My other half has recently been on a recce to Nz and Oz, He went to Blenheim nz loved it wide open spaces, beautiful scenery, very family friendly and definite ethos about work to live not live to work and would work shorter days with no commute more time with the kids (as works really hard here and we see too little of him), got a job offer and very distant family there who helped sooooo much and would if we moved got a great gut feeling abut the place!! down side wages rubbish cost of living a little high. Went to Adelaide not for us so no probs.

Then went to Melbourne also loved it for very different reasons, everything you could need on your doorstep, great shops, affordable housing on new build sites looked at point cook and sanctuary lakes sooo impressed. But large built up city ?more keeping up with the jones and after talking to a few people they all seemed to work long hours about 60hrs a week on average which was expected by employers so less time with kids and half way around the world so not a big a social network with three kids 4 and under..........

Not got any of those rose tinted specs on and knew there would be pro's and con's whatever the decision but the trouble is making one...

One day we do our pro's and con's list and say yes NZ definitely for us and no sooner have we uttered the words it follows by well Melbourne has got loads going for it what about when the kids are older will the open space and outdoor life be better than theater, shopping and good restaurants etc...

Has anyone else been through a similar experience after a recce or is it just us? I do think I will go mad before long I only told a friend today 'no we have definitely decided it's NZ' and now I write this any thought's may be very helpful!!!!

cheers lisa

Hi Lisa,

Me and my friend met with Dave when he was in Adelaide, and from talking to him I got the impression that NZ was winning, although I think he went to Melbourne from Adelaide didn't he?.

Maybe you should look at moving to one or the other and if you don't like it then you can always go to the other place. Look into how easy/hard it is to move from Oz to NZ and vice versa. I know it's not an ideal situation, but it's going to be easier to move here as opposed to from the UK if you do decide to go that way.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Wherever you move to, it doesn't have to be forever. Look on it as an experience. Never been to either but I would imagine they are totally different so you have to think sensibly - do you go out and about city wise now? Are you country people? Ask yourselves those sorts of questions. Not trying to teach granny to suck eggs but you can get caught up in the excitement of a new life when in reality you will just be living your old lives in a new place.

Not all work more hours - may depend on the vocation - my OH worked 60hrs a week in the UK and no more than 40 here. Again, keeping up with the jones may depend on which area you settle - very little of that where we are. Also, if you are willing to be some way from the city, there are plenty of open spaces and some beautiful ones at that.

Good luck with your decision! I loved NZ when I travelled there, but not sure I would want to live there - I'm a Melbourne girl (love the buzz, art & culture etc).

Rachel

If you genuinely can't split them on pros and cons, toss a coin!

Big difference between Australia and NZ is that Australia is a 1st world country and NZ is not.

If your brain does explode, could you make sure you get it on video please.

I am sure that would be a top you tube moment!!!!!

If you could just sign these 'Exclusive rights' papers, then we're good to go.

I do a 35-37 hr week. And struggle to do that depending on whether I include a 2 hr lunch break *billed*.

hi there.
we moved to nz in feb2007 and are now moving to oz in the new year.
nz in the winter is a cold place to live, the houses have no double glazing or central heating, i have never been in such a cold house as here, even tho its only 7 years old.
the utilities here are very expensive and the wages low.
the schooling is terrible unless you pay for a good school, you even have to pay for a bad schools tho.
doctors and dentists are expensive, did i say wages are low, interest rates are high, as are now the house prices to buy and rent.
to get out of nz it is hellish expensive. internal flights and trains are expensive and the ferry between the 2 islands is expensive.
saying all that nz is the most beautiful country i have been to, but my health and sanity and kids education are more important than scenery.

sorry to be so negative, please do a lot of research bfore making the plunge as it is costing nearly $30,000 to move to oz from nz.
good luck and im sure you will do whats right for you all.
darren

I've never seen it so busy where I work... I reckon its possible that somewhere in Aus, there will be a basic level night postal sorter, If he/she has worked the overtime available say @ 2 hours per day over 48 weeks, plus the extra xmas and easter hours, and cashed in one week, off of the 5 week holidays. Will have earnt over 75,000 Aud. I'd say a fair few of our Vietnamese born colleagues working in Dandenong will have done exactly this.

Thats besides the point... if the OP's brain needs a rest. NZ is the go, If they want to earn money at a faster rate, for a future relaxed lifestyle, then Melbournes the go.

There are 40,000 kiwis moving to oz each year and not so many the other way. There must be a reason for that. Clue - the answer is $$$

Yeah, here's why:
An electrical engineer in WA or Qld can earn AUD150-250k (and probably more).
An electrical engineer in NZ will earn NZD60-120k (maybe a bit more if lucky).

I was about to make that point myself,and the weather in Oz is so much better.It woud be a shame to be stuck indoors in a kiwi winter when you can lap it up in Oz.