RedMonsk

Lots of people think we would be mad to go out without doing a recce, "What if you hate it?!". Basically, I don't think we will! Everyone I speak to either knows someone who has emmigrated there or had a holiday there and no one ever has a bad word to say about NZ.

I know a lot of people complain about wages and cost of living. But I'm hoping we'll be okay. We should be able to buy a house and be mortgage free which would instantly save us about £1000 a month and the house we do buy in NZ would be a lot bigger than we could ever afford here!

I just dream of a nice house with loads of space for the kids to play in!

happynz

If you are able to come here and be mortgage free you'll be laughing. Come on down.

Colin in the middle

The ones that go back usually keep quite because of the bad experiance they found. I know of several people who could not hack it out here and returned to the UK.
Biggest mistake is people who bring the baggage of the UK life style with them and do not adapt to the kiwi lifestyle.
People who holiday here in NZ do not see what its really like to live here, come out for 12 months you get an idea.

jill1420

Colin......................what do you mean by baggage? Would you go back to UK tomorrow if it was possible? It is scary making the move.............. but I know a few people that have come back to the UK and they have all said they were glad they went and tried it even though it was hard at times..........................it was a great experience. Would you agree?

Redmonsk.........................you are in such an enviable position being mortgage free...........................what a huge weight off your shoulders every month.........................good luck to you all.....................where are you heading?

Colin in the middle

When refering to baggage I probably could upset a lot of people refering to a cultural differance in lifestyles. I guess everyone does it by making comparisons to the UK (we do it here) and the faster pace lifestyle lead in the UK.
I noticed it on returning to the UK after a 18 month stay and seen it with my wife and Father less so with my mother because she got used to it in earlier trips.
Quite funny because in there company people though I was a returning Kiwi

The thing I call baggage is ATTITUDE

Could we move back to the UK? I think I would not fit in back in the UK because I have that Kiwiana baggage and would find the UK very up itself.

jill1420

Thanks Colin...................appreciate the honest reply.
Sometimes I wonder what the hell Im even thinking of..........................uprooting ................. leaving close family..........for lets be honest a big risk and alot of what ifs.
Im not running away from anything and I have no rosey dream about what Im running to ..................... other than my main hope of a more positive country offering the children a brighter future. Some will agree.................some will disagree if this is true....................but I cant shake off the idea that its worth a try...................my home town is not looking promising for my kids futures....................they are very sporty...........rugby,golf and boxing and Im hoping these needs will be better catered for in NZ. Having said that ...................... they also understand that we all need to be happy.

Winnie

We sold up, packed up and came to live in NZ without doing a reccie first. Its the best thing we've ever done and have absolutely no regrets; we've been here for 19 months. I could NEVER NEVER NEVER imagine going back to the UK, not even for a holiday. Life is sweet here and we're here to stay!

jill1420

I do read all the negatives as I believe its good to get a balance......................but I especially love reading all the positives..................thanks Winnie

RedMonsk

Thanks folks! It makes me think that anything is possible!

jill1420

Sorry RedMonsk.....................should also have said....................we (me, hubby 2 kids 12 & 10) coming out without visiting before.
We were in Queensland Oz for 4 weeks at xmas and couldnt believe the difference in peoples attitudes compared to UK. Came home saying.............gr8 ............but no way ................... too far. And now we are planning a move to NZ in Jan 08'..................its gotta be worth a try

Colin in the middle

Anything is possible but overall the life style is way better than what you would have had in the UK.

If we had stayed in the UK I have little doubt we would have either been renting or in a council house. At least here we were able to get out of the city and into a house we can call our own. Would have been better Mortgage free but thats the price of the cards we have been dealt. Trick now is to keep the foot in the door and keep it open, asked me last year and I would have said things were perfect. This year well not quite according to the plan.

jill1420

Im hoping you get a better hand of cards soon..................best wishes

RedMonsk

Hi Colin, I hope things go a bit smoother for you soon! How long have you been in NZ? They say you have to give it 2 years for things to fall into place!

I think we have finally decided on a destination in NZ!!!........ Looks like it's going to be Northland! We really had to pick somewhere, otherwise I reckon we would have been travelling the country endlessly!! Northland seems to tick all the boxes - just have to try and find hubby a job now!

annbee

Hi

We are moving out in 10 weeks, never been, going on my sisters recommendation, she has been on holiday there. Hubbie has got a job with the RNZAF so a bit easier for us, as they pay for it all, visas, container, flights etc. We are known in our family for never taking risks, so all are quite shocked that we are going ahead with it. Really cant wait to get over there now and get settled

Love
Annbeexx

Dave-G

My wife and 2 boys still in UK living with mother in law. We had talked about emigrating for years but had never visited but decided it was now or never. I'm 38 wife is 35 boys are 12 and 6. Sold our house put stuff in storage and I left my job on a Friday and left the country 3 three days later. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Would rather try and fail then spend the rest of our lives wondering. Luckily have had a job offer so family should be over as soon as visa sorted.