Households in the North Shore
City area have a high average
income, giving them significant
consumer spending power.

Pupuke Lake in North Shore
City occupies a volcanic crater
that formed in an ancient
eruption in past times. From
here, one can enjoy a clear
view of Rangitoto from afar.

The streets are lined with
various cafes and eateries,
providing a relaxing
atmosphere for North Shore
City tourists and residents.

Top sailboat contestants
gather at sea to compete with
each other.

Sailboats are ubiquitous along
the water front.

The Lifestyle City and A Great Place to Live, Work, Learn and Play

North Shore City, New Zealand

Words and photos by
Zoie Burgess

Begin with a warm climate and beautiful natural environment; add great recreational and sporting facilities, thriving arts and cafe scene and plenty of enterprise and employment opportunities. Mix them all together and the result is North Shore City - New Zealand's 'Lifestyle City.'

North Shore City boasts a lifestyle and environment that sets it apart as a destination for homemakers, pleasure-seekers and business people alike. The natural advantages of a warm climate, beautiful beaches and spectacular scenery contribute to the popularity of one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

Living on the North Shore
The spectacular scenery, relaxing seaside ambience and big city attractions contribute to the popularity of North Shore City as one of the most effervescent regions in New Zealand.

With two thirds of the population of North Shore City living within two kilometres of a beach, it is hardly surprising that activities like swimming, sailing, fishing, windsurfing, paragliding and kite sailing are popular with the city's residents - not to mention the many visitors who come here each year. There are 20 safe swimming beaches in North Shore City and most have plenty of car parking and other facilities. A few are accessible only by foot, making them the preserve of locals and well-informed or adventurous visitors.
There are plenty of activities away from the water too. Sports fans of almost every code are catered for, parks and bush reserves provide plenty of opportunity to enjoy the city's natural environment and there are also many fine restaurants, bars, cafes, entertainment venues and opportunities to enjoy the arts. The city also abounds with parks, nature reserves and areas of native and regenerating bush. Walks through these areas allow residents and visitors alike to enjoy the magnificent flora and bird life.

Working on the North Shore
There is no one more passionate about North Shore City than the residents themselves and self-evident is the thriving economy that plays a key role in the intersection of enterprise with our way of life.

Various organisations exist that contribute to the art and science of attracting, growing and retaining enterprises, developing gainful employment and fostering an enterprising culture for the development of our beautiful City and the fantastic quality-of-life we all enjoy.

For any business, attracting and retaining skilled and motivated staff is crucial to success. Companies locating in North Shore City will find that the city is home to a population that is, on average, more highly skilled and educated (37.6% have a tertiary qualification) than New Zealanders as a whole (32.2%) .

New Zealand has a reputation as a stable, competitive and economically free business environment which actively encourages international investment and business migration. North Shore City has a strong local economy and excellent economic outlook. The city has consistently experienced higher than average GDP growth in recent years, with predictions that this will continue over the long term . North Shore City has a well-established business infrastructure and business support structures, and recent developments, such as the Northern Busway public transport lane, have further enhanced accessibility. Additionally, the North Shore is the landing point for the Southern Cross Cable - New Zealand's principle super high speed broadband cable providing superior internet access to businesses and households alike.

For new businesses, there are a large number of Business Networking Groups in the City providing access to develop customer and supplier networks. This is supported by an affluent and well educated customer base. In all, the North Shore is an excellent place to establish, grow, and develop a thriving business.

Learning in the North Shore
The North Shore is a great place to learn, with a wide range of top-quality learning institutions conveniently based on our doorstep. North Shore City offers excellence in education from pre-school to tertiary and enterprise learning.

The city has 42 state primary schools, eight intermediates, eight state secondary schools, eight state integrated schools and five registered independent (private) schools. Just fewer than 85% percent of these schools have a government decile rating of nine or ten - the highest proportion of high-decile rating schools in New Zealand.

As well as achieving high academic standards, schools in the city participate fully in sporting, arts and cultural events and increasing numbers are taking part in enterprise education programmes developed by the Enterprise New Zealand Trust.

Also located in the city are campuses of three tertiary institutions: Massey University, Auckland University of Technology and Unitec. North Shore is home to a number of private providers of education and vocational training in a variety of fields, including English language, hospitality and cookery, business and office training, television and video production, health and medical training and the arts.

Playing on the North Shore
Leisure time is a hugely important part of the fully integrated lifestyle on the North Shore - after all, having more leisure time is what we strive to achieve through our enterprising activities. As residents of North Shore City, we’re surrounded by a plethora of easily accessible leisure activities.

The North Shore City is recognised as one of the healthiest cities with its residents having the highest life expectancy, and lowest crime rate in the Auckland region, and with 85% of residents rating themselves with a positive well-being. Much of these statistics are a direct result of the excellent provision of leisure destinations: beautiful beaches, lovely parks, a magnificent coastal walk and many and varied sports and recreation opportunities, not to mention a selection of large modern shopping malls and small quant farmers’ markets - there are retail pleasures for all.

North Shore residents strive for exceptional quality of life and know that opportunities for leisure make North Shore City a great place to live, work, learn and play.