To start planning to move to New Zealand with my partner and toddler?

[FlyingwithBaby]

Please share your experiences of moving from the UK to NZ.

Honestly I thought we would love it there but it was just too slow and boring for me. We had moved with DH’s job but in the end we came back to UK as we missed it so much. NZ is beautiful but these were our issues;
Houses not built for winter (and almost impossible to heat)
Nothing to do in the evenings outside of Auckland
No cultural activities
Education system felt years behind the Uk.
Food and household goods soooo expensive!!
Too isolated from the rest of the world

Few of the ex colleagues who went there have come back, though the ones I have kept in touch with tend to recommend Australia more highly.

Have you been to NZ before deciding to move there ?

@Bluebonnieblue "You might need to check the visa situation as New Zealand are apparently no longer issuing permanent visas. I know two friends who have left New Zealand because of this. I think it started this year. So unless your partner is from New Zealand, or you are a citizen, you might need to find somewhere else to move."

What nonsense. Me and DP were issued with permanent NZ visas in November. Both of us are British citizens. Permanent visa routes through Skilled Migrant or Essential Skills remain fully open as they always were and volumes significantly increase year on year.

We moved to NZ 6 years ago when our dc were 2 and 3 years old. We LOVE it here but like anywhere there is pros and cons.

We live about 40 mins north of Auckland CBD in a small town, we have a 5 minute walk to the beach with numerous other beaches less than 10 mins drive away.

Rent is expensive (so is buying) but we rent a fully insulated, double glazed property with a heat pump. No central heating and it does get a bit chilly in winter but we don’t mind. Extra socks, blankets and wheat bags in bed help. Damp and mould is a huge issue in most houses but we keep the windows open a little and wipe them down in the mornings when opening the curtains.

We find the education system great, most children start school at 5 but don’t legally have to start until 6. Permission to HE is easy to get if you wanted to go that route. Schools are zoned and children are automatically entitled to a place in their zoned school but you can also make applications to enroll in out of zone schools.

There is a lot of poverty due to the high prices of everything and you can see this wherever you live. Racism can also be a big issue. Quite a bit of petty crime but we feel much safer here than we ever did in the UK.

There are some absolutely beautiful places here to visit.

Flights back to the UK are expensive, we haven’t been back at all but there’s so many lovely places to go close to NZ For a reasonable price.

Where we are public transport is fantastic but I know that’s not the same everywhere and a car is a must for some areas. We both work full time and have one car (which I use) but DH gets the bus straight to the city for work. Petrol is ridiculously expensive.

My kids do Sea Scouts so they are always out camping and swimming and kayaking and all sorts of other stuff.

There is a very laid back atmosphere here which is great for us, not so much if you are like a pp who now lives in London. It very much depends on what type of life you are looking for. We prefer quiet and laid back, Living in London would be my worst nightmare just as NZ was boring to LittleBot We are all different and only you know which kind of life you are after.

The fact is, we have a good quality of life here because we both work full time but I also don’t think we’d manage on one wage.

I personally would not go to the end of the earth Nz or OZ either.

Depends on whether you look on it as a life changing experience or something you are doing for your Kiwi partner.

So far away really, but it is your decision, and you have to weigh up the pros and cons really yourself.

Personally, I think Australia is a better compromise between the UK and NZ. A lot of New Zealanders move to Australia - far more than do the opposite.

RedDwarves,

Why do you think that happens? ie the move from NZ to Oz.

Both countries are just so far away anyway from UK or Europe.(and many other places too!) But each to their own, just curious as to the difference between Oz and NZ.

Hi I live in Wellington and moves over about 4 years ago on my own. I love it here, Welly especially is easy to get around and even if you live in the burbs or the next city (Hutt) it's still really close.

The culture is a lot more laid back and more people orientated e.g. in our contracts the workplace has to provide us with tea/coffee. By far the biggest culture shock is the lack of double glazing, heating and insulation. I think the attitude towards this is changing from a governmental level.

Personally being a lone single (female) traveller, I have found it hard to integrate with the Kiwis. I am in my 30s and most people my age have children or established social groups and a lot of my friends are immigrants from other countries. In Australia people were much more inclusive (I am white though). Made some headway this year, but those lonely Sundays does make me realise the distance and time difference.

If you had the funds definitely come and do a tiki tour, maybe in the off season... if you come in Summer you won't get a good idea of what it is like to live here all year round and whether you can deal with the dampness.

What's the point of moving so far away could anyone tell me.

Unless it is for a very lucrative job/career I am not convinced that life that far away from a person's roots/home is viable.

But sure, what do I know about moving half way around the world, many have done it and love it too.

I just think a 24 hour journey home would put me right off. Sorry folks.

My previous employer provided free tea, coffee also fresh fruit. I'd love to go back to NZ and stay longer and travel in a camper van....then explore some other near by islands

@nicoala1 because not everyone is the same as you? Because staying in one place is quite dull to me.

We came to NZ for an adventure because I think life is for living not staying in the town you grew up in. We'd spent 25 years in the intensity and rat race of London and wanted a quieter more gentle life. We moved from a 1st floor 1 bed flat in south london to a 3 bed 2 bath house with land with a 30 second walk to the beach. My weekends are filled with swimming, hiking, kayaking and paddle boarding and having drinks with friends at vineyards.

But of course I should have stayed in the northern England mining town I grew up in because 'roots'?!

Nakedavenger74 - it isn't nonsense. Maybe there are some ways you can get a visa but it's definitely become much more difficult. I have two friends who have lived in NZ for many years (not together, two unrelated people) who have had to leave due to not being able to get the correct visa.

Thanks so much for all of these responses, that’s really helpful 😊

I have some family in NZ. The cons I hear is racism, much worse than they experienced in Britain. Weather is good some places and not others. There is rainforest in NZ with a lot of rain. Lack of cultural life.

And being honest, I thought the scenery in Scotland was much better. I was disappointed by NZ.

I'm married to a kiwi and have spent significant time in NZ.
Our main reasons for not living there are, it's so far from the UK. My family here provide most of our of childcare. Also its quite an isolated country, it's alot more difficult to travel anywhere apart from Australia. It is very sporty and outdoorsy but I think the UK can be too, if you have the finances and location.
In the north island the weather is warmer than UK, however the South island weather is comparable to UK.
It is expensive, and I personally find it old fashioned. Which I know is why lots of brits like it.
I'd suggest spending a month or so there and doing lots of research.
I think NZ invest alot of money in tourism to promote a safe beautiful country, but like all countries there are negatives.

I often read these threads and think, just move to Scotland! Outdoor life, beaches, cheaper housing zoned schools, quieter roads, space, scenery but not far from home and The Edinburgh festival for culture. Granted, a bit chilly compared to the North Island and no wineries but much more convenient.

Agree. And it is the South Island that is scenic, not North Island.
Plus there are major issues with drink driving.

Kiwi here. I lived away from NZ for 5 years, mostly in the UK, then moved back here several years ago with British DP in tow.
Having lived away so long I must admit I was genuinely worried that NZ would feel 'small' and dull on my return, despite the fact I grew up here.

We moved to Auckland (not my hometown) and have absolutely loved it. Both of us spend less time commuting and have had very good career opportunities. Housing is expensive, but we have managed to buy a lovely house that's nicer than the one we owned in London. The fast casual dining scene in Auckland is very good, so we find ourselves eating out here a lot more than we did in London - weekend brunch is a regular thing! I actually have time for the gym now that I'm not spending hours a day on the M25. DP is always off on trips to explore the outdoors which makes him very happy. We are far away in this corner of the world, but we've had some amazing trips in this part of the world (recent trips have been to Bali and Great Barrier). DP also managed to negotiate 5 weeks paid leave with his job, so that he has time to visit family in the UK.

I do miss living in the UK, especially things like museums and galleries, and the ability to travel easily. But I can't see us moving back there anytime soon. I think the hardest part for DP is that is parents health is likely to deteriorate as they get older. It's hard being so far away and not being able to help, although he does visit fairly regularly.