Nothing can get better than the weather in New Zealand. The winters are mild, with temperatures around 10ºC (50ºF) and slightly wet. In higher altitudes, you will see snow, but it’s not common in lower altitudes. In the summers, the climate is warm and dry with temperatures around 25ºC (77ºF). As you would expect in the southern hemisphere, the summer lasts from December to February; winter lasts from June to August. Spring and fall are similar, with cooler temperatures and little rain.

You would never think that a country nestled in the corner of the world would be so multi-cultural, but you really don’t realize how different it is until you arrive. There are literally people from all over the world that live in New Zealand. Most of the island is inhabited by immigrants from European countries, but the “miniorities” on the island make up a majority of the population. The native Māori play a large role in society, and you will see many of their customs intertwined into modern customs. There are many Asians and Africans who have also immigrated to the country over the years, making it a literal melting pot of cultures. But, it’s not like other countries where there seems to be tension among the different cultures that you see. They believe in a principle that they call “a fair go.” If something goes wrong, then New Zealand people are more likely to give people a second chance so that they can prove themselves or show that things can be done differently.

The economy of New Zealand is the 53rd-largest national economy in the world measured by nominal gross domestic product (GDP) and 68th-largest in the world measured by purchasing power parity (PPP). It is one of the most globalised economies and depends greatly on international trade, mainly with Australia, the European Union, the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Canada. The Closer Economic Relations agreement with Australia means that New Zealand’s economy is closely aligned with the Australian economy. New Zealand’s diverse market economy has a sizable service sector, accounting for 63% of all GDP activity in 2013. Large scale manufacturing industries include aluminium production, food processing, metal fabrication, wood and paper products. Mining, manufacturing, electricity, gas, water, and waste services accounted for 16.5% of GDP in 2013. The primary sector continues to dominate New Zealand’s exports, despite accounting for 6.5% of GDP in 2013. The major capital market is the New Zealand Exchange, known as the NZX. As of November 2014, NZX had a total of 258 listed securities with a combined market capitalisation of $94.1 billion. The currency is the New Zealand dollar, informally known as the “Kiwi dollar”; it also circulates in five Pacific island territories. The New Zealand dollar is the 10th most traded currency in the world.

New Zealand (Aotearoa) is an island country located in the south-western Pacific Ocean, near the centre of the water hemisphere. The country encompasses two major islands—the North Island (or TeIka-a-Māui) and the South Island (or TeWaipounamu)—that are separated by the Cook Strait; a third, less substantial island, Stewart Island (or Rakiura), is located 30 kilometres (19 mi) off the tip of the South Island across Foveaux Strait. Other smaller islands include Waiheke Island, Chatham Island, Great Barrier Island and more, although many are uninhabited. New Zealand’s landscape ranges from the fjord-like sounds of the southwest to the sandy beaches of the far north. South Island is dominated by the Southern Alps while a volcanic plateau covers much of central North Island. Temperatures rarely fall below 0 °C or rise above 30 °C and conditions vary from wet and cold on South Island’s West Coast to dry and continental a short distance away across the mountains and subtropical in the northern reaches of North Island. New Zealand’s varied landscape has appeared in television series, such as Xena: Warrior Princess. An increasing number of movies have also been filmed there, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The country is situated about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, its closest neighbours to the north being Tonga and Fiji. The relative proximity of New Zealand north of Antarctica has made South Island a gateway for scientific expeditions to the continent. It is the southernmost nation in Oceania