[RobDon]

Well where to begin, we have made it mainly unscathed to our 2nd anniversary. The last 2 years has gone by so quickly. It has been both traumatic and life changing.
We just thought we would share our experiences of our time in New Zealand.

Leaving Jack, (most of you will know Jack and his posts well.) was the most traumatic experiences we all went through and its something none of us wants to repeat again in a hurry - Jack included! But as was said to us at the time, it does get easier with the passage of time and Jack agrees. It also helped enormously that we kept in touch regularly with Skype, MSN, Facebook etc….He came over in last September for a months holiday and loved NZ.

When we first arrived we were amazed by the lack of traffic on the roads compared to Liverpool! It was quite spooky being on the roads at night as we were usually the only car around! As has been said before driving here leaves a lot to be desired but hey, you learn to live with it and you do get used to it.

We stayed in a holiday bach, booked from the UK, for the first six weeks after we arrived. It was fully furnished and did exactly what it said on the tin!
We found a brilliant rental (OMG we saw some awful places too!) at the end of August 09 and moved in here in September. The house is quite new so although we still have wet windows when it is cold, it is well insulated and warm. I don’t think we would have been able to afford this size of house or live in this type of area in the UK.
The area is lovely and we have lovely views in all directions. The icing on the cake was when our container arrived. It really was like Christmas, but made the house a home for us. Cheesy but true!

I started my job in the hospital in September 09 and I am still there. The work is very similar to that in the UK but less stress and so laid back. The whole work environment is wonderful and I enjoy going to work, plus we have just moved into our lovely newly built hospital.
OH did struggle to find permanent work but after a year of trying landed a permanent job. He loves it and has settled back into work very well with a great bunch of guys we now call friends. We have also met some fantastic friends through this site. You know who you are!
The girls settled very well into school (yrs 9 & 13) and made lots of new friends. Still not got their heads round going to school in August though!
Eldest daughter now at Polytech doing exceedingly well and youngest daughter is now in yr 10 also doing well.

We have found shopping for anything but food is dire to be fair, but I think that is because we have been spoilt by the vast amount of choice for everything in the UK. Good old supply and demand. We miss ASDA and Next probably the most!
Food shopping is on a par with the UK and we spend probably around the same amount of money weekly on food here as we did there.
Everyone is so friendly too here, going out of their way to help you. Lovely people everywhere, in our experience.

We do spend time together as a family and go to the beaches, mountain biking, fishing, walking or even just sitting in the garden. We collect the girls from college/school in the summer and go to the Blue Lake to swim. Things we never seemed to have the time (or the weather!) to do in the UK. Love the fact that 5 minutes drive in any direction and you are in the countryside.

Can’t complain about the weather either as we have still been drying clothes in the garden throughout the winter! Not everyday, but still often.

Christmas in the summer was a strange experience too! Fairy lights on in the sunshine! Now that is just plain alien!
Summer holidays in December and January is something we are still trying to get our heads around too!

We also got two kittens last April who are adorable. Now five and a half months old. Pics are on another thread!

On the whole, it has been two years of ups and downs but the ups far out way the downs. We have all had bad days but mainly because we have been people sick not home sick.

The main and most exiting update is that in the last couple of weeks Jack has decided to move over here.
His flight is booked and leaves the UK on 3rd October!
We can’t wait to see him again and he can’t wait to be here.


New Zealand is working for us, we feel very settled here. We love our new life here and look forward to our third anniversary as a complete family!

Would we do it all again? Without a shadow of a doubt!
Would we do anything different? We would bring absolutely everything with us.

Would we go back? For a visit maybe, but to live – not on your life!

[Vikkichic]

What a lovely update. I love reading peoples' reviews. Before we moved here, they helped enormously. Now I find myself identifying with a lot of the things written.
How exciting for you that Jack is coming over! All the best for a continuing good life here.

[Luckybird]

Brilliant update thank you for sharing and so agree with the 'We have all had bad days but mainly because we have been people sick not home sick' comment it is so true and what lovely news that Jack is coming over too, happy days . Wishing you and your family continued happiness x

[lisamct]

Great update I'm almost exactly a year behind you so will be thinking about doing my 'one year update' tomorrow!

Oh and 'lovely new built hospital' yeah yeah rub it in why dont ya...some of us are still stuck in the cold and miserable ruins of the old one

[bolton1]

Great update - I hope you are still showing off your muffin making talents !!

[HelsnLee]

Fantastic update! Really helps us newbies with the nerves of preparing to emigrate and showing it'll all be worthwhile!! Thanks

[florabundi]

Brilliant, really glad you are settled and have no regrets. I think Christmas lights in the summer is going to take some getting used to!

[Tray]

Happy re-union..glad it's all worked out for you guys enjoyed the read Know what you mean about the fairy lights..I may put mine up in August next year

[Tomsk]

Many congratulations on your 2 years here, and great to hear that you're so settled and positive about the move . We're all made up for you that Jack's moving over, & it looks like your Mum is coming for an extended stay too.
Must meet up sometime for a celebratory 2 year drink

[MattandJax]

fantastic review. so glad its all working out. can empathise with your Jack thing. all my 3 kids in the UK, and really miss my youngest (nearly 15) he loves it out here and really wants to live here. it was so hard saying goodbye again when his holiday here finished last week. hopefully when he's 16 he will be able to come out for good!
best wishes and heres to the next year being as good if not better for you all!

[Mrs Pointer]

The phrase people sick is a good one....only been here five months and I know what you mean. I don't miss the UK at all...just my loved ones, but feel pretty connected to them with skype, facebook, email, etc

Mind you I was sick OF them when I was in the UK

[MooMoo290373]

Originally Posted by bolton1 Great update - I hope you are still showing off your muffin making talents !!

I bet she is lol great update love 2 years has also gone very quick for us too, still loving it, just brought our 1st kiwi home still not home sick at all, life is great here in Papamoa