[tottefan]

Surely there must be someone out there who, like me, doesn't want to escape to NZ because they believe that the UK is crime infested or feels that an apocalypse is imminent?

I see moving to NZ as an adventure. I don't want to live in NZ because I loathe the UK and can't wait to get out of here. It seems, judging by many posts that I have read, that this puts me in a very small, silent minority. I only see NZ as offering something different - wide open spaces, a slower pace of life, less cars, less stress, fantastic scenery etc. It is, therefore, a lifestyle choice, nothing more. Surely, there must be someone who is moving/has moved there for the same reasons?


Tottefan.

[tigerlily]

No place is perfect and I think that Auckland has as many cars as any other city in the world and the traffic problems to go with it. I actually think NZ is as much a car culture as America, mostly from what I've read here and what I encountered there- very few intercity trains.

I think many here love their homeland. You are not alone! I've noticed that it seems easier to love when you are far away from it too. Sometimes the outpouring of affection for the UK that I read here makes me really want to move to England instead!

[Diny]

You are not alone Totte. I feel the same as you about the UK. I know it's not the place it was of 'yester year' but I have difficulty thinking of it as some kind of crime infested cess pit.

Our move to NZ was for many reasons but I can honestly say, hand on heart, that none of those reasons was to escape the UK. I guess different eyes see different things.

One interesting statistic which was mentioned on the numbers prog last week, NZ is only number 2 on the list of countries having the most cars per capita.

My concern is that some future immigrants are under the impression that crime and 'low life' people will be a thing of the past once they land on NZ soil.

As has been mentioned dozens of times before on this forum, your quality of life here will largely depend on what you left behind. IMHO, although this is a wonderful country and we're very lucky to have the opportunity to live here, it's certainly no better than the UK - just different.

Diny

[K&CS]

I'm the same as you, tottefan. I had a very happy life in the UK in a very nice town (3rd best place to live in Britain according to Phil and Kirstie, for what it's worth!). I had no thoughts of wanting to live overseas (apart from a vague idea that we might retire to France or Italy one day). We came over to NZ at xmas a couple of years ago to attend a wedding in Queenstown and we just fell in love with the South Island and in particular, just had a feeling that Christchurch was somewhere we could really live. We're pretty well travelled and I've always enjoyed seeing new places, but had always been glad to get home. After visiting NZ, it was the first time we'd felt unsettled when we got back, and just had the feeling that Christchurch was the place we should be (I know that sounds a bit daft). After trying to talk ourselves out of it for about a year (especially with our personal circumstances - I was pregnant and my mother was really ill), we just decided to apply for PR, and here we are!! You could also call it a mid life crisis, I suppose!!

I know what you mean though. I always felt safe in my home town in the UK as I do here. I certainly wasn't trying to escape from anything. I was moving to NZ; not away from the UK. I'm very proud to be British and of a lot of things about Britain, but I do feel like it was a good decision to make this move right now. I also think I felt I needed to see that I could live in another country, because I have always been a bit of a home body.

I think a lot of people feel like this, plus it is true what Tigerlily says. You can look on your home country with a lot more fondness when you're no longer there!!

Kate

[Lupin]

I'm not moving to NZ to escape a crime infested UK or expecting to leave all social problems behind. I don't hate the UK, there's much I really like and it wouldn't be a problem if we decide to stay here or return here after a period in NZ. There are some reasons we think we'll prefer NZ life, but there's a large dollop of adventure-seeking mixed up in our motivation!

[Foxglove]

I agree with you Tottefan! I love my little corner of England and will be very sorry to leave here.......however the draw of New Zealand is greater than wanting to 'stay put'. I lived there as a child, and have always yearned to live there again..........

We do also want a better quality of life for ourselves and our 8 year old daughter, however, and want her to be able to stand on her own 2 feet financially when she is older, and I do not feel that she will be able to in the UK.

I guess we have mixed reasons for trying to make the move. :)

[Debbie]

Totte
I'm with you,I love the UK, we have a great life here. OH has good job, no commute and good salary. We live in a safe area with good schools for the kids and most amenities in close reach. We are moving for many reasons but it is a pull to NZ not a push from the UK.
However, what I have notice myself doing is falling out of love with bit of my life here as I start the mental process of leaving. It's natural and it makes the process of leaving what's familiar easier. This is most apparent at the moment with my house which I can't sell and am rapidly beginning to loath.
I also read the anti UK sentiments on the forum and I think whilst some have real issuses with the UK, (who wouldn't, no place is perfect) the process of mentally detaching yourself from your home results in little irritatations become a real anoyance.
Debbie

[Avalon]

Add one more. Happen to love the UK. I do despise some of the things happening there at the moment - but then I can see many of the same problems here.

I can say I prefer living in NZ in some ways, but not all. And much of my ambivalance to the move over the last 16 months does come back to the fact that I did not hate the UK in the first place.

You are certainly not alone - in a forum of so many people - there are bound to be a multitude of differing reasons for emigrating and not all will be because of a negative view of the home country.

[Diny]

. And much of my ambivalance to the move over the last 16 months does come back to the fact that I did not hate the UK in the first place.


.

This is how I feel. As it happens my own personal QOL is no better here which makes me question the reasons for such a huge upheaval and the heartache I feel through missing my family.

Diny

[zardell]

However, what I have notice myself doing is falling out of love with bit of my life here as I start the mental process of leaving.

the process of mentally detaching yourself from your home results in little irritatations become a real anoyance.
Debbie



You have taken the words straight out of my mouth.


Well said Debbie.

Julie

xx

[Arclite]

I have been surprised how many friends we have made here and I'll be sorry to leave them, and my house (which I love), plus my family (who are local)

But still I think we have to go and try it - at worst, well we can always come back.

and the UK, I still love it. I'll always remember my roots.

Arc

[smitjo]

We are certainly not escaping from a country that we hate (OK a few things bug us but every country will have that) - in fact that couldn't be further from the truth really. We both love our lives over here, we have good jobs, a secure lifestyle, great hobbies and a lot to look forward to. However we still feel that our life is somewhat incomplete - my husband has always had the urge to live in a different country and I'm wanting to move back to a smiliar outdoor lifestyle I had in South Africa. If we didn't move to NZ it certainly wouldn't be the end of the World, we would continue as we do now however we both feel that there is so much more to life - this is a BIG World and we dont want to be trapped in our secure little UK environment for the rest of our lives wondering what else was out there. We want to experience different cultures, different foods, different environments and meet new people, make new friends - it's an adventure and we hope that one day we will be able to call NZ our new home.

We will however NEVER forget our roots - we just want to grow as people by living and adapting ourselves to a new country. Hopefully it will all work out but you never know until you try :)

[willsken]

I don't hate the Uk at all. I just hate what is has been allowed to become. I don't want my boys living the average life of a teenager in this country. Other than that I am happy here. Good job friends and family etc. Only reason I even though of the move was for the boys.

[K&CS]

smitjo, that was very well put!! (sorry, never managed to get my head round the whole quote thing!)