Calling All New Zealanders!! [Expats and Locals]

[Stylish]

Am a student nurse and have just been told to expect to a lot of places to try to recruite us in the next few years. Apparently our uni has some strong ties to New Zealand and a lot of the offers of work come from there.

If I did get an offer of work from New Zealand I would consider it, so my questions are basically:

What is life like in New Zealand. How does it compare to the UK? How much is the cost of living in relation to the UK? Are wages significantly better? What do you think of the health service. Would you recommend NZ to live in? If so, Which areas in particular?!

TIA
Carla

BUMP

BUMP Anyone?!

The New Zealand MNers will only just be starting their Wednesdays .... 11 hours difference give them a chance :o

I have been in the UK for 12 years so im not gonna be much help sorry. Im sure someone will come along soon though :)

Oops Sorry :) Forgot there was a time difference

Ahh, wistful memories of home. I've been here (int he UK) for 13 years, so can't comment too much. But consider this, you could always move back to the UK. Why not give it a go? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Go! it's bloody brilliant there!

I haven't lived there but have visited and have friends there. It's a gorgeous, jaw dropping beautiful country with a small population. I think standard of living is quite high but wages not better. Don't know about health service.

it depends what kind of place you like really. If you like the hustle and bustle of big cities it's probably not for you. I'd definitely give it a go for a year or so though - chance of a lifetime.

One other thing - you have to appreciate just how far away from the UK it is. I know that sounds obvious but if you're very close to family etc it can be hard to be so far away permanently.

hi Carla

we're moving to NZ later this year (I have citizenship but haven't lived there yet). there are several Mnetters who will give you glowing reports. Have a look at \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=3&threadid=80644\this thread for starters}

we're going mainly for the quality of life, cost of living etc. and because it's fab!

Thanks for the replies.

The general consensus seems to be what I thought - give it a go as its the opportunity of a lifetime :)

georginarf - am looking at that thread now.

Thanks all :)

We lived in Christchurch for 18 months. Just loved it. Made some fab friends, saw some awesome places and thought it would be a great place to bring up kids. The only drawback for us was being so far away from family and friends. We decided that in the end it was too far away and headed home.
Good luck in whatever you decide.

Go!
I am in the Uk but was brought up from age 4 to 28 in NZ.
Wages are less BUT, living is cheaper. This might have changed as I was last there in 1997.
I am from Wellington but would really recommend Christchurch Sth island or Napier/ Hastings area of North Island.
The health service was merging into user pays a little when we left fwiw I think it's a very good health service.
Everytime I answer a thread on NZ I keep kicking myself for leaving!
LOL

I'm a NZer who's lives in the UK. We were home last month visiting my family. For me, Christchurch is the only place I'd live if I went back. It's smallish (pop 400k), has lots of facilities, close to beaches, an hour from mountains etc and is just beautiful. I am envious of friends who go to work and then go windsurf or for a walk on the beach after work. Work is just a part of the day, not the bulk of it. We visited family in Auckland and I really didn't like it. It's seems to be just another big city (albeit a very beautiful one) but has traffic problems, felt crowded etc to me. I guess it depends what you want.

We found the cost of living to be more expensive than on previous times we've been home, but still overall cheaper than the UK. Certainly food shopping and eating out was comparable to here, although the quality and variety of food was better and greater. Petrol is cheaper, as are cars.

I was amazed at the number of British voices I heard while there. In my Mum's v small town (around 1000 residents) five new English families had moved there in the past month. You won't be short of friends from home!

For more info re wages etc, contact NZ House, Haymarket, London - they have an information service and I'm sure can help.

Re health service, have recent experience of hospital when DH broke his shoulder and collarbone. Very impressed with doctors, nurses and other staff there. They all seemed very relaxed, happy and friendly. I'm sure it's not a perfect system but didn't come across anyone who seemed miserable! Technology seemed to be very good too. Also went to GP with various ailments with kids. GPs too seemed very happy and had time to chat. You pay to see a Doctor there and most people have some sort of health insurance. Emergency treatment is free.

I'd go for it if I were you - if the opportunity is there, grab it with both hands! Good luck.

Hurrah for Christchurch - that's where we're moving!

getting all excited again now - easy to get bogged down in all the practical stuff and forget how nice it's going to be when we get there

The health service here is IME better than the UK - but little is free any more. What your work was like would depend on which hospital - which city and what hospital department. If you were in A&E you would see a lot of party pill (herbal high type)teenagers - which nobody I've spoken to in the UK seems to have heard of.

In terms of money, well the further south you can stand to be, the further your money will go.

Lots of NZ nurses get recruited to the UK - I guess the grass is always greener!

Hi there!

We love NZ and have been here for 4 years ... we live in Auckland and are very happy here but Christchurch is fab too ...

The cost of living in Auckland is high ... cheaper than the UK but high in comparison to the rest of the country. Teachers and Nurses here have the same problem as they do in London (having a mortgage for a house in a nice area would be virtually impossible on a single nurse's salary ... houses in nice areas cost anything upward of $500,000 - I just can't see how a salary of $30/$40/$50K can do that)

If you are a 'second' earner ... IE your DP is working too and earning more than that then it is doable.

Life in NZ is great, more laid back than the UK ... IME that is. Health service is good but you do have to pay ... to see a GP it costs and adult $50 in Auckland, children cost $25 and under 6s are free ... The couple of times we have been in hospital with DD we have received top class treatment .... except I did get a bill of $70 after I called an ambulance for her ...
If you are planning to have babies here I couldn't recommend it more highly ... the midwife system is fab (you get the same midwife throughout your pregnancy and for 6 weeks after birth), the health visitor equivalent (called the Plunket Society) is brilliant too ... have yet to meet a dodgy plunket nurse but met plenty of mad HVs in England .
Having said all that ... there has been a recent stink in the News re. waiting lists ... people being taken off waiting lists in many health boroughs .... like the UK funding is an issue.
But they facilities are great ... IME.

Um ... can't think of much else right now ...