Aside from knowing that New Zealand is a great place to live and work, it might help to know the following quick essential facts about the country so you know what to expect. Population: About 5.2 million Weather: Varies depending on your location, ranging from warm subtropical weather in the summer north of the North Island; heavy snow and extremely low temperatures in inland alpine areas of the South Island in winter. The hottest months are January and February, and the coldest month is July. Politics: New Zealand has a unitary parliamentary representative democracy type of government, with a democratically elected unicameral legislature known as the House of Representatives. New Zealand has a mixed-market economy, with a strong welfare state. The country is known for its progressive policies and its leaders are often seen as champions of social justice and environmental sustainability on the international stage.