Another 'should we move to NZ thread...any advice welcomed'

[whoodoo]

I know its been done recently but was wondering if you could help me with a should we go to NZ decision (FYI - kids aged 4, 2 and 9 months).

Lots of background to this decision so will try to consendse:

-DH and I have long term love affair of the country and have NZ friends out there - been about 3 times in the last 10 years and DH returning in June on cheap Quantas deal for a week to get a tattoo (mad I know but serves to demonstrates his love for the place plus the fact that every am the first thing he does each morning is check the NZ weather and the Matarangi Beach webcam).

-DH can get transfer with his company and we gave the decision to emigrate serious consideration 2 years ago after DS2 born. Job offered at the time to DH wasn't right though and we thought we wanted Wellington and job offer came through for Auckland instead. Threw us a bit at last minute and I got cold feet. We had a commitment of a flat, I wanted another baby in future, my job was offering good money (even if I hated it), got a bit worried about if NZ schooling good enough, was it wrong to get off the UK hamster wheel? - would we ever get back on it, etc.

-DS3 now arrived and find ourselves reconsidering again. We have sold and move out of flat into rented flat this week and will have some money in bank. Plan was to look for a house in the city (V. expensive Scottish city) and mortgage ourselves to the hilt thus well and truly tying us into the jobs we both don't really like for next 10 years at least. I wanted to retrain but with current childcare financial commitments and changes in government this looks unlikely in the next 5 years at least.

-Over last couple of years we've been looking more at the North Shore as a place to live. Life in the UK fine but not really great. When not working (I work 4 days and DH FT with long hours) we spend the weekends walking round parks, coffee shops and soft play centres with the kids cos the weather so cold and the 2nd floor flat been so restrictive. I'm back to work soon and not really relishing the trudgery of it and we don't have family nearby to help with the kids. I would want to work in NZ though.

I'm aware that NZ can be expensive with crap heating and can be isolated as a county but we are looking for more if a balanced family life with some outside space and heat for the kids. I suppose I just want some advice from those who have made the move and how you are really finding life over the pond.

Sorry for the ramble BTW..... I could go on but I think I'll stop just now.

Great to hear all the info on NZ from everyone there. I am a kiwi who has been in the UK for just about 9 years, pining to go back and very homesick. I spend far too much time looking at houses in NZ and looking on google maps!!!

OP, I say go for it. You sound very realistic, there are downsides to living in NZ (as with any other country) and as long as people are aware of these downsides before they go I think that really helps. People do have this misconstrued concept that NZ is some kind of tropical paradise...don't get me wrong, I love my country and it does have spectacular scenery and a great opportunities for a more laid back and relaxed life style, but there are things you either have to compromise on or give up.

I think for most people it really is being apart from family and friends that is the biggest deal breaker.

Good luck OP!

I think if you come over here on a work visa and then get PR/citizenship once you are here the fees are cheaper.But I'm not 100% sure on that - I came over here when I was single and without kids. Also depending on what jobs you/your dh would do companies sometimes help with relocation costs.

Oh and the littlestkiwi I see what you mean noow about being given a hard time by the mws. When I had dd1 in 2007 no one ever asked me to prove I had residency, then when I had dd2 last year I had to provide all that sort of info.

Most companies will pay for spouses visa's. But you may want to consider going straight for PR. Otherwise you end up having to renew work permits which is expensive and needs lots of paperwork each time- medicals, police certs etc. Plus there is no guarantee that a work permit will be renewed if you got sick for example. It is an expensive business.

If he has a position at a university then you should get some relocation costs.

I'd recommend checking out emigratenz.org.nz

Post on there and ask what other people got. We were a bit stupid and got costs on the basis of coming for a year. OH ended up staying in his first job for two so we should have taken the three year package and paid back the remainder.

hi justaboutmaintainingorder, i've worked at 2 out of the 3 unis based in auckland, so let me know if i can be of any help