[Moorf]

Thought it would be interesting to get some feedback on how the forum may have affected your thoughts on moving to NZ. Are you more wary of the move since reading through the forum? Has it made you stop and think? Saved you money? Made you more determined?

[kiwidebs]

This should be interesting Moorf.
As most of you know, I'm moving 'home' to NZ with my English hubby and kids so our 'motives' for moving may be different to most of you. This forum however, has given us lots of helpful advice and advance warnings - bear in mind alot has changed in the 9 years I've been away (including my change from a single gal with no commitments to a married woman with two kids to support!!). I'm so glad we have our forum friends for support and advice:clap .

Debs

[jo b]

Ohh Moorf that's a real toughy.

Sometimes when I have wobbles the slightest negative thing said about NZ had me thinking no way. But that was in the early days.

Now I have become accustomed to the idea that it's not a dream and that it is going to be areality I am now more in the camp of I am doing this for my family no matter what anyone says.

Especially as I am saddened to see my country turning into a nasty place. Not one I would like to grow up in if I were a kid ayway.

Jo

[Tanya]

This should be interesting Moorf.
As most of you know, I'm moving 'home' to NZ with my English hubby and kids so our 'motives' for moving may be different to most of you. This forum however, has given us lots of helpful advice and advance warnings - bear in mind alot has changed in the 9 years I've been away (including my change from a single gal with no commitments to a married woman with two kids to support!!). I'm so glad we have our forum friends for support and advice:clap .

Debs
Wow Debs - you sound just like me (down to the 2 kids!)except I had been away 16 years and what a difference here!

Tanya

[Jo and Andy]

Difficult to fit into a category.

Feel that the forum has save me money, (would have used an agent), given me plus and negative points to prepare me for my arrival, but have to go and try it myself.

Want to go just don't want to leave.

[Debbie]

Difficult one this, I've voted that Im more uncertain. Recent threads about the quality of life , housing costs, cost of living , rubbish salaries, homesickness......have all addedd to my doubt.

Also we have spent a fortune getting the house ready to sell and it's now fab. And I will be sorry to leave my home, and my family, and my son has reached the age where he has a best friend. And I have the dreaded interview looming which means that this is now a reality rather than the dream we have had for the last 18mths.

The forum has made it very clear that it is a case of 'the grass might be greener but that just means you have to mow it more oftern'. In other words, it going to be great but only if you are ready for the hard work that comes with it.

The forum hasn't stopped us from doing this, its something we need to try for our own reasons but it has made me more uncertain and in some cases frieghtened about what we are doing. The phrase "what the blo...y hell are we doing" crops up at least once a day at the moment, and yet we seemed determined to continue with this dream. WHY?

Sorry bad night and worse day. Debbie

[Alex]

Hmmm, it's a close call, and I could have opted for any of the first three choices.

Overall this forum has really helped us. Our plans are now based more in reality and fact, which can only be a good thing, even though I now feel nervous about many things! ;) Anyway, thanks for helping to remove my head from up my ----, hopefully we'll enjoy NZ even more now. :D

[irishgirl]

The forum has definitely been a source of valuable information and support for me. I have different reasons for moving to NZ than most people on here and have briefly experienced living there earlier this year.

To me, NZ is a lot like how Ireland was about 15 years ago, specifically in terms of how people treat one another. But life here has become riddled with high prices, crime, indifferent attitudes, and I don't feel comfortable with that any more. And although we haven't decided whether we are going to settle in NZ permanently, I do feel that I could live there quite happily, and I also believe that it would be a better place to raise a family.

What also appeals to me about NZ is that it feels class-less - people don't seem to judge you by the car you drive, the clothes you wear, etc. Well that's what I picked up on - maybe other people don't have the same experience. And there's definitely a more laidback, less stressful attitude to life which would be a welcome change to what I go through on a daily basis here!

Being so far away from family and friends will be very tough, but the most important thing for me is being with the man I love, whether that be in NZ or Ireland. If it is NZ, then I'm quite prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.

I think that anyone who is considering a move to NZ should join this forum. The wealth of experiences - good and bad - shared on here is invaluable, and while some of the information may shatter illusions, isn't it better to find that stuff out now, rather than when you arrive?

Good luck to everyone who is still pursuing their NZ dream...

Dee

[Debbie P.]

Difficult one this, I've voted that Im more uncertain. Recent threads about the quality of life , housing costs, cost of living , rubbish salaries, homesickness......have all addedd to my doubt.

The forum hasn't stopped us from doing this, its something we need to try for our own reasons but it has made me more uncertain and in some cases frieghtened about what we are doing. The phrase "what the blo...y hell are we doing" crops up at least once a day at the moment, and yet we seemed determined to continue with this dream. WHY?

Sorry bad night and worse day. Debbie

Couldn't agree more with all of the above (maybe something to do with being called Debbie?), which is why I've also voted that I'm more uncertain. Guess it's good to know the reality, but isn't it depressing...

[willsken]

Yes difficult choice

I voted that I have to find out for myself. But thats just the way I am any way in life.

I can't wait to move there. I know all the pit falls (the bacon being the worst one!) people are talking about, but I feel these are worth living with if my children are going to have a better standard of childhood!

Sometimes I find it quite off putting when I read the negative things but when I bounce back I’m glad I have found these things out.

The forum has saved me loads of money by way of helpful advice and recommended companies.

I am also glad to find out about the things people miss so I can fill my container with all my favourite things! :nice1

[jim4244]

I came across this site by chance AFTER we had made the decission to move back to the UK.

My main reason for posting is to make folk aware that NZ is not all it is cracked up to be, in fact I would go on to describe it as a 2nd world country.

The move out and back has set us back financialy by 2 years, or so. Therefore I think that it must be pointed out that visiting NZ and living in NZ are two totally different things!

For a country that makes you jump through hoops to get in, in my opinion, has little more to offer than the UK. Yes its not as crowded. Yes its a beautiful country. BUT thats about it. The reality is this - you have much more to offer NZ than NZ can ever dream of offering you.

I know what you are thinking as you read this - Ahhhh it hasn't worked out for them, bu we will be fine. Well I hope for your sake that things do work out, as I know 5 British families living locally to me, who simply can not afford to move back to the UK.

Sorry for the reality pill. If we had to do it again I would look at France, Spain or Canada, which we probably will do once we have sorted out our finances.

Good luck to you all, but only 25/30% of you will stay!

Jim

[willsken]

Where did you live? and why was it so bad?

[KD17]

The reality is this - you have much more to offer NZ than NZ can ever dream of offering you.

Thats an interesting statement.

I am taken aback by the negative points and we talk about and consider those. It all adds to our perception of what the reality may be like.

This forum is the best source of information anyone could wish to find for those considering the move to NZ, it has all the good and bad points, the joy and the tears. In short it shows the reality of what NZ is really like.


Keiht & Debby

[ShakerMike]

This forum has educated me, encouraged me, discouraged me, scared me and just about any other emotion you can imagine. I voted for finding out myself. As I posted somewhere else, I'm mid thirties and, even though I'm successful in my career (don't mistake successful for well off), I don't believe I have ever stepped out of my comfort zone or done anything interesting. The way I see it, if I try it and hate it I'll know that by having tried it. If I never try, I'll never know.

There will always be people who think it's brilliant, there will equally always be those who consider it a nightmare. Those that love vegemite and fatty bacon, and those that hate not being able to buy instant mash or gravy granules. Those that love being miles from anywhere and those that miss family.

Which category do I fit into? I have absolutely no idea until I give it a go and learn by my own experiences.

I see this forum as somewhere I can read about everyone's experiences/nightmares/loves/hates/successes/failures....take everything with a mild pinch of salt to water down the subjectivity, and come away a better equipped person for it.

Of all the NZ forums I've visited, it's the busiest, so whether the comments are good, bad or indifferent, they are all worth reading, before I go away and make my own mind up

[SoCal Gal]

We laid down our NZ dream back in April after a nightmarish episode with the NZIS case officer assigned to me (he was in London, I'm in the U.S.). We also sold our home in Otaki, Kapiti Coast, because we discovered that small town life in the U.S. versus small town life in NZ, well, it's just too different, we need to be in a bigger city, Wellington is first choice, Dunedin second. Now, the reason we are picking this up again, is this - we don't feel safe in the US any more. I haven't really seen any other posters address this (but I've missed a lot of posts!) We are 10 miles from the largest military base in the West. I hear - and feel - bombs (practice!) dropping at all hours of the day. When we first moved here eight years ago, they were so rare, and so odd, that I wasn't sure if I was feeling a small earthquake. Now, it doesn't matter if it's 5 a.m. or 11 p.m., its 'bombs away' all day :-( Frankly, I couldn't care less about foods that I will miss, clothes shopping I will miss, etc. I have more than enough crap to last me a lifetime, as a lot of us do. I mean, if you are even thinking seriously about moving to NZ, you've got to have more than a little $$$. So, I enjoy reading the forum, have met some awesome people, but for us, we just want to feel 'safe' in this big old world again. I don't have close family ties here, and I've already got friends all over the country that I haven't seen in years, but keep up a daily internet chat with, so I think I'm good on the homesickness part too. Just gotta get that warm house thing taken care of!
I'm really quite happy to get the heck out of Dodge, as they say.

[veronica]

We found the forum after our decision to come over was made and as we came over on a LTBV. (long term business visa) a lot of the visa info wasn't relevant. But it was interesting to see other peoples take on life here so I have stayed on it, originally to gain info and now to pass it on where I can.

It is really important for any would be migrant to take off the rose tinted glasses and take a reality check, thats why its so important to post about the negative things as well as the positive.

While everybodies experiences here are different at least having read about others gives you a chance to lessen some of the nasty surprises that life has a habit of throwing out at us., and that in itself will increase the chances of the migration being successful.

One thing that I do find worrying is the number of people who list bad things about the UK that they want to escape from, sorry folks but most of the things listed are here too. And 9 to 5 makes life humdrum whereever you are.

The other most positive aspect of the forum is to try and build up a support network of people in a similar position as yourself, while you don't have to be best buddies it is helpful to all to have a circle of people there to help each other.

[katandbob]

I picked : No, no matter what anyone says, I've go to do this for myself / my family
The site has given me plenty to think about, advisce and tips, and its the best that I have found on the web - Very friendly! :cheers

My boys and eventually my daughters family play a factor in my reasons - they want somewhere where they can enjoy life, and find a Job etc.

The UK is not the place of our childhood - and I am at an age where I think its unfair that our kids can't ride a bike for hours on end, come home before dark without their parents having panicked and called in the cops!

We used to be out from breakfast till tea, and thought nothing of it, I never let my kids out like that when they were at the same age. and even if they went out on their bikes - they took the risk that some bigger kid would beat them up and nick it because they wanted one!

Also I want to chill out and to be honest I would actually like to be a housewife again!!!! :laugh but if working hard in a place where people actually smile at you and say hello then that wouldnt be bad either! beats moaning Britain! ;)

[louron]

We picked the no matter what anyone says choice although I did waiver over the first one, I don't think though that the negative posts have put me off just made us view it all a bit more realistically which can only be a good thing.
Think Katandbob got it spot on when they said "The UK isn't the place of our childhood" I couldn't agree more and really want our children to have something of the childhood we enjoyed, I realise now that NZ may not be quite the utopia we first thought but still think that for us it has a lot to offer.
I also think that whether people like it or loath it is such a personal thing and depends on so many variants that the only way we will know for sure if its for us is to give it a go and thats what we intend to do!

[Cardiff Irons]

Hey, what's all this talk about NZ bacon? You're worrying me guys :eek: