[pintpot]

Hello Everyone,
Now I've seen a number of polls about NZ, one asking whether people would recommend NZ and read a number of threads about the likes and dislikes of NZ which were really good. Then I thought it would be interesting to find out as to why people moved to NZ, so thought I'd start a poll to see. I've put some options which I think could be applicable. If people can think of others then please raise them.

Cheers
Paul

[Trigirl]

i've only voted lifestyle but to be honest money plays a part too - despite lower wages the cost of things like transport and housing means we'll be much better off here than in the uk. but that wasn't *why* we came - just a nice side effect!

[jess]

Perhaps it falls under Lifestyle, but in addition to the outdoors and slower pace, etc, one of the things I love about NZ is that I feel like I fit in better. I was liberal in the US, but feel I'm more in line with the mainstream in NZ on many issues. Of course, just the idea of national health care is pretty left in the states. I don't want to get into political debates, so I'll leave the rest aside, but if you'd had Politics as a choice, I would have checked it. So I went with Other as well.

[stu70]

I would have liked to see a "security" option in the poll. I do not mean personal safety from crime but more so with respect to safety from perceived threats of terrorism that we face here in North America. I am sure some folks would consider NZ for that reason..it is so far and remote, what are the chances some one will blow something up in that country? Let us hope so anyways.(call me paranoid)

[Nathan]

I think Jess nailed our situation pretty well. There are other reasons as well, but a simpler lifestyle and a slower pace are definitely way up there. We need to slow down enought to live instead of being pulled thirty directions at once. NZ seems like a great place to do that.

That said, I really do like where I live and all my friends, and the music. I love the music here... and the people who play it... with a little 'shine to go with it! ... watchin' my Sweetie flatfoot. ...and I love the mountains.

But in NZ I expect to have more time to enjoy life. Here I feel like I'll have to keep runnning like a rat in a maze for the rest of my life just to stay ahead of the medical insurance.

[jubjub]

I ticked a couple including "other"

Other being that we wanted to do something a bit different felt a bit stuck in a rut, and wanted to shake things up a bit!

[Moorf]

All of them :nice1

[jnathan]

Hasn't anyone mentioned that NZ is among world's most less corrupted countries?
they are listed between 1-5. Should be called a heaven.

[ezza]

Is this for those who haven't got there yet? I ticked better future over lifestyle because I like many aspects of my lifestyle in the UK (apart from long working hours) but am struggling to afford/have time to do these things as the cost of living goes up and up and up.

[Moorf]

to find out as to why people moved to NZ

I assumed, from the above, that it meant us lot that are here :)

[wilson182]

i've only voted lifestyle but to be honest money plays a part too - despite lower wages the cost of things like transport and housing means we'll be much better off here than in the uk. but that wasn't *why* we came - just a nice side effect!

Nicely put Trigirl :yes , It has been a nice "side effect" for us too....

[Avalon]

I ticked everything except education - as that really doesnt apply. I also ticked Other becasue teh current politics of teh UK were a factor.

So far - NZ has actually given us everything we hoped for - though sometimes we have had to look a bit differently to find it :nice1

[wanderingoregonian]

Lifestyle! I really didn't want to HAVE to work full time - which was the only way I could get health insurance in America... We're now in a position where my OH can think about starting the business he's always wanted to, and I can balance work and life for myself more. Money - well our days with money in our pocket are gone for awhile but we're happier and more relaxed. Living with out a car again is lovely (an inner suburb Welly thing, not nec. a NZ thing)

[Rabbit]

I
So far - NZ has actually given us everything we hoped for - though sometimes we have had to look a bit differently to find it :nice1

Avalon, I liked that one.

I guess the poll in some ways is a bit misleading, e.g. what were the expectations before departing where-ever and how they have been met in NZ after arriving, building a new life etc, and the various adjustments (mental, financial etc) needed to make it work.

I can only speak for myself, but there appears to be a number of phases...

-expectations
-honeymoon period
-reality
-acceptance
-potential divorce

moving to NZ takes a little while to settle down I suppose, just like getting married?

Guess I am still in the reality stage, and it can be painful at times :laugh

[Avalon]

I can only speak for myself, but there appears to be a number of phases...

-expectations
-honeymoon period
-reality
-acceptance
-potential divorce

:laugh :laugh :laugh

Thast really funny - I never thought of it like that!

Seriously though - I seem to have skipped the honeymoon period. Went straight to reality check and associated misery. I guess im in the honeymoon phase now. Bit of a late bloomer so to speak! Which I guess means no legal fees for a divorce - yay!

[Mexican in NZ]

I would have liked to see a "security" option in the poll. I do not mean personal safety from crime but more so with respect to safety from perceived threats of terrorism that we face here in North America. I am sure some folks would consider NZ for that reason..it is so far and remote, what are the chances some one will blow something up in that country? Let us hope so anyways.(call me paranoid)
Hello there! I totally agree with Stu70 I voted for family as i came here because my hubby is a kiwi and wanted to come back to his home country...the only thing i asked from him is if we moved it will be to a safe place and by looking at things in the internet and other sources i found out that NZ was a safe place compared with mexico and USA so here i am!!
I also liked the fact that kiwis dont like war and many other things...but yes safety was the second thing after love why i made the move.
Adriana

[migratory birds]

Climate is tops on my list - ready to leave the long, grey, cloudy winters...may arrive to find more of the same or that our house is as cold as the outdoors!

[spudulike]

Well just to throw a spanner in the works :uhoh I ticked lifestyle and better future as they 'were' the reasons we came. Sadly, for us the reality has been different to our expectations but I know for many it works just fine!

L :)

[K&CS]

The main ones for us were lifestyle and money and we haven't been disappointed with either!

Kate

[Diny]

Well thank God we didn't move here for the weather !!!!!!!

Diny

[Smiler]

I've voted -

Lifestyle
Job
Better future
Money

The fact that we could come to NZ and run our internet based company mean we have a much better lifestyle now than before, working from home together. OH would have had to contract if we were still in the UK.

The second two are a bonus - Money, I find my wages go further here (always been a frugal shopper anyway):laugh Even earning kiwi dollars, our rent is much lower here for a better place in the sticks.

Better future, the ability to save some of the above for our dotage!