wanting to move to New Zealand

[Scoojez]

Originally Posted by inhamilton

Coincidentally, there was something in yesterday's NZ Herald about this very thing, when discussing various perceptions kiwis have about NZ and then comparing them with the actual facts.
No baby boom and fewer sheep: Myths busted - National - NZ Herald News

There's a brain drain: FICTION
On average over the past 15 years we've (NZ) lost 300 labourers a year, and net losses of most other unskilled groups, but we've gained 1570 professionals a year because of our skills-based immigration policy.

Labourers and unskilled workers are considered outside the 'brain drain' in New Zealand? My husband CHOSE to return to his trade after a decade as an executive manager. Why? Because he finds great enjoyment in creating and designing. I guess his end products are also enjoyed by the 'brains' of this world.

[isellpower]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

There is no "perfect" place to live on earth, and I'm sure there are hits and misses along the way.

You haven't lived in Austin Texas. Heavenly is all that can be said.....................

[isellpower]

Originally Posted by anski

NZ provides free public hospital care for all, & even provide free emergency health care to visitors from certain countries yet I would not even get a free band aid in America.
My American friend received emergency room treatment here for free when he had a stroke, he was amazed they did not ask for any payment. Tell me where this would happen in America?

Really,
Millions of Mexican Immigrants literally run across the border to have their children in the U.S. The hospital knows they are illegal and will not refuse service knowing full well that they won't pay a dime. After the baby is born it is now a full U.S. citizen and the illegal mother is now given full welfare benefits for the child (food, housing, cash, medical, etc.) and not pay a dime. Not trying to start an argument, but if your friend had a stroke in the U.S. they would have most definitely treated him. Sure, he may have gotten a bill, but never would have paid it. I am from Romania and even I know what you say is not true at all.

[isellpower]

Originally Posted by Song_Si

the lowest percentage of passport holders of any developed nation: 30%. Just an indicator, though why have a passport if you're not going to use it?



half full, half empty?
comfortable in their own environment - or uncomfortable in any other environment?

In case you haven't looked in a while the U.S. is HUGE. Compared to NZ, England, etc., it's a behemoth. Coming from Eastern Europe we couldn't believe how big it was. Also, don't forget Alaska and Puerto Rico. Also, a passport for Canada or Mexico was not needed for a long time. I thought we would miss traveling from small country to small country. However, in the U.S. traveling from state to state is sometimes similar. Shoot, we were visiting New York City and then traveled to Up-State New York. You could have told me we were on another continent and I would have believed it. Compare California to Missouri and Montana to Texas and you would swear they were on different continents. I have seen most all of Europe and don't care to ever see it again. As hard as I try I won't be able to see all that the States has to offer. If you think that NZ has some scenery, try Alaska. There is nothing close to it on the planet. Unfortunately, it is so cold it made the mountains of Romania seems like a Mediterranean resort.

[MrsRose]

It's true that you can receive emergency care in the US no matter who you are. But someone has to pay for it.
If you receive medical care and just decide not to pay your bill, that puts you in debt. And your bill will be paid for...either by us taxpayers, or it will work itself out in everyone else's insurance premiums and cost of medical care going up.

[USAGary]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

It's true that you can receive emergency care in the US no matter who you are. But someone has to pay for it.

Thank goodness for the Affordable Care Act that the USA President Obama fought conservatives to enact (and is still fighting years after it became law - even the conservative nominee for Pres. in the upcoming election vows to tear it down) which he championed to finally address this issue you raise! Conservatives and the multinational corporate moneysucker entities created the only FOR PROFIT healthcare system in a major country in the USA and it was high time to stop the over-charging the corps do to line their pockets with tax-payer money.





I have great respect for the NZ way and hopefully the government in Wellington can be encouraged to do the same thing and fight corp takeover. That's a good reason for "wanting to move to New Zealand."

[Emski]

I would like to say, for all those people out there , who are thinking of coming to NZ, to ignore most of what has been said by the rather negative Rodgerdodger...it eems that their first big mistake was moving here without the prospect of a job and then assuming you would ick one up straight away...jobs are hard to find whichever country you live in....so my only advise is get a job before you come...unless you're happy to work in bars etc.....More to the point this country is fantastic. We relocated from th uk with my young family last year, we had to makethe effort to create ourselves a social network, but that was not difficult as veryone here are so friendly, the kids have settled in the schools without any grief and we have learnt to shop according to the seasons...of course there are things here that cost mors than back in the uk but you find an alternative or go without...life isvery easy and relaxed out here and although there are aspects of the uk that I miss I would never want to go back there to live...NewZealand rocks...literally at times...but that just add to the adventure...that is all...

[Emski]

Originally Posted by Emski

I would like to say, for all those people out there , who are thinking of coming to NZ, to ignore most of what has been said by the rather negative Rodgerdodger...it eems that their first big mistake was moving here without the prospect of a job and then assuming you would ick one up straight away...jobs are hard to find whichever country you live in....so my only advise is get a job before you come...unless you're happy to work in bars etc.....More to the point this country is fantastic. We relocated from th uk with my young family last year, we had to makethe effort to create ourselves a social network, but that was not difficult as veryone here are so friendly, the kids have settled in the schools without any grief and we have learnt to shop according to the seasons...of course there are things here that cost mors than back in the uk but you find an alternative or go without...life isvery easy and relaxed out here and although there are aspects of the uk that I miss I would never want to go back there to live...NewZealand rocks...literally at times...but that just add to the adventure...that is all...

Apologies for the spelling...my keyboard needs cleaning from the kids sticky fingers...lol

[bdl123]

Originally Posted by Sarahhh

Hey everyone! First post!! Right I'm definitely going to be moving to new Zealand in the near future. Need to qualify as a nurse, get my 2-3 years experience and I'm away!! Just a little question... Immigrating to new Zealand on my own.. Any tips?? cheers!!

Minimum of 2-3yrs away....u mite be married with 2 kids by then so any tips on emigrating alone may be useless lol 😄

Sent from my iPhone using ExpatForum

[Lunda28]

Originally Posted by dodgerodger

I was actually able to escape New Zealand not too long ago after spending 4 years trying to make New Zealand work for our family.
I moved back to Los Angeles after living in the south island of New Zealand.

The reason I seem to be rather negative is because New Zealand was a negative experience for us and yes we were in New Zealand against our will as we spent all our savings trying to make it work and when we finally admitted to ourselves that NZ just isnt what we imagined it to be OR what our immigration advisers had told us and what people on forums like this had said it was like; we were basically penniless.

As odd as it seems I am actually trying to bring balance to this forum; and it is not my fault if you immigrate to New Zealand and suffer the same fate as I did because I did tell you exactly how things are not sugarcoating anything.

MrsRose you and your husband from what I can tell from your previous posts will most definitely end up disliking New Zealand; unless you MrsRose can get a nice paying fulltime job in New Zealand (which in this economy is not likely) you will need to switch your diet to eat more 'normal kiwi' things.
You will end up resenting the fact that you cannot afford to take trips to go skiing; camping etc because gas prices are extremely high for your vehicle and you just got hit with a $400 power bill for the month because you didnt want to freeze to death in the winter OR be cooked alive in your house in the summertime.

By all means please sell your house; move all your possessions halfway across the globe; say goodbye to all your friends and family and come live in New Zealand and if it doesnt work out then you just cut your losses and move back home to America with your tails between your legs.

OR

You could spend a little bit extra and come to New Zealand on a holiday to see if it living in New Zealand would in fact fit in with your life style and means BUT bear in mind that you will be treated completely different as a tourist like many before you have found out.

There is a reason why thousands of kiwis leave New Zealand every year and will continue doing so; it is because New Zealand is pretty much a 3rd world country compared to countries like the US, Canada and the UK and its political policies continue to keep it this way.

I am at a loss to why you would want to move to a country like New Zealand MrsRose; is America really THAT bad? I moved when the economy tanked and I lost my job; I didn't even bother looking in other states for work but the economy is getting better in America where as in New Zealand it is getting worse.


I would hope this post is not deleted but this post might clash with the views of the advertisers.

Hello Dodgerodger,

I perfectly understand that you can be disappointed by your experience in New Zealand. There is sometimes a real gap between expectations and reality. But, I still wonder why some people as you do too, talk about NZ like a third world country. Since I spent the first part of my life in a "real" developing (poor) country and after that traveled to and lived in several western developed countries (Europe and North America), it is quiet difficult for me to really understand this comparison. Could you make it clearer for me please?

Thanks!