In August this year, we will have been living in New Zealand for 10 years.  

I can’t quite believe it.

It seems just yesterday that we made the decision to emigrate to New Zealand with our kids from the UK. Our grounds for leaving were many, but here is the main reason we left the UK for NZ.

New Zealand has given us a fair share of surprises and not everything was plain sailing when we first arrived.

Every country has its pros and cons and living in New Zealand is no exception.

But, while there are things that annoy us about living here (like having to get used to the many New Zealand slang words!)  there are many, many positives that make New Zealand, in my humble opinion, one of the worlds top destinations.

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New Zealand is a country filled with positive people (mostly) and after coming from Britain this was so very refreshing.

Although the cost of living in New Zealand is slightly more than the UK, although in saying that there are a lot more things here that tend to be free.

Six of one; half a dozen of the other as they say.

New Zealand is a fabulous country, but we have had to learn a lot along the way and so much has happened in that time.

Brian, my husband started his own business, we built our own house in what I believe to be the best region in New Zealand,  we took the kids out of school and educated them at home and because we could, we acquired 3 cats, 5 sheep and a dog.

After emigrating to New Zealand my children feel as though they are living differently

A very young Sonny and Tessa. Looking at their faces I’d say they were living the dream!

 

But today I am in a reflective mood. This usually happens if I’ve spent too much time on Facebook or have been looking at photos of family from home.

Emigrating to New Zealand from the UK is not an uncommon thing. But, it’s a bit like when you find out you are pregnant and then suddenly every other person you meet is pregnant too.

You decide to start a new life in a different country and low and behold; “Oh, so and so has just emigrated to Australia.”

Tell a stranger that you’re thinking of emigrating, and they’ll happily tell you about the time their brother emigrated to America and hated it.

“He only lasted 4 months and then was on the next plane home”. Some people are positive, others? They just think you’re off your tree. ‘Why would anyone want to leave all their friends and family and start again?’

If you’re thinking of packing it all in and heading to a new life, here are a few things you can expect to hear. (Usually, from complete strangers who you only just met when you popped into their shop to buy some beans for lunch)

A list of favourite things the naysayers will probably say when you tell them you’re thinking of upping sticks and going to live the dream in New Zealand.

 

Negative Things That People Will (Probably) Say To You About Emigrating to New Zealand:

 

  • WHAT??

 

  • What about your Mum and Dad?

 

  • What about the kid’s friends?

 

  • It’ll ruin that child’s education pulling him out of school at this stage.

 

  • I’ve heard the wages are terrible over there.

 

  • It’s too hot for me. I like the seasons.

 

 

  • Can you get Heinz baked beans over there?

 

  • Will you be home for your Auntie Edna’s 60thin May?

 

But, there are some things that (hopefully), if you’re lucky enough, the more open-minded, positive folks will say to you when you tell them of your grand plan of heading further afield.

 

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Positive Things That People (Hopefully) Will Say to You When You Tell Them Your Plans to move Down Under.

 

  • Well if you don’t do it, you’ll never know.

 

  • What have you got to lose

 

  • I had a friend who did the same, and it was the best thing they ever did.

 

  • I’ve heard the cost of living is a lot lower over there.

 

  • Your Mum and Dad will have plenty of holidays then!

 

  • I bet the kids can’t wait!

 

  • Just think, a BBQ on Christmas day!

 

  • Make sure there’s room for Auntie Edna, she’ll be over to celebrate her 60th!

 

The thing is, if you’ve got an itch, any itch, you can only ignore it for so long. As I have just found out but that’s another story.

 

Emigrating To New Zealand From England.

 

Emigrating was something that Brian and I talked about long before the kids came along. We had been all over the world; searching.

And it wasn’t because we didn’t like where we were, we’ve lived in some beautiful parts of England and we were very happy, it was simply that we always felt an urge to try something else.

And there’s really nothing wrong with that. You either do, or you don’t.

 

Sometimes Living The Dream Isn’t Easy:

Sometimes, living the dream isn’t easy. You have to be prepared for those days when you just want to put your head in the suitcase, inflate your knickers, and fly all the way back to Kansas.

 

I’m in a reflective mood about leaving the UK today- probably because I fancied baked beans on toast for lunch and had to have eggs. Living the dream isn’t always easy.

 

The Things I’ve Missed The Most since Emigrating From The Uk To New Zealand (And That You Will Probably Miss Too).

 

New Zealand Mt Taranaki

Is that smoke coming out of the mountain? The people of Taranaki are said to be ‘Hardcore’. Who else would live under a magnificent volcano? There is an ever-present feeling of living life to the full.

 

 

Family

 

  • Obviously, That’s what’s going to hit you the hardest. Not being able to jump in the car and speed down the motorway for two hours to visit the family is a killer.

 

  • You may be different, for all I know you may be glad to see the back of them (it happens) but if not, be prepared. It’s hard.

 

  • I’m a bit antisocial, so the friend’s thing has never bothered me. Yes, I miss friends, but to be honest, you communicate so much on social media it won’t hurt that much. I’m also fortunate. Brian is my best friend and as long as I have him and the kids that’s all that really matters. But your family, yes. It’s a toughie.

 

The sense of belonging

 

  • . Actually belonging. As in, my ancestors rode dinosaurs over those hills belonging. I don’t know how many years you’d have to live somewhere before you felt…Dinosaur worthy, but it’s not 8 years.

 

  • Things will be different, but that’s not to say they’ll be better.

 

  • Make sure you know your reasons for emigrating before taking that huge leap. It’s true, you may very well be sitting on the beach on 25th December, but if Father Christmas hasn’t delivered the right present to a naughty, 9-year-old, you’re going to have a stressy Christmas, regardless of suntan lotion and king prawns.

 

  • But. Like I said, if you have a desire to emigrate, don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way.

 

  • If you don’t try, you’ll never know.

 

Living the dream in Wanaka. New Zealand

You don’t need “stuff’ to be happy. You just need a view like this…

 

7  Reasons That You Will Never Regret Emigrating to New Zealand

 

#1: Sometimes, I walk down the street, and I’ll remind myself; I LIVE in New Zealand. Not only that I live in the worlds second-best region – Taranaki.

 It still blows me away. Sometimes it feels a little surreal. Amazing. You are actually living on the other side of the world, and guess what? You haven’t fallen off yet!

 

#2: The family will come and visit you, and you have wonderful quality time as a result of it.

When else would you get to spend all day for three weeks with the ones you love? Plus, it gives you an excuse to paint the house and build that extra bedroom, ready for them coming.

 

#3: You meet loads of like-minded families. Like I said before, there are thousands of people doing exactly the same thing as you and guess what? They’re probably in the same town.

You make so many new friends from all different parts of the world.

 

#4: I still feel as though I’m on a very very long holiday (this might have something to do with me still not having gone and got a proper job yet…)

Living in a country that you have only inhabited for 8 years, is new and exciting. There’s so much to discover and explore.

 

#5: If you can emigrate to the other side of the world, you can do WHATEVER you like. Honestly. If you can do that, you can do ANYTHING. Never forget that.

 

#6: You tell the kids every single thing there is to know about their family back home. I’m not sure if this would be true were we to have stayed, but since emigrating I make sure they both know every backstory – every relative connection.

They’ve seen all the old photos and been told about every childhood memory about a million times.  It’s my way of keeping them in the loop.

 

#7: The wine. You know how I feel about my wine and New Zealand wine is some of the best – if not the BEST in the world.

If I were to emigrate again, I would choose France, Italy, Spain, California, Chile or Australia. I’m sorry England, I love your beans, you know I do, and it’s true that you make amazing Cornish pasties, but the old vino was a big pull for us.

 

 

If You Are Still Not Convinced That Emigrating To New Zealand is The Right Thing For You, Watch Our Video!

 

 

Best Hidden Destinations in New Zealand

Finding the best hidden local secrets in Taranaki, New Zealand. An evening walk to an idyllic beauty spot.

 

 

 

Convinced? Maybe Just a Little More Pusuassuion Then!

 

Emigrating to New Zealand is not for the faint-hearted. It is a long way from everywhere. Thankfully. And that is why you need to do it. You are an adventurer, if you weren’t you wouldn’t be reading this blog. Remember, if you don’t try it you won’t know. You can always go back. You won’t – but you can.

Our children didn’t fall off the education ladder when we moved. I didn’t suddenly forget how to function because the supermarkets were a little different, and Brian certainly didn’t let living in another country stop him from starting a successful business. If you’ve got an itch, scratch it.

And if you really, really want beans, go to the International Isle of the supermarket. They’re to the left of the Shredded Wheat.

You can do it.

 

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If you are thinking of moving to New Zealand, my advice to you is to do it.

Live your dreams and don’t let anyone stop you. Stepping out of the box isn’t always easy, but to say you tried at any dream is going to be worth it, and if emigrating to New Zealand is on your to-do list, then off you go. Give us a call when you get here x

 

 

 

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