Immigrants don't like our driving habits and cannot believe the cost of living.

But nearly all new migrants would tell others to join them in New Zealand, saying the country's natural beauty, relaxed pace of life and friendly people made their Kiwi experience special.

The insight comes from Skilled Migrants: A Study of Settlement Outcomes, by Ruth Wallis, a Department of Labour senior research analyst. The survey encompasses 2060 skilled and business migrants, who were polled three to 12 months after their arrival.

A total of 93 per cent were satisfied with their lives in New Zealand. More than 80 per cent were in paid work, 40 per cent of those in occupations on DOL's skill shortage list.

Most migrants - 79 per cent - were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with their jobs, and 81 per cent were happy with their housing.

However, of the 94 per cent who would recommend a move here, just 55 per cent would do so "with enthusiasm", 39 per cent attaching "reservations".

Although the study did not outline what those reservations would be, migrants listed the high cost of housing, living and healthcare among "their shocks and surprises". The service says that this first survey was not wholly representative of the skilled and business migrant grouping. The English were over-represented; Chinese and South Koreans and those aged 16 to 19 were under-represented.

Englishwoman Jennifer Barnes, who arrived in Auckland on January 3, says she can relate to the survey's main findings.

Aged 25, in New Zealand on a talent visa, flatting in Parnell and working as a product development technician for manufacturer Tasti, she has found people friendly and helpful and the environment attractive, but was "shocked" by the cost of doctors' visits.

In England, doctors' appointments are free, and although she knew medical visits here attracted costs, had never got around to finding out what they were before arriving.

She has also found driver behaviour alarming: "They are terrible! Cutting people up, driving slowly in the fast lane and not indicating."

Otherwise, "expectations and reality at the moment are pretty spot-on". The low population density is a plus _ "Saturday afternoon shopping is blissful here" _ and the climate kind.

"It's definitely a more relaxed pace of life and the people are friendly. I still get shocked when walk into a shop and someome says hello."

Rita Zhang, from China, has been in New Zealand for the past year and a half. She likes the natural beauty, the environment and the relaxed life style, enough to want to have a career here.

She wants a job in a biology company, doing research. But she thinks she might be out of luck: "The trouble it's a very small market for building a career."