Moving from Canada to New Zealand
If you ever see a group of men aggressively moving, stamping their feet and rhythmically hitting themselves while making the most outrageous facial expressions, do not attempt to run. Watch and enjoy, they are performing Haka! A traditional war dance performed by Māori - indigenous habitats of New Zealand. There is nothing like it.
If you decide to move from Canada to New Zealand, you are about to make an important decision that will forever change the path of your life. To avoid regret and potential disappointment, you must analyze and realistically assess all the pros and cons of relocation from Canada to New Zealand. Hercules Moving Company will happily assist you during the move and provide exceptional overseas moving service whenever you need it.
Canada vs. New Zealand
When comparing these two counties, it is easy to differentiate but hard to pick a favourite. By the end of the day, it all comes to personal preferences and life goals that you set. Hercules Moving Company’s purpose is not only to provide you with high-standard moving and packing services but help you understand what to expect after the move.
Let’s have a look at the next 6 major topics that hopefully will make a positive distinction in your decision process. We recommend taking a sheet of paper and writing down all the positives and negatives that stood out the most for each country. We anticipate that by the end of this article, you will have a solution to your dilemma.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Canada is located in the North American continent and occupies almost 10 million km2. It is washed by 3 oceans, the Atlantic from the east, the Pacific from the west and the Arctic from the north. In the south of the country lies the longest land border between 2 countries in the world. As you might have already guessed, the only land bordering the county is the US.
The climate of the county is extremely diverse and differs in each province and territory. There are four distinct seasons throughout the year, with the winter months benign the longest. 80% of the population is located within a few kilometres from the border with the US where the average temperature ranges from +20°C to +30°C during summers and - 15°C all the way to -28°C during the winter.
Canada is home to over 38 million residents. Unsurprisingly, only 32% identify as Canadians and almost 5% are indigenous people. Other minor ethnic groups are calin ancestry from England (18%), Scotland (13.6%), France (13.4%), Ireland (9.6%), German (5.1%), and Italian (4.6%).
More than 65% of Canadians identify as Christians. Next minor religious groups practise Islam (3.7%), Hinduism (1,7%), Shikism (1.45), Buddism (1,1%) and others. Canadian aborigines practice traditional pagan beliefs. About 30% of the population are agnostics or irreligious.Official languages in Canada are English and French.
Canadian society, as well as its lifestyle, is quite diverse. In the major cities, you will witness all kinds of people gathered in one room. The average Canadian does not live a lavish lifestyle, although many can afford to take a family vacation 2-3 times a year. Lots of Canadians maintain a healthy lifestyle. Summer activities include biking, running, and playing sports. During the winter Canadians ski, ice skate and play hockey. Canadians do indeed love hockey!
Canadians value and respect equality, they are striving for changes and opportunities. The stereotype about Canadian politeness is not a stereotype after all. Canadians are super friendly and big team players. Despite all the differences, everyone gets along.
The education system in Canada is considered to be one of the best in price and quality ratio. If you are a Canadian permanent resident you are lucky as your tuition will be mainly covered similarly to domestic students. Although undergraduate and graduate programs are not free, it is manageable at an average of $6,500 CAD for a bachelor’s and $9,500 CAD for a master’s degree.
If you are coming to Canada as an international student, the average price for the undergraduate program varies from $20,000 CAD to $40,000 CAD per year and $25,000 CAD to $80,000 CAD for a graduate program. The Canadian credentials are highly valued worldwide.
Life in Canada is not cheap but like anywhere else in the world your monthly expenses will be solely defined by the lifestyle you live. When considering life in big cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Ottawa, the minimum you can expect to pay living alone is $750 - $1000 CAD per month excluding the rent. You can find a room for $650 - $900 CAD or rent a studio/1 bedroom apartment for $1,380 - $1,950 CAD.
A family of 3 will spend on average from $2,900 - $3,650 CAD excluding rent per month.A 3 bedroom apartment would cost on average $2,600 -$ 3,000 per month. The biggest expenses will include rent, transportation, groceries, utilities and schooling. The average salary in Canada is about $45,000 to $50,000 CAD per year.
Canada is known for its well-structured immigration system throughout the world. According to the Government of Canada, 85% of ex-pats receive Canadian citizenship. Only from 2020 to 2021 did more than 400,000 people obtain their PR. Canada was the first to introduce a point-based immigration system that is being implemented by numerous other greatest countries to this day.
An exceeding labour shortage in various fields allows skilled professionals to enter the county by receiving a work visa or directly acquiring a permanent presidentship thanks to experience and proficiency. In 2015 the government launched an Express Entry program that helps to surtout inquiries and fastens the application process.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
New Zealand is an island nation in Oceania, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The main part of the country includes two large islands, North and South, and a detailed map of New Zealand also reveals about 700 small islands, where less than 10% of the country's population lives. New Zealand is fairly isolated from other continents - the distance to the nearest continent of Australia is 1700 km.
The country's climate is subtropical in the north and temperate in the south. New Zealand is influenced by the East Australian Current, which makes it warm and humid. The average annual temperature ranges from +10°C in the south to +16°C in the north. The warmest month is January, with average temperatures of +15 to +19 °C, and the coldest is July, with average temperatures of +6 to 11 °C.
As of June 2022, the population of New Zealand counts almost 5 million people. According to the 2013 census, New Zealand had 213 ethnic groups, compared to only 195 sovereign nations in the world. In the latest census of 2018, 70,2% of the population are New Zealanders of European descent, the majority being British, Maori - 16.5%, Asians, mostly from China, India, and the Philippines - 15.1%, Pacific or Pacific peoples (the main groups are Samoans, Tongans, and Cook Islanders) - 8.1% and others.
More than 48% of the population is irreligious. The biggest religious group is Christianity (37%). Next minor groups practise Hinduism(2.6%), Islam ( 1.3%), Buddism ( 1.1%), Sikhism (0.8%) and others.There are 3 official languages in New Zealand: English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
Most choose to immigrate to New Zealand because of the life-work balance that the country provides. More than 70% of the population are satisfied and would not choose to change anything. Whenever Kiwis are not working, they emerge into the beauty of New Zealand’s nature. Although the country is quite far from the rest of the world, the community keeps itself entertained with ongoing musical events, tasty food and local festivals.
New Zealanders are the friendliest people you will ever meet! They are outgoing, fun, and keep strong work ethics when needed. Kiwis are open-minded and embrace differences and changes. They believe in equal opportunities and strive for improvements in all fields.
Receiving an education in New Zealand will not only make you a qualified specialist but open an immigration path to citizenship. The education system in New Zealand is based on the British model, which is recognized around the world. Four New Zealand universities are especially popular with foreigners: Massey University, the University of Waikato, the University of Auckland, and the University of Canterbury.
The cost of education in New Zealand is lower than in most countries in Europe, America, Canada and neighbouring Australia. On average, at the undergraduate level, studying humanities and social sciences costs $18,000 CAD a year; science, engineering, and business, $26,440 CAD a year; and medicine and dentistry, $55,000 CAD a year. Graduate costs at New Zealand universities vary slightly. A year of study costs an average of $29,100 CAD.
The most expensive cities to live in in New Zealand are Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, thus are the biggest ones. The cost of living in New Zealand is almost 6.8% higher than in Canada. On average, a person living alone in New Zealand would need at least $3,000 NZD ($2,600 CAD) per month to cover all costs. A family of 3 would need $3,900 - $4,100 NZD ( 3208 -3373 CAD) for a comfortable life.
The average rent for a studio or 1 bedroom apartment in New Zealand, depending on the city location, will cost around $1,300 NZD - $1,700 NZD (1070 - 1400 CAD). For a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center or outside, the price varies from $2,100 - $2700 NZD ($1700 - $2300 CAD). The average income in New Zealand is about $58,900 NZD ($48,000CAD).
The immigration system in New Zealand adopted a points-based immigration system in the 1980s, suspending racial preference in favour of qualified professionals. This radical change has allowed the county to gain skilled force to boost the economy. The entry system is rather tight and most do not get enough points to pass the minimum criteria. The competition is pretty high.
Be mindful that in order to immigrate to New Zealand you must meet the required criteria. You must be younger than 55 years old, have clean criminal record, be healthy, prove financial support etc. For the ways to immigrate to New Zealand, read our article All You Need To Know Before Moving To New Zealand. There are short deadlines for visa applications that open only once a year.
Immigration to New Zealand as a Canadian Citizen
When immigrating to New Zealand from Canada, it is important to understand what benefits and advantages you have. We wish the following information to help you in your overseas move:
- Read All You Need to Know Before Moving to New Zealand
- If you are a Canadian citizen and older than 18 but younger than 35, consider applying for a Working Holiday Visa. This visa will allow you to live and work in New Zealand for up to 23 months.
- You can use your Canadian driving licence for up to 12 months, and after that, you must convert them into a New Zealand one. Do not forget, in New Zealand people drive on the left side of the road.
- Converting currency prior to the move would be cheaper than doing it in New Zealand.
- Check with your credit card provider if they have insurance coverage for the first days of your relocation.
Moving from New Zealand to Canada
The weather is not considered to be the strongest advantage of the giant, but it might be the biggest thing you will miss after moving to Canada from New Zealand. For all its unique nature and special people, some find New Zealand rather lonely and isolated from the world. This, eventually, becomes one of the reasons to leave New Zealand in search of a bigger land to achieve your dreams. With no hesitations, we can state that Canada has become that place for many.
In 2020-2021 over 400,000 ex-pats received Canadian permanent readership and many more have applied and are waiting to receive citizenship. As a New Zealand citizen, you can visit Canada without a visa for up to 180 days at a time with multiple entries through a Canada ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). This document will allow you to visit the county for 5 years to see and experience life in Canada for yourself.
