[Caroline and Dave]

We are moving to NZ in Feb and have never visited the Country. All our friends and family reckon we are mad moving to a country we have never visited. We have instead relied on people we know who are in Nz,extensive research etc.
I would be interested to know from others who came over without visiting and whether or not they wished they had come over first.
Although the information on this forum has certainly helped us it did not make the decision for us. It has been a great asset in making us aware of what to expect


Kindest regards


Dave and Caroline


P.S Apologies for the strange heading I did not know what to put

[jess]

I visited first, but you might want to read this thread (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6467) on the subject while you wait for better replies than mine. ;) There were lots of people posting then who had not been.

[Delson]

We visited in July/August of this year, OH had a job offer. We did loads of research and were very "up" for the move. I decided, much to the OH's disappointment and mine, that it was not for us........... I would definitely recommend a visit first........ Good luck whatever you decide.

[pieeater]

We never visited,we just fancied an adventure and we're having one.I was accused of 'researching it to death' (which 7 years ago was a lot more difficult than it is now with great resources like this Forum),I found that family who were already here turned out to be the least reliable informants by the way.

[Moorf]

Neither of us had been to NZ or Oz before we sold up and came here. I'm not sure a holiday would have given us much more than a representation of what the first few weeks would be like but it may have enabled us to view more areas of NZ. Luckily no regrets as we love where we are.

[Aydon]

Neither of us had been previously. I agree with Moorf - a visit as a "tourist" won't show you much anyway.

[Cardy]

WE never came here first we just got pr got on a plane and came here . Most people thought we were mad.except my mother and father in law who nearly did it in the 50,s and regretted not doing so.

[Carol]

and I will third that.

No - we didn't come first - but hubby was head hunted along with 5 others while he was still working in the UK. All 6 were given jobs in IT here. Actually in the same office.
It was quite surreal when it happened.
3 of the families have now moved on - 3 are still working in the same place 10 years later.

[sarahw]

We came for a week had been to NZ before (but not Welly). We didn't come as tourists on that week - we were on a major fact-finding mission - it was tiring going round houses, shops pricing things up, driving through areas to see where we could live & talking to locals about what its like to live here and a couple who had emigrated some 20 years ago - stayed in a homestay rather than in a hotel - was invaluable. OH got job offer whilst we were here & the rest is history... felt it was a good insurance policy coming over first rather than jumping in - would have been gutted if we'd moved to Auckland without visiting it first since we both hate it (no offence to anyone who lives there but its just not our kind of place).

However, that said, we know plenty of people who did just up sticks & come without being before & things have worked out just fine for them - no right or wrong way to do it, just got to do what you feel comfortable with.

[olivia]

Hi Dave & Caroline,

As you know Steve has been to Christchurch where we're headed several times but i haven't been to NZ at all. I would have liked to visit first but the logistics of taking Isaac all that way have meant that i am taking a bit of a leap of faith. I am not too concerned though and have probably done more research into going than i would have if i'd already visited.

Hope you are both well,

Best wishes,

Olivia & Steve

[Diny]

Came here heaps of times before we moved here to live but have to agree that coming here for a holiday first may not be all that important. Living here is a completely different kettle of fish to being here on holiday.

Like Sarah says .... no right or wrong way - just do what makes you feel comfortable.

Diny

[nippa&pippa]

Visited in April for job interviews/fact finding for a week then 2.5 weeks holiday with my sister who live in auckland, touring south and north island in campervan with her as she hasn't see my newborn who was 9wks and had wish to spent time with us, so we let her :yes , love it!

[Nienke]

We didn't visit either. My husband got a joboffer via a headhunter, and we decided to go for it. So far absolutely no regrets!

[diforsyth]

We didn't visit either or at least not until PR was granted when we came over for a 10 days to decide whether to move to Auckland or Wellington.

[spudulike]

We visited and loved it. We had a feel for how much things would cost etc etc but it still didn't really prepare us for living here or for living on a Kiwi wage - nothing can! The biggest advantage I see from visiting first is you will have an idea of where you would like to live (we would have liked to live in Christchurch) but even so we got offered a job in Welly so here we are....

I would say it doesn't really matter either way - you may or may not like it here but you'll never regret having the experience whatever that may be.

Louise