Have best schools on doorstep now. Should i move from Scotland to New Zealand with husband and kids aged 3+5?

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Sue

I am Australian, we went to NZ for a working holiday when my daughter was 16 mths old - and stayed, My 2 sons are kiwis. The main reason we stayed is that NZ has so much to offer children. Just a few examples are: state funded kindergartens - free. Out of school music - all kiwi kids are encouraged to learn music - on a saturday morning they have every intrument you can imagine on offer with qualified teachers who work for a nominal amount. There is a small charge for hire of instruments and to cover costs. All schools have school camps in places like national parks where children can experience survival and team building skills and just plain good fun. Yes you pay, but not a great deal and children whose families cannot afford it are assisted.

The high school education system is now based on unit standards and works on achieved/not yet achieved - students repeat work until they achieve the required standard. All education is hooked into the national qualifications framework and you can use this for further education - it is accumulative for your lifetime.

Add to this the awesome countryside - lakes, mountains, beaches and only 4 million people in the whole country. The south island has about 1 million people and is where we settled - love the place and am returning there after working here (UK) for a few years and seeing some of the rest of the world. Kiwis are some of the friendliest helpful people I have ever met and will go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

Incidently there is a very strong Scottish heritage in NZ - especially in the South Island, Dunedin especially - pipe bands in every town, kilts worn at the drop of a hat, the haggis piped in for official functions, statue of Robbie Burns in the centre of Dunedin, Scottish words assimilated into the language etc etc.

When I visited Scotland after being in England for a year and went up into the highlands, I had a bad bout of home-sickness - its very like NZ, my daughter and I kept exclaiming - "oh this could be on the Lindis pass or this could be lake Wakatipu".

So to sum up - go for it - I doubt you will regret it.

andyprefab

no, who would get me coffee on my breaks (hello jennifer!)

springbank03

Go to NZ or spend the rest of your life regretting to stay. I too stay in Scotland which is a truly beautiful country, give you kids the furture they deserve.

Wish you and your family all the best for the future.

Andy

There's nothing like the rest of the world for developing real character. Alternately you could stay in your own little box until it gets recycled by the wheely bin men.

putonyourflipflops

Yes get out of here whilst their still young..I wish I had !remember the schools could change dramatically before your kids start to go there...
take the opportunity to have a better life or you will regret it for ever.
what a fantastic place to live!!!!

ForeverAndADay

all iw ould say is that if you are gonna do it then do it now. I had a friend years ago at school whose parents were always saying they were gonna move away to new Zealand - years past and they never did...until one day in 4th year when this guy was now my best friend in the whole world - we kept in contact for a while but eventually lost touch. It is so much harder to forget someone when you are older than when you are just a child.

Trin

Depends what you value..
Depends what you think constitutes a good school. Academically maybe Scotland would be better. But Kiwi people are generally so natural and friendly (not saying the Scots aren't). I mean to say Kiwis have something of an innocence about them.

Scotland is beautiful and so is NZ, but NZ weather is much nicer.

We are migrating ourselves, though we can't decide yet on Aust. or NZ

Good luck

scott G

Definately new zealand you have a higer standard of living and there is less crime pollution political and racial bullshit, etc...

Your kids will have a far better life in new zealand you also once you have a nz residency the opertunity to travel unhindered to australia which i rate as an even better option for opertunity than nz

Richo Fev

Well, most kiwis end up moving to Australia anyway, so maybe you should just move here. Better weather too!

Leadbelly must like his weather COLD brrrrrrrrr........I live in Perth and there are many many kiwis over here, more opportunities, I`ve been told. I lived in Scotland for 2 years, and though I had a good time there, I believe NZ would be a better environment for kids. Good luck!

John B

nz for sure go to the south island

JandG

new zealand for sure its a much better way of life for bringing children up

Purple

It really depends on your reasons for moving.

New Zealand and Scotland are both lovely places to live.
Your children are young and should settle in fine.

There are good schools worldwide so you shouldn't worry too much about that.

If you move and really don't like it then you can always move back.

Travellin Bry

Having made the move myself recently leaving Edinburgh for NZ I can definately recommend it. Whilst Scotland has the better education sytem the way of life out here is wonderful and a great environment to bring kids up in. A lot is geared towards outdoor activities, sailing is taught at schools in auckland!! The people are pretty similar to Scots withthe same sense of humour and a rather laid back out look on life.

Basically try the place out first come over for a holiday and see if you like the place first before you commit to moving here.

Good luck

Phil

It really depends on what you feel the advantages and disadvantages would be - difficult for anyone else to say. One factor is family though - e.g. if you or your husband have parents nearby, they may not be too happy if their grandchildren are suddenly at the other side of the world.

angeljem

New Zealand for sure, im from new zealand originally but lived in england for 10 years (im only 21), i want to move there with my fiance and baby boy in the next few years.It wpould be better on the kids when theyre younger coz they wont have to leave as many friends behind, the older they are the harder it is to cope with their new surroundings. hope you make the right decision for your family, good luck!

Towelie

Saying that we have just moved back to the UK after living in NZ . I have to say that the people are more laid back out there and they are more into the outdoor life (one of the first things bought was a BBQ). Our oldest boy had no problem adapting to the new environment and we made lots of friends. Would probably avoid the big cities though. If we get the option to go again we will.

zeba_237

NEW ZEALAND for sure!

leadbelly

New Zealand had more settlers from Scotland, Australia had more from England.
You will probably feel comfortable in NZ.
It is a hellishly long way to re-locate so I think you need to be firmly convinced before you commit.
Have you looked into employment, and is the exchange rate going to be a problem now or in the future?
How do you feel about being so far from your extended family?
Two last thoughts:
1. NZ really is isolated,and suffers a little for that. You will certainly notice that to begin with, the trade off is the lifestyle.
2. NZ has a good education system, all things considered, but because you mentioned "best schools" in your question I feel you should research that further.
I dispute Richo's assertion that australia has better weather than NZ.

If everything else is equal you might consider that where you are now your children will grow up with a really charming accent (whatever part of Scotland you're in they all sound nice) but if you move to NZ they will grow up with an ugly accent that the whole world makes fun of.

could you not rent out your property here for six months or a year while you try out new zealand and if you don`t like it you will still have a home to come back to?

Abby B

I would def say NZ. do it now for sure when the kids are young. I think that they would love it over there and you would all be better off in the long run.

gilly

My Daughter and family moved to NZ almost a year ago now,they have 4 boys ages 8 down to 15 mths, they didn't know anybody out there, but now have so many friends! The schools are absoutely wonderful,the children are all outgoing and look forward to going to school every week. They lived near to Wellington,but are actually moving today to Invercagill in the South Island where they are buying a property with 5 acres of land and will almost have no mortgage !! We miss them terribly but we are off out there for a visit in February, and who knows maybe one day we might retire out there......but my advise to you is GO.....you will not regret it Good Luck !

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