Links for living in Wellington
Housing
Finding a home to rent or buy, and services from Wellington City Council.
- Wellington Rental Housing (PDF)
Renting a house in Wellington - information from Settlement Support - Wellington - Buying a Home (PDF)
Buying a home in Wellington - information from Settlement Support - Renting
Where to start looking, your rights and other helpful information - Tenancy Tribunal (Department of Building & Housing)
Important information if you are renting - Buying a House
What's involved and how to begin the process in New Zealand - Housing
A wide variety of information about aspects of housing in Wellington - Real Estate Institute of New Zealand
Includes information and advice about buying and selling property in New Zealand - Consumer NZ
Property advice and information from an independent organisation which works to protect and inform consumers - Utilities
Links to utility providers in the Wellington area for electricity, gas and phone services
Information from Wellington City Council:
(For ratepayers)
- Paying your rates
- Rubbish and recycling
- Hazardous substances
- Water supply
- Building services
Important information if you are doing any building work on your home or property - Noise control
- Keeping animals
- Keeping a dog, including registration
Education
Education services for early childhood, primary and secondary schooling, tertiary education and adult learning.
- Wellington Education (PDF)
Information about the NZ education system, and early childhood, primary & secondary and tertiary education in Wellington. Information from Settlement Support - Ministry of Education
The Parents page contains all sorts of information relating to your child's eduction - from choosing a school to learning more about school life. There is also a link with information specifically for new migrants. - Team-Up
Information, ideas and materials to help parents support their children and get more involved in their education. - Te Kete Ipurangi - The Online Learning Centre
Easy access to useful and relevant information on the Internet, including helpful information and links for parents.
See also Te Kete Ipurangi for parents - New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Information about national qualifications at secondary and tertiary level. - Career Services
Course and training options available throughout New Zealand
Information from Wellington City Council:
Local and general information about education.
Legal Information
Help with legal services and information about the law in New Zealand.
- Law Access
Online resources and law-related information - Wellington Community Law Centre
Provides a range of community legal services, including free legal advice. The website also offers information, fact sheets and other resources - Citizens Advice Bureau
Provides free information to assist with a wide range of issues
Money & Tax
How to get started with banking, tax and other money services.
- Banking, Money & Taxation in Wellington (PDF)
Information from Settlement Support - Opening a bank account
Information about opening a bank account, money systems and banking services in New Zealand - Income Tax
A starting guide to understanding personal income and other taxes payable in New Zealand - Tax Issues for Migrants
Information about reciprocal arrangements and tax exemptions for migrants - Other Taxes
Other taxes you need to know about in New Zealand, including GST, rates and Resident Withholding Tax - Property Rates
Information about property rates within the Wellington City Council ratepaying area -
Inland Revenue (Tax Department)
Further important information about paying tax in New Zealand. Find out about: - State Income Support
- Consumer NZ
Advice and information on a wide range of financial products and services from an independent organisation which works to protect and inform consumers. - The Banking Ombudsman
A free, external and independent process to help people sort out unresolved problems with banks.
Health
Health information and services, inlcuding public healthcare, dental and emergency services.
- Wellington Healthcare (PDF)
Healthcare in Wellington - information from Settlement Support - Health Services
- Community Directory
Health resources in Wellington - Wellington Refugees as Survivors
Mental health services for refugees and migrants - Refugee Health Service
Click on Health Education Resources for information available in several different languages about using health services (the information here is produced mainly by Auckland Hospital, but is useful elsewhere too) - Everybody
Consumer health information for New Zealanders - Wellington Hospital
Facilities and finding your way around
Work & Business
Information about finding work, resources for employees and employers, and running a business in New Zealand
- Wellington Employment (PDF)
Wellington employment - information from Settlement Support - Employment
Help and information about finding work, including links to jobsearch sites - Career Services
Information and tools for making decisions about work and study, including CV templates - New Kiwis
An employment site linking the skills of migrants to job vacancies - Worksite/PaeMahi
Useful links and the latest information on everything to do with work and training in New Zealand - Grow Wellington
An organisation that works with and for businesses in the Wellington region - includes a database where migrants can post their details for recruiters and employers to view. - Dress for Success
To help women on no or low income dress in appropriate business attire for job interviews or work experience. - Health and Safety in the workplace
- Business resources at Wellington City Libraries
Business information and resources at your fingertips - Business.govt.nz
Information for starting, managing and growing your business - Work & Income
Employment services and financial assistance - Public holidays
Dates and information about other types of leave from the Department of Labour
Driving and Transport
Driving in New Zealand and getting around Wellington on public transport.
- Wellington Transport (PDF)
Transport in Wellington - information from Settlement Support - What's different about driving in New Zealand? An introduction to driving in NZ (available in German, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean)
- Overview of NZ road rules for new resident drivers (available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Fijian, Samoan, Malay, Hindi)
- Information about driving in New Zealand, including buying a car
- Public Transport in Wellington
- Buses in Wellington
- Trains
- Timetables and fares for bus, train and harbour ferry services
- Snapper
Paying by Snapper card on GO Wellington buses - Other forms of transport in Wellington
- Wellington Airport
- Links to other transport providers (Including taxis, coaches and ferries)
General Resources
Other helpful information such as language services, common Kiwi and Māori words, preparing for a disaster, or sending mail.
- Immigration New Zealand
Information about all aspects of immigration in New Zealand, including helpful information on settling in for those who have recently arrived. - Office of Ethnic Affairs
A wide range of resources and links for ethnic groups and communities (includes How to Guides and a comprehensive Community Directory) - New Zealand Immigration Packs
Contains general information on their website about many aspects of living in New Zealand - Refugee Services (formerly known as RMS Refugee Resettlement)
Services throughout New Zealand, including news and volunteer information - Multicultural Services Centre
Provides language and literacy, employment seeking, interpreting and other support services - Links to language services
- Popular kiwi expressions
- Learning Maori
Basic greetings and words - Kōrero Maori
Information for everyone who wants to learn Maori, including language, protocols and customs - New Zealand Post
For information on sending and receiving mail in New Zealand - Consumer NZ
Independent consumer advice and information on a wide range of goods and services, including appliance and other product tests - Get Thru
Important information about how to prepare and what to do in the event of a disaster - Public holidays
Dates and information about other types of leave from the Department of Labour
You can also get further information and help from Settlement Support New Zealand (SSNZ) at Wellington City Council. Staff are available from 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday and you can visit them at 101 Wakefield Street, phone 803 8330, or email settlementsupport@wcc.govt.nz.
