First year in New Zealand
Discussion
A year ago we emigrated to NZ. For various reasons. Partly I was bored and wanted a change. Mainly because I thought it would be good for our daughter and us to have a second place we could call home. When we moved we didn’t know how long we would stay (still don’t really although it looks like my daughter doesn’t want to go to University here so we will probably follow her).
Overall I think it was a worthwhile move, certainly life here under Covid has been a lot easier than it seems to have been in the UK. There are also a number of other positives:
- we have met some friendly people
- Auckland is a much nicer place to live than where we were in the UK.
Bigger without being too big, lots of green spaces, next to the Ocean, clean,
lots of good restaurants
- lovely countryside (we haven’t been to the South Island yet so not seen the spectacular scenery yet).
- weather is so much better than the UK - much milder winter, no frost, no salt on the road, lovely, long and dry summer but not as hot as the UK
- lots of sporting opportunities (tennis, badminton, Kendo, archery)
- daughter likes it - said it had been the best year of her life
- best of all the roads here (once outside of greater Auckland) are great with not much traffic and lots of bends. Road surface not always great but overall I’ve had great fun on my bike and best of all, managed to ride all through the winter no problem (except for Covid restrictions)
Not everything is perfect though
- cost of living is very high (food, utilities, rent)
- quality of housing is poor (no central heating, very poor insulation)
- wages low (and no real pension contributions)
- I hate my job - I knew I was going to dislike it but took it as it pays to be here. it hasn’t worked out though
- not related to being here but discovered some health issues I didn’t know I had
- feels a long way from everything and of course none of my family or friends can visit us currently
- wife doesn’t want to be here really
If anyone is thinking of moving to NZ I would say it is worth it (although personally I think we would only be happy here in Auckland as it would
be too quiet and provincial outside and too cold further south given how crap the housing is).
Overall I think it was a worthwhile move, certainly life here under Covid has been a lot easier than it seems to have been in the UK. There are also a number of other positives:
- we have met some friendly people
- Auckland is a much nicer place to live than where we were in the UK.
Bigger without being too big, lots of green spaces, next to the Ocean, clean,
lots of good restaurants
- lovely countryside (we haven’t been to the South Island yet so not seen the spectacular scenery yet).
- weather is so much better than the UK - much milder winter, no frost, no salt on the road, lovely, long and dry summer but not as hot as the UK
- lots of sporting opportunities (tennis, badminton, Kendo, archery)
- daughter likes it - said it had been the best year of her life
- best of all the roads here (once outside of greater Auckland) are great with not much traffic and lots of bends. Road surface not always great but overall I’ve had great fun on my bike and best of all, managed to ride all through the winter no problem (except for Covid restrictions)
Not everything is perfect though
- cost of living is very high (food, utilities, rent)
- quality of housing is poor (no central heating, very poor insulation)
- wages low (and no real pension contributions)
- I hate my job - I knew I was going to dislike it but took it as it pays to be here. it hasn’t worked out though
- not related to being here but discovered some health issues I didn’t know I had
- feels a long way from everything and of course none of my family or friends can visit us currently
- wife doesn’t want to be here really
If anyone is thinking of moving to NZ I would say it is worth it (although personally I think we would only be happy here in Auckland as it would
be too quiet and provincial outside and too cold further south given how crap the housing is).
I haven’t been to NZ for perhaps 30 years but in my mind, what you say is very understandable- an Australia that is a little more ‘outdoors’ less vicious climate and more ‘friendly’
I totally get the ‘distance thing’ yet in reality anyway is more or les 20 -24 hr door to door, but it just seems ‘very remote’
I hope the pieces, the health, fall into place to allow you the mental space to enjoy a wonderful country.
FTR - I would,
I totally get the ‘distance thing’ yet in reality anyway is more or les 20 -24 hr door to door, but it just seems ‘very remote’
I hope the pieces, the health, fall into place to allow you the mental space to enjoy a wonderful country.
FTR - I would,
I spent a year living and working in Wellington, and to be honest would never go back.
For all the reasons you mention, and then some.
There's more to life than The Beach. Sandflies, for one thing.
ETA: If both partners aren't entirely committed to making it work, it won't.
VOE.
For all the reasons you mention, and then some.
There's more to life than The Beach. Sandflies, for one thing.
ETA: If both partners aren't entirely committed to making it work, it won't.
VOE.
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Sunday 30th August 00:35
The Spruce Goose said:
not been and do dream of emigrating, but this country offers so much. I would try Scotland first my self. Britain can be a horrible place but when it's good it bloody brilliant.
Not sure about Scotland with all the uppity Picts, but there are certainly places in the UK that tick many of those boxes without being at the arse end of the world.85Carrera said:
Not sure about Scotland with all the uppity Picts, but there are certainly places in the UK that tick many of those boxes without being at the arse end of the world.
I spent a lot of time in Scotland and it pretty amazing, as is Wales, I think we take for granted what is on out doorstep sometimes.Mobile Chicane said:
I spent a year living and working in Wellington, and to be honest would never go back.
For all the reasons you mention, and then some.
There's more to life than The Beach. Sandflies, for one thing.
ETA: If both partners aren't entirely committed to making it work, it won't.
VOE.
One of the friends we have made is originally from Wellington. She came to Auckland when her husband’s employer moved him. She says she wouldn’t go back again. For all the reasons you mention, and then some.
There's more to life than The Beach. Sandflies, for one thing.
ETA: If both partners aren't entirely committed to making it work, it won't.
VOE.
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Sunday 30th August 00:35
Kudos to you for making the move but if you don’t mind an observation from a random it doesn’t exactly sound like it’s working out: your daughter effectively wants to leave for a Uni, your wife doesn’t want to be there and you hate your job.
It’s great to be hang in there when life throws you a challenge but why precisely are you there?
It’s great to be hang in there when life throws you a challenge but why precisely are you there?
CS Garth said:
Kudos to you for making the move but if you don’t mind an observation from a random it doesn’t exactly sound like it’s working out: your daughter effectively wants to leave for a Uni, your wife doesn’t want to be there and you hate your job.
It’s great to be hang in there when life throws you a challenge but why precisely are you there?
"For various reasons. Partly I was bored and wanted a change. Mainly because I thought it would be good for our daughter and us to have a second place we could call home."It’s great to be hang in there when life throws you a challenge but why precisely are you there?
It is a long way from anywhere. One reason I like it but if you are used to day trips to Europe its not the place to be.
Housing can be poor esp rentals, its also relatively un-affordable compared to income. But saying that I cant imagine being able to afford the house I own now, with the views and the location, anywhere in England. We've put in effort to make it more livable (insulation, double glazing etc) and its fine now but we'll build something else in a few years.
I cant imagine returning to the UK to live hate it more every time i visit.
Housing can be poor esp rentals, its also relatively un-affordable compared to income. But saying that I cant imagine being able to afford the house I own now, with the views and the location, anywhere in England. We've put in effort to make it more livable (insulation, double glazing etc) and its fine now but we'll build something else in a few years.
I cant imagine returning to the UK to live hate it more every time i visit.
RobDickinson said:
It is a long way from anywhere. One reason I like it but if you are used to day trips to Europe its not the place to be.
Housing can be poor esp rentals, its also relatively un-affordable compared to income. But saying that I cant imagine being able to afford the house I own now, with the views and the location, anywhere in England. We've put in effort to make it more livable (insulation, double glazing etc) and its fine now but we'll build something else in a few years.
I cant imagine returning to the UK to live hate it more every time i visit.
Bit harsh!Housing can be poor esp rentals, its also relatively un-affordable compared to income. But saying that I cant imagine being able to afford the house I own now, with the views and the location, anywhere in England. We've put in effort to make it more livable (insulation, double glazing etc) and its fine now but we'll build something else in a few years.
I cant imagine returning to the UK to live hate it more every time i visit.
My sister married a Kiwi and they have a couple of kids. They lived in Christchurch and currently in Auckland due to move back to the UK permanently mid September. We loved it when we visited but couldn't live there. Too remote and far from family, etc and both our young daughters wouldn't get the career opportunities they will have here in the UK. Amazing place for a holiday though!
The housing quality I find surprising, you'd think over recent decades it would have improved, it's not as if what we do here on the UK with house building is a secret.
I've a close friend on the south island, near Christchurch. His house has no central heating, is poorly insulated and has a lot burner and a couple of small electric heaters for the winter. Doesn't sound too comfortable in my mind.
I've a close friend on the south island, near Christchurch. His house has no central heating, is poorly insulated and has a lot burner and a couple of small electric heaters for the winter. Doesn't sound too comfortable in my mind.
CS Garth said:
Kudos to you for making the move but if you don’t mind an observation from a random it doesn’t exactly sound like it’s working out: your daughter effectively wants to leave for a Uni, your wife doesn’t want to be there and you hate your job.
hate to say it but I tend to agree. whatever you decide you will have learned a lot anyway.CS Garth said:
Lemming Train said:
"For various reasons. Partly I was bored and wanted a change. Mainly because I thought it would be good for our daughter and us to have a second place we could call home."
That’s why he went. I’m asking why he remains ie are these reasons still valid. It really helps if you can get on the housing ladder, rentals here are garbage and no one will invest in them to make them better. You can have a good warm home here but its almost impossible to have this renting.
Auckland though has a real housing cost problem.
We are looking at a long period of low interest rates and a low deposit too but the market is going crazy still.
I dont find utilities (other than rates) expensive or food tbh but it depends on how you are doing, buying pre-made meals and take outs etc all the time wont be cheap. Power is cheaper here too I think (my average leccy bill is about $200 a month for heating, water, car etc).
Be worth getting down south for a road trip even if you dont stay, its a stunning place.
Auckland though has a real housing cost problem.
We are looking at a long period of low interest rates and a low deposit too but the market is going crazy still.
I dont find utilities (other than rates) expensive or food tbh but it depends on how you are doing, buying pre-made meals and take outs etc all the time wont be cheap. Power is cheaper here too I think (my average leccy bill is about $200 a month for heating, water, car etc).
Be worth getting down south for a road trip even if you dont stay, its a stunning place.
Esceptico said:
A year ago we emigrated to NZ. For various reasons. Partly I was bored and wanted a change.
You went to NZ because you were bored? The stated reason most of my Kiwi friends don't live there is because it is a backwater and nothing ever happens there (think Wales in the 1970s).It is worth trying these things out though, better to regret having done something etc etc. I know a lot of people who've moved overseas, hated it or gained a different or better perspective on life. My Aussie born wife gets very cross with people criticising the UK or going on about how much better they think Australia is, she prefers it over here for a variety of reasons, as do many of her foreign born friends.
RobDickinson said:
It really helps if you can get on the housing ladder, rentals here are garbage and no one will invest in them to make them better. You can have a good warm home here but its almost impossible to have this renting.
Auckland though has a real housing cost problem.
We are looking at a long period of low interest rates and a low deposit too but the market is going crazy still.
I dont find utilities (other than rates) expensive or food tbh but it depends on how you are doing, buying pre-made meals and take outs etc all the time wont be cheap. Power is cheaper here too I think (my average leccy bill is about $200 a month for heating, water, car etc).
Be worth getting down south for a road trip even if you dont stay, its a stunning place.
The law was changed recently so unless you are a permanent resident you aren’t allowed to buy a house.Auckland though has a real housing cost problem.
We are looking at a long period of low interest rates and a low deposit too but the market is going crazy still.
I dont find utilities (other than rates) expensive or food tbh but it depends on how you are doing, buying pre-made meals and take outs etc all the time wont be cheap. Power is cheaper here too I think (my average leccy bill is about $200 a month for heating, water, car etc).
Be worth getting down south for a road trip even if you dont stay, its a stunning place.
Surprised you don’t find food expensive - maybe you are just used to it but prices are much higher like for like eg Parmesan is three times the price in the UK, milk is twice the price. I made a Sunday roast recently and bought parsnips. I thought £2 a kg wasn’t too bad until I realised it was £2 per parsnip!
Conversely eating out isn’t too bad. Lots of really good Asian food. When I was working in the office I often went to a Japanese restaurant for beef curry and rice for £5.
We were just talking about our summer holiday plans over dinner. Going to fly down to Queenstown, stay for a few days then hire a car and do some sightseeing (haven’t got as far as planning where to go yet).
Daughter and I also going to try doing the Tangiro crossing (not same trip of course) and I’m planning to bugger off for a couple of days on my motorbike to ride up the SH1 to the northernmost tip of the North Island.
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