Any positive stories?
#16
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Whangaparaoa
Posts: 458
Re: Any positive stories?
I have read quite a few replies on threads here and most seem to be of the opinion that moving to nz was a bad idea and they want to come back to the uk. Are there any positive stories of making the move?! I'm sure with so many Brits moving out it must work out well for some?!
Thanks
Thanks
The negativity as far as I can see comes down to two main things:
- the financials
- the distance from family
If you square those two things, then you will love it here. Those are big hurdles though and should not be underestimated by any means...
#17
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Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
#18
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Joined: Jan 2012
Location: St Albans, Christchurch
Posts: 586
Re: Any positive stories?
Life is pretty damn good (fingers crossed). We earn a little more money here, so that offsets the cost of living. Have bought our first home which would not have been possible in the UK, 15 min commute to work, lots of amenities closeby on tap. Have made lots of new friends through our club and enjoy a busy social life. Watching the (slow) rebuild of a city is probably a once in a lifetime event, every little change is amazing to see. I certainly worry and stress a lot less. Has been a real privilege.
#19
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Joined: Oct 2014
Location: North Canterbury
Posts: 487
Re: Any positive stories?
How positive do you want???
I almost wake up every morning, needing to relive myself as to how lucky I am living in such a world class amazing beautiful country. Driving down the main street to highway 1, seeing the Southern Alps dead ahead, I have to stop every day just to take a photo at the scenery. To the left and right is a championship golf course that i'm a member of and is extremely cheap to join.
Then there's the uniqueness of being knocked over at least twice a year - especially at pedestrian crossings. What a story to tell! Being able to describe to your kids the feeling of a bonnet hitting your legs at speed - I'd be excellent at teaching road safety to children
Being 88888888 around by your insurers and government offiicals over your first property you had here is also amazing. Nearly 4 years and counting. Amazing!!! I just love it when a note comes through from the insurer or through the government department about our property going through the 1,568,327 decision. It's such a lovely feeling to drive past it and see all the windows boarded up, overgrown weeds, you literally cannot even get through to the communal area anymore.
I beg for some rain in this country or especially in Canterbury. It's a constant 100 degree baking hot sun here. No wonder why so many Brits want to jump ship when the weather is as good as it is here. Even in the winter, you'll see locals and nationals on the beaches in bikinis, swim shorts and topless. Wow a 24/7 year round beach access - yay!!!
I love living here. How can anyone want to even think about returning to the UK is beyond me. Any moans are a figment of ones imagination. It's all hunky dory in this country. I love it so much, I ended up setting up a Chinese bank account in preparation for the next 5 years...
The negative stories are just made up. If you do see a bad experience, it's always the foreigners fault. Irish builders have cocked up housing rebuilds, Asian drivers always cause accidents and any moans you here about housing are the fault of the Chinese for buying everything up. What's that, racism???? Doesn't exist - if you ever here the phrase "eff off back to England you effin pommy barsteward", it's a great compliment! You should take them for a drink as a thank you for such a kind comment
Plus the NZ passport is such a groovy passport. It also gives you the freedom to work in Australia. Australia and New Zealand or Europe???
I almost wake up every morning, needing to relive myself as to how lucky I am living in such a world class amazing beautiful country. Driving down the main street to highway 1, seeing the Southern Alps dead ahead, I have to stop every day just to take a photo at the scenery. To the left and right is a championship golf course that i'm a member of and is extremely cheap to join.
Then there's the uniqueness of being knocked over at least twice a year - especially at pedestrian crossings. What a story to tell! Being able to describe to your kids the feeling of a bonnet hitting your legs at speed - I'd be excellent at teaching road safety to children
Being 88888888 around by your insurers and government offiicals over your first property you had here is also amazing. Nearly 4 years and counting. Amazing!!! I just love it when a note comes through from the insurer or through the government department about our property going through the 1,568,327 decision. It's such a lovely feeling to drive past it and see all the windows boarded up, overgrown weeds, you literally cannot even get through to the communal area anymore.
I beg for some rain in this country or especially in Canterbury. It's a constant 100 degree baking hot sun here. No wonder why so many Brits want to jump ship when the weather is as good as it is here. Even in the winter, you'll see locals and nationals on the beaches in bikinis, swim shorts and topless. Wow a 24/7 year round beach access - yay!!!
I love living here. How can anyone want to even think about returning to the UK is beyond me. Any moans are a figment of ones imagination. It's all hunky dory in this country. I love it so much, I ended up setting up a Chinese bank account in preparation for the next 5 years...
The negative stories are just made up. If you do see a bad experience, it's always the foreigners fault. Irish builders have cocked up housing rebuilds, Asian drivers always cause accidents and any moans you here about housing are the fault of the Chinese for buying everything up. What's that, racism???? Doesn't exist - if you ever here the phrase "eff off back to England you effin pommy barsteward", it's a great compliment! You should take them for a drink as a thank you for such a kind comment
Plus the NZ passport is such a groovy passport. It also gives you the freedom to work in Australia. Australia and New Zealand or Europe???
#21
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Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
Re: Any positive stories?
I'll remember that when I'm crying my eyes out having not slept because of the wind and having to yet again wipe the bloody windows in the morning, and being cold at night and having to account for every penny as its so expensive for less quality goods, and I and the kids are left alone again because the roads/trains aren't working
Last edited by MrsFychan; Aug 25th 2015 at 10:25 pm.
#22
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Joined: Oct 2014
Location: North Canterbury
Posts: 487
Re: Any positive stories?
I'll remember that when I'm crying my eyes out having not slept because of the wind and having to yet again wipe the bloody windows in the morning, and being cold at night and having to account for every penny as its so expensive for less quality goods, and I and the kids are left alone again because the roads/trains aren't working
Just think of all that water from your windows though. You could use that to wash yourselves, feed your plants or wash the potatoes. Plus in 10-20 years time, that water could be worth billions whilst the other developed countries have moved with the times.. You could have residents from China or Japan queuing up with their millions to buy it from you
Plus in cold nights, have they not taught you to learn from their masters that crossed the Antarctic. Literally, sleep wearing 27 wolly jumpers, ski trousers, gloves, hat, scarf and feet warmers. How amazing is that feeling of wearing so many clothes to keep warm I thought it was a common school subject for kids - we lived like this in 1864 and we expect you to live like this in the year 2015
What's wrong with your K-Mart can opener breaking after a week? It means you'll go and get another one. It's one of their key operating techniques here. Make stuff that'll wear out or break within a week or two, and then you'll be back for more. Don't want that, well just go to Farmers and pay $279 for one
Oh and where else can you have shoes on, where there may as well be no sole. How amazing is it when you are running on gravel with soulless trainers - the feeling of stones causing grief to your feet is great.
#23
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Whangaparaoa
Posts: 458
Re: Any positive stories?
Reading thru the cutting irony, many of those points come down to money. And as I say in my Auckland - I wouldn't legendary post you've got to have a shed load of it to make your life here vaguely comfortable.
If you don't have a crock load of reddies to burn you should definitely think twice. Someone mentioned 120k for Auckland. For a family of 5 with a significant mortgage I would say more like 150-180k for some level of comfort.
All of that said, it's hardly magic in mother England either....
If you don't have a crock load of reddies to burn you should definitely think twice. Someone mentioned 120k for Auckland. For a family of 5 with a significant mortgage I would say more like 150-180k for some level of comfort.
All of that said, it's hardly magic in mother England either....
#24
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Whangaparaoa
Posts: 458
Re: Any positive stories?
Ps I would say it's no better no worse. I don't have significant family to miss and my other half isn't fussed. The kids miss their gps though so that's a shame
#25
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Joined: Jul 2013
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 570
Re: Any positive stories?
I sometimes look at my life and think 'how did I get here?' and it isn't perfect by a long stretch but I certainly do not regret the move. If I have thoughts of moving back (which are always transient) its mostly because I feel a bit bad I am so far from family and they miss me rather than I miss the UK (which I really don't).
I am happy here. I have good friends and life that is my own. Sure there are things that would make it better, but I can work towards those things here just as easily (if not more so) than I could in the UK. So this was a positive move for me and I am happy.
I am happy here. I have good friends and life that is my own. Sure there are things that would make it better, but I can work towards those things here just as easily (if not more so) than I could in the UK. So this was a positive move for me and I am happy.
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 55
Re: Any positive stories?
QUOTE "What's wrong with your K-Mart can opener breaking after a week? It means you'll go and get another one. It's one of their key operating techniques here. Make stuff that'll wear out or break within a week or two, and then you'll be back for more. Don't want that, well just go to Farmers and pay $279 for one "
Sorry TOM H - this made me smile - I am still trying to find a can opener that will work, not break after a week and doesn't cost the earth
Sorry TOM H - this made me smile - I am still trying to find a can opener that will work, not break after a week and doesn't cost the earth
#27
Re: Any positive stories?
Good grief, what are you all doing with your can openers I bought my cheap shitty K-Mart one when I first moved and it lasted a whole 2.5 years - it finally crumbled in my hands meaning a trip to my neighbours in my jim jams to borrow hers!
In a round about way though, probs not going to move back to the UK due to a string of faulty can openers
In a round about way though, probs not going to move back to the UK due to a string of faulty can openers
#28
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Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: Any positive stories?
Come on people, you're letting the side down, you seem to be forgetting this is the land of milk and honey, where we all have 100% pure fresh fruit and veg from your garden, world-class, export quality meat and fish.
Why the fire-truck would you even need a tin-opener?
Why the fire-truck would you even need a tin-opener?
#29
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Any positive stories?
I have read quite a few replies on threads here and most seem to be of the opinion that moving to nz was a bad idea and they want to come back to the uk. Are there any positive stories of making the move?! I'm sure with so many Brits moving out it must work out well for some?!
Thanks
Thanks
#30
Re: Any positive stories?
We love NZ and have no intention of going back.
Financially we are actually better off here and work less hours.
We love the emptiness of the country and love the fact that we don't have to
endure a "rush hour" any more.
The scenery is just awesome and life just seems to amble on by rather than
just flying past.
Of course nowhere is perfect, there are problems here as well as the UK,
but our life here is pretty close to perfect.
Maybe we are just extremely lucky, but if you don't give it a go, you will never know.
Financially we are actually better off here and work less hours.
We love the emptiness of the country and love the fact that we don't have to
endure a "rush hour" any more.
The scenery is just awesome and life just seems to amble on by rather than
just flying past.
Of course nowhere is perfect, there are problems here as well as the UK,
but our life here is pretty close to perfect.
Maybe we are just extremely lucky, but if you don't give it a go, you will never know.