Potentially moving to NZ - North Island (Whanganui/Kapiti Coast)

[lshaslam]

Hi looking for views/experiences of moving to Whanganui or Kapiti Coast.

We are a family of 5, and would be looking to rent

initially and possibly buy a property in a few years.
In terms of the areas, what are they like for families?

Schools?

I understand the climate is similar to the UK but slightly milder.

Any advice would be really appreciated thanks ☺️

So, many years ago my sister and her partner moved to NZ on spec had a long battle for residency and ultimately got their NZ passports. Lived first in Auckland (North Island) then Queenstown and finally Nelson (both South Island). I visited frequently - to the extent that one customs officer looking at all the NZ stamps in my passport asked why I didn’t move there. Well my husband and I wish now that we had taken the opportunity but at the time he didn’t want to be so far from his family. North island is more humid and tropical than the South which is warm in summer but cool once the sun goes in. Both have things to recommend them. Property and shopping is more expensive than here but the lifestyle is great. A lot of expats spend a few years there a few years back here particularly once the kids are grown. My sister left to work in Africa and came back to the UK during covid and stayed because of elderly parents. If I had got a passport then I think we would both be retiring there. It is however a long way from the UK. Our visits took nearly 32 hours door to door so be prepared for that. I wish you the best of luck I think once you settle in you will all have a great experience.

Thank you for your reply, that’s really helpful.
I suppose I’ve been a little concerned by some views I’ve read about education, bullying and racism?

Well I don't have children so I don't know too much about the education system but I always found there were a lot of different nationalities who had made NZ their home. I would assume unless you relocated to an extremely rural area that this would be reflected in the schools. A lot of New Zealanders have overseas family ties and many of them travel after leaving school/graduation. I suppose there's a risk wherever you go of the things you are worried about. TBH I would say that from my own observation the main issue with people relocating was the realisation of the distance from friends and family in the UK and the cost of getting back in an emergency. However once kids are grown and doing their own thing I did notice as I mentioned that people would often move between countries spending time in each.

What are you concerned about with respect to bullying and racism?

Are there particular reasons for Whanganui/Kaapiti? I could potentially suggest other nice places. Do you have jobs lined up? Some way of accessing residency in NZ?

I'm a NZer who lives overseas, and I grew up there so might have some useful insight. My one reservation about moving there now would be the economy, which is a bit of a mess.

i live on the Kapiti Coast. It’s a nice place to bring up kids and has easy access to Wellington now transmission gully has opened.

All our primary schools here are quite large and they are full primary so you don’t have a change to intermediate before college. I think that’s mostly an advantage. They are pretty much all zoned so wherever you rent will determine which school your kids go too.

We have two good colleges and there is a large English ex pat community here.

But I do think people are very unprepared for the distance between NZ and the UK. It’s very expensive to travel back so most families very rarely if ever go back to visit.

Our climate is definitely better than Wellington.

Just be aware that the towns on the Kapiti Coast are quite different. We moved up here 15 years ago and found everyone welcoming.

let me know if you have any questions I can answer.

Why the NI?

Have you ever been to NZ - travelled around, taken a look? When I came I was told that Christchurch would be a great "fit" but as soon as I got there I realised (pre-quake) that it was not for me.

Do you want to live in a big city (there are no big cities, but in NZ terms, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch) or something smaller but which still has facilities (Dunedin, Nelson).

Transport in Auckland is terrible.

Do you have medical needs - Nelson hospital is in a bit of crisis at the moment...

Education - schools are often smaller and single sex education is very much a thing. Church schools are generally "better" but costly (even the integrated ones ask for substantial donations). Small towns may only have one High School.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Shopping - stay in the UK, outdoors - move to the West Coast of the SI.

Food is very expensive. Capsicums currently over $4 each because out of season. Cheese and butter are absurd (especially as dairy is our main industry!).

Housing is not cheaper than the UK but you may get a house in a far nicer area/outlook - a home close to the sea/beach is not that unusual. But take care - many are still poorly insulated and heated (many heat with wood and some even still use coal, welcome to the 1950's).

Racism is a real issue even if many NZ's can't see it. Casual jokes about Chinese drivers and Indian shop owners are common and folk get all "but it's true..." if you pull them up on it. Maori and Pasifika peoples tend to have worse educational and health outcomes due to historic inequality; we are working on this as a country but have a long way to go.

It's a REALLY long way from anywhere...no more popping over to Barcelona for a long weekend and forget thinking that you can do the same and just weekend on Rarotonga, it costs too much.

You really need to come and take a look around.

I love it.