Just in case you might want to live (or visit) in NZ...

 

Vitals: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand
NZ Immigration: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/
Climate: http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=NZ&refer=
Jobs, Real Estate, and everything else for sale- like eBay: http://trademe.co.nz

 

Tourism: http://newzealand.com
Newspaper: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Exchange Rate: http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=NZD&to=USD&submit=Convert

Current thinking is the Kiwi will fall to .65 (USD) by year's end and then rise to .75 by mid 2009.  And that prediction is worth every penny you paid for it.

 

Cost of Living: "Both Australian and New Zealand cities are moving up in the rankings due to the appreciation of their local currencies against the US dollar.  (ed. A lot of the NZ run up has gone away)  New Zealand’s cities remain the less costly option for expatriates, however, with Auckland in 78th place (score 81) and Wellington in 93 (score 77.6)."  http://www.finfacts.ie/costofliving.htm
Peace Index: New Zealand is number four.  The US is 97 of 140.  http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/results/rankings/2008/
Environmental Index: NZ is number 7, USA 39: http://www.newsweek.com/id/98010
Personal Freedoms: NZ is number 5.  US did not make the top 10. http://alumni.media.mit.edu/~kris/FreedomIndex.html
Economic Freedom: New Zealand 6, USA 5. http://www.heritage.org/Index/countries.cfm
Cleanest Countries: NZ is number 9, USA missed the top 10.  http://www.aneki.com/cleanest.html
Best Cities for Quality of Life: Auckland  is fifth.  http://www.aneki.com/best_cities.html
Environmental Index (again): NZ number 7, USA 39 out of 149.  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10488475
Return on Investment: http://www.westpac.co.nz/olcontent/olcontent.nsf/Content/Term+investment+rates?OpenDocument&refr=rates#Special