[Diny]

Folks.

Been chatting to my inlaws in NZ and of course the main subject was our move over there. My father in law was saying what a big move it was for us and how he hoped it would all work out OK. He commented that I'd been over there enough times to have a pretty informed idea of what to expect - he then added ..."it's not like somebody would sell up and move over here without checking the place out first is it".

This has got me thinking, purely for interest only - no judegement - just simply being nosey.

For all of you heading off to live in NZ having never stood on Kiwi soil before, what has made you do it. Why NZ rather than Oz, Canada, South Africa or any other place in the world that opens its doors to ex-pats?

This forum is a MASSIVE help to all of us, but the decision to move to NZ was obviously made before we all became members. The info provided here is 2nd to none. But what about the initial decision. Do some of you already have family & friends in NZ, is it a place you've dreamed of since childhood, do you just like the look of it in the glossy mags - or maybe it's all of these factors bunched together.

If any of you say you made your decision after watching Lord Of The Rings will get a cyber kick up the a**e !!!!

I'm a little worried that some may view these questions as a little antagonistic which couldn't be further from the truth. I'm just genuinely interested.

Looking forward to your replies.

Diny

[markkellaway]

I made my decision after watching Lord Of The Rings.

Mark. :P

Bored sitting in a Washington hotel room.

[xanctus]

I made my decision after watching Lord Of The Rings.

Mark. :P

Bored sitting in a Washington hotel room.

We have about the same reason...since I am a LOTR freak (I wacthed all the extended version more than 20x each) :oops: , all my friends said that I want to be a HOBBITS. :laugh :laugh
well, in my opinion, NZ has a potential to be a great economic country in the pacific, beside OZ and singapore.

[jhsay]

Hi Diny and all,

Why NZ? Why not! My husband and I thought of migrating about 3yrs ago. We are already at the peak of our careers and yet feel that it’s still not sufficient. We want to provide more for our kids (just imagine, an engineer here in the Philippines gets around NZ$5000 pa). Our initial destination is Australia; Canada is too cold for us. But after reading somewhere that NZ if the cleanest country in the world in terms of environment and governance, we explored that option. I hope we’re doing it right for the kids.

Jinkee

[veronica]

L O T R Sorry Diny, but is there any other reason!.

[coastcat]

I made my decision after doing a lot of online research on things like lifestyle, economics, social views, job opportunities, climate, etc. NZ came out on top when everything was factored in (although Canada is pretty close, and I'd happily settle for Vancouver).

My husband, on the other hand, made his decision after watching LOTR. :mrgreen:

[eric_amanda]

Sorry, we didn't watch LOTR until just before we came out here!

For us it was a case of, we wanted to try something different, living a different lifestyle even just for a couple of years, to give the children a better future etc etc. We originally looked at Oz, however Eric would have had to take exams to go there, which he didn't want to do, he could come to NZ without doing that, so NZ it was. As for location within NZ, well Whangarei chose us!

[Jon]

My decision was based on (in no particular order) - Lifestyle, Climate, Getting away from the UK 'situation', Always wanting to go and you can still see a bit of Rugby League!!!!!

To summerise, and not wanting to sound too corny, its just the place that I believe I belong to.

Cheers
Jon

[Diny]

Good on you folks.

I'm confident that NZ will be everything you expect it to be - and some.

I've done a number of 'seek and find' missions and still I think I'm taking the bull by the horns !! I don't know whether you're all brave or just a little bit twisted :eek :nice1 :eek :nice1 :eek :nice1

Best wishes to you all.

Diny

[Milliemoo]

Hi Diny,

Canada - Too cold in winter
Oz - Too many things to bite you on the arse
South Africa - Don't want to live behind a 10f electrical security fence

I've travelled about quite a lot. I've worked in a few places in the UK and visited quite a few OS destinantions. I worked in Sydney for 6 months which I loved, but It's not the lifesyle we are looking for. I spent a lot of time in the Bay of Islands we think we'll start our new life on the North Shore because of work and also the security blanket of being near the city.

Main reasons for NZ
* Lifestyle
* Climate
Hey it's New Zealand, it's a beautiful place!

Things I'm concerned about
* Frodo not enjoying his new job althougth we've got a few months of savings so he shouldn't have to rush into a job just for the money.
* The unknown!

Milliemoo

;)

p.s LOTR has got to be the dullest film going ..... I feel asleep!

[Diny]

Millie !!!!!

AT LAST !!!! Somebody who thinks LOTR is boring. Jeeze I just can't see the attraction. Had to read that damn trilogy at school and I remember it bored the pants off me in those days. Along with the Star Wars movie I think it should get the award for services to insomniacs !!!

Thanks for your posting - good reasons.

Diny

[veronica]

OK our real reason is our kids (they are grown up!!) Both of them intend to live in the southern hemisphere, one has an Oz passport and is living in Auckland at the moment and the other loved NZ when she was backpacking round the world and intends to come here once she and her partner get some money together now they have both finished Uni. That coupled with Pete being made redundant which made it possible to move before we were too old to apply.

[captainxmas]

Because I actually like Pineapple lumps! :clap

[jo b]

Well, I want to become a millionaire :laugh

No seriously though, After YEARS and I mean YEARS of deliberating from our very first trip in 1992 when we got engaged in NZ, bay of Islands was were he proposed but that's another funny story for another time. We have always commented on how we would love to live there.

Then 6 years ago we thought about it a little more seriously and decided to take a trip and went in 2002 with the kids.
The kids loved it especially seeing thier cousins, but I am sure that novelty would wear off as they don't have that effect with their cousins here.

Anyway when we came back Ian and I both got our dream jobs so it was delayed BUT the more I thought about the materialistic way of life the political competitve corporate and crappy back stabbing climb to the top. The increase in violent crime, the fact that half the year my kids can't go out and play 'cos it's either raining of freezing, and when they do I am a bag of nerves. The fact that even as a mother I am expected to work away :no (although that's just my job and I know I could change that).
My kids are sorrounded by sound bytes and brought up on wanting the next thing rather than treasuring the things they have. This saddens me.
The fact that TB is the biggest liar (weapons of mass destruction my foot) and I know most politians are the same and I am not a political animal but I feel our safety isn't the same in this country any more.

So I am more than ready for the off, :nice1 if only I could lift my immediate family (parents and siblings)to be there with me it would be perfect but then it isn't a perfect world we live in.

Diny, I hope this is enough to keep you going or maybe it has had the same effect aas LOTR has on you :laugh

Cheers

Jo

[Nicola]

Not LOTR - I had forgotten that it was set in NZ

Climate is a big + not to cold and not to hot
We both have aunts and uncles in NZ - but seem to have lost them if you have seen them tell them to get in touch :laugh
Kids getting to be kids and getting away from NEDS - sorry if that is un PC
Getting away from my 140 mile/5hrs plus per day commute

NZ is our only destination, it is not our first or second choice, but the only choice for us

Main big reason is I work for a company that is very multicultural, we have people from all over working with us. The most friendly, helpful and funny people I have worked with are Kiwis and that has swung the final decision for us to go.

[Diny]

Jo

Plenty to go on there! Good reasons ... you'll have to tell us about how Ian proposed .... sounds interesting.

Diny

[markkellaway]

OK, LOTR wasn't the real reason. Rat race and future for our Son are the main reasons.

Mark. :P

Still in a hotel room, and I thought LOTR was quite good!! :laugh

[Danpoll]

I am moving to help rebuild Mordoor after those pesky hobbits damaged it. On a serious note:

My wife turned to me one evening in may this year and said out of blue, I want to live in New Zealand. Okay I will make some phone calls i said. So for me thats how it started, I wish sometimes I had given my wife a different response and I would be able to complete my masters but hey S*** happens. Never been to NZ never been to the southern hemisphere. We have lived in Canada I loved it she hated it and left there under sad circumstances. In a way it could be concieved as a little stupid to sell evreything give up evrething and jump into the abyss but you only get one life on this planet and who wants to spend all of it stuck on this island.

regards
Dan

[xanctus]

yes Diny, LOTR is not the main reason....it just a joke. However, I am a fan of it. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[Laurie]

I go back to before LOTR.. to the time of Hercules and Xena....Always thought the scenery was fantastic. Then LOTR came out and it was the corker. Also my daughter got a chance to be an exchange student and my comment was to go as far as she could as this was once in a life time opportunity. She hates anything that crawls so Australia was out so New Zealand was her choice.

She spent a year in New Plymouth and loved her time that she spent in NZ. The people, the lifestyle, the climate. This was so surprising to her...as we live in Quebec, Canada, where winter averages are about -10 to -15C (and this is during the day). Winter driving is a hassle and I am tired of seasons (especially winter) that lasts 6 months...Her pictures and the great time she had there got me thinking about what if we could.......

My husband and I own a winery and New Zealand is a great place for wine so we are heading down in February 2005 for a 5 week vacation/investigation of how things are and whether it is what we are thinking it will be...

Laurie

[Tate6]

My sister and I had friends that went to NZ for a holiday and after hearing them talk about it and seeing the pics, we were so enchanted!! We started researching it about 3 years ago. We found a lavendar farm for sale and really started dreaming!! That farm sold, of course. So I have been working on convincing my husband to bring our family--which includes 4 children--ages 14 to 19 months--half way around the world to give our children and ourselves an adventure and hopefully a better life. My sister is coming back Friday from a 3 week holiday in NZ. She even stayed at the lavendar farm that started this dream in Akaroa. From her emails, she is more enchanted now than before leaving the US. Cannot wait to hear all of her stories and see all of the videos and pics!!

Good luck to all of you on your dreams of living in NZ!! Hope to see you there!! :hopeso

Terry

[lindajax]

Hi all,

reasons for choosing NZ - MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

better life for lucy

Climate - not too hot/ not too cold
relaxed way of thinking
pleasantness and helpfulnes of kiwis
outdoor life - lots of camping!
To get the hell out of crappy britain
to get away form a materialistic way of life and protentious a*** licking people who don't really want to know how you are when they ask.
nuclear target --- hopefully not!!

BECAUSE WE CAN!!!!!

hope that covers the major things.

on a lighter note -
to drink champagne on the beach in my bikini on xmas day!!!
to see a Kiwi bird and try not to laugh
to wear my joggin bottoms to the shops and not get stared at like I'm a vagrant!!

Okidoki thats me done
Love
( 7 weeks 1 day to go!!!!)
Linda xx

[deebat]

Looks like I'm the first Yank to write in here. I've said enough lately about why I want to leave the US -- and all of you are probably aware of how ugly this country has become. But what makes NZ so attractive to me and my fiancee? To name a few, in no particular order:

-- Natural beauty
-- Amazingly friendly people (even at the airport!)
-- The feeling that greed doesn't drive "the system"
-- Nuclear free!
-- A concentrated effort on renewable resources

I visited NZ in February '03, and I can't get it out of my mind. Flying into AKL and seeing the green, green hills sparked a fire inside me that has spread to my fiancee and is now burning full tilt in her, too. We're ready to go! :nice1

-Dan

[deebat]

Whoops -- My apologies to Coastcat and Terry -- you two are Yanks, too! (I try to block out any thoughts of the "Frozen Tundra," Terry, because I'm a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan! :clap )

-Dan

[veronica]

Linda, have a think again on this phrase.
"to get away form a materialistic way of life and protentious a*** licking people who don't really want to know how you are when they ask.
One of the ways of greeting people here is hi how are you, and then they go straight on to talk about something else with out pausing. If you actually tell them how you are they are generally taken aback. Its just as materialistic here as at home with the haves and the havenots. There is poverty here too with people not able to afford dental and eyecare etc. Its the same species of homosapiens after all, they just speak with a different accent. You are going to get the same mix of people here.

[lindajax]

Veronica,

Point taken - and I do know that there are similar people everywhere - but what I mean is those people who don't want to know how you are but do want to know the ins and outs of your life so that they can take it to pieces and criticise it to thier friends behind your back.

I tend to ask people how they are but I am genuiniely interested in how thier day is going - it may be crappy and I can help in some way or it may be going good and I can share thier joy.
I do not understand why one should ask how are you and not mean it.
Its just my view - I can live with this thing but doesn't mean I agree with it - wherever it happens!

It doesn't make me a bad person to feel a little miffed that I am asked how I am and not expected to comment after all it is a question " how are you?"

I know you probably think I'm being really picky but it is something that really ticks me right off at times!!!

rant off now

Sending love to all
Linda xx

[Moorf]

:laugh

So true Veronica - EVERYONE greets you with "how are you" / "how you doing" / "how goes it?" / "doing good?" and you soon realise it's a greeting, not necessarily a question !!

[Tate6]

Whoops -- My apologies to Coastcat and Terry -- you two are Yanks, too! (I try to block out any thoughts of the "Frozen Tundra," Terry, because I'm a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan! :clap )

-Dan

No problem, Dan! I love hearing from other Yanks!!
And, if I were to pick a favorite team, it is the Broncos. But I have one son who is a major Packer fan and one who is a major Viking fan. I think they did it on purpose just to give them one more thing to fight about!! :roll:

Being from Oregon, do you hear alot of "Why do you want to go half way around the world when it is just as beautiful here?" People that have not researched NZ just don't get that it is the whole package that is appealing! :(

Have so enjoyed everyone else's reasons. Helps to remind me why I am working so hard! :nice1

Terry

[leslie]

in our case we spent big money on oz ' the compromise' only for me to realise it was nz or nuttin. nuttin wasn't optional. lived in nz 11 years ago, always wanted to go back. terrible, nagging feeling that didn't go away. in the end the dec was easy...

our stroppy 14 year old will leave us in a few years and we wanted to be living in a place she will eventually want to come back to (although not move in!). when i realised nz was possibly the only place on the earth that met the criterion, the rest is history. now just wish had done it sooner. used to think it was career suicide to move there, but now that i know it's having children that is c-s am okay with it...

i spent much of my childhood in canada - we went back for 4 years - but its not even close to being what it was. the ideals etc are all long gone. sure the exchange is favourable, but once you are there life is sluggish, expensive and yes, vv cold. huge land mass. 110% non-inspiring. 110% dependent on usa (thats 4 more years of george usa). thanks to those 4 years back 'home' its going to take 150+ days just to get security clearance for nz pr application - involving scotland yard, finger-printing etc. manic, costly bureaucracy. cannot understand why anyone would go and i have the passport! my family also lived in munich for 2 years. 70's germany was light years ahead of everyone else and despite my family i have happy memories. lesson - your surroundings can make the difference. my family is v british in the terrible, disfunctional sense, and i have spent 20 years trying to learn what makes a good life full of days for which one is grateful, and how to put together the pieces that make it possible and nz is a big piece. i love its simplicity. i love that its location means it will always have to be on its toes. i love that its size means you know exactly what is required of you. don't love that i waited til the rest of the world decided to go and its taking forever.

that said, they will process pr application in time it takes canada just to issue a document. worth waking up for?

[Annierobrigado]

hi diny

we chose nz because we wanted a better future for our kids, and maintain the lifestyle that we were accustomed to (laid back, slow, relaxed. we knew city life wasnt for us. we even have cows for neighbors!)

NZ has that lifestyle - the kiwis i believe put a premium on r and r. the rat race is not that obvious here. and the people are friendlier than other english speaking white-skinned (do i sound discriminating? sorry.) people of the world.

if canada were in a lower hemisphere, it would be nice to go there too, but you can't change the earth!

and the decision was cemented when i joined this forum and met all you wonderful people out there in cyberspace! :mrgreen:

oh, and don't forget about the cadbury.

annie

[renrob]

Hi everybody :mrgreen:

Well, we chose nz because it is a nice place to raise our children. Been there for a month, just a holiday and the children love it. Hoping to return for another holiday and some job hunting at the same time.

Good luck to everybody who chose NZ. :nice1

[Kim39]

Diny,

You ask the same question the majority of people ask me when i say what my plans are. Why NZ? Well i agree with what the people are saying here, not really got anything to add, but to say its definately not got anything to do with LOTR, all i can say is LOTR is pants! :laugh Over the last few weeks i have been given the chance to go to the Cayman Islands with the same job i am going to NZ with but my feelings are still with NZ. So for now i am keeping fingers crossed that this visa will be issued and these four walls will move and we can realise our ambition and get out of this rat race here in the UK and begin our more relaxed way of living down in the southern hemisphere. Can't wait to get on those open roads with my rig :cool

[Diny]

Kim

I can just see you trundling along Highway 1 in your truck, window down, arm on the sill, thumbs up at everybody you meet, smile a mile wide.

You're gonna love it mate :hopeso :hopeso :hopeso

Watch out for the :booby I don't know whether it's just me with a natural guilty conscience (sp) - but they seemed to be round every corner - even on quiet roads.

Diny

[Babette & Andy]

Why NZ? Well for me it will be like going home :nice1 Through my dad's work I lived in New Plymouth for 2.5 years when I was 7. Have nothing but fond memories: endless BBQ's and playing indians (colourful sunblock) on the black sand beaches, hiding my shoes under a bush on the way to school, horseriding in the wonderful hilly landscape, skiing in Mt Hutt on empty pistes, outdoor living - and many many more memories.

I came to the UK 15yrs ago (intended to stay for 2 weeks!) to see my (now) hubby, and stayed. Although there are many things I love about Britain, I've never called it home, funny as Holland isn't that far away you'd think the countries wouldn't be that different. It will be great to make a new country our home together.

When Lianne was first borne we toyed with the idea of moving to Holland, went as far as job interviews and even offers, but through a multitude of reasons we decided against going. Good thing in hindsight, as my family all emigrated to Nelson in Sep'03 :P

Andy's brother emigrated to Perth (OZ) 15yrs ago (same week as I came here, but claims that was a coincidence :mrgreen: ) and for a while we seriously looked at OZ. But with their point system, we didn't stand a chance. Things are meant to be, I believe.

So anyway (sorry it's a long one . . ) kept an eye on the point system in NZ, we didn't meet the points criteria in the old system, and on the selection points dropping. Went to Nelson in April, and as I hoped Andy also fell in love with NZ, he's just been back to Chch for 10days to see if that's the place for us.

Our reasons are much like what has said before, ultimately we want the best for our girls, and believe that NZ has the best to offer. We're looking forward to getting stuck in, working hard and making a new life in an amazing country. :hopeso

Babette :cheers

PS we DO think LOTR is amazing (sorry Diny)

[cloudboy99]

My wife and I being the adventureous type, have decided to move sight unseen. After all, there's enough posts on this forum from real people that there is no place else to go. Of course the two hour long High Definition Discovery channel episodes on the north and south islands didn't hurt either.

Being in our mid-20s, my wife and I want to be sure that we experience as much as we can before we decide to settle down, have children, and enjoy a peaceful retirement. I guess its somewhat of a pre-midlife crisis, but I have a nice house, lovely wife, three cars, and a great job but I can't help but think "whelp, this is it for the next 40 years." Nope, that just doesn't fit into our wanderlust. Of course now the big question is where to settle. I'm the primary and am classified as a "geek". I'm currently a systems engineer (pre-sales support) and have had the wonderful gift (or curse) of sitting in front of a computer screen since primary school.

I'm sure that might be advice for another topic, but where are the real shortages at? I would prefer to live in a less-populated area like Chch compared to Auckland, but obviously I need to go where the jobs are.

Cheers

[wilson182]

Hey Diny

We didnt just sell up and come over, we had a recci first, but our reasons. Pretty much been covered already - a great place to bring up the kids, the UK political climate, high taxes (unless you know how to work the welfare system), a better lifestyle for all of us.

Now we are here. The kiwis are great people, the TV's crap - the kids just have to get on and do something else, we go to the park nearly every day, hubby finishing work at 4 - 4.30 at least once a week, being rewarded for doing a job well (+ drinks in the boardroom EVERY Friday), xmas on the beach. (how weird is that though).......

[wilson182]

Hey Danpoll

Another Pompeyite, welcome. Is the Tricorn down yet???

Were are you thinking of settling?

[Diny]

Wilson

Christmas on he beach .... just doesn't seem right to me.

[Danpoll]

Christmas in Las Vegas is strange, then again vegas is strange,

what will be strange is havin allways had my birthday in the hot sun of august I will now have to have it in winter, thats not fair

Kids summer holiday in December, what!!!

cold wether in June hey

It just screwing my mind just thinking about it,


dan

[Lil]

Christmas in the sun, bliss. We've had Christmas in the sun for the past 10 years in various different countries and I love it. We made a resolution many years ago to go swimming in the sea on every New Years Day, so being in NZ may just help us stick to that resolution.

We travel a lot and have often thought about moving overseas, but all the places we have been are nice for holidays but not serious contenders for a place to live and work, because of language and/or extremes of weather conditions. Thinking about where we wanted to be, top of the list was it had to be an English speaking country, it's one thing being a foreigner, but not being able to speak the language would make thing 10 times more difficult. Our original thoughts were to go to Oz but we kinda got sidetracked onto NZ. Having previously discounted NZ as being too cold and wet, we decided to do a bit more research and now are really glad that we did not choose Australia. We don't fancy working in 40c heat and as someone else said there are just too many scary things over there.

I have never been to NZ nor seen LOTR. I therefore declare myself to be totally mental. :laugh

[Slatch]

We have contemplated emigrating for a number of years now....I guess its one of those feelings that comes from returning from the annual Meditaranean holiday saying...."One day I would love to live there".

I think the underlying factor for most is looking back through your life and wondering what you would change if you could start again....so maybe a change and a new start is the answer....(is it just me?.....I hope i'm not having a mid life crisis at 34!!)

We spent hours watching TV programmes like "A Place in the Sun", or "Get a New Life" which sort of puts things more in perspective.....but its never really realistic when you take into account the fact you have to learn a different language, the prospect of a job is probably not going to be in the same field and the money probably wont amount to much either......until the NZ version!

You could say well why not relocate just to somewhere in the UK? Thought about it! Somewhere near the coast maybe, but sitting on the beach in Bridlington, dodging turds whilst paddling, has lost its appeal since finding out that the water is blue at almost every other coastline in the world!

So, we started looking into it....I was amazed to find my HNC qualification is almost as highly rated as a degree, together with my trade, Civil Eng being on the POL, and the right amount of years behind me, giving me a score of 120ish, it feels like they want me over there :P

For me personally NZ is the ideal place to relocate with such similar characteristics, as we both still need to work......but with, I guess that feeling of semi-retirement, being close to a holiday resort (summer and winter!)

......so I guess NZ here we come :nice1

[Annierobrigado]

Wilson

Christmas on he beach .... just doesn't seem right to me.

diny,

you could put up some torches that are shaped like stars or reindeer or snowmen along the beach... would be amazing to look at in the dark.

we have those here in the philippines. what we call "parols" or christmas lanterns. wreaks havoc on our electric bill come new year, but we have the brightest christmas in asia (maybe!) twinkling lights, fairy lights, colored light bulbs, christmas lights silhouetting our houses. tiny lights that adorn our christmas trees that blink to the tune of "we wish you a merry christmas" or "jingle bells"... what more?

they can be put in the beaches, so instead of let it snow let it snow, it's gonna be let it sand, let it sand! ( :laugh )

:cheers
annie

[Lil]

Annie, that's why I love Christmas and New Year at the beach. In Malaysia thay have lanterns, which I can only desribe as big candles in a sack, which they light and let them fly off into the night sky out to sea. It's really beautiful to see.

[Seabirds]

Hi Diny and everyone.

Loved reading this thread. So many different reasons for moving. I'm moving for a different reason, it seems. I am a professional lone parent and in the UK I can't afford to buy a house on a good income. I've a 13-year old daughter, so educationally it had to be English speaking (narrowed it to Oz, NZ or Canada). Thanks to the wonderful rental system she is now making her 9th house move and we're fed up with not having a stable base. My elder two are 23 and 19 and I feel the move will offer them a future should they want it.

Don't fancy Oz (too hot), just come back from Canada and am pursuing job in Alberta, though the -35 is a bit scary as people are known to freeze to death on the highway! Loved the place and people, but adored Vancouver Island (but no job offer there!). For some reason that I can't explain, I still felt as I left Canada that I'd rather see NZ. Just didn't have that "let's go and pack my bags" feeling. Just applied for a job in Porirua, so really hoping it comes up... I guess I'll go where I can get a job. First choice NZ, second Canada.

Anyway, Diny, you never know if I'm in Welly Viggo Mortensen might appear in shining armour to help me unpack!! :laugh

[Annierobrigado]

seabirds (what a beautiful pen name!)

good luck to whatever you decide. i didn't know people froze to death on the highway in canada! anyway, i may not be the best person to tell you to go to nz, but, well to many of the migrants it's a real leap of faith though, coz no one (except for those who have been there already) really knows the country except from what was told to them or what they've read or seen or heard. i guess that will be true for us, as the only way we've got to know nz was through this forum and the internet!

but since many have decided to make nz their home, then, why not for us too, eh?

I have a 14-yr old daughter and a 13-yr old son. hope to meet you someday in nz!

annie

[Pamela]

Hi All

Here goes Diny you asked :laugh Just over 2 years ago We had a phone call at home and it was from A Brother whom I had no idea that I had, He was adopted at birth when I was six years old, And taken to NZ to start his new life. He took the step to find us and I am so glad that he did,

So since that call, One big emotional roller coaster that is still going round :P :wah It is like I have known him all my life, Me my Hubby and Son went out to visit him last year for 3 weeks, which flew by and the hardest part was coming back, I was so scared that I would not see him again.

I have never met such wonderful People or seen such a lovely country
mind blowing :eek

When back I was taking Son to football Sunday morning and he said Mum I want to go back to NZ I don't want to be here, He loved it out there.

So the Journey began, Found Immigration Agent and said we want to go please help us what do we do. Advice given and fee's that they wanted OMG, Gave them a miss :laugh :laugh .

After lots of searching on the Internet found NZ immigration site and put our EIO on line, Then someone on another site gave me the details of this Forum which I find a great place to follow other Peoples stories and all advice and post have been such a great help along the way.

I am getting brave telling everyone here, Just hope I get out soon have years to make up for and a Brother who needs us.

Enough rambling :cheers :cheers :cheers

[Annierobrigado]

hi pamela,

i am so glad for you that you found both your brother and nz. i'm a sucker for stories like this and it keeps me on a light mood the whole day. thank you for sharing this with the forum.

i keep thinking though, if my kids (ages 19, 17, 14, 13 and 7) would like it in nz; they're good adjusters i know, but it would be a different thing to actually live there. but you said your son was the one who told you he wanted to live in nz, which means it would be great from a kid's perspective, so, thanks again for sharing that. i could breathe a little easier now.

:cheers
annie

[toesonthenose]

Hi Pamela,
How great for your family! I was adopted and after 10 years I finally found them, mom, grandma's, uncles, a brother! It is a experience to be cherished, and I am happy for you. Tell your brother he is not alone!
bye

[Babette & Andy]

Pamela & Toesonthenose - think we've got a theme going here.

When we lived in New Plymouth (see my entry earlier on) we adopted my kiwi sister. Earlier this year she has also managed to trace them, and we met and visited her birth mum in April :P So easygoing, open and honest. The whole family knew about my sister already. Since coming back to Holland she has now also traced her dad and found a step brother and sister. Again, all was known already and they e-mail on a regular basis :nice1 When you know of adopted people searching for years and years with no luck, or interest from the other parties, this outcome was beyond belief :clap

Best of luck to you all.

Babette

[Rimbo]

Only just started picking through some of the old threads and saw this one.

Back to your original Q Diny....
in all honesty, i don't know why NZ.
perhaps just a dream after seeing pics in glossy mags and tv shows.
greener than OZ but Oz has never appealed in any case.
i suppose i have the romantic notion that NZ will give us everything that the UK cannot which includes what most other members have already said, social climate etc. the fact that we will be better off cos house prices are cheaper is also another big factor.
As you know, i have never been to NZ. So our desision was based on our dreams and then more recently re-affirmed by good like minded people on this forum.
so its all your fault!
:nice1

John

[real_sunfire]

Worzel Gummidge!

Thats who I blame it anyhow. *:) When I was young back in the 70s I had this impression of being like rural England except less spolit. The only thing I can think gave me this view was when they did a series of Worzel called "Worzel Gummidge Down Under" which I'm sure was filmed in NZ.

Anyhow for ages I felt I wanted to go over there. Finally in 1999 I had the time and money to make the trip - I spent a month there touring around and loved it. Two years late I went again this time with my mum and brother who treated me to a helicopter ride over Mt. Cook. I then spent my 30th birthday going to see "Fellowship of the Ring" in Auckland and then watching my brother bungy jumpiing off Sky Tower - the first person to do a night jump there. :)

ATM it looks like I will be heading back, hopefully permamentlly in 2007/8.

Rgds.,
Nick.

[Soon2baKiwi]

Hi everyone. This is a great thread with some really lovely stories. NZ for me because of my (almost) hubby but even if I'd never met him I wouldn't have ended my days here in Ireland. I love Holland, having lived in The Hague for two years, and would probably have gone back but now my big Dutch kiwi is taking me to NZ I'm over the moon and wish I could do a "beam me up Scottie" so we could be there already. Mike's family live in Browns Bay and they are so helpful already I just can't believe it sometimes. MIL is with us for a couple of months at the moment and I'm getting a real flavour of life on the North Shore. Our house is on the market now so keeping our fingers crossed that someone wants to buy before Christmas :hopeso Anyway, must get back to work. Good luck to everyone waiting to go.