Find out about the lifestyle and climate in Auckland
Auckland is an amazing place to live, work, play, and raise a family.
Lifestyle and climate
Rated as number five in the world for work-life balance in 2023, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is one of the globe’s most liveable cities. We love getting outdoors and making the most of our beautiful natural setting, from scenic hiking and cycling trails to swimming, surfing and sailing. Combined with world-class dining, art galleries, theatre, wineries, shopping, festivals and major sporting events, there’s truly something for everyone.
Auckland has a temperate maritime climate without extremes of temperature, making it easy to enjoy our outdoor lifestyle. We experience more than 2000 hours of sunshine a year and when it rains, it keeps our native forests lush and green. Summer is December to February, with an average of 23°C (74°F) and winter (June to August) is 14°C (57°F).
Auckland’s diverse dining scene serves up traditional and modern cuisine from every corner of the world. Dine out at lively city and waterfront precincts, or join the locals at your neighbourhood restaurants and bars. Many chefs favour fresh produce from our natural environment, and three wine growing regions offer fine wines and scenic vineyards.
From art galleries and museums to vibrant cultural festivals and major international sporting events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, there’s always something happening in Auckland. Catch a hit Broadway show, learn about unique Māori culture, dance the night away, embrace local theatre, and see the world’s biggest music acts and sports stars live.
People and culture
Welcome to Tāmaki Herenga Tangata – ‘Auckland, the gathering place of people’.
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and most multicultural city, home to approximately 1.7 million people – around a third of the country’s population. Māori are the tangata whenua, the indigenous people, of Aotearoa New Zealand, arriving here from Polynesia over 1000 years ago. People from hundreds of ethnicities call Auckland home, and this diversity is part of what makes the city so special.
Auckland has a diverse, growing and relatively youthful population, making it an exciting and innovative place to live and work. The estimated population of 1.7 million has an average age of 35 years. In the 2018 national Census, European groups made up 53.5 per cent of the population, Asian groups 28.2 per cent, Māori 11.5 per cent, Pacific peoples 15.5 per cent, and Middle Eastern, African and Latin American 2.3 per cent.
Around 13 per cent of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's population is of Māori descent and you’ll find Māori culture infused throughout life in Auckland, from arts, music and food to traditional concepts such as welcoming guests, honouring ancestry, and care for the land, sea and rivers (kaitiakitanga). Along with English, Te Reo, the Māori language, is an official language in New Zealand.
Representing more than 200 ethnicities, Auckland is one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities, with around 40 per cent of Aucklanders born overseas and 30 per cent speaking two or more languages. Migrants come from around the globe to live and work, including Asia, the Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Auckland is also the largest Pacific city in the world.
Safe, friendly, and welcoming
New Zealanders are renowned for being friendly and welcoming to newcomers.
Because Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s population is so culturally diverse, you’ll often find fellow migrants from your own part of the world, which can make it easier to settle into your new home. New Zealanders value human rights, equality and inclusivity, and we are a democratic, politically stable and proudly nuclear-free country.
New Zealanders are generally friendly, down-to-earth, and inclusive, and we enjoy a laugh – even at work. Aucklanders welcome visitors and new residents in the traditional Māori spirit of manaakitanga (hospitality and generosity). In fact, nine out of 10 migrants say the welcome they receive meets or exceeds their expectations.
New Zealand is consistently rated one of the world’s most peaceful and least corrupt countries, including ranking second in the world in the 2022 Global Peace Index. A low crime rate, strong police presence, democratic government, and strict gun laws create a safer environment that provides peace of mind, especially for families.
New Zealanders place great importance on making connections, both socially and professionally. As a small country, we have a strong sense of community, whether it’s local neighbourhood and cultural groups that can help you settle in, or industry organisations that can broaden your networks and open up career opportunities
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