Everyone emigrates FROM the uk to NZ/Au? I want to do the opposite!

[Essbe]

Every search I do relating to emigrating from NZ to the uk brings up pages snd pages of results of people going the other direction instead... Has anyone moved from NZ or Australia to the uk?

We are New Zealanders who have been living in qld Australia for the last four years. I have British citizenship through my mum, I've visited a couple of times but never lived there.

Is it just the weather everyone flocks in this direction for, or am I missing something that the rest of the world knows?!?

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Well, we came to UK from NZ 20yrs ago. My cousin came over too about 5 years ago - it's actually very common, NZ, Oz and SAs are the biggest immigrant group to the UK!

I haven't got any up to date practical advice but you're not alone.

[ZZZenAgain]

I think a lot of people just go abroad from Aus/NZ for a year or two and then decide to stay in the UK. I have certainly met quite a few people from those countries who have settled in the UK or elsewhere in Europe. I suppose people who leave Europe for downunder are also attracted by the space. By comparison, Europe is crowded

[HollyMadison]

I emigrated from nz to the uk about 14 years ago. I now live outside the uk and will probably move back to nz one day. When I moved to the uk the economy was on the up and I didn't struggle to find work. I lived in a few places but mostly London.

I love London with all my heart and would still be there if it weren't for young DC combined with small homes and lack of family support.

What I love about the British is that they like a good banter and can throw a good party.

Whether you move might depend on your stage in life and wider family commitments.

[kday]

I did it too! It is really common, at least for a few years. I moved to London from Australia 12 years ago. It was wonderful! I'd still be there if it wasn't for DH's job which moved us to Singapore. People do move in the other direction for the weather, "lifestyle" and work life balance but I loved the lifestyle in London (even with young kids). If you have citizenship you'll have the right to work, but the economy is bad at the moment so whether you'd get a job would depend on a lot of factors - what you do, how much your experience is required, where you're prepared to live and work. Perhaps post a few more details and someone might be able to give you some more specific feedback.

[CanIHaveAPetGiraffePlease]

My husband moved here, then married me and by far prefers living here than oz. Luckily for me!

Are the immigrants from down under really the biggest group? Mainly polish near us I think although I don't really know. Lots of ozzies in London on gap years though!

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

It was on the citizenship test that SA,NZ&Oz are as a group, the biggest migrants to UK. Could've changed in last few years I suppose. I know a lot of my family in NZ are looking to Australia instead if Europe atm.

[CanIHaveAPetGiraffePlease]

Wow I didn't know that! My mil is convinced everyone moves over there because life is of course perfect in Australia. I guess a lot of Brits do emigrate to oz too. Does it even out?

[Essbe]

Thanks for the feedback :) Glad I have not missed some worldwide memo lol!

I want to ask "where is the nicest place to live" but I'm aware that's a bottomless pit of a question so I'll restrain myself haha. I love life in Brisbane as we are in the suburbs but just hop an express bus into the city, or a quick drive to the ocean - and I love to have access to both ocean and CBD, even if I don't often get to either!

Brisbane is a great city to raise young kids with so many fun free things to do around the place, but we don't have permanent residency so once our kids are out of the school system they'll be on their own as far as student loans etc, and one of my kids has a disability and is in the special school system now but again, once out of school won't qualify for any support (and we don't qualify for any help with him other than special school now, but that's ok, we can cover it on our own - for now).

We are currently self employed running an online business with a warehouse/staff in both NZ & Au, so it would either be a matter of moving/expanding that to the UK or finding something completely new. Personally I have long wanted to train as a nurse! But with three young kids it hasn't been the best time just yet, maybe they are starting to approach being old enough to cope (or for me to cope more to the point lol). Hubs has a Business & HR degree and in a former life was a butcher! Neither probably high demand things in a bum economy... Dreams dreams...

My mum was born in Leigh-on-Sea, all I remember of there is lots and lots of stones. Yeah, I'm kind of fresh into the research just yet ;)

[HollyMadison]

I'd say a good butcher could well be in demand in the uk, definitely would be in the fairly well heeled suburb of London I used to live in. The butcher there did a cracking trade. Especially now people are turning away from supermarkets and particularly from buying meat in supermarkets.

My DS has a disability too, and we do not have the benefit of any assistance where we are currently living because we are not permanent residents (we would do in nz or the uk). I guess a key factor is that you'd want as much visibility as possible of costs you're likely to have to meet. It's hard if it's something where, like our DS, it could get worse.

Ps congrats on the successful business - don't know how you do it all!!

[kiwidreamer]

DH and I came over 11 years ago in our late 20's to do something a bit different and the experience was great, we settled (took at least a year tho) and did really well in our careers, travelled loads, moved out of London for a change of scene, popped home to get hitched, had our children here and all in all life in the UK has been great.

I've always hankered to move back to NZ, only this year have I admitted its probably a severe case of rose tinted glasses but I don't think I'll ever be happy or get my mother off my back until we go back and give our kids a glimpse of the childhood we experienced. Financially we will not be better off in NZ but lifestyle and family wise we are prepared to take the hit. Tho in saying that, if you make the effort then there is nothing wrong with the UK lifestyle in certain parts of the country, DH is on a very good income though so I'm not sure if someone on the average income would agree necessarily. And god almighty I miss the NZ beaches and summers... honestly it rained for three months SOLID last year, following the winter, so we had four months of cold then three months of rain and a pretty average summer... that was hard going.

However the reality is life is life and the day to day tasks pretty much take over whatever your postcode, don't get me wrong if you are unhappy in your circumstances then life can be pretty darn miserable but if you are confident of finding work then it could be a great experience... just don't come for the weather! I think anyone who moves countries for the weather is barking.

Oh and it cost £4.5k for us to fly home (and DD didn't even get her own seat for that) for Christmas just been, its not cheap and we wont be able to afford it again for a very long time.

DH and I will get citizenship before we leave so that we can come and go as we please and if our DC's decide to set up camp here in the future then we'll have options :)

[ifink]

I live in QLD, we hope to stay long term - the thought of going back to the UK both depresses and delights me - it is our 'home' after all but as a fallback position (if it all goes wrong here) it doesn't seem that attractive in terms of family life/weather/economy etc. If I were an Australian and this country was my fallback (say it all went t*ts up in the UK) then I think I could manage anywhere just fine

[anonymosity]

If you want to be in a family friendly place in the UK near the sea, I would recommend Brighton & Hove - fairly good trains into London for any commute, lots of young families, and the beaches - but they are not sandy, they are covered in grey stones...(and it will often be overcast / rainy / cold).

[Essbe]

Thank you all for your insights! It would be such a big move... But would also be such an adventure... We would have to secure work first since hubs is not a citizen so I'd have to sponsor him, eep.