[Hannah]

We are here in New Zealand for six months on visitor visa looking for work with a view to applying for PR while here. We have return flights booked for end of April and plan, whatever happens, to return (either to sort out our house/furniture/move, to stay in UK or to just decide either way what we are doing). I know many on this forum have either got PR first (we only had 95 points without job) or sold up and just 'went for it' (we were too scared!). Hence we've invested a lot of money/time/heartache/fun in finding out if this will work for us.
My OH is adamant we go back after the six months, even if we have jobs, to reflect and ensure we are making the right decision (he's a 'rational' soul).
I wondered if anyone on this forum has returned to the UK either for a holiday, because they felt NZ wasn't for them or some other reason. What did you think? Did you really appreciate what you had here once you returned to the UK? It's easy to idealize the UK when you are not there and you can't find a decent curry house anywhere :0) ...
Seriously, I wonder what faces us when we go back?!!!! I'm particularly interested to hear from those who decided NZ wasn't for them as they took that long flight back to UK......

Thanks!! Hannah

[Babette & Andy]

Tricky one Hannah, can't offer any advise I'm afraid. But isn't this what forum member Pleccy 2000 did?? Maybe do some searching cause think that he and girlfriend are now back in London.

Babette

[willsken]

I know for David with a Dream things were slightly different, but he came back to the UK. I know they are intending to go back to NZ so it may be worth talking to him.

What a hard choice to have to make. If I was happy with my new life I'm not sure I could come back, especially if it meant giving up good jobs. Maybe it's different as when you left the UK you intended return, so you haven't said a proper goodbye. I think you have to be able to do this to make it seem real. I’m rambling sorry, hard to get what I’m trying to say across………I teach IT not English! :laugh

[David with a dream]

Hi Hannah,
Just read your post and it's a real big one to call. In short we came back because we had some bad moments (as do all the folks on this forum) didn't do enough planning and WHAM back in the UK.
You do have some advantages on us as you have a home to come back to and I wonder if you would feel the same if you had sold up, said your goodbyes and left.
For me the return has been dreadful :wah in many ways but the biggest disapointment is the oppertunity we left to return to the 'same old' that we thought we where leaving behind.
If you would like to PM me or Lesley (she is not 100% on a return) then please feel free to do so...............Good luck.....David :nice1

[pleccy2000]

We are here in New Zealand for six months on visitor visa looking for work with a view to applying for PR while here. We have return flights booked for end of April and plan, whatever happens, to return (either to sort out our house/furniture/move, to stay in UK or to just decide either way what we are doing). I know many on this forum have either got PR first (we only had 95 points without job) or sold up and just 'went for it' (we were too scared!). Hence we've invested a lot of money/time/heartache/fun in finding out if this will work for us.
My OH is adamant we go back after the six months, even if we have jobs, to reflect and ensure we are making the right decision (he's a 'rational' soul).
I wondered if anyone on this forum has returned to the UK either for a holiday, because they felt NZ wasn't for them or some other reason. What did you think? Did you really appreciate what you had here once you returned to the UK? It's easy to idealize the UK when you are not there and you can't find a decent curry house anywhere :0) ...
Seriously, I wonder what faces us when we go back?!!!! I'm particularly interested to hear from those who decided NZ wasn't for them as they took that long flight back to UK......

Thanks!! Hannah

I went back to England - all it did was re affirm why i wanted to go to NZ in the first place. Hit me as soon as I was in Heathrow airport.

"It's easy to idealize the UK when you are not there " - 100% True.

[pleccy2000]

Tricky one Hannah, can't offer any advise I'm afraid. But isn't this what forum member Pleccy 2000 did?? Maybe do some searching cause think that he and girlfriend are now back in London.

Babette

Hi Babette! Indeed you are correct, what a good memory you have- that was a year ago!

I left welly because things were not as i thought they would be and what was my first reaction? Go straight back to London. What a mistake that was! I will be back in welly next year and i cant wait to give it a better go next time. I totally cocked up the whole thing (and that was my 3rd atttempt emigrating there!) 4th time lucky?

[Smiler]

Hannah

Big Hugs. I'm sure there was someone else who has returned (or planned to) just recently and I'm pretty sure he was in Welly. Was it a George?

I'll try and have a search for his post for you but I remember he was wanting to return as his container arrived. (George forgive me if I've got this twisted):D


D x

[ruthyroo]

A hard call as I think you are doing it quite differently from lots of other people. If you do get job offers while here, you will have to apply for 2/3 yr WP / PR or something, which might make you feel like you have made the jump rather than just being on a recce? TBH I would not have wanted to visit the UK 6 months after arriving here - everything was going rather pear shaped at that point for us, we were feeling a bit homesick / culture shocked and it would have been very tempting to just chuck it in and stay in Scotland, with all our family and friends. We have a family wedding coming up in 2007 and I am in two minds about visiting for that even. For me I think it would be very unsettling to go back for a visit. But we are probably not in NZ for good anyway. I don't idolise the UK, but at the same time we didn't leave becuase we hated living there - just wanted to do something different for a few years. Sorry this isn't much help - I guess the gist of my post is that sometimes you just have to make a decision and stick with it!

[GeorgeM]

Hannah

Big Hugs. I'm sure there was someone else who has returned (or planned to) just recently and I'm pretty sure he was in Welly. Was it a George?

I'll try and have a search for his post for you but I remember he was wanting to return as his container arrived. (George forgive me if I've got this twisted):D


D x
'Twasn't this George.

I'm going back on Friday, but only for 17 days. More than long enough to have a proper Christmas (the only thing that hasn't really felt right to me in NZ) and experience proper traffic jams for the first time in three and a half years!

[NannyOgg]

Oh Hannah,

I am watching you closely for signs of Succesess! It was lovely here in Whitstable today but cold. We are almost willining you to make it to give us a sign! Whatever you do tough it out abit longer - 6 months is nothing!

Stay in touch.

Nanny Ogg! x

[G&K]

We're going back for Xmas - but only because we couldn't get a ticket for over a year when we came in August ( and we're getting married back home next September)... So Xmas seemed the best time to go back.

Actually we're looking forward to it - only to see everyone and look forward to coming back to Welly in a couple of weeks to summer here !

No harm in going home to check out how you feel about things, in my mind - as long as you can afford the ticket and the jetlag isn't too dreadful...!

Good luck with things - only you will know what 's right for you

[Jaideco]

What does PR stand for? Permanent Residence?

[Richard_from_Long Beach]

PR=Permanent residency

[StevieD]

Don't worry Jaideco, you'll soon have all of the lingo off to a fine art! :)
PR, EOI, you'll soon be reciting them while trying to sleep LOL.

Welcome to the forum, hope you get out of it what you need.

Steve

[boltonlass]

We are here in New Zealand for six months on visitor visa looking for work with a view to applying for PR while here. We have return flights booked for end of April and plan, whatever happens, to return (either to sort out our house/furniture/move, to stay in UK or to just decide either way what we are doing). I know many on this forum have either got PR first (we only had 95 points without job) or sold up and just 'went for it' (we were too scared!). Hence we've invested a lot of money/time/heartache/fun in finding out if this will work for us.
My OH is adamant we go back after the six months, even if we have jobs, to reflect and ensure we are making the right decision (he's a 'rational' soul).
I wondered if anyone on this forum has returned to the UK either for a holiday, because they felt NZ wasn't for them or some other reason. What did you think? Did you really appreciate what you had here once you returned to the UK? It's easy to idealize the UK when you are not there and you can't find a decent curry house anywhere :0) ...
Seriously, I wonder what faces us when we go back?!!!! I'm particularly interested to hear from those who decided NZ wasn't for them as they took that long flight back to UK......

Thanks!! Hannah
Hi Hannah
I really understand your anxiety! I have been here in NZ for 5 years and evry year I have pined for home (ENG). I have finally made the decision to move back and I am returining in March next Year. I have been back 3 times in those 5 years for hols. Once was in winter and i hated it, then the last time was this summer july 05. That is when i truly realised where i wanted to be. I believe that some people are born to be kiwis and there are those that just arent. Im one of them, I also know where the term whinging POME comes from as everyone british i meet says what New Zealand doesnt have or its too hot etc etc! I am one of those and i laugh about it now. I am only 24 and a single mum and have just found it hard to relax and meet people.
If you feel unsetlled in your heart, i feel your return trip to UK will shed some light on were you want to be. It is hard making the move but also realise that if you dont stay at least you gave it a go!! :clap
Sarah

[David with a dream]

Hi Sarah,
Just read your post and you sound so brave. We went to NZ and lasted no time at all and now want to head back out. It was a real shock to the system for my wife as she had never been to the southern hem before but it has been a real shock to both out systems coming back. Hard to explain but you said some people are born to be kiwi's, I think I may be one of them (hope).
Any way tons of luck on your return and be happy :)
David..........

[Jaideco]

I am sure,

I am very interested to know the reasons why people are thinking about going back to the UK? Whether it is purely financial/homesickness or whether there are other practical factors that I should be aware of.

Currently I am rather worried about the money issue and am afraid that this will put me back on the UK streets within 6 months with a huge bill if the cost of living in NZ is more expensive than I am estimating it to be. ;-)

Is there anything else I should be considering?

Catch you later all.

[Hannah]

We are going back purely because we came out on visitors visas with no idea if we would find jobs and if it would work out for us, so we hadn't packed up our home to sell/rent or said goodbye or anything. we have return dates booked and feel whatever happens we have to go back, if only to finalise things. now that i've been here a few weeks and know how/where to shop etc. i'm not finding things as expensive as i first thought they would be, although we haven't earnt a kiwi dollar yet so don't know yet how our family would survive on earnings here.
the more i stay here the more i am beginning to love the place and see what it has over and above England, rather than what it is missing compared to England. New Plymouth is really somewhere special i think!

[driver]

I don't know if its that relevant but our plans are, if we don't like it in one town in NZ, we'll move to another and give it another go first. If it really isn't for us then we know we've given it a good go and then will consider coming back.
I'm hoping we make it in the first town though, and reading all the stuff on this site has really helped us. At least we'll have an idea what to expect.

Good luck to one and all, whatever the decision.

[boltonlass]

Life over here in NZ Is what you make of it and also that is based on what you expect! I came here on a visitors permit with nothing. When I leave i will leave with a dauhgter and a social work diploma. My advice to others is to set small goals and dont expect to much. I am going back indefinately, I am not leaving saying im never coming back. just feel I need to get some things out my system and earn some cash. LOL!
I feel that you need to get over eng, somthing i never did! and stop comparing here to there. Thats if you want to move on. I truly hope that all who come over here to start a fresh suceed as its a beutiful place to live. Good Luck to all!!
Sarah xx

[willsken]

I don't know if its that relevant but our plans are, if we don't like it in one town in NZ, we'll move to another and give it another go first. If it really isn't for us then we know we've given it a good go and then will consider coming back.
I'm hoping we make it in the first town though, and reading all the stuff on this site has really helped us. At least we'll have an idea what to expect.

Good luck to one and all, whatever the decision.


I feel the same. We chose the place we want to live when we visited earlier in the year. I felt at home in this town and I am really excited about beginning my new life there. If however, it isn't right for us we also will try other places in NZ before coming back to the UK.

For my OH and I, the main reason for moving to NZ will be to give our boys a better life. There is nothing I have read on this, or any other forum, that has made me think this won't be the case. They are very sporty and love the outdoor life style and they don’t get enough of it in the UK. I don’t feel able to give them the freedom to be off out and about as young boys should be. I would feel far safer letting them go a bit in NZ.

I’m not saying the move will be easy or that we won't find some things were better in the UK, but our reasons for moving are right. (If anyone can tell me different I would welcome advice. We only spent 3 weeks in NZ. This is not long enough to be 100%)
:)

[Bean]

Hi Hannah

I think that coming back to the UK really helped me. We had been talking about possibly giving life in NZ a chance.

Originally we were going to go for an extended holiday of six weeks to suss it out, but I thought that there was no way we could even start to get to know if we liked the place. So we thought what the hell, lets go for six months, like you.

So we rented our house out, I chucked in my job, with no guarantee that I would get it back and my partner took a six month sabatical. We sold the car and off we went.

It was great, we travelled around, stayed with friends and rellies and got a good idea about the place. My partner said within two days of landing in Auckland that he wanted to emigrate. I was shocked by that and took my time, typical me. After six months I really liked the Kiwis we met and the country, but I wanted to go back to the UK to finally decide.

Needless to say, driving away from Heathrow I remembered what the UK was like. Then when we were back in Edinburgh, in our house and with our friends I still want to emegrate to NZ.

So here we go on the the ITA path........ So I think it will help, but as eveyone says we are all different.

Cheers
Bean

[Hannah]

Hi Bean,
that really helps and sounds so similar to what we are going through. my partner is the one i think needs convincing to emigrate, and i think the trip back to the UK will very much be a decider. We were happy in UK, have no reason to run away, and have no real problems with UK...but NZ just had something pulling us away and we are here to find out what it is. We hope to apply for PR while here as that will give us the choice of returning.
good luck with the ITA and keep us posted on how things go for you
all the best, hannah