Snap Shot

Hand luggage might be your only chance of bringing food over. To be honest, you will have far to much to consider that will be more important than favourite foods. Such as passports, electronic games, favourite toys, favourite pyjamas etc etc

The things I buy from an expat shop (either online from Bramtins or visit the shop, 'Tastes of the UK' in Palmerston North)

Are:

Sage and Onion Paxo (local dried stuffing tastes horrible)
Sarsons Malt Vinegar (the local malt vinegar isn't very nice)
Cadburys Bourneville Cocoa (the Cadbury's Bourneville Cocoa here is yuck)
Hartleys Old English marmalade (the local marmalade is far to sweet)
Tetley Tea bags (that's personal taste, but I have it at home....lovely)
Birds Custard Powder - instant low fat for preference (NZ custard isn't nice). I have been know to make my own custard from powder whilst boiling milk on the stove, yeah, all that. It reminds of when my mum or gran used to make it.

I remember when the above was simply groceries. Oh well.

Also, you can get Nescafe coffee but they sell it in in pouches not jars. Unless you buy a small jar. Just a bit more weirdness you'll find out here. I buy several large jars, i.e. 400g when it's on offer at, 'The Warehouse' it's the NZ version of all the non-food departments of Tesco. I also go to a bulk wholesaler called, 'Uncle Bill's' to buy Nescafe in the same size jars if, 'The Warehouse' isn't selling them when I need them. It's not as if my husband gets through them that quick, either !

You can buy Marmite in NZ. If you want to, that is. It's marketed as, 'My Mate' in identical jars. My sister still insists on sending me Marmite for birthday or Christmas though.

j19fmm

Kellogs cereal is available in the Supermarket - we only had own brand in UK so don't bother here. You adjust really quickly. I shop much the same as in uk - if it's not on offer I don't buy it!! Overly excited that Countdown has an offer on 18 loo rolls for $3 tomorrow!!!!

solesister

Cheers folks...I did email PSS removals re the food thing but they never replied
ah well...a few treats in a suitcase then and a good explore at countdown lol. X

Persephone

That's probably best unless it's something really unusual.

I found that there wasn't really anything I missed enough to search for it in the British shops. I don't like Marmite, apparently NZ marmite is not the same.
Most treats like chocolate bars are the same.
The only thing I can think of that I would like to find in your average supermarket is Rowntrees fruit pastilles and decent cheese

solesister

I am a massive cheese lover. Especially a great mature cheddar.

solesister

Ooh...and a nice crumbly cheshire or wendsleydale. Hmmmm I tried some of the Kapiti cheese when I visited....yummy...but pricey.

Persephone

With you there! Though I do find it difficult to find in NZ. I had a cheese frenzy on my return to the UK at Xmas...
[however I am currently living somewhere where decent cheese is even harder to find than in NZ]
Back to NZ soon!

solesister

Ooh where?

Hebe

I was told food was a no no. Got rid of all my spices etc etc but then met several people who brought it all over. Put in a box and shippers didn't notice!! Cost me a small fortune replacing it all

Blade Down Under

If/When you come over and you find a nice mature cheddar at a reasonable price, please let me know

On a rare occasion, i'll buy signature range cheddar (red and black packaged one) but only when they have it on offer - $6.99 for a kg of it. Usually it's $9.99 as they price it one dollar more than the others

I visited Taste of Provence in Somerfield to see if they had any cheese but they don't. I do have the ingredients on how to make a few French cheeses (love my French cheese) but these sort of things are not easy to do when you have little ones causing mayhem all the time.

ellenarosemary

I took all our spices, and also some jams and pickles (homemade) and they came over fine, plus a few other bits and bobs that I couldn't bear to throw out, but put them all in a box myself and labelled it 'food'. Customs never even bothered looking.

solesister

Who did you ship with?

RedDragon2008

They packed our toast still in the toaster


I think its best for the OP to go cold turkey

Kids are only fussy eaters when you let them, and tough I Know but it makes it far easier in the long term.

"You get a choice, this or starve"

jmh

Kids have short memories - by the time the food has been shipped here they will have picked up some new favourites. Maybe bring your own favourites instead - you might need them more than they do!!

Snap Shot

(The worst one I read on here about what packers pack is the cat's litter tray with the stink still in it Yet still there's all the to-ing and fro-ing about what can and/or can't be packed)