bro69

Good,

Relaxed Lifestyle, no big commute to work less stressful atmosphere at work and when you get home you can go out to the beach or for a walk in the hills, this is most places in NZ.

Not too disimilar to the UK in a lot of ways, not a huge culture shock, yes does take time to adjust but they all speak English, the food is similar etc.

Bad

Things seem more expensive, especially goods but not if you continually convert back to what it would cost you sterling, really bad habit, you need top get out of.

Miss just being able to go to the pub and knowing there will be some people I can go for a drink with.

Long way to go home for a visit, by the time you go there and back you need a holiday.

mingusdynasty

- lot better first

* less crowded
* great coffee
* very safe normally
* I would say better weather but where i live is similar to the south-west (christchurch uk) but windy
* ok now im struggling - ok thought of one : can do attitude of kiwis!

- things I miss

* friends, family, humor, banter etc
* pubs
* closeness of Europe
* good newspapers (but not really a prob with internet i suppose)
* the vibrancy of the cities.

dicknlyn

How is NZ better than England? It's not, it's just different! It's what you make of it IMHO.

reecefam

Great...i appreciate your feedbacks...as England, live is what you make it!

BEVS

G'Day Reecefam and welcome to this board.

Not true my friend. Maybe your eye is catching the less enthusiastic posts on various topics, rather than seeing the more rapturous posts. This board tends to have a good mix of people with all manner of views. It's very balanced and realistic which is what a family coming out needs. It's members offer great support and information.

Do you have PR yet or are you just starting out with that process? How close are you to arriving? I'm sure you'll find everyone here very welcoming , helpful and supportive.

Where is your job offer ? You still haven't said. --- edited -- answered my own question . It's Auckland LOL....

People that actually live where your job offer is [ Auckland] may then let you know how life is for them.

Just as in the U.K. each area of NZ has it's own charactor, weather and lifestyle.

With regard to salary, once again, it depends where you are going to settle.
Better to post up what NZ salary you have been offered here and where that job offer is.
I see you have a rental lined up at $500 bucks a week. Where is it ?
cost of living will again depend on where in NZ you will settle. Same as in the UK.

Not comparable. Too many variables. $80K pa would get you more in Invercargill than it would in Auckalnd for instance.

Not sure I understand this. Is your job offer in Auckland then or is it in Northland?
...edited..... I see from previous posts it is Auckland.

Good post

I don't think anyone listing 5 things about NZ or UK is going to help your nerves Reecefam.
New Zealand isn't better than the UK. It's simply different.

Bung us over details about your job offer and where you will be living and that will give us all a better chance to help and support you through your nerves.
As you have sorted out a rental already, someone may know the area and about schools etc. You never know.

karonious

I enjoyed life in the UK - (we moved around a lot as Steve was in the RAF) - I enjoy life here. To my mind, this move was about embarking on the biggest adventure of our lives: to have the gumption to get up and do something so different that we would even find getting up in the morning for work to be less of a chore. We moved here last October with our then 10 year old daughter and I regret very little so far. I miss my family and friends but it is more of a wistful thing than a deep down overwhelming homesickness. And I really feel for those who do suffer from it: it is not something I would wish on anybody.

We never owned a house in Britain, we now own our very first house. One of my favorite pastimes is lying in my hammock in the summer, watching the sky and listening to the cidadas - it brings me such a feeling of joy, contentment and satisfaction with my life, it nearly moves me to tears.
I enjoy my work - the same job I did in the UK (forensic nurse). I find the work-load less and I still have the opportunity to do overtime if I want to.
Schooling seems pretty much the same. Melissa was never a particularly extrovert child but since being here, she has been busking to raise funds for the SPCA!
I find it more multi-cultural here than anywhere I have ever lived and that is an observation, not a criticism. It does feel a bit strange to be the immigrant but I can honestly say that none of us have had racist comments made to us and I haven't heard any made about others.
I find the weather to be better than anywhere I have lived in the UK.

If you have the time and the inclination, you are very welcome to read my blog - the earlier stuff in particular may convey more of our initial feelings and thoughts on our move.
So, I don't really think about better or worse, just different, which is what we came here for.
Karen B

mingusdynasty

A better question to ask is why you want to leave the UK and how you think NZ can meet what the UK doesn't seem to give you.

Woodlea

I say old chap this forum is called BritishExpats - no interlopers please!!

However I see on your profile that you like cricket not British and like cricket - must be mad - or Australian?

Genesis

Its way less crowded if you live away from somewhere huge like Auckland.

The beaches are mostly empty, 365 days a year and you can park for free in most cases when y'all get there.

Far less people..only 4 million sharing the same land mass as opposed to 60 odd million in the UK.

More laid back, kids don't give a stuff about the 'right trainers'..infact most of them are barefooted.

Kids seem to be kids way longer here, less pressure for them it seems. a superlative country to grow up in...I wish I had!!

Its as far away from the UK as we could get..that's quite good in its self he said with a wry smile.

I miss the depth of history in the UK.

The country side, english pubs...but not the prices!!!

Being close to europe.

Old sea side resorts like Polperro and the like.

I can live with all the above.

Here in NZ we have a lifestyle, quality of life, house and neighbourhood that we could only dream of in the UK. We work 50% less but we seem to be twice as well off. we live in a beautiful city with soooooooooooooooooo much more to do than we ever had in Northampton. NZ is far from perfect but it is our nirvana!!!!!!

mumomonty

Less people - that's it!
That also can be to its detriment.

Rustie

I agree with whoever said that it is what you make it and would add that you don't move here for $$$'s so if your idea of living here is living in a huge rich house centrally with a pool, being paid lots of money and hot weather then don't move to NZ, if however you like the outdoors, have a positive 'whynot & makedo' attitude and don't mind weather fluctuations and log fires, etc. then you may like/love it!

Personally i would come here on holiday but act like you live here (difficult i know but worthwhile) even work out your salary on a monthly/weekly basis, minus tax, etc. and see in the shops what you would normally buy every week costs, etc.

happynz

It's far worse than that. I'm not even Australian.

reecefam

Thanks for all the great replies.
I was offered a retail job in the South Island, about $70k a year, with car, but i have been holding out for a job with them in the North Island, either an hour South of Auckland or an hour North.
Looking at rentals, i said $500, as that seems like the average price, for a similar house we own here.
They are confident of finding me a suitable job up there but it has delayed the offer on paper.
They are an accredited employer with immigration, with a skill shortage, so i understand that helps with the Visa process.
I hope the above detail helps.
Thanks again.

dicknlyn

Whaddayamean!! You had the Derngate, the Multiplex and bowling out near the new footy ground... You had all the speed cameras to dodge...and last but not least, you had MK only down the road with its fake Snowdome et al. I mean let's face it you don't get excitement like that here in New Zealand do you? lol

Rich

hazeandsteve

Friends of ours have had Visa problems since they arrived. The accredited job he had lined up fell through, and it's been a streessful time sorting it out.
Thankfully, they've hung in, and it's hopefully gonna be sorted soon.
If you can come with PR, do.

Things I like:
The fact that the news isn't full of scare tactics and terrorism
The lack of compo culture
The lack of soap operas
The lake
The mountains
The welcoming attitude of the bikers I've met so far
People will help you out
I own my house and don't need to chase money any more
More time with my wife
The give way rule
It's not near Europe
And if you want culture, meet my buddy from the North Shore