Your guide to expat life in New Zealand

There's a good choice of accommodation, from modern apartments to traditional, English-style country houses. Many expats live in 'home units' - clusters of attached, detached or semi-detached houses that share a driveway or communal garden.

Without central heating or insulation, most houses are poorly equipped to deal with the cold and damp. Ask about this when you're house hunting and be prepared to pile on the layers when you're indoors. North-facing homes are warmer and sunnier than south-facing ones.

Rentals in city apartments or suburban houses are fairly easy to find. You'll be responsible for connecting the gas and electricity supply, as well as paying for utilities (known as outgoings) and a phone line. Rent is paid weekly or every fortnight and you'll need to put down a one-month deposit (or bond).

Most properties are unfurnished, but you should be able to find some furnished homes if you look hard enough.

A love of sports and the outdoors is ingrained in Kiwi culture. Rugby is a national obsession - and the New Zealand All Blacks have been one of the strongest rugby teams in the world for some time.

New Zealand has a friendly rivalry with its close neighbour Australia. Although these Antipodean countries share similar traits, they're two distinct nations and comparing or confusing them isn't always appreciated.

New Zealand has three official languages - English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language. Maori is rarely used but some words have made their way into everyday English, such as kia ora which means hello and thank you.

Kiwis dress very casually in everyday life, even in restaurants. Business dress can be more formal.

New Zealand is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and everyone is aware of the risk of earthquakes. Families have emergency kits in their homes and are well practised in evacuation drills. Houses are usually built to withstand the tremors, although before the tragedy in Christchurch in 2011 there had been no major incidents since 1931.

New Zealand is an egalitarian society that epitomises the 'work to live' ethos. Family, environment, nature and health are generally held in higher regard than wealth or status.

Tipping is uncommon in New Zealand and salaries are paid every fortnight instead of monthly.

State-funded public schools are free for citizens and permanent residents. Expats on a temporary visa have to pay fees.

Private schools are partially funded by the government and most offer the International Baccalaureate or the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

While most expats choose to send their children to public schools, New Zealand's international schools are excellent - some are rated among the best in the world.

There's a wide choice of institutions that offer an excellent tertiary education. The University of Auckland is considered the country's best.

The main mobile providers are Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees. If you already have a phone, it's easy to buy a SIM card. Prepaid options are better for shorter stays while contracts are best if you plan to live in the country for a few years.

The Internet is generally slower and more costly than in most European and US cities - and it can be particularly slow in rural areas. The main providers are Spark, Orcon, Vodafone, and Inspire.

The New Zealand postal service is very efficient. You pay by weight - so sending heavy parcels to places like Europe and the US can be expensive. The cut-off time for Christmas post may be as early as mid-November.

New Zealand came 5th out of 31 countries in our 2018 Expat Explorer Survey for its excellent healthcare system. Residents have access to free hospital care and emergency treatment. Other free services include standard medical tests and children's immunisations. As an expat, you'll only be able to get free healthcare after your 24-month visa has been issued.

A range of clinics and private hospitals provide general surgery and specialist procedures. Most New Zealanders use private healthcare to jump the queues at state facilities for non-urgent treatments. They're still able to use free public health services as well.

Pharmacies are plentiful and usually well stocked. If you have a pre-existing condition it's worth stocking up before you move as imported medications can take time to arrive. Prescription drugs are cheaper from a public hospital.

Call 111 for emergencies. You can also get advice from nurses on a free national health line (0800-611-116).