teambwr47

Over Christmas we had our first visitor from the UK since we arrived in Late July 07, my wife's good friend from her UK company. She stayed with us for a few days before travelling the country and returning to us for New Year and then flying back to the UK a few days later.

While here we joked that she should look at the possibility of a move and semi seriously my wife made her a job offer which was talked around but we thought no more of it.

Got a call late last night from the UK to say 'i'm back here wondering what the hell i'm doing here, made a decision and i'm moving to NZ.' ....

So 1 visitor so far and 1 new immigrant it seems.......

Got another visitor with us now who's just gone off on the same trip as the first so can we maintain a 100% sell the country method i wonder...?

P2L

You got a job with New Zealand Tourist Board now NiseyOH

happynz

Would you have the same success in winter? A lot of accommodation is coooold here. That might put some people off.

Izzy and Ian

Hope all our visitors don't wish to move to NZ too

Think we might slow down on the "yes we'd love to see you, come and visit us in NZ".....

simonmarkellis

Just make sure you're wife doesn't offer a job to someone who might one day replace her!

teambwr47

She stayed in some pretty dire accommodation at a chalet complex somewhere on the South Island for Xmas day and we let her know all the down sides we could think of............ she's still coming.

She said she stood waiting for the tube on a Monday morning in a crowded London station and thought 'there's more to life than this'.

Flights back here are booked in May when she plans to sort a house,job etc before moving over in June or July....

Nisey herself is happy as a good friend is no longer going to be on the other side of the world....

teambwr47

Best make sure the same never applies to our kids PA i guess.....

simonmarkellis

Jude J

My cousin and her boyfriend have just left this morning after 3 weeks in SI and a couple of days here in Auckland with us. They live in London too and would both love to jack it all in and move over here.

whitesand

Yes, but would these friends be willing to drop their London salaries for NZ ones and NZ taxes?

P2L

For some folks, it's not all about the money. Let's be honest, most people that choose New Zealand don't do so to make a quick buck.

Maz

I never had a full-time job in London, but I commuted there in the late 80s to do my dissertation. I only travelled there and back (from Northampton) for 3 weeks total, but even back then, and presumably with fewer people in the area than there are now, too, it was horrible enough. As much as I love the Tube as a way to get from A to B, I always get off it quite desperate for a shower!

teambwr47

Some salaries (in certain professions) with the current exchange rates are approaching their equivalent UK and even London levels and the 'overall' tax burden in the UK seems higher than here.

sarahw

I did and don't regret it for a minute!

Nerine

And that's what the immigration service pins its hopes on. I'm so relieved that no-one we knew decided to emigrate to NZ after visiting, I would've felt too responsible for their continued welfare (and rather selfish for not persuading them otherwise)