Hels41

Hi All,

After spending a 7 years in NZ (Auckland), myself (I'm from Northern Ireland) and Kiwi husband, 2 kids 3 yrs and 16 months have decided to spend ou next chapter in the UK.

We love NZ, but my 2 sisters have young kids the same years as our, not to mention huge extended family. My husband is in Category Management and this area within Marketing is predominently driven from Europe.

Now face the task our selling our home, obtaining quotes, I'm in the midst of my citizenship application and kids British Passports.

We would happily live in either country, but given my husbands work opportunities, wider family and our genral lifestyle choices (we love culture/history and the access around UK and Europe when we can afford).

Anyone else in the process of making the move back, obtainig quotes for shipping and working out the best things to take/sell I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Cheers
Helen

Snap Shot

Helen,

We (husband and I, no dependents) have been in NZ for nearly 2 years. I imagine returning to the UK (S.E. England) will just, for us at least, be similar to how we left Britain in the first place i.e. just unpick everything here then ship out. The cost will be , just have to worry about that against the day it happens !

Mummy in the foothills

Will your husband be already employed before the move or are you going to have to apply for a spouse visa for him and all the headaches that seems to be causing right now.
We are doing the clean out an sell right now, but we are all Dual and moving from US. No visas needed thank goodness.

luvwelly

We've just re-located to a new part of UK for OH's job. We were in NZ for 5 years but have been away from UK for 8 years in total. The worst bit is waiting for your stuff to arrive tbh.
It will be hard to decide where to live I expect...at least we only had a certain area determined by job. Everything else has fallen into place and we are happy to be back home. Good luck..make a list on Excel..that always helps.

janeyk

we have just moved after 4.5 years in NZ the hardest part for us has been creating an identity ie getting a new bank account
I managed to secure a job so that has helped

Snap Shot

Nice one Janeyk. Whereabouts in UK are you ?

janeyk

we have just moved to Oxfordshire a new area for us so lots of discovering

Snap Shot

Nice one Janey ! You (and some others) are proof positive that it can be done.

luvwelly

Glad you found a job more easily this time.

Mummy in the foothills

Well done.

just_jenn

Moved back in 2011 and my toddler loves it over here! Loves the green space, loves his nursery (which is a fraction of what it cost in the USA and they do so much more!), there are so many theme parks/play centres/attractions aimed at children that there's always a nice day out to be had!

My other half is having a hard time finding work (he's been here 7 months) but even in the midst of this low point he loves how our son is growing and developing here.

janeyk

one week in the choice is overwhelming it took 2 hours to go round sainsbugs on Friday and came out with loads of treats bill £113 or $200NZD very few treats in Nz weekly shop always in excess of $250NZD
challenge now to reduce this to 30 mins!

brits1

Lol reminds me of how I first felt on my first shop home after 12 years in Aus at one point I just stood looking at the Crisps and thinking "this is going to take ages"