[andyjulia]

Hi there - we are two teachers with two kids (8 & 4) who are thinking about making the move.

It is easy to find all the positives about moving to NZ from this forum and numerous other websites. However, without wishing to sound too cynical, my opening question is

What are the downsides about the move? Has anyone regretted it and why?

Honest answers appreciated!

[Lara Croft]

Hi AndyJulia. Welcome to the forum!

One of the sub-forums is all about leaving NZ, it might be worth you looking in there for a balancd view?

Jane

[JoanneG]

Hi Andyjulia,

We're hoping to be in NZ by next Easter but we have been reading this forum for 18months now.

People come back for all sorts of reasons but two definitely stand out.

The first - FAMILY. People that are used to being close to their family dayin/day out seem to find it difficult to adjust when seperated. I think it could be a combination of missing those family members and the support that they give. This is even worse when there are children especially pre-schoolers.

The second - money. If you leave with a pot of cash to enable you to live mortage free it definitely helps. Cost of Living seems to be relatively on a par with the UK and there have been people who have gone hoping to achieve a better lifestyle only to find that they have to work as many or more hours than in the UK to achieve it.

This forum is the perfect place to see lots of different opinions so take some time to read through. Leachio is on her way home at the moment and Diny has also returned so it might be a good idea to look up their posts.

On balance, their seem to be more people who are happy to stay.

Good Luck :D

[Mickstim]

Hi Andy & Julia. I can't answer your question for you but would like to welcome you to the forum!

Barb

[peebles16]

Hi Andy and Julia
Welcome from us too!! Can't really help with your query as not there yet but as previously stated there is a good section on this site. Ii do think thought that it's a really personal decision and certainly one we mulled over for a good 18 months before finally deciding to make the move. Having said that wishing we were there NOW!!

Good Luck
Karen

[holland]

Hi there,

I agree with everything JoanneG said, think its mainly family and money. Im not thee yet either...ask me in another 5 months, and I may be able to offer some more advice!

J x

[Nick88]

After living here for about 10 years I certainly agree that money is the main reason that people leave (often to Aus).We are mortgage-free and can get by on the national average income, but if we had the sort of mortgage it would take to buy the property we are in we would be in deep do-do. Being both teachers you will be on good incomes and will probably enjoy teaching here more than in the UK due to the system being rather more laid back (though still bureaucratic).

As for family being a huge problem, it depends alot on whether you work and/or are very sociable. I have spent most of my life outside the UK, and from experience the people that felt they wanted to go back the most were the ones that found it hardest to create a new circle of friends wherever they went. I saw it most often with British Services wives who followed their husbands on tours of duty overseas, and hated every minute. So much depends on your attitude.

The only other reason would be the weather. We are on the edge of the Roaring Forties, and the storms that can come off of the Southern Ocean are not enjoyable. Personally I hate being cold, and would rather move to Aus than go south of Auckland. We lived in the Wairarapa for a year before moving to Northland, and I didn't enjoy the winter. If you live further south, get a wellinsulated house and a good heating system.It also rains alot, we have had about 6ft of rain so far this year where I live, and are liable to get at least another 2ft before the New Year.

After all that I would not go back the UK for all the tea in China. We would not have been able to create our business there (too expensive), and our children would not have the open space we have literally in our own backyard. We are not wealthy by any means, but we have a life here we could not have dreamed of in the UK.

[andyjulia]

Thank you for all for your welcome and helpful comments. I am amazed by the number of participants in this forum and the help they give.

Nick88 - although we have not moved internationally we have moved around the UK and are used to (and enjoy) making friends wherever we go. The kids would make friends through school.

I am more concerned about your comments about the weather! It seems that NZ gets more hours of sunshine and more storms/rain than UK - is that about right?

My research also suggests that quality of housebuild is variable - they all look great on the internet!

[Nick88]

It isn't so much variable build quality as variable insulation. Older homes without cavity wall insulation can be like fridges in the winter esp down south. There has been some problems with leaking houses, but they are all newer designs with rendered walls (balconies seem to be the weak (leak?) points). The usual house over here is wooden framed with a metal roof, the exterior walls can be clad in PVC, wood (usually older homes) or brick. This is much cheaper to build than the typical house in the UK, and if well insulated can stay alot warmer.

It was late and I probably didn't express myself very well. If you work you will find it much easier to fit in, and kids at school are not usually a problem. It tends to be the stay at home Mums that pine for family the most. I think you'll enjoy it here.

[granger]

I am more concerned about your comments about the weather! It seems that NZ gets more hours of sunshine and more storms/rain than UK - is that about right?


Eastern NZ is pretty dry. More dry days than in the UK.

North and west New Zealand tend to get more rainy days than the east.

You're right about the sunshine. Most of the country is sunnier than the UK.

[Sam B]

Here in Waikato, the weather is definitely better than the UK (I came from Cornwall). More rain - but it all comes at once, heavy downpours, and loads more sun, lovely warm sun, even in winter. Winter is shorter. No drizzle ever, and much less wind than Cornwall here. The weather is definitely one of my positives.

[incredible hulse]

Weather in Welly/Kapiti:
Winter - pretty nice; mild, sometimes drops to about -2 at night but generally OK and nowhere near as cold as UK (That said houses are generally crap so feels like the lower arctic on a bad evening).
Spring - absolutely awful; windy, rainy (last year I don't think it stopped raining for about 5 weeks). If I didn't have kids I would go somewhere else for Sept - Dec/Jan
Summer - starts late (mid Jan last year) but when it comes is great and sunny for weeks(not as hot as UK - think it got to about 27 last year max but sun very strong).
Autumn - pretty good; sunny, temps drop to around a 20 degree max.
Would say weather pretty similar to UK. Think we get more sunshine, milder winters but definitely more rain - this is usual heavy downpours but a fair share of damp, drizzly days to. The wind (in Welly) can take some getting used to though ! I wouldn't (didn't) come to Welly for the weather (Napier or Nelson would be a different story mind)

[Familyofmonkeys]

Yep....you get rain here by the bucketful, and ten minutes later you have a clear sky and glorious sunshine.....good for lifting spirits :)

Weather here is a big plus...NZ is green for a reason!

A lot of people do seem to leave NZ due to money issues. I have also noticed that a fair few people who do leave for this reason had been in Auckland (not all though), which is way more expensive than the rest of NZ, even when you factor in the higher wages. Maybe things would have been different if they had lived in other areas, but who knows?....guess you go where you find a job, and make your mind up while you are there. I think you need to do your research before you get here, so there are no nasty surprises. Plus, as have mentioned loads of times in other threads...you really need to get used to shopping seasonally to keep grocery bill low.

[Graham & Fran]

If you don't like it too cold and damp what parts of NZ should you avoid.
Graham & Fran.

[Rusty]

Here in Waikato, the weather is definitely better than the UK (I came from Cornwall). More rain - but it all comes at once, heavy downpours, and loads more sun, lovely warm sun, even in winter. Winter is shorter. No drizzle ever, and much less wind than Cornwall here. The weather is definitely one of my positives.


Never heard that before, won't miss that if we make it.
When it rains, rain properly I say.

Oh, welcome to the forum AndyJulia. :cheers