Should I bring my family to NZ?

Defenderofdevon · #1 (**permalink**) 11th June 2008, 08:42 PM

I have recently had to wind a business up in the UK after 14 years of hard work and with the way the UK is, am seriously considering a move to NZ. I have a friend who found himself in a similar situation 3 1/2 years ago and moved to Wellington on a working visa and began working for a major motor trade dealership. My quandary is whether to make the leap of faith. I have been offered a job for 50k dollars plus commission by my friend and my wife who currently works in the UK for a private bank as an Independent Financial Advisor would also look for a job as well. Does anyone have any words of wisdom? Am I mad? I know that I am sick of the grind of the UK and making money here can only get harder over the next 3 years. Is NZ really as good as I am led to believe because quality of life has certainly been lacking for the last 3 years here but I cannot afford to drag my family around the globe on a dream alone! I would be grateful for any input, thank you.

kaz101 · #2 (**permalink**) 11th June 2008, 10:28 PM

Hi DefenderofDevon,

Does the job come with a visa? I'm not in NZ - we moved from the UK to Oz. I know that people often forget that they need a visa to work in Oz and it may be the same in NZ.

Have you been to NZ before?

Regards,
Karen

Defenderofdevon · #3 (**permalink**) 12th June 2008, 07:29 AM

No it does not come with a visa, I would apply for a working visa and then if we liked it proceed further. However the fact that i have this offer I believe would stand me in good stead for a visa.

familyof5 · #4 (**permalink**) 13th June 2008, 06:36 AM

Hi, I love NZ and have no intentions of going back to the UK. Others love NZ but are also homesick and end up returning to the Uk, to find they want to come back to NZ and end up making the move quite a few times!. Others never settle and become miserable, some trapped financially. Nobody can tell you whether or not it is the right place for you. I think it is a move that you and your wife must make carefully.
We knew that if we didn't try it we would always wonder 'what if?' and came with the attitude that if we weren't happy we would go back. NZ is not without it's problems, there is crime, there is poverty, there are drugs etc BUT it hasn't reached the grand scale of the UK.
NZ has offered us a much better way of life, our children are happy and play out in the street safely. My eldest plays rugby and enjoys the BMX track. The school and kindergaten that my older kids go to have full adventure playgrounds and the facilities are great. Kids are allowed to be kids and stay that way longer.
Generally, I think that before emigrating to another country you must decide why you want to move and what you want. Some problems and stresses will follow you, some you can leave behind!
I hope this helps!!
PS will the last man to leave the Uk please turn off the light!

Soonout · #5 (**permalink**) 4th August 2008, 02:00 PM

Only advice I would give you is to not sell your home in the UK to come here, don't even think about it. The housing in NZ is TERRIBLE, damp and cold and needing continual maintanence. $50,000 a year is not alot here.

It's of course your decision but why not have a holiday here for a while and you'll have a much better idea, don't believe the hype you hear about how wonderful it is, it isn't.

Best of luck

Defenderofdevon · #6 (**permalink**) 7th August 2008, 07:11 PM

Wow, that really is negative. I have spoken to may people now and it is rare that you come across any seriously adverse views. Perhaps you could give me an idea of what you need to earn in your view to have a comfortable lifestyle there? We are actually coming over for a fact finding mission for 5 weeks at the end of this month and interviews. Any advise is very welcome.

Defenderofdevon · #7 (**permalink**) 7th August 2008, 07:14 PM

Wow it is not often you hear seriously adverse views of NZ. What makes you stay? We are in fact coming over for a 5 week fact-finding mission and interviews at the end of the month. Perhaps you could tell me what you think you need to earn to have a comfortable life over there.

Thanks very much for the advice

Defenderofdevon · #8 (**permalink**) 7th August 2008, 07:15 PM

Wow it is not often you hear seriously adverse views of NZ. What makes you stay? We are in fact coming over for a 5 week fact finding mission and interviews at the end of the month. perhaps you could tell me what you think you need to earn to have a comfortable life over there.

Thanks very much for the advice

Soonout · #9 (**permalink**) 7th August 2008, 07:49 PM

Firstly, I hope you get lucky with the weather when you come over, Jan-April would pretty much gaurantee great sunshine. Together with my wife we earn approx 110,000 and although we don't starve we are careful with our cash and watch where we buy our food stuff etc.
If you get a job, get a contract, and get a good solicitor to look over it as it is not uncommon for employers to welch on the deal knowing you may have put all your eggs in one basket coming here.
We are taxed at 33%, I think , and GST is 12.5%, so a huge chunk of your earnings are taken before you see it.
Electrical goods are dear here, my electrical bills are approx $220 a month.
There is no trading standards here though there is a consumer gaurantee act which is pretty worthless dependant on where you buy your goods.
I hope this helps, NZ is not for everyone, certainly not me, but I hope you have more luck than I have.