Southland Region New Zealand - Home of the Fiordland National Park

The Southland Region of New Zealand is sparsely populated but contains some of the most majestic natural wonders in a country which is full of spectacular nature. The region lies at the southern tip of the South Island of New Zealand and includes Stewart Island or Rakiura as it is more commonly known. The two largest cities are Invercargill with about 50,000 inhabitants and Gore with around 12,000 citizens in the area. A large swath of the region is covered by protected national parks with some of the most magnificent sights in the whole country.

Fiordland National Park is the largest national park in New Zealand, covering 7,860 square kilometers and in dramatic fashion. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the Southern Alps, with two of the most visited areas being Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound which are fjords formed by the powerful glacial activity here thousands of years ago. Milford Sound is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country with rocky peaks in the shape of an elephant head and crouching lion towering over the waters below. The area also contains Browne Falls which are (depending on the measurement 619 or 836 meters) the highest waterfall in New Zealand and the equally impressive Sutherland Falls at 580 meters. Boat tours are one of the best ways to see the fjords and temporary waterfalls are often seen in this, one of the rainiest areas on the planet with 6,813 mm of rain on average per year. The region also contains numerous lakes, among them the deepest lakes in New Zealand and the deepest of all is Lake Hauroko at 463 meters in depth.

Rakiura National Park covers over 80% of Stewart Island or Rakiura. The island lies just to the south and is administered by the Southland Region. Due to the absence of any large predators this is a great place to view kiwi in the wild as well as some other rare native birds. The island is well known for its gorgeous sunsets and sunrises along with the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights which is spectacular here. The endangered Yellow-eyed penguin has several breeding sites here and the Southern Brown Kiwi is found here as well along with a number of endangered flightless birds that were recently moved to smaller islands offshore for protection.

Invercargill is the region's largest city and one of the southernmost cities in the world. The rich farmland surrounding the area provides much of its economic activity centered on the dairy industry and the Southern Institute of Technology rejuvenated the city with its zero fees scheme. Oreti Beach is 10 km to the west and was featured in the film World's Fastest Indian which was the story of the local hero Burt Munro who set several speed records on this wide, flat swath of sand. The only indoor velodrome (cycling racetrack) in New Zealand is located here and there are several other sport stadiums as well.

Gore is the second most populated town in the region and is mostly a service town for the surrounding farming areas. The area is well known for its connection to country music and hosts the New Zealand country music awards ceremony every year. The most famous local building is the Creamoata Mill, with the porridge they produced once being considered the national breakfast. Local legends arose from the era of alcohol prohibition when the nearby Hokonui Hills produced Hokonui moonshine, which made Gore more well known to New Zealanders.

The Southland region is mostly mountainous and the similarities to the climate of the British Isles brought a large contingent of Scottish settlers here. Outside of the two largest towns, the area is sparsely populated with mountains and farmland covering the majority of the region. The Fiordland National Park is a must see destination for anyone visiting New Zealand with its fjords, lakes, and waterfalls giving it a unique beauty. As unique as some of the destinations in New Zealand are, the national parks here in Southland will rival and top that of any in the country based on their sheer grandeur. So be sure not to miss the opportunity to at least take a boat ride through either Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound when visiting here.

Lucky Rentals offers campervan rental in Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand. Campervans are an excellent way to check out the country on the open road, and to sleep out in the beautiful natural surroundings that make New Zealand so great.

Targetting Expats in the Benelux Region

The three countries that make up the Benelux region Holland, Luxembourg and Belgium are all admired areas for expatriates to relocate to. All three countries provide a base for the European Union government departments. They also house many European Corporate headquarters including IBM, Shell and Skype.

The quality of life in Belgium and the Netherlands' is ranked as some of the best in the world, according to the HSBC Expat Explorer survey in 2010, and it is widely understood that the standard of living in the region is extremely high. The Belgium and Dutch economy ranked six and eighth on a global index of the world's 60 largest economies, according to a report published by Ernst &Young in collaboration with the Economist Intelligence Unit.

English is widely spoken across the region and, with each country providing healthcare under insurance-based schemes, albeit at a range of levels, there are numerous opportunities for intermediaries to create partnerships with providers and, in particular through corporate clients, to target expats in the region.

Health insurance in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg health insurance is compulsory and basic cover is generally provided by the national social security system with contributions paid by both employees and the companies they work for.

Foreigners living in Luxembourg that do not work must produce proof of health insurance in order to obtain a residence permit.

Expatriates who qualify for 'non-resident' tax status, may not be required to contribute to national social security and are covered by employer's health care plans, if not they must arrange a private plan.

Accessing healthcare in Luxembourg

Although there are no private hospitals in Luxembourg hospital services are good. All hospitals are run by the state and all non-emergency hospital admissions are arranged by a GP.

All doctors charge the same amount that is set by the state. The doctor is paid directly and is then reimbursed by the insurance group. Luxembourg strictly regulates the selling of drugs and, whether you need over the counter remedies or need a prescription meds.

The health insurance opportunity in Luxembourg

Any client who is relocating to Luxembourg as an individual must have proof of health cover before they are permitted entry to the country so it's vital to make sure that they have a suitable plan before leaving to relocate. There may also be opportunities for intermediaries to set up appropriate cover for their company clients expanding into Luxembourg.

Health insurance in Belgium

Health insurance is compulsory in Belgium and basic cover is generally provided by the national social security system, with contributions paid by both employers and employees. The system of who pays for the healthcare can be a little complicated based on contributions into a fund, which is reimbursed when medical care is required.

Employers make health insurance contributions directly to a chosen fund. After enrolling into the Belgian health fund there is a six-month waiting period before a claim can be made unless there was cover previously in a state health care plan in another EU country.

For most medical services, the bill must be paid and receipt submitted for reimbursement. Reimbursements are usually less than the charges incurred, and for this reason most Belgians take out supplementary health insurance or to upgrade their cover from the statutory level.

Zac Colbert writes on a range of health subjects including private and public healthcare, international health insurance and global vaccinations.

Number of Supermarkets Serving Densely Populated NJ-NY Region Tempered by Land Constraints

Despite the high population density of New Jersey and New York, both states have fewer supermarkets per 100,000 residents than other areas of the country, and questions not directly related to retail demand are likely the reason. Regulatory issues and the general scarcity of land are the key considerations.

Defined as stores with at least $2 million in annual sales and approximately 1,500 products, supermarkets offer a full line of grocery, health-related, canned or non-food items plus perishable products. New Jersey, which has the highest population density and second highest median income of any state in the United States, has 8.5 supermarkets per 100,000 residents compared with the national average of 11.6 per 100,000. New York also trails behind.

Supermarkets play a key role in the pursuit of high-quality, yet affordable, nutrition, as well as shopping convenience. Most modern supermarkets provide 'one-stop' shopping alternatives where constituents can find food and health and beauty products. As a result, consumers have renewed their loyalty to neighborhood supermarkets, which offer competitive pricing, a full range of product choices, organic and fresh foods, as well as pharmaceutical products.

These local centers of commerce provide communities with much-needed convenience services and goods in close proximity to diverse residential neighborhoods, which range from urban high-rise apartment complexes to suburban one- and two-family homes. Instead of traveling lengthy distances to purchase food items, first aid supplies or household cleaners, savvy shoppers value the competitive pricing as well as reduced travel time and decreased gasoline expenses associated with a local supermarket.

As a significant and sustainable segment of any retail business sector, supermarkets offer longevity and are a major source of employment. While jobs have plummeted in certain sectors, such as manufacturing, millions of people are employed by more than 35,000 supermarkets nationwide. In New Jersey, over 67,000 men, women and young adults earn a combined total of more than $1.5 billion in wages annually. Typically, benefits for supermarket employees include health coverage, pension options and career advancement opportunities. In addition to earning their wages locally, employees also tend to spend their money locally.

Not only do supermarkets offer job creation, growth and retention, they also inject much-needed tax ratables into the economy and serve as the catalyst for revitalization. Geographic sections of northern and central New Jersey and southern New York State are prime areas for supermarket growth right now because of an influx of residents. In Somerset County, N.J., the addition of more than 4,000 new homes and a population boom of 8,000+ residents led to the development and opening of a new 70,000-square-foot supermarket through the efforts of Crossroads Companies, the developer. The finishing touches are now being added to an additional 43,000 square feet of retail space on an adjacent site with a free-standing 4,000-square-foot bank branch opened this past May.

There is a clear need and high demand in certain areas for prominent supermarkets and reputable owners/operators who have a demonstrated track-record for success and corporate citizenship. One such area where a new supermarket is rising is Stony Point, N.Y., where Crossroads is developing a 92,000-square-foot neighborhood shopping center. Crossroads notes that a recent study indicated the area's 48,800 residents were traveling beyond this northern part of Rockland County for not only their groceries, but automobiles, home furnishings, restaurant dining and appliances.

As of this fall, Stony Point will discover the newfound convenience associated with having a 70,000-square-foot ShopRite, with additional service and lifestyle-oriented tenants occupying 22,000 square feet of retail space, literally just around the corner. This particular project also has attracted interest among highly desirable local, regional and national retailers due to its location within a designated Empire Zone, a New York State-sponsored economic development and stimulus program.

Revitalization of inner cities, as well as suburban shopping centers impacted by the difficult economic environment, and in particular the bankruptcy of many category killers, such as electronic, apparel, and bookstores would also benefit from the redevelopment of existing, vacant shopping centers. Many communities desire healthy food choices including organic meats, vegetables, produce and similar related products that often can only be provided in stores with a larger supermarket footprint. The lack of tracts of land large enough to accommodate a modern food store, as well as environmentally "clean" land available for development has lead retailers and builders to explore underutilized sites such as brownfields, odd-shaped and smaller lots with deck or below-grade parking. The fact that developers and food anchor tenants are willing to consider non-conforming sites reflects an imbalance between supply and demand, as a result of aforementioned factors. The end result is that costs associated with building new supermarkets are often more expensive, and time consuming, pushing out an already lengthy entitlement process that can exceed 24 to 36 months.

The ultimate solution is more intelligent planning and coordination between private developers and municipalities to put underutilized tracts of land back on the assessment roles. Local and state governments can also assist by speeding up the approval process. While legislators and citizens have every right to demand that developers be sensitive to environmental and land planning concerns, municipalities and state legislators attract private development and supermarket chains by eliminating unnecessary red-tape and bureaucratic in-fighting. If we continue on the same path, local economies and their constituents will suffer as businesses seek more friendly business environments. Higher pricing for food, clothing and shelter is inevitable, if the cost of land and regulatory environment prevent supply from keeping up with demand.