[NewlyWedPoms]

Dear All,

I would like to start by saying what an excellent facility this is and would like to use it for something positive. We are desperate to get over to NZ and seem to be spending most of our spare time reading this forum. However, every now and then you come across negative messages (which is only natural) but I wanted to start a thread with only positive stories of peoples moves to NZ.

I am quite happy to keep looking through my rose tinted glasses, its all thats getting me through the dreary grind of Monday mornings in the office. We love beaches, outdoor activities and sun (and are looking to move to Auckland), so any stories with positive slants on these topics will be extra welcome.

:nice1

[Perksy]

Great idea. My emotions are a rollercoaster and if my husband says "think positive" to me once more I think we will reach the divorce courts before NZ. At least this will give me somewhere to go for positive thoughts.

So to help get thinks started we decided on August Bank Holiday Monday that we should take the bull by the horns. Just a month on and our ITA arrived today. There will be times when you hit a set back but boy does it make it doubly exciting everytime you take a step forward.

Kim

[Lupin]

I think our move is pretty positive :)

We moved here with our two daughters in January this year. My husband had a job in an inpatient unit (mental health nurse) for $40K a year. We had some savings to bring. We were quite concerned about our income and that we'd need a huge mortgage to get what we wanted but in the event, 8 months down the line, my husband has got a new job with an $18K pay rise, I've got a part time job in the rural primary my kids attend that I adore. We own 4 acres, 10 mins from the sea and our beautiful 4 bed home is being built (as I type). the community couldn't be more welcoming and we've just moved into the school house in the village. My kids (9 and 4) 'play out', enjoying the school grounds and the village, my husband now has weekends off having left shift work behind after 6 years. I have a job that I really value, friends that rally round for childcare (littlest still in Kindie). The sun shines far more than in the UK. We got the dream from fairly unpromising beginnings!

[Jo Jo]

More positive stories, please! We fly to NZ in 2 weeks' time and I am a nervous wreck! I have been spending far too much time recently reading the threads about the less positive sides of moving which - although very useful (because it IS useful to know what the downfalls are) - aren't good for my state of mind!!

[peebles16]

What a great post Lupin77 hope we all experience at least a bit of that when we come out!
Thanks
Karen

[Sam B]

Well, it hasn't all been plain sailing emotions-wise for us, but 9 months in we are happy and settled in Cambridge. We were able to buy a lovely restored villa on a great street, I like where we live and I'm really enjoying my job. It's great to leave the politics of the NHS behind and work in a much less complicated way. I LOVE my kids' school and they have both adjusted well to the move and are really flourishing with the fantastic education and outdoor lifestyle. On the whole, the weather is loads better, and everything grows so fast, it's a great place to be a gardener.

We are making lots of friends, people are nice, the countryside is beautiful. The diversity of weird and wonderful plants is fascinating, the native forests are like nothing else I've seen. This week we have been ski-ing (2 hour drive) and had a day on the beach, warm enough to wear swim stuff (less than 2 hours drive).

My family back in England are slowly adjusting and are all talking about visiting now. Overall, an exhausting year, but well worth it.

[hball]

Definately a positive story, with possibly a different slant to most!

We came here thirteen years ago with the sole intention of bettering our lifestyle by creating wealth. Has it worked? Definately!!!! Although to be fair, never in our wildest dreams could we have envisaged what we now have, especially since we left a three bed end of terrace in a UK city and got on the plane with only $4,000.00 to our name:clap

We deliberately chose to settle in Auckland as it is the biggest city and therefore offered the most opportunity, especially in the construction industry, OH being a plumbing and heating engineer who works on major projects. Having a dream meant we were prepared to get our heads down and work hard, which we did.

Now we own a lovely home on 13 acres, every bedroom has it's own en-suite... and there's a powder room too! We have a 15m pool, and brand new cars. We also own other properties, and land offshore. Our kids have done very well too, our daughter is studying for her Masters, our son is a national manager for a NZ company - at only 29! All this in just thirteen years!

And we are not alone in achieving it. We have friends living similar lifestyles, having also arrived here from the UK with virtually nothing. On the other hand, we know a family who arrived here a couple of years ago who are extremely happy living their dream which is to only work four days a week and to live in a small town away from the hustle and bustle of any city.

NZ has something for everyone. Go for it!!!!!
:cheers

[andreamatt]

Echoing Sam B this has been an up and down journey (we've been here exactly 3 months) but so far the positives far outweigh the negatives. Just a snapshot:

- We live in Wellington suburbs but can be on a beach within 15 minutes
- We've had more sunshine in 3 months than we probably would have done in 6 months in SW Devon
- My OH is very happy with his job (weatherman!!)
- My children have done and seen so much in this short time; they are growing in confidence, are starting to make some nice friends and their teachers seem to 'get' them
- The coffee is great!! Haven't had a bad cup since we arrived
- People told us that NZ "lacked any sort of culture"; we've been dazzled by what we've seen so far (my son's class went to the ballet last term - fantastic). I've only experienced a very little of what Wellington has to offer so far but - wow!
- I don't feel that I am being judged on what I'm wearing / driving / the labels my children are wearing - I found that so tiresome in the UK
- Financially I think we'll be better off but it's still too early to judge; we FEEL that we are better off

Hope some of this might bring some comfort,

Andrea

[Sam B]

Oh yes, I forgot about the coffee - it's worth moving here for the coffee alone, coffee lovers!

[willsken]

We feel the move for us has been a very positive one as well. We live in a small town, I teach and OH is a builder. Nearly a year into the move he is just starting out for himself. This will mean our income will rise significantly and we were managing just fine before! We have bought a beautiful home with a large garden (OK, biggish mortgage!:p ) and have also 2 acre plots. We will build on one to fund a dream home on the other. The people here have been fantastic and we have made a lot of new friends. I love my job, which is a minute away from where we live. My boys are settled and happy, living the life I always wanted for them. Could we have asked for more from our move?.... probably but I can't think what off the top of my head.

To all of you out there waiting to come over, the dream can become reality. I know that reading the positive stories is necessary when the stresses and strains of the move are getting to you. Just remember all the negative posts are things to be taken on board to.:) Hopefully though, you will all be the lucky ones!:yes

[Lupin]

Hopefully though, you will all be the lucky ones!:yes

Although to be fair, luck is only a small part of success settling here. Attitude and expectation are far greater factors, imo, and the people I meet that have settled happily here bear this out.

[Moorf]

Attitude and expectation are far greater factors

How true...

[JoanneG]

Super stories - keep 'em coming.....pleeze!

[Carey]

What a contrast these are to Diny's post of returing to the Uk. Interesting how diverse it can be in the same country but guess that happens everywhere? But its scary for us 'wannabees' with kids, not knowing if our kids are going to be better off, worse off or even the same regarding their education. And how welcoming people are; could make a huge difference to how you settle but how do you know what you're going to find when you get to the place you're going in nZ. All food for thought and easy to think 'oh we'll be alright' but how much do your own attitudes and expectations affect it?

[zardell]

All food for thought and easy to think 'oh we'll be alright' but how much do your own attitudes and expectations affect it?




Immensely.

OK, it's safe to say that NZ won't suit everyone, but it all depends on whether you are a 'glass half full' or a 'glass half empty' person.

My negatives could be your positives, but to me they are negatives nevertheless. Likewise with the positives.

Like I have said so many times before, this is a forum, nothing more, nothing less and if you allow other peoples varied (although totally valid (to them)) opinions to sway your decisions without trying it out for yourself then I for one believe that that would be your loss.

Yes, we all have our stumbling boxes to overcome, ie homesickness, financial issues, finding the right job/home/schools etc., but however an individual deals with those situations is entirely and completely a personal issue and may only be the right solution for them, not all of us.

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder - they also say that blind men can see wonderful visions.

Your call.............

Julie

xx

[Nick88]

My wife and I arrived about 10 years ago all fired up and raring to go. We rented for about 4 years and worked in production and retail areas of our industry for that time. We are both good with money and saved like mad for the whole time (we are still using second hand furniture we bought back then).

I researched our business plan for about 18 months and spent a year looking for the right block of land to create our business (I don't like to rush into things). Then I worked for 3 years full time while setting up the business in the other waking moments. During this time my wife popped out two new Kiwis at the local hospital, just to make life interesting.

It has been really hard work, but I don't think we could have achieved a fraction of this in the UK. The business would not have worked for a start due to climate and competition. Now we have a nice 4 bed house on 3 acres with a thriving business. I have a gorgeous view out of every window and a 50 metre commute to work, all without a mortgage. I am also looking forward to retiring at about the age of 50.

Would I swap with any of my friends or family back in the UK? Not on your nelly. NZ is not perfect but there are plenty of opportunities here if you are willing to look for them and work hard.

[willsken]

What a contrast these are to Diny's post of returing to the Uk.

No really much of a surprise though, was there? :)

As has been said before, it also depends on what you are leaving behind. If your children go to an example of one of the UK's better schools and end up in a middle of the road one in NZ there will be no comparison. If your children go from like to like, depending on what you want from the education of your children, I think you will be pleasantly surprised when you get to NZ. I love the NZ attitude regarding educating the "whole" child and not the emphasis on the 3 R's.

Example
We were baking some cookies and Tom was telling me about the baking he did in school. I said "Where, in the UK?" he said "No, in Waipuk" I asked him if he had cooked at school in the UK and he told me they did once and then the cooker disappeared! They didn't even have a playing field attached to the school to play football on! Here they have huge playing fields and a cupboard full of balls and hoops etc that is unlocked in the mornings for them all to help themselves before school!

Both my children are happier in the NZ education system. I am happier in the NZ education system. I also teach some very clever young people, who on the whole are far more rounded individuals.

As has been said by many before, the only way you'll know is if you come here and try. :yes

[vixxann]

From what I've heard so far (and what we saw on our hols) the NZ school system appeals a lot more to me (and our three kids!)

I know only time will tell - when we eventually get there - but I believe sometimes in UK there is just too much academic pressure at a young age, ok you can build it up as they get older but kids should be kids and they need to learn a lot more in a broader spectrum (eg. sports, cooking etc)

Our primary school had their sports day last week and had to walk 300 kids down the busy main road, accross two smaller roads just to get to nearest playing field. The school has very limited outdoor space. When we were in NZ our kids were in awe of all the huge play areas at schools we went past. They went out to play with the children of some friends we visited and they took them to play at the school. Our kids couldn't believe the set up and that you were allowed into the grounds at weekend!

Here my 11yr old has just started high school and has shocking amounts of homework - he doesn't get time to play out most nights now. And they give detentions out if you don't do you homework :uhoh

Its all personal but I anticipate the school system in NZ suiting us all a lot better.

[coopers]

A year has passed since we left the UK, we arrived with very little to our name, and I had a job in NZ that paid half as much as mine in the UK...mad? Not at all! ( ok I conceed...slightly barmy!!)
In the UK I used to drive 2 hours to reach my first appointment, dashing around the countries motorways, chest pains from stress, add to that the keep up with the Joneses attitude, the traffic, the amount of people, the dirt and liiter, the every expanding section of scumbags society, kids under performing at school just to fit in, being taxed to the hilt need I say more......we have settled in Christchurch...are we wealthy...far from it, but we make ends meet, we are a family here, and spend time doing the simple things we didnt seem to have time for in the UK,the kids 11 and 13...what a move for them ( they hated me initially for the move).,,, they love it and already say they would not go back, they have grown so much here as people in the last year.
The sun...ahhh that lovely sun....beats the months of grey we looked at in Yorkshire every winter!! ( As I write this it is hailing!!!)
Do not under estimate how uplifting and how much a decent climate can change your life!!
Yes we miss family and friends, but have made some great friends here, and every weekend we meet up and do something...picnic...walks on the beach...throw out a fishing line and lie back and relax (ok...better when warmer)...but we have started living a life here not just existing.
We came to NZ to start again, and so far it has not dissapointed...just grasp what NZ has to offer with both hands and go for it.:D

[andrewandjane]

we arrived in Auckland 6 months ago, with around $4000 cash and 8 suitcases, 2 kids and its been great, we live in an amazing place with sea views, met loads of people so got lots of friends where we live. i get to work by boat. I just got a new job with same employer for an extra 18% a year. Like others not wealthy by any means but we get by and manage to save a small amount and hope to buy somewhere soon. We jumped in with both feet, no return ticket or money to get home so have made the best of it all and have no regrets. Kids both say theyre kiwis allready and dont wear shoes.