2 years in Auckland!!
Sep 9th 2011, 3:08 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: North Shore
Posts: 113
2 years in Auckland!!
It's 2 years today since I landed on the sunny Auckland shores! I can't believe how quickly it has flown past.
There have certainly been ups and downs but on the whole I have loved the last 2 years and am so happy we made the move. Me and OH had always spoke about living and working abroad (although we always assumed it would be Europe or possibly Canada!). Then one day my OH was made redundant and being in the retail sector just couldn't find work in the UK.
A job opening came up in NZ and we figured this would be our opportunity to get out of the UK and work abroad like we'd always wanted. So his new employer very generously paid to bring both of us and all our worldly belongings over to NZ on a Work to Residence Visa.
The OH has been very lucky with work and his new company love him and are now paying for our Permanent Residency meaning we can stay even longer
It has taken me much longer to find the right job though, having left a dream job back in the UK but I finally started a new job (job number 4 in 2 years!!) 6 weeks ago which I love. Fingers crossed this one is a keeper!
We have made some close friends all of whom are expats and we now consider ourselves to be a little family. We have found it hard to make really close friendships outside of work with kiwis but otherwise find them very friendly and open.
We are much better financially over here than we were in the UK and manage to get away on holiday lots more. We have seen most of NZ now by taking the odd week and long weekend here and there and think that NZ is the most beautiful country. We have our first trip back to the UK at Xmas which I'm very excited about.
The downsides for me personally in NZ is being so far away from friends and family (I don't know what I would do without skype!), the driving (especially in Auckland) and the shopping! The quality of clothes and footwear in NZ is horrendous compared to back in the UK. I can't wait to have a huge shopping spree when I go back, I plan on buying so much that I will need to ship it back
For anyone pondering making the move - I would say do it. You won't regret trying to make it work out here but you will regret not trying it if you decide not to.
There have certainly been ups and downs but on the whole I have loved the last 2 years and am so happy we made the move. Me and OH had always spoke about living and working abroad (although we always assumed it would be Europe or possibly Canada!). Then one day my OH was made redundant and being in the retail sector just couldn't find work in the UK.
A job opening came up in NZ and we figured this would be our opportunity to get out of the UK and work abroad like we'd always wanted. So his new employer very generously paid to bring both of us and all our worldly belongings over to NZ on a Work to Residence Visa.
The OH has been very lucky with work and his new company love him and are now paying for our Permanent Residency meaning we can stay even longer
It has taken me much longer to find the right job though, having left a dream job back in the UK but I finally started a new job (job number 4 in 2 years!!) 6 weeks ago which I love. Fingers crossed this one is a keeper!
We have made some close friends all of whom are expats and we now consider ourselves to be a little family. We have found it hard to make really close friendships outside of work with kiwis but otherwise find them very friendly and open.
We are much better financially over here than we were in the UK and manage to get away on holiday lots more. We have seen most of NZ now by taking the odd week and long weekend here and there and think that NZ is the most beautiful country. We have our first trip back to the UK at Xmas which I'm very excited about.
The downsides for me personally in NZ is being so far away from friends and family (I don't know what I would do without skype!), the driving (especially in Auckland) and the shopping! The quality of clothes and footwear in NZ is horrendous compared to back in the UK. I can't wait to have a huge shopping spree when I go back, I plan on buying so much that I will need to ship it back
For anyone pondering making the move - I would say do it. You won't regret trying to make it work out here but you will regret not trying it if you decide not to.
Sep 9th 2011, 5:11 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 87
Re: 2 years in Auckland!!
Hiya!
That's a great update!
I've read so much about not being able to afford to live in NZ and explore and travel at the same time that it was putting me off moving over!
I guess i'd be on around NZD60,000 being a nurse and I'd be coming over on my own so a single salary only.
More deliberation needed..............!
That's a great update!
I've read so much about not being able to afford to live in NZ and explore and travel at the same time that it was putting me off moving over!
I guess i'd be on around NZD60,000 being a nurse and I'd be coming over on my own so a single salary only.
More deliberation needed..............!
Sep 11th 2011, 9:53 am
#3
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,208
Re: 2 years in Auckland!!
That does make interesting reading. Always love to hear people's updates, I think this is my favourite sub forum!
Thank you for taking the time to post.
Thank you for taking the time to post.
