What is it like in New Zealand? Should I emmigrate?

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blacksheep557

Hello from new Zealand,
Are you sure you could handle NZ?
First turn the clock back, some places 10 years other places 50 years. Where I live there is no need for a great emphasis on security, but people are encouraged to at a minimum to remember to close the door when they go out. There is a total of just over 4 million people in NZ, and 50% of them live in or near Auckland, so there is plenty of space everywhere else.
I drive to work, 3 min each way, I park out side my office. No parking meters, no traffic lights. 5 o'clock rush lasts about 15 min.
I go snow skiing most weekends, just a two hour drive to teh ski field , but I pass 4 others on the way. a day skiing can cost about 50 dollars or even less.
wages are variable, the unemployment rate is about 2%.
Temerature where I live is mild, we have about 5 frosts each winter, so is seldom cold, but we dontget tehextreme heats either with 25 deg being the high.
Schooling is of good quality, discipline is always a challenge in this day and age, Out door education includes lots of tramping, kayaking, mountain craft, skiing, etc.
check the web sites below, one will give you a lot more information and imigration advice , the other is a gallery of photos of the South Island.

I hope that helps

I have a daughter in London, enjoying the cultural differences, she is in Fullham and finding life quite exciting , i hope to visit sometime soon

Dom

I spent three months last year in NZ doing a figure of 8 around the whole country and pretty much saw most of it and I can say it's absolutely stunning! It's friendly, it's clean, safe, and they have a lot of sheep!

Seriously though I'd say if you did emigrate you would definately have a better quality of life that's for sure. On the negative side, firstly it's a long long way from the UK. Secondly, outside Auckland and some of the other smaller cities it's just very quiet in terms of people and if your not used to it you might find it quite diffucult adjusting.
From my point of view in terms of emigrating, it's a massive decision and I know I'd always be thinking about England and home albeit with everything we seem to put up with here!

I'm just wondering whether it's possible to completely settle and never have a hankering to return home because I think once you go that's it.

Hope I've not put you off... give me a shout if I can be of further help.

DakotaNZ

Kia Ora

There are heaps of great answers here. Please remember if you take a pay cut, that will soon be made up for with your lifestyle change. Also living here is cheaper, so it all evens out. The climate varies right around the country so it depends where you decide to settle. Some places are sub tropical and can be very warm, others can be cooler. I live in an awesome little town down south called Wanaka. It gets cold in the winter (as you would expect with snow), but the summers are mean hot to, so you get the best of both worlds. I am originally from Whakatane up in the North Island on the east coast and it's pretty warm there all year round.
But if you want the lifestyle you might want to consider staying out of the cities. Check out this website it will give ya heaps of info about the whole country.
http://www.newzealand.com/travel
P.S we are not as backward as everyone makes out either. As far as technology we are pretty well up there for a second world country. Also we are a breed of inventors we are know for our kiwi ingenuity.

bambam

We spent a month doing both Islands almost a year ago, and at the minute my feet are itching so much to go back i think i could take a running jump (all the way from the UK)!!

It is a fantastic place to visit, if you haven't been i thoroughly recommend it. Try to see as much as you can as every place is quite different and has its own charm. Just seeing pictures or tv doesn't do it justice.

Do some research on the web, it will be easier to emmigrate if you have the skills and experience to make the move as a "skilled migrant".

We went to the New Zealand Expo in Manchester last year and there are lots of stands with lots of information, but there isn't anything that you couldn't find out on the web. However it would be very beneficial to people who have made a definite decision to make the move and are going through the emmigration process and selling up here etc. There are a lot of employment stands and you can do a lot of networking. But then again sometimes it's good to actually talk to people in the know rather than sitting in front of a screen trawling through a minefield of information you have no prior knowledge of!!

We have done a lot of research on making the move, property prices, areas we could work in, schools etc, etc and even spent a day of our visit viewing a number of properties in Howick, Auckland - lovely place. We haven't made any decision yet as when you make the journey you realise just how far away from your friends and family you would be, however we haven't written the idea off yet and we will definitely be going back sometime soon.

A major thing to note when it comes to your financial situation is that, when you visit the country you have the benefit of the exchange rate, so you can have a fairly cheap holiday. However when you move out there, the exchange rate will have the opposite effect if you want to visit the UK, you will more than likely take a substantial salary cut then come to realise the cost of living isn't that much different.

This is where a large amount of personal savings or substantial equity in your property would help you out. By UK standards NZ property is still very reasonable and you CAN get more for your money (in NZ it is the land that holds it's value and not really the property, so always go for the largest plot you can afford). They also have different construction methods and materials, there is no central heating but the sun remains quite low during the winter so in most places it is not as cold as it is over here.

I have been on a few Expat forums since visiting, and on one in particular there are a number of people who have made the move from the UK and believe they have made the biggest mistake of their life and complain about EVERYTHING. Wether they actually visited NZ beforehand, or expected life to be the same as in the UK or didn't have adequate funds to start out with, i do not know. A number of them have said they lived in many countries and never seem to settle, so maybe they just don't like being tied down??

We didn't come across much to complain about (except the speeding ticket that landed on our doormat 6 weeks after we returned!! Or the mistake we made in going via Los Angeles -hellhole if you ask me!! But seriously the roads are nowhere near as good as they are in the UK - not joking, but they are also nowhere near as busy.) and we certainly haven't been put off.

Even if you decide not to make the move, it's a fantastic place for an extended holiday. And if you do move just think of all the fantastic holidays you could go on from there!!

I couldn't finish without saying something about the people, everyone we met was lovely. Not a day went by when someone didn't stop for a chat with us. In fact there was a grumpy bus driver in one of the big cities (probably just fed up with his job), and a couple of New Zealanders were not very happy with him at all - they didn't want him having a negative impact on tourism for the country!!

I've just had another read of your post and although i've rambled on and on i don't think i've specifically anwered any of your questions!

1. NZ is fantastic, i would emmigrate now if it weren't for friends and family.

2. Do not even consider living in Auckland if you want to get away from overcrowing, but do visit. Public services are different and you WILL need a car, immigration is very controlled, crime is apparently getting worse but i think they had a much lower rate to start with, quality of life would be different - the more money you have to take out there the less of a struggle you will find it.

3. Unless you wanted to live somewhere extremely remote and have a long journey you could live in a nice house, in a nice area but still have a much shorter commute - if you and your partner work you will probably need 2 cars. I don't think they work any less hard but they don't seem to be as stressed. Again, the more money....

4. Education, very different in different areas - do poper research on this, it will probably affect where you decide to move to.

5. They want to attract skilled workers, some say because their own education system doesn't live up to global standards. If you don't have the necessary skills/experience now you could always take a few years to work towards it here.
Some argue that the grass isn't greener, i say it's different. Definitely a good different, however if you have a large amount of capital to start of with the grass could be VERY green!

6. The roads and the drivers are poor, i say drivers because their version of a motorway has one lane going in each direction. Every so often you get a passing place where you get the chance to take over people. KIWI'S DO NOT LIKE THIS AT ALL. They could be meandaring along at under the speed limit for miles and miles, as soon as you get to a passing place and try to take over them they speed up!! No sweat for us Brits who are used to driving much faster than they are allowed to. On a good note it is much safer for pedestrians when you get into built up areas, and this is usually where you find the very few speed cameras that they have.
Things that have become cheaper for us over the years - clothes, books electronic goods, DVD's and CD's you will find more expensive. Even lamb which you think would be cheaper is actually more expensive. In all honesty, with the salary cut the utility bills, loss of exchange rate and a higher interest rate i doubt very much you will find the cost of living any cheaper. Most of their hotels have very good self catering facilities so we did do wite a lot of supermarket shopping - take away the exchange rate, most things are more expensive.
Electronic goods will need to be replaced, more expensive. It would cost an absolute fortune to ship out all your worldly goods, but again furniture is more expensive.
Cars seem to be quite a bit cheaper but due to the roads i'd recommend getting the best one/s you can afford.
It is though, a fantastic country with lovely people, you will find Kiwi's have quite a dry sense of humour, which i loved. They are much more relaxed, friendly and sociable.
I have no idea why, but Kiwi's seem quite concerned that the increase in property prices they have had will not continue for long, and in fact many are expecting the bottom to fall out big time - i do not agree and would not recommend you put off making a decision to wait and see if you can buy cheaper in a few years time.
Both Islands are very different, i'd suggest visiting both before deciding. The South Island has less inhabitants and is absolutely stunning. But we would definitely live on the North Island, likely to be Wellington.

It won't solve all your problems and you will miss folk in the UK like crazy, it would be very hard to move back (exchange rate and property prices again), but you won't kick yourself for not trying it and you will meet lots of nice new people.

As well as the migration information, you can also look at school, property and recruitment websites. The property websites are usually very up to date, very few recruitment websites put salary details on. A few of supermarkets are New World, Woolworths and Countdown. But just go to google.co.nz if you want to look anything up, they have a Yellow Pages over there as well.

You should go and take a look for yourself, see what you think and we may see you over there one day!!

I think someone has suggested Canada to you, it takes absolutely ages for them to process - i've read some people have waited 5 years.

Went on a bit, sorry!

Good luck.

I'll put this bit at the end as you've probably got bored reading!!

They do drive on the left just like here, and i think most traffic rules are fairly similar, but people making right hand turns have priority over those going straight ahead - good one to remember!!

Tahini Raving Weirdo

I've just moved to NZ from the UK for the same reasons, and I'm perfectly happy with the results. Don't get too spooked by the prospect of pay cuts - yes, I did take a 40%-one, but the lifestyle I can live with that here is out of reach even for millionaires in the UK. I have yet to find disadvantages of being here. Don't expect too much of the climate, it's a lot like the UK - but then, that's not so bad, is it?

sarch_uk

This is an answer I recently gave to someone else....

We are considering doing the same and will be going to an Expo in Manchester in October...there will also be one in London.
Here is the link to it...

http://www.expo-newzealand.com/...

If you have a look and follow the links regarding immigration, you will find all the information you require.

Good Luck!

sparrow

perhaps your parents would retire out there as well as you may need a babysitter ocasionally and it would be a bit more easy to settle

silverthorn73

I am from New Zealand, I actually live here and I have friends who have immigrated from the UK and love it !

I am biast but to be perfectly honest I would rather live here than anywhere else in the world!!

Penfold

My time in New Zealand 10 years ago was brilliant. The Kiwis are a good bunch of people, the lifestyle is less stressful than in the UK, the climate is that of the UK (the north island has climate you'd expect in southern England; the south island has climate you'd expect in Scotland) and back then was cheaper than the UK.
The population is less than the UK (which is probably why the lifstyle is less stressful - fewer people in rush hour, work and social is closer to home). This has an impact on jobs - there are fewer jobs and they pay less than the UK. Taxes are also likely to be higher (proportionately to income) than in the UK.

Tripwire

I'm a native of Aotearoa too. I think you'll be very pleased with what you find here. We have a small population of highly talented people. Great outdoors, cosmopolitan cities and a pretty high standard of education.
The climate is gentle and there is absolutely nothing dangerous here in terms of wild life bar the odd spider.
NZ has always been an intellectually independent country, not easily influenced by international trends or political pressures.
We are also a very environmentally aware country, and place great importance on the preservation of natural resources for future generations.
If you have something to contribute to this, you'd be most welcome.

gerald Edward T

Do it Emigrate!!, do not hesitate!!!, New Zealand is a beautiful
country, clean, very low population.

Get away from the UK, and all it now stands for, let the assylum
seekers, and eastern Europeans have it.

I don't live there anymore, UK that is

I went travelling for a year, and spent just 10 days in NZ. My biggest dissapointment with the year was only spending 10 days in NZ, wish it had been 10Weeks. The people are so nice, the roads so clear (largely). I covered about 2000km and never saw a speed camera, it is clean, it is fresh. Good luck to you

Idz

Kiaora!! ( Hello!! )

We are called Kiwis. Named after our Native Bird.

I'm a Born & Bred New Zealander from a Maori Descendent. I love it here,and I know for a Fact you'll Love it here too. I don't think I'll ever live any where else in the World but here in ( Aotearoa ) New Zealand.

There's so much to see and do here, you'll never get bored.
Yes the grass is greener the water is clean & the people are friendly here. I could go on & on but check this out...........

You can visit this website to find out more about New Zealand.

Go to....... http://www.nz.com/new-zealand/guide-book/

Heres another website you can visit to findout about New Zealand Events and its Culture.

Go to........http://www.nzlive.com

Enjoy!! and Thanks for the 2 points!!

Ka Kite Ano!! ( Bye!! )

brogdenuk

Go for it. Te down side will be it is like the UK, which also can be the upside.

pcorin

There have been a lot of good answers here, but I just wanted to add my two cents.

I'm a kiwi, but have lived many of my 24 years overseas.

New Zealand is a beautiful country. Although I am hoping to spend a few years working in the UK, I will always call New Zealand home.

In my team at work, there are more Germans and South Africans than there are kiwis, so you certainly aren't alone in considering emigrating to New Zealand.

Depending on what you do, it will probably not be the best career move for you, as you will probably take a pay cut, and may find advancement opportunities limited due to New Zealand's smaller market.

The facts are that if work is more of a factor than quality of life, Melbourne or Sydney would probably be a good consideration.

However in terms of quality of life, Australia will always be a distant second.

My Mother's family emigrated from Portsmouth, and my grandmother has never been back, so it is possible. But I think for most 'brits' you never loose your connection completely. But there will always be air travel, so you don't need to say goodbye to your friends and family forever.

So there are ultimately a lot of factors to consider, and I wish you all the best in making the decision.

---
My blog:
http://www.peteandmegan.com

Chris O

Hello, I spent 5 months in NZ and it is FAB! Superb climate, friendly people, stable economy (Interest rates over 7% mind), you may as well go for it!!

Also, much better standard of living in NZ< and a faw lower obesity rate (bar the maori's, most of the big fellas I met oculd put food away like nobodys business)

dkm2006

i agree with chris, you would enjoy new zealand and i should know i lived there for 20 years, grass is a lot greener and to get to the beach either way takes about 45 minutes, then you have the mountains close by, bars and food is good, i find when i go back the food is a bit more richer but good to eat, can't get enough of it, schooling and living is cheaper, and hardly crowded there is plenty of open space in NZ.

erdinger dunckle

its like England in the 1950's but without the english pub culture. I think you have to have a pretty healthy bank balance to go though

bisdak_4_life

think of Melbourne or Sydney in australia then add the coldness of UK then you have NZ!!!

meynell35

The climate is not dissimilar to our own. The lifestyle is very good, with lots of pportunities for different sports etc.

English is the main language so you will have no problems there.

The downside may be the distance from the UK. A friend emigrated a few years ago but came back after a couple of years because she felt very isolated from her family. Her parents were getting too unwell to travel.

If you decide to go, good luck.

tracy211968

I'm with you, I 'd love to go there myself.

tay_jen1

i dont know about comparing NZ to the UK, but the people that I know who have emmigrated there love it. Its clean and the safe. The people are friendly without being overbearing and life is generally quite good.

capobeachgrandma

A friend of mine wanted to emmigrate there, but she couldn't take her dog, so she didn't go. Are the Mauri's friendly?

[deleted]

Never been there, but its quite good from what I've heard

kevin d

New Zealand is a lovely place .
Consider there is little employment , you would be better off in Melbourne Australia . there is work , the temperature is moderate , and the people are friendly .
I am building a blog to show people in the UK , what we are like down here .
It's a work in progress , but is on the way , and already worth a look .
The Mornington peninsula is the best place in Australia to move , and we have work , and a good education system .
That's why all the kiwis are moving over here .

BRIAN B

If you have to ask the question, you really shouldn't be going

The only thing wrong with NZ is that its a long way from anywhere, Australia is at least a 3 hr flight.

Education is excellent, the people are friendly, and to see any sights, my best suggestion is to look out a window.

smak110

try canada its simple and easy to migrate canada just visit www.cic.gc.ca

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