especially for international students by many private institutions throughout New Zealand, with the majority being in Auckland. All private language schools run courses that have been registered and accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Some universities, polytechnics and colleges of education also have their own separate language centres.

Private Training Institutions
There are over 800 private education providers, many offering short-term English language courses for international students. Some private education providers also run courses in specific areas such as business, computing, and design.

Industry Training Organisations
Industry training organisations offer training towards apprenticeships and qualifications in specific industries.

International Education Appeal Authority
The International Appeal Authority is a government office established to deal with the problems of International Students. If you approach the Appeal Authority, you must be able to show them that you have tried to get the institution or school to act on the problem you have.

The Authority can be contacted in writing at:

The International Education Appeal Authority,
c/- Ministry of Education,
P O Box 1666,
Wellington,
New Zealand.

Fax 64 (4) 499 1327.

100% Pure New Zealand

study in New-Zealand

Authentication of Documents - Ministry of External Affairs

This division authenticates Birth/ Marriage/ Death certificates, along with Educational and other certificates to be forwarded to foreign countries. The authentication of documents is one of the main functions of this division and the importance of the subject has grown largely with the advent of Government policy to promote foreign policy to Sri Lankans.


Instructions:

Attestation of documents

Documents are accepted for attestation from 9.00 a.m. to 01. 00 p.m. and the attested documents are returned to the owners from 10.30 a.m. time to time calling the token numbers through the Public Addressing System.
The documents should be handed over to the Consular Division by the applicant. If the applicant in abroad, he/she can authorize another person, who should bring a copy of the relevant page of the passport of the applicant and a letter of authorization, in which the name and the National Identity Card Number of the authorized person are mentioned.
Only the documents that are written in Sinhala, Tamil, English and Arabic are attested.
Only the translations done by sworn translators are attested and the sworn translator should clearly mention on his/her letterhead or the seal/stamp, the languages in which he is authorized to do the translations. When a Sinhala or Tamil or English document is translated into Arabic, the particulars of the original document should be mentioned in English in the document that has been translated into Arabic.
When the authenticity of a document has to be confirmed before attestation and the specimen signature required for the attestation of a document is not available, the document is forwarded to the relevant authority for verification for which a period of about 3 weeks is necessary.
Letters addressed to the Ambassadors and diplomatic officers of foreign countries, various institutions in foreign countries etc. are not attested. The documents should be in the form "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN". Also the letters/documents regarding the obtaining of visas for foreign countries are not attested.
Deeds/titles, bank statements, appointment letters, defamatory documents, etc. are not attested.

Requirements for the attestation of documents
1. Certificates of Birth, Marriage & Death : The original certificate should be forwarded for attestation. Photostat copies are not attested.
2. Civil status : A statement signed by the Grama Niladhari and countersigned by the Divisional Secretary.
An affidavit from the parent/guardian.
3. Dependency, residence, Family Unit certificates : A Statement signed by the Grama Niladhari and countersigned by the Divisional Secretary
4. Police clearance certificates and other police reports : The certificate issued by the OIC of the police station countersigned by the ASP and the original receipt for the payment for the report. (for the reports signed by the DIG, the receipt for the payment is not required)
5. Power of Attorney and other such legal documents : These documents should be countersigned by the Registrar of the Sri Lanka Supreme Court.
6. Affidavits : Affidavits should be countersigned by the Ministry of Justice of Sri Lanka.

Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
No: 14, 3rd floor, Sir Baron Jayathilake Mawatha,
Colombo 1
Sri Lanka
Telephone:00 94 11 4718972

http://www.mea.gov.lk/

New Zealand Universities

There are eight state-funded universities in New Zealand, all of them internationally respected for their academic and research standards:

The University of Auckland
Manager, International Student's Office
Private Bag 92019, Auckland,
New Zealand

Telephone 64 9 373 7513 Fax 64 9 373 7405
E-mail international@auckland.ac.nz
Website http://www.auckland.ac.nz

AUT University
International Marketing Manager
AUT International
Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Telephone 64 9 9219637 Fax 64 9 9219925
E-mail international.centre@aut.ac.nz
Website www.aut.ac.nz

The University of Waikato
Manager, International Office
Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

Telephone 64 7 838 4439 Fax 64 7 838 4269
E-mail international@waikato.ac.nz
Website http://www.waikato.ac.nz/international

Massey University
Manager, International Student's Office
Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North,
New Zealand

Telephone 64 6 350 6148 Fax 64 6 350 5698
E-mail B.C.Graham@massey.ac.nz
Website http://www.massey.ac.nz

Victoria University of Wellington
Manager, International Students' Office
P O Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand

Telephone 64 4 472 1000 Fax 64 4 495 5056
E-mail International-Students@vuw.ac.nz
Website http://www.vuw.ac.nz

University of Canterbury
International Office, Private Bag 4800,
Christchurch, New Zealand

Telephone 64 3 364 2459 Fax 64 3 364 2171
E-mail international@regy.canterbury.ac.nz
Website http://www.canterbury.ac.nz

Lincoln University
Director, International, P O Box 94, Canterbury, New Zealand

E-mail Ormandyg@lincoln.ac.nz
Website http://www.lincoln.ac.nz

University of Otago
Manager, Research and International, P O Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

Telephone 64 3 479 8344 Fax 64 3 479 8367
E-mail international@otago.ac.nz
Website http://www.otago.ac.nz

IELTS - the International English Language Testing System

IELTS assesses your level of English and creates opportunities for you all over the world. It could be the ONLY English test you need.

Studying Overseas - IELTS could be the ONLY English Test You Need.

IELTS - the International English Language Testing System - assesses your level of English.

• Take IELTS to prove you have the right language skills to learn Overseas.
• Over one million people a year take the IELTS test.
• Accepted by over 6,000 institutions worldwide, including top universities Overseas.
• It is offered up to four times a month by centres in more than 130 countries.
• IELTS results are available just 13 days after the test.

http://www.ielts.org/default.aspx

Authorized panel of doctors for New Zealand immigration

City: Colombo 5 

Doctor/Clinic: Dr M D Wimalasena

Address: Asiri Surgical Hospital Plc No. 21 Kirimandala Mawatha Road Colombo 5

Phone: 94 452 4400 extn 1205 Fax: 94 4527311, 94 4626442

Email:info@asiri.lk, deepawim@yahoo.com

Type: Doctor

________________________________________

City: Colombo 7 

Doctor/Clinic: Dr K Rajendra

Address: Medi Centre, 97 Dharmapala Mawatha

Phone: Mobile Nos. (24 hours) 0714 738802 and 0773 738802

(From overseas: + 94 714 738802 and + 94 773 738802 ) Fax:94 2301411

Email: docraje@gmail.com

Type: Doctor

________________________________________

City: Colombo 7 

Doctor/Clinic: Dr Lanka Wijesena

Address: Australian Medical Centre, 56/3 Horton Place

Phone: 94 11 2691682 Fax: 94 11 2674435

Email:lankawijesena@gmail.com

Hours: 9.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00pm - 6.00pm 

Notes: By appointment only

Type: Doctor

________________________________________

City: Colombo 5 

Doctor/Clinic: Dr Shabbir Akbarally

Address: Al Shifa Medical Centre, 14 Sakviti Lane

Phone: 94 11 2585424

Email: alshifa@akbar.com

Hours: Mon - Wed & Fri 9.00am to 1.00pm & 2.00pm - 5.00pm 

Notes: By appointment only

Type: Doctor

________________________________________

City: Colombo 4 

Doctor/Clinic: Dr Chitranganie Sukumal Perera

Address: "SUVEKA" Family Health Centre (Pvt) Ltd, 38 Haig Road Colombo 04

Phone: 94 11 2506015 , 94 11 2599152

Email:chitranganiesperera@yahoo.com

Hours: 8.30am - 5.30pm 

Notes: By appointment only

Type: Doctor

________________________________________

City: Colombo 5 

Doctor/Clinic: Dr Buddhi Kalinga Ginige and Dr Anil Aravinda Wijesekra

Address: Health Watch (Pvt) Ltd 522/3, Elvitigala Mw, Colombo 5 Sri Lanka

Phone: +94 77 7308847 , +94 71 8308847 , +94 77 7802618 Fax: 94 77 5358978 Email:healthwatchsl@gmail.com kalinga.ginige@gmail.com

Type: Doctor / Radiologist

________________________________________

City : Colombo 10 

Doctor/Clinic: Dr A H Cader

Address: Medilab Lanka Pvt Ltd, 260 Deans Road

Phone: 94 11 5351223 , 94 11 5836661 or 94 11 4884915 Fax: 94 11 2667188

Email: lasermed@sltnet.lk,medilablanka@sltnet.lk

Hours: Monday to Friday: 9.00am - 4.30pm Saturdays: 9.00am - 1.00pm 

Type: Doctor

New Zealand's leading job search websites

New Zealand's leading job search website with thousands of jobs on line.
www.careerjet.co.nz
http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz/
Seek.co.nz
NZ Herald Jobs
monster.com
newkiwis.co.nz
NZ Government Jobs

How to get a Police Clearance Certificate?

How to get a Police Clearance Certificate?

http://www.police.lk/

Downlaod the application form from Sri Lanka Police website http://www.police.lk/images/formsdownload/clearanceapplication-protected.doc


Instructions - issuance of the Police Clearance Certificate

01.
The application form received form Police headquarters should be perfected properly and handed over at the counter.
Foreign applicants could down load the Application form from the web site, perfect same and hand it over to the Sri Lanka High Commission of their country.
Foreign applicants could also submit their down loaded and correctly perfected applications individually, direct to the Inspector-General of Police, Police Headquarters, Colombo 01

02.
Applicants handing over their applications at police Headquarters should pay a sum of Rs. 500/= and obtain a receipt for same.
Foreign applicants should pay a sum equivalent to Sri Lanka Rs. 1000/= at the Sri Lankan High commission in their country and obtain a receipt for same.
Foreign applicants submitting their application individually direct to Inspector General of Police should send a draft or Cheque equivalent to the sum of Sri Lanka Rs. 1000/= to A/C No. 007041413 payable at Taprobane Branch, Bank of Ceylon, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka. The Police Clearance Certificate would be sent direct to the applicant.

03.
Foreign applicants could sent an application through Sri Lankan High Commission should pay a sum equivalent to Sri Lankan Rs. 1000/= at the Sri Lankan High Commission in their country and obtain a receipt for same. The Police Clearance Certificate would be sent to the same High Commission.
Incase there being no Sri Lanka Embassy/High Commission, fill up the application and send with a remittance to the equivalent of Rs.1,000/= (One Thousand Sri Lanka Rupees) in respect of each application. The remittance should be drawn in favour of the Inspector General of Police, Sri Lanka. The application(s) and the remittance should be sent under registered post to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, Colombo – 01, Sri Lanka.

04. The application should be perfected. The applicant should write his/her address, periods and the Police area. During the period he/She lived in Sri Lanka correctly.



05. The under mentioned documents are collected by the Police Headquarters to compile the Clearance Certificate. The applicant need not to concern about this. Once all the documents are received the certificate could be issued.

Reports form the Officer in Charge of the Police Station. (Relevant Police Stations)

Criminal Investigation reports.

State Intelligence Service report

Commissioner of the Registration of the persons' Department report.

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Australian Goverment Immigration Website

Department of Immigration & Citizenship

www.immi.gov.au/

Provides access to information about Australian visas, Australian citizenship.

New Zealand Educated

Stay in touch with New Zealand Educated

Institutions & Courses
Find a Course

Use the course search below to find the course or Institution best suited for you.
If you require any information about a course or Institution that you cannot locate on the institutional profile or website, please refer to the institution contact details for assistance.

http://www.newzealandeducated.com/

IOM Sri Lanka

Document Verification Service for Immigration New Zealand 

Applicants / Agents applying for visas (visit, student, work, business) to New Zealand and who are submitting their applications from Sri Lanka can avail this document pre-verification service from IOM, Please note that this pre-verification service is not a mandatory requirement by Immigration New Zealand.

Pre-verification Information for Visa Applicants from Sri Lanka 
All forms and information can be found here.

For further details please contact Operations & Migrant Services unit of IOM Sri Lanka at: SrilankaOperations-MigrantServices@iom.int