Hi Divastarz,
I'm afraid I can't answer all of your questions, but I'll try to give you some idea of what it's like living here in NZ.

To begin with, the culture of NZ isn't really all that different from that of Canada. (Both countries were colonized by the British, so there're bound to be some similiarities!) You do have different ethnic groups to what you might find back home, like Maori and Pacific Islanders, but generally much is similar. You get more of the Scottish influence further south, in the South Island.

As for employment, it all depends on what you do for a living. I'm a teacher and am finding it difficult to get permanent work here, but then, there is a surplus of teachers EVERYWHERE.

I'm not sure what you mean by ways of life, but as I mentioned above, the culture here is very similar to that of Canada. If you're living in a city centre like Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, you'd probably find little difference from any city of similar size back home. If you're living further out into the rural areas, you might have a few adjustments to make, but nothing major. It's probably a bit more laid-back here than in many places back home.

I'm nowhere near retirement age, and I need to get a permanent job before I can even THINK about it, but on the surface of things it is VERY similar to Canada. There are a few pension schemes available, but the government recommends that you do a little investing of your own to make sure you have a comfortable retirement. It would be a lovely place to retire in.

The best place to live for work and family again depends on what you do for a living and what kind of a lifestyle you want for your family. More job opportunities are available in the city centres, but life is more hectic.

Hope some of that has helped. Look forward to hearing more from you in the future.