Emigrate to Northland

Northland is known as 'the birthplace of a nation' and is New Zealand's warmest region. This subtropical location was home to some of New Zealand's first human inhabitants and was also New Zealand's original capital.

It is an area full of history and it is here that some of the most important early exchanges between Maori and Pakeha (Europeans) took place.

Rich in culture and blessed with a pristine natural environment, Northlanders today live and work in surroundings which are the envy of many people living in big cities.

The region has two amazing coastlines, meaning no part of Northland is more than 25 miles away from sea and one of the region's numerous unspoiled beaches. The region also features fertile farmland, orchards and forests, some of which are home to 2,000 year old giant kauri trees.

Whangarei is Northland’s largest city and is situated just two hours drive north of Auckland. It is a thriving, modern and lively city set within relaxing natural surroundings.

For a small city Whangarei has lots to offer with museums, cafes and restaurants, not to mention the numerous pubs and an ever-increasing number of nightclubs to suit a variety of tastes.


Education

Northland is home to a diverse network of schools which cater to students of all ages.

At preschool level the Northland Free Kindergarten Association has eleven kindergartens based in the Whangarei area alone and there are many more play centres and day care facilities operating throughout the district.

Each suburb in the region has its own primary school and there are around 15 primary schools in total in the urban area, plus rural schools which usually accommodate students up to age 12.

There are also three intermediate schools and four main secondary schools located within the region. Two secondary schools are co-educational and the remaining two are single sex colleges with boarding facilities available.

There is also one co-educational Catholic school which also takes a small percentage of paying non-Catholic students. All schools in the region offer a wide range of subjects and are all served with good sporting facilities.

Northland Polytechnic is the region’s largest state funded tertiary institution and has a number of campuses located throughout Northland. It offers a wide range of certificate, diploma and degree courses, plus re-training for adults and continuing education in day or evening courses. 


Employment

Key industries

Northland has a solid industry base consisting of pastoral farming, horticulture, forestry and wood processing, and tourism. Other key sectors are floriculture, organics and the arts.

The dominant sector in Northland employs around 17% of the workforce in industries such as agriculture (dairy, beef), horticulture, forestry, and fishing (including aquaculture).

Manufacturing is the second largest employer in the region, with approximately 10% of the workforce employed in the primary processing of the region’s raw materials, including meat and dairy processing as well as wood processing. T

he transport and storage sector is also important in Northland, moving primary produce out of the region and helping people travel to, from, and round the region.

Northland’s tourism sector is also a key employer, largely due to the subtropical climate and an extensive and scenic coastline. The strong tourism sector means that a sizeable proportion of the workforce is employed in retail trade and accommodation, cafes and restaurants.

Compared to the national average, the Northland population has a high proportion of young people as well as a high proportion of older people. This means that the sectors of health and education are also large employers.

Boat building is a growth industry for the region, with the city of Whangarei well known throughout Pacific regions for its facilities and skills in both the building and repair of marine craft. Furthermore a facility for building super-yachts has recently been established.

Vacancies within the Northland region are generally advertised in The Northern Advocate. 

Housing

Housing in Whangarei is generally newer than many of New Zealand's other provincial centres, with more than 60% of the housing developed since 1965.

One unique feature of residential accommodation in this area is the wide variety of lifestyle properties available. Within 30 minutes commuting distance of the city are many small rural properties of 1-10 hectares, offering bush or sea views, beach frontage, or volcanic soils and stonewalls. Closer to the city the typical style of property is a detached family home with a good-sized section of land and outdoor living area.

Over the past year Northland’s house values have risen steeply, with annual increases in the Far North and Whangarei among the highest in the nation. This rise reflects the growing demand for lifestyle and coastal properties away from the hustle of big city life.

House prices in the region vary considerably depending on the size of the house, its facilities, and the area in which the property is located.

According to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, as at April 2005 the median house price for a home in Northland was around NZD$240,000.

Renting
Like house prices, rental prices in Northland can vary greatly. According to the New Zealand Ministry of Housing the average rent for a three bedroom house in Northland is approximately NZD$230 per week. (rental prices shown are as at Sep 2005).

The Northern Advocate newspaper is a good start for finding a place to rent. Real Estate Agents and private landlords list properties in the ’To Let’ section of the ’Classified’ index, with Wednesday and Saturday editions being the best for Real Estate.

Not all the properties will be advertised in the newspaper so it can pay to call in to the offices of the Real Estate Agents and ask for a copy of their listings.

Transport

Private car is the most popular transport option for getting around Northland. It is also one of the best ways to experience the magnificent scenery and natural environment that is on offer in this part of New Zealand.

For those people reliant on public transport, the region’s main city of Whangarei is well serviced with buses traveling into and out of the region, as well as an inner city bus service.

There is also a good taxi service available and a shuttle service to and from Whangarei airport. Whangarei airport offers a very good air service with links to national and international flights in Auckland.

Population

Northland is New Zealand's least urbanised region, with only 50% of the region's 145,000 people living in urban areas. Whangarei is the largest urban area in the region with a population of around 48,000.

Other major centres include Kaitaia (5200), Kerikeri (2600), Paihia (2900), Kawakawa (1500), Kaikohe (4000), and Dargaville (4800).

The population is largely concentrated along the region's east coast, and in recent years has grown at a rate slightly above national average.

Climate

Often referred to as 'the Winterless North', Northland is located in a subtropical climate zone and is New Zealand's warmest region. Offering warm humid summers and mild winters, typical summer temperatures range from 22 degrees Celsius to 26 degrees Celsius.

During winter temperatures generally range between 14 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius.

The hottest months are January and February and annual sunshine hours average about 2 000 in many areas. South westerly winds prevail for much of the year and sea breezes are common on warm summer days.

A typical summer runs from November to early April and has long spells of sunshine, warm and balmy evenings.

Winter typically has more rain and is the most unsettled time of year. Typical annual rainfall for the region is 1,500 - 2,000mm per annum.

Geography

The Northland region covers an area of 840 square miles and is bounded to the west by the Tasman Sea, and to the east by the Pacific Ocean.

The land around the region is predominantly rolling hill country. Farming and forestry occupy over half of the land and are two of the region's main industries.

Northland was once home to large kauri forests which were felled during the 19th century, however despite this there are still some areas in the region where this rare giant tree grows tall.

The western coast of the region is dominated by several long straight beaches. Two large inlets are also located on the west coast, the massive Kaipara Harbour in the south, which Northland shares with the Auckland Region, and the inlets of the Hokianga Harbour.

The east coast is more rugged than the west coast and is dotted with bays and peninsulas. Several large natural harbours are found on this coast and there are also numerous small islands.

Cost of living

Both the cost of living and the standard of living in the Northland region are good by world and New Zealand standards.

Despite rises in house prices over recent years, housing remains more affordable than in the main cities of New Zealand and are on par with other semi-rural locations throughout the country.