Snap Shot

We're off to Lake Taupo to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Hope you have a good time in Akaroa. I liked it when we visited.



We live in Wanganui. Started our life in NZ in Christchurch in Feb 2011. Things didn't work out for us which is why we bailed out to........Wanganui. It's a nice little town, but it has it's limitations. My husband is the sole earner. I've got a temporary job until October which involves a 100 mile round trip to the nearby town of Palmerston North and back as that's where the office is.

homesik

Dont laugh. I am 61 been here 50 years and still want to go home , too many changes here too much American influence on the children particularly maori kids. too much attitude and it is everyone for themselves. NZ used to be a most welcoming country in the 60s and a damn sight warmer. The Maoris were the most happy go lucky people you could ever meet. No gangs no racism it was a truly great place and neighbors helped neighbors and everyone had a job and stay at home mums were the norm....I never thought I would be saying "Those were the days"

pippalonghorn

You need to be kinder to yourself. There are no rules to say that you must love the place that you move to. NZ is not for everyone. When I read your post it took me back to the way I felt when I lived there. You have got to do what makes you and your family happy. I don't regret moving to NZ or moving back home. Lessons learnt from both countries. Hope you get sorted soon. Xx

LukeandJo

I (Luke) can sympathise as well with you, the move, the re-establishement and almost reinventing yourself as a person can be a struggle.
The secret for us is to embrace what we have, we knew living in NZ wont be forever and wont be with a return to the UK in April next year.
4 years it will be and we will have memories and experiences to look back on.

Your emotions won't get any better, they will just eat away at you each day. Best to make a decision sooner rather than later...

pippalonghorn

I agree with Luke. We only stayed a year because my feelings didn't change. It was eating me up. There is a fine line between settling in feelings and being really unhappy with the choice you've made. Making a decision soon will make the return home easier if that's what you decide. Good luck with everything. Xxx

pilottinker

I was terribly unhappy when we first got here. It was almost as if our Landlord hunted us down to keep her house warm whilst it was up for sale, and we were expected to quit it ( family of five ) every weekend for viewers to look at our furniture. We were so cold we walked around with blankets like Superman capes. The job opportunity for me was dire so we jumped towns to Dunedin and bought a most fabulous house, warm, with beautiful views. Rental market is a whole different ball game to owning a property, and it depends where you are. Dunedin is a friendly town, but it can't be unique so if you are young move around a bit. Good Luck and let us know how you get on

barnsleymat

Yeah owning your own home definitely helps you feel more settled, we'd never really rented in the UK so renting felt very awkward, buying our house in Dunedin certainly helped us settle more.

Saying that....... we are both still homesick!!!!!!

pippalonghorn

What are your plans for the future barnsleymat? We visited Dunedin just before we flew back home. You have some lovely beaches and I must say that the locals were a lot more friendlier than those in Auckland. Felt more down to earth there.

barnsleymat

Yeah it's a friendly town and does have some beautiful beaches, the main problem for us is after a couple of years we're a bit bored, I don't think it's solely problem of being in Dunedin, it's probably just magnified the problem a bit more. We don't see our long terms futures in Dunedin or NZ, we're slowly going mad and we know we need to eventually get out, I miss civilisation and all it's trappings too much to hide away from life at the end of the world.

Snap Shot

Couldn't agree more, Matt

BEVS

I can relate to this.

carolina212

Not in NZ but this resonates with me, as well

Sparkleydiva

Me too...

LauraNotts

I felt that way in Timaru but not in Christchurch. I think maybe it's because Christchurch is in constant flux and change (and significantly bigger). I understand why people would miss the bustle of Europe and the closeness to everything but I don't think NZ lacks culture or civilisation it just might not express itself in the same way or be as easily accessible. Of course as with everything, this is my opinion and YMMV

pomikiwi

Hope things get easier for you. I agree housing in NZ can be shocking. Cold and so damp. We're in Northland and built a new house 2 years ago, we have no heating at all, just double glazing an insulation but the difference from the cold damp 1070's weather board houses is amazing. We're so toasty warm now. And for those rainy winter days we just pull out the oil heater or do some baking and crank the oven.

I have never found NZ'ers to be rude though? I've always found them friendly and down to earth. Maybe i've been lucky? I've fond the health system great and so far i'm happy with my kids primary schooling but I didn't have my kids in the UK so cant really compare.