If you have only just arrived in Southland, New Zealand, you will no doubt have found that many things are different from what you are used to. Even the most basic things, like buying a house, owning and driving a motor vehicle or obtaining a telephone connection at your home can seem difficult and confusing.

We have prepared a series of documents to help you find your way to answers for many of your questions. You can read these document on-line through the links on this page, or you can obtain printed copies from Venture Southland, i-SITES, Citizens Advice Bureau and local government offices.

• Your Region: a brief welcome and introduction to Southland.
• Your Education: the New Zealand education system and how to enrol yourself or your children in a school.
• Your Health: the health system, doctors, hospitals, how and where to obtain health care and medical services.
• Your Home: How and where to find a place to live, renting or buying a home, obtaining finance.
• Your Money: opening a bank account; Income Tax; managing your money; saving for retirement.
• Your Services: energy for heating and cooking; telecommunications; radio and television broadcast services.
• Your Transport: public transport (road, rail air); taxis; owning and driving your own vehicle.
• Your Work: legal requirements; job preparation; finding a job; self-employment; business training.

• Contact List: Southland community organisations and support agencies; national and local government services; language and education services.