Most countries treat their academic calendar like a rigid train schedule. One chance. Miss it, and you are stuck on the platform for another year. So that is why many of the students rush into the first intake they see! 

That is not the case with New Zealand. There are different intakes that come with different advantages, like broader course choices, lighter competition, faster entry, or more flexibility. The only trick students need to know is which intake aligns with their goals and not just which one is available.