DH wants to Move us all to NZ…

I don’t care how beautiful it is, the fact I could be slung out of the country without my children would be a dealbreaker for me.

They do. I’m not sure where those posters stayed but it wasn’t where I stayed.

I would absolutely go, NZ is beautiful the UK is a depressing shit hole

Houses do have heating though!

I found it bloody freezing in winter and can't do snow. I leave UK in winter to escape weather

@Notnowbarnaby how long is the time limit to make this huge decision? I would suggest that you need at least 6 months to think about it.

I have a cousin who lives in NZ. I haven’t seen him in many years. He has missed most weddings, funerals and other family events. His DC have only met their British grandparents a few times, although they keep in regular contact online. His parents went to visit a few times but found the journey very difficult. One sibling saved up to visit and the other has never managed to go. His parents are ageing and becoming more frail. One of them probably won’t survive for much longer and he needs to decide whether he visits to see them for a ‘final time’ or comes for the funeral. He loves his life in NZ, but has admitted to me he wishes he hadn’t moved so far away from family and friends.

Omg yes. So glad someone else sees this too.. especially about the daily fail. Can't and don't read it anymore because the headlines are spun to brain wash us and yet we laugh at other certain countries (that shall remain nameless) that are told lies by the media when we are in the same situation ourselves.

No the quotes were well critiqued.

The South Island is colder than the North Island (although they do have cold parts) in winter, but generally hotter in summer. The west coast is very wet, but much of the rest of the Island is dry - nothing like the UK at all. The hottest temperature recorded in NZ - in the 70s - was in the South Island.

"Better journalism" = writing something almost entirely made up of quotes from mumsnet and illustrating it with a picture of 4 women in swimsuits? That's not what I'd rate as good journalism and rather confirms the 1950s image if everything has to half half clad women in it.

Well there’s a plus OP: better journalism! I quite enjoyed that article. It was well structured and I loved the light touch humour that peeped in.

I’ve always thought it was similar to the uk - though I once went in February and the summer was maybe more reliably sunny , not noticeably hotter though, just more predictably blue skies and sun.

What extreme weather I'm in the South Island and we have the most boring weather you can imagine.

Guess what, you made the "front page" (so to speak) of the NZ Herald online:

www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/british-mother-asks-for-advice-on-moving-family-to-new-zealand/LXZOODHDGZG5FP3FR6ZU3RSWJ4/

No it can still happen if the whole family are British citizens. All it takes is for one parent to want to go home and the other one doesn't. If the child is habitually resident- meaning has legally lived there for some time, then the parent who wants to leave cannot take the child with them if the other parent objects.

While they are all British, if the husband doesn’t want to leave NZ, he can prevent the children leaving. The test is where a child is ‘habitually resident’ not citizenship.

Therefore saying ‘this is not an issue’ is legally wrong and very misleading. The husband could absolutely make it an issue if he wanted.

Well that's no different from the UK then

As for wanting healthy kids- they have probably seen how much UK pays out in healthcare costs and benefits for a hugely increased number if kids with issues and think -err no thanks.

I've been to new Zealand many times and can get a NZ passport if I choose as my dad had one ( he's the son of a NZ dad ( half moari)and British mum) but I wouldn't want to live there mainly due to extreme weather on south island and living costs

The whole family are British citizen so that's not an issue More likely happens if one parent has nationality of country they are living in

Hiya,
As someone who lives in New Zealand, on a good wage and still struggling I'd really be discussing with DH about going for a holiday first to make sure you guys like it. We may have free healthcare but we're also so short of GPs/Nurses that its almost impossible to get a Drs appt unless you don't mind waiting a few months. I rung this morning to get my son into the Dr and the earliest appt I can get is August.

Cost of living is insane, if your wanting to rent prepare to put aside a fair whack of money each week even if your not living in the city. I live in a small rural town and still pay $600 a week, the cheapest rent I've seen in my town is about $580.

Groceries are expensive, I've never been to the UK so can't compare but a couple of my friends who have come back from there said we're significantly more expensive so there's that.

Also our public transport is honestly shocking you'll definitely need a car to run around in.

New Zealand is a great country if you can budget well and on a good wage but honestly it's hard. I'm hoping to pack up at the end of this year/beginning of next and move to Australia.

Best of luck for whatever happens!

In regard to timing, I completely agree. I visit family in NZ regularly. I leave my house at 10.00 in the morning and after three flights (one NZ domestic), arrive at their house in rural NZ at around 9.00 / 10.00 two days later.

Bearing in mind the time difference, that’s around 35 to 36 hours total. It’s then day for night time difference and I spend the first couple of weeks of the holiday falling asleep in the early evening - not brilliant for socialising.

It’s a beautiful country and I love visiting but I don’t want to live there and over the years I’ve spent at least a year of my life there and I have a built in social life when I am there with friends of my family members.

I have travelled between UK & NZ countless times and I can tell you it is not 24 hours. Its around 24 hours flight time (minimum) but you always have to transit somewhere and best case scenario is 2 hours - so its very minumum 26 hours, usually a bit more. Transiting via USA requires and ESTA visa and hours on hell in US custoime - best avoided at all costs. Travel via Asia is very busy/expensive around Chinese NY & Easter.

Flying as one person is one thing. The cost and logistics of flying such a distance as a family are another. My kids enjoy flying thankfully are were never a problem on flights. But add in having to travel in school holidays when prices are higher and you are looking at huge cost and over a day travel each way - don't forget to factor in travel to/from an international airport at both ends.

Living in Auckland when I was younger I shared a house with a women from Edmonton, Alberta - a place where minus 40 degrees C is not ususal in the winter. She had never been so cold as she was living in Auckland, which is a warmer part of NZ.

I only know one family with central heating in NZ - they lived in UK and installed central heating in their home when they moved back. They are very unusal & their energy bills are astronomical. Most families heat one room with a heater or fire and the rest of the house is freezing.

I personally don't think Rangitoto is in any danger of erupting, but earthquakes anywhere are a risk.

the worst thing about NZ is how far away it is. This is also the best thing about NZ.

NZ is very beautiful, hugely neo-liberal capitalist politically, over the last few years they have sought to destroy any "green" credentials they might have had, you absolutely must drive, and you will need to drive everywhere. Crime is very high as is male violence & gang violence. My Mum recently had her car stolen and used in a smash & grab - this is extremly common. Men I know in their 50's who have grown up in Auckland now feel large parts of Auckland are 100% no go areas for men, including central Auckland. On the other hand if you enjoy remote living with very few people around and can find a lovely isolated community you'll probably enjoy it.

Films to watch:
Top of the Lake (on Netflix), Once Were Warriors, Hunt for the Wilderpeople

He can go to NZ, but he cannot force you or your children to go

I have been to NZ on holiday, it is expensive & a very long way

25% chance of a catastrophic earthquake in the next 50 years is pretty high.

You should have seen my daughters's face when she found out that Rangi is not extinct. She's at Rangitoto College. Beautiful views 😂

That sounds fair to me, based on my experience. I'm sorry you're stuck there. Not because NZ, but because not having the choice over the matter is hard.

@Witchesandwizards - I remember your threads and like many have often wondered how you are doing. I am sorry your ex is still so awful.