hallie_day

And heaven forbid if you need to buy enough limes for a batch of mojitos....

mexnick

Thanks for your in depth response. Actually found something on the NZ govt website that helps to work out an average on living costs versus your projected wage. Not sure how accurate it really is but doesn't paint a pretty picture on a combined wage of $150k. Seems to echo what most have been saying on here. It's looking like I'll be going back to the employer and unless I can negotiate a higher wage we're either staying here or looking for opportunities in cheaper parts of NZ.

Had a long chat yesterday with a friend who has been living in south island for 12 years and now back for a short time before returning. His advice is to go for it to get into the country and then look to move elsewhere after arrival. Not so easy with kids plus am sure that because the new employer is helping me to get out there i'll be contractually obliged to stay with them for a period of time. Was interesting to get a perspective on life in the south island, sounds great but my friend did outline the various compromises to be made, particularly the higher cost of living but he seemed to feel that the scenery, weather and outdoors lifestyle compensated for that.

MrsFychan

Only such much a piece of scenery can do and kids soon grow out of going to the beach, weather here is more extreme than the UK with the added adventure of earthquakes, tsunami and volcanoes . At the end of the day its the day to day life you need to be thinking about and can you compromise enough to have a life syle that will suit you or that you will be happy living with

BEVS

Good enough plan

That depends. If the employer is paying relocation expenses then that might be so. If not and you find alternative employment somewhere else with someone else AND IF it meets immigration policy criteria you would apply for a variation of conditions to your work visa.

Depends where on the South Island would interest you. Some areas are more cost effective than others.

garethwm

Have you given up on Auckland? On $150k I would guess that you'd be in the top 20% of earning families. Even on 100k, you'd be in the top 40% I reckon And there are far more people moving here than leaving. Plus besides advice to be aware of costs you wouldn't be expecting, there are also savings in the other direction. You won't pay council tax if renting, for example. And no tv license fee. There's an element of swings and roundabouts in these things. You can also check up costs of things online easy enough. Try a trial shop at countdown.co.nz for groceries and see how it works ou after converting $'s to £'s.
No one can tell you whether to come or not. There are UK expats who love it here, and those that don't, and no one knows what category you'll be in until you've been here a while and experienced it.. But, in my opinion, Auckland offers a good lifestyle. Lots of things to do and a good climate. Good luck in your decision making process.

BEVS

Never ever do that - period. It is comparing apples to pears.

Do however do the Countdown online shop as suggested . Ensure you include most items that you would normally spend on.
Then list out other bills and expenses.
Finally work out your expected NZ salary/wage net of tax.
Minus bills/expenses from net income leaves the disposable income for savings, pension, rainy day bills, holidays, treats.
Do all of that in NZD. Converting or thinking back to GBP or the UK won't help.

My general list for our budget with a couple bits added .
Electric
Water
Phone/Internet/Mobiles
Commute costs
School "donations" & inevitable trips - sports stuff ( We have no kids)
Rubbish bags
Heating
Groceries
Rates ( we are rent and mortgage free)
Car WOF
Car Insurance
Car Tax
House contents ins
House insurance
GP/Meds/Dentist
% interest rates perhaps if a mortgage.

Also factor in start up costs once arrived.

We manage on around $55/$60K net pa. We have no children and no mortgage. Ours is a tight budget. It is supplemented with my part time work and other sources of income. From that I budget for hols best I can or large unexpected bills like car tyres, white ware purchases when stuff stops working and this year it is needing the house painted We don't eat out hardly at all nor go for a drink. Mostly it is the NZ way of going to each other's houses. Glass of wine in a bar or tavern is the price of a bottle of wine to take to friends. People don't do it.

Ex Bristol

That's all good, you can actually "shop" at paknsave now because they have a click and collect system going. Cheaper than Countdown.

BEVS

Ta for that missus . I will check that out as I could factor that when I need to do the grocery run. We are in the Nelson Tasman area. There is only Pak n Save in Richmond in one direction but a Countdown and New World in Motueka which is closer and easier overall.

Pak n Save is defo cheaper than Countdown overall.

Have some BE karma for being so helpful. You can't spend it but it means cheers, thanks and lovely.

Clappy

I live in Auckland. A few years ago I went to a funeral for one of the New Zealand family.

Another group at the funeral was a family that live in Invercargill. The father had moved the family down there from Auckland and he was very pleased with his quality of life there compared to Auckland.

The family had spent the previous day in Hamilton and their two teenage daughters that had grown up in Invercargill were in awe of how sophisticated life in Hamilton appeared becuase there was even a McDonalds just near to where they were staying. I felt so sorry for those girls.

Ex Bristol

Good God Clappy I thought it was past your bedtime!

Justcol

I don't see why. I'd be pleased to have raised my kids away from all the excess and shallowness that goes with life in a big city.

Clappy

I don't have any kids so I don't have a parent perspective on the topic.

I do remember that I grew up in a small country-town in England and I felt terribly under-prepared for dealing with every-day interactions when I moved to London aged 18 so I think that more experience would be good for the children.

hallie_day

To echo Clappy, I think there's a bigger chance they will go crazy once they (inevitably) move somehwhere with all those tempations.
I know I did when I went to uni after a relatively sheltered upbringing.

My (London) 6 and 9 year olds are more streetwise than my niece and nephew who are in their early teens but live in rural Worcestershire....

Moses2013

Maybe because your parents never took you to the city and times were different back then + they now have McDonalds in Invercargill? Being in London would be my biggest nightmare and it has nothing to do with being under-prepared. I know many kids in the West of Ireland and although they don't have a McDonalds on their doorstep, they don't miss it. They can still go to Dublin or other cities if they wish + at least in Ireland we have Supermacs in every town

Ex Bristol

I guess that's what they mean when they say that living in NZ kids have an extra 3 years of just being kids and that's a tempting thought.