New Zealand is a country with friendly living conditions including temperate climatic conditions and a great economy. Every year, a large number of immigrants enter the country due to these reasons. Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand and is the perfect city to settle down with family. There is so much to know about Wellington one of the most unique capital cities of the world.

Let’s learn more about Wellington, its living conditions and why you should settle down in this amazing city.

About Wellington

Wellington is a city with picture-perfect sceneries, friendly locals, and a temperate climate. It is located on the southwestern tip of the North Island. It is unique in many forms, one being the world’s southernmost capital city of a sovereign state. Wellington is also known as the world’s windiest city.

The city became the capital of New Zealand in 1865. The city consists of a diverse culture with more than 25% of its population being foreign-born.

Climatic Conditions in Wellington

Wellington has a reputation for being extremely windy, but it does experience a range of climatic conditions. The temperature during summer could go up to 15-20 degrees Celsius and fall to 0-10 degrees Celsius during winter. Snowfall is rarely experienced in Wellington. The city’s average annual rainfall is 1250 mm.

Reasons to Live in Wellington

Wellington is an extremely-livable city with a great atmosphere and friendly locals. You can live, work, and enjoy life in this vibrant city. Let’s look at the reasons to work and live in Wellington.

Laid-back Life

As a capital city, Wellington has the vibe and convenience of a large city combined with the serenity of a small town. It is the world’s least populated capital. Wellington has low pollution levels and short commute time due to less traffic. You can enjoy a great work-life balance in Wellington.

Picturesque Scenery

Wellington has a combination of natural elements including colossal mountains, rolling hills, sandy beaches, and scenic bays. The city allows you to enjoy every bit of nature as it is.

Vibrant Lifestyle

Wellington is rich in culture and history where there is a dearth of things to do and places to explore. Art lovers can explore museums art galleries and theatres in the city. There is also the Wellington Zoo and Botanic Gardens where you can go and enjoy with family. If you love adventure there are several mountains to hike, nature parks to visit, and beaches to explore.

Safety

Wellington is a safe city to live in with an excellent healthcare system. The locals are also friendly and ready to help their fellow residents in any way they possibly can. New Zealand was named the world’s second safest place to live according to the 2012 Global Peace Index. The city still lives up to this standard by being the only capital city to be designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) safe community.

Strong Economy

Wellington has a growing economy with job opportunities for skilled individuals. The city is a world hub for Information and communication and has many job openings in the IT industry. There are also plenty of job opportunities in the healthcare industry, movie and theatre industry, retail trade, and public administration.

Low Cost of Living

Wellington has a low cost of living when compared with nearby large cities including Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, etc. The city provides a low cost of living with high salaries and no national insurance. Housing costs are also reasonable when compared to the same in cities like Auckland. Many people rent a house first and then move on to their own house. The average housing rental is NZ$350 per week for a three-bedroom house.

Education in Wellington         

New Zealand follows a standard government-funded schooling system with a combination of comprehensive academic, sporting, and skills-based learning  curricula. Almost every school has its playing grounds, swimming pool, and gymnasium. Education standard is very high in Wellington and the school year begins in January and ends in December. There are different types of schools to select from including state-funded schools, state-integrated schools, and fully-private schools.

Wellington also facilitates high-quality tertiary education with a number of reputed universities including Wellington Institute of Technology, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Otago, Wellington, and Massey University. The New Zealand Ministry of Education website provides a detailed guide on tertiary education in New Zealand.

New Zealand Healthcare System

The New Zealand healthcare system is divided into DHBs (District Health Boards). Healthcare is centrally provided by the public sector. A total of 20 DHBs provide public healthcare throughout New Zealand. Out of the amount, 15 DHBs belong to the North Island and 5 DHBs belong to the South Island.

General Practitioners (GPs) in New Zealand provide both primary and community-based patient care for individuals and families.

Working as a Doctor in Wellington

A Doctor is a high-paid profession in Wellington and one which comes with many benefits. The salary comes with low taxes (at approximately 33%) and with favourable working conditions. Doctors in Wellington are generally satisfied with the working environment and salary. You can also have a great work-life balance with more annual and study leave with fewer working hours. GPs in Wellington usually have a 36 hour work week with 25 days of annual leave. Appointment slots are also limited to 10-15 minutes as per the standard.

The average salary of a General Practitioner in Wellington is $124, 251, annually. This amount increases with the number of years of experience the doctor has.

Obtaining New Zealand Visa

There are three types of visas that foreign doctors can consider when relocating to New Zealand.

·        Skilled migrant category works visa: This type of visa is for those who plan to live and work in New Zealand permanently.

·        Essential skills work visa: This type of visa is for temporary skilled workers who come with a full-time job offer in hand.

·        Long term skill shortage list work visa: This time of visa is also for those who want to live in New Zealand, permanently. Doctors can apply for permanent residency upon the completion of two years of work.

Getting Licence to Practice in New Zealand

All doctors and IMGs require registration with the MCNZ (Medical Council of New Zealand) to practice in New Zealand. Success in the interview with MCNZ guarantees the chance to practice in the country. IMGs need to fulfil certain requirements like English language proficiency through an exam such as IELTS and a primary medical qualification from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

All doctors and IMGs applying for registration with the MCNZ are required to pass the NZREX (New Zealand Registration Examination) clinical registration test. The test is valid for 5 years and it assesses the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and ability to safely practice in the country.

Conclusion

Wellington is an amazing city to live in and you can enjoy a great work-life balance here. Doctors and many professionals are paid well in the capital city. At Medfuture, we can guide you on your path to a rewarding medical career in Wellington, New Zealand. Log in to our website to view the latest doctor jobs in New Zealand including Wellington.