Moving To New Zealand is an excellent decision if you want a lifestyle that supports a good work-life balance.
Living in New Zealand offers you a relaxed culture without compromising your needs for city amenities. However, there are things to know before moving to New Zealand. That’s why we will share 8 no-nonsense tips to ensure that you are ready to move and settle in New Zealand.
1. Consider The Pros And Cons Of Moving To New Zealand
Before moving south to New Zealand, you need to know the pros and cons of moving to this country. By knowing this information beforehand, you will be more prepared for life in New Zealand.
The Pros Of Moving To New Zealand
Lovely Weather
New Zealand experiences sunny summers and wet winters. The temperature in summers can reach 104°F (40°C), while in winter, the temperature rarely dips lower than 50°F (10°C).
If you are from a cold country, living in this climate will be comfortable, and you may not need to bundle up in winter.
Instead of snowfall, most parts of New Zealand experience rainfall during winter. If you want to see snow, you will need to go to cities on the South Island like Dunedin or Wanaka.
Friendly People
You may be surprised at how fast you can make friends in New Zealand. The people in this country are generally friendly and welcoming.
In addition, they are used to having expats around them. Many of them won’t hesitate to take you into their friendship circle.
Top-Notch Education
The New Zealand government offers free education for permanent residents and citizens up to the high school level. At the university level, they will have to pay for the tuition. However, the local government provides subsidies for the students in need.
Since education is an important part of New Zealand society, you need to have a degree if you plan to work here.
The Cons Of Moving To New Zealand
You Will Be Living A Quiet Life
New Zealand is known for its laid back and relaxed vibe. What it means is that this country offers a quiet life.
You will not find vibrant nightlife outside Queenstown. However, this may be an advantage for people who prefer a quiet and relaxing lifestyle.
2. Find The Best Places To Live In New Zealand
If you are planning to move to New Zealand and still wondering which city to choose, you can use our recommendations of cities from the North and South Islands of New Zealand below as your reference.
North Island
North Island is where the major cities of New Zealand are. This island offers beautiful scenery, job opportunities and is an excellent pick for expatriates.
Here are some of the cities you want to look into if you choose to live on this side of New Zealand:
- Auckland,
- Wellington,
- Hamilton, and
- Napier.
- South Island
This island offers great coastal scenery and outdoor activities like paragliding, skiing, and surfing. Here are some of the cities on South Island that are highly recommended:
- Queenstown (pictured above),
- Christchurch, and
- Dunedin.
3. Estimate Your Living Expenses In New Zealand
It will be best to know the estimated living expenses in your home country’s currency and New Zealand’s currency. This will give you an idea of how much you should save before moving so that you will have enough money when you arrive in New Zealand.
The estimated monthly cost of living for a family of four is 7,703 NZD (4,902.46 USD), and for a single person is 4,235 NZD (2,695 USD).
The housing prices will depend on the location and size of the property. However, you can use the average rent prices to estimate the total living expenses.
The average rent price for a small home with one or two bedrooms is 2,000 NZD (1,272 USD). To cut your expenses on rent, you may want to consider finding a neighbourhood that is outside the city centre.
4. Secure A Job In New Zealand By Diving Into The Local Job Market
New Zealand is a country with rich natural resources. Therefore, the main sectors in this country are related to nature.
To help you navigate the local job market, here are some of the biggest industries in New Zealand:
- agriculture,
- forestry,
- horticulture,
- fishing,
- retail, and
- mining.
Of course, there are many opportunities in other sectors. You should not hesitate to find and secure a job in New Zealand.
Once you have received a job offer, remember to clarify the health insurance coverage with your employer. This information will help you to determine whether you need additional insurance or not. Expats will usually use a private health insurance service for the health care coverage.
5. Familiarise Yourself With The Local Public Transportation
Most cities in New Zealand have buses services. In big cities like Auckland and Wellington, there are rail services.
New Zealand also has ferries to travel from one island to another.
Suppose you want to travel around the country. In that case, you can use InterCity Coachlines offers point-to-point service and Kiwi Experience. The drivers from Kiwi Experience can also be your tour guides.
6. Check Out These Must Visit Places In New Zealand
Living in New Zealand will give you countless opportunities to enjoy the attractions around the country. New Zealand has natural beauty with beaches and green areas.
Here is the list of places you should visit in New Zealand to enjoy the scenery and learn about the local history:
- Hobbiton (pictured above),
- The Coromandel,
- Tongariro National Park,
- Mount Aspiring National Park, and
- Queenstown.
7. Enjoy Local Delicacies Offered By The New Zealanders
New Zealand is known to have good foods and tasty local dishes. It also offers farm-to-table food where restaurants use ingredients from local farmers. This ensures that the foods served to customers are fresh and healthier.
To start your culinary exploration in New Zealand, below are some of the iconic local dishes you should try:
- traditional Māori hāngi,
- kina (sea urchin),
- crayfish,
- Kiwi burger,
- Pavlova (pictured above), and
- whitebait fritters.
8. A Few Things To Do Before Moving To New Zealand
You should prepare for your relocation to New Zealand by gathering information, packing, and more.
You can follow the following tips to organise your moving process. This way, you will avoid unnecessary stress as you will have an effective way to track your relocation progress.
Create A Relocation List
Making a relocation list is crucial, especially if you have to bring some immigration documents. You can use the following categories to make your relocation list to make your relocation less stressful:
- essential documents (passport, visa, work contract, tec.),
- moving items to buy (boxes and luggage),
- packing (which items to pack first and later),
- things to sell or donate,
- exchange some cash for New Zealand dollar,
- budget, and
- flight tickets.
Feel free to add more categories as you need. To make a list even more organised, add a timeline for each point so you can track the progress easily.
Prepare Your Budget
It will be best to prepare your moving budget several months before moving. This way, you will have sufficient time to save money for the relocation.
Divide your budget into three categories, preparation, moving trip, and post-moving budgets. You will find it easier to manage your budget using the categories system since you can track your money and make priorities.
Engage Sanelo To Ship Your Belongings To New Zealand
You will need a professional to help you ship your belongings to New Zealand. Sanelo has an experienced team to help you make your relocation less stressful.
Our team will also guide you through the shipment process, including the administration process for clearance.
Conclusion On Moving To New Zealand
New Zealand is a great country if you like a relaxing lifestyle surrounded by beautiful nature. This country also offers safety, friendly communities, job opportunities, tasty local delicacies, and exciting places to visit.
Of course, you need to be well prepared before moving here. Therefore, it is crucial for you to organise your moving process by making a relocation list and budget.
Engage Sanelo to ship your belongings to New Zealand so that you’ll have an even more enjoyable moving process. This way, you will be free from heavy luggage on your trip.
If you want to find more information on relocating to cities in Australia and New Zealand, check out our other articles about moving to Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving To New Zealand
Is New Zealand A Good Place To Live In?
New Zealand is a great place to live and to raise a family. The cost of living in this country is reasonable, and the housing prices are relatively low.
In addition, this country also offers good quality education and job opportunities in various industries.
Can A Retiree Move To New Zealand?
Yes, you can. New Zealand offers two types of retirement visas, a parent visa and a temporary retirement visitor visa.
How Can I Move To New Zealand Without A Job?
You can apply for several types of visas to live in New Zealand without a job, such as a student and partnership-based visas.
To explore the options to live in New Zealand, please check out the immigration website.
How Do I Contact Sanelo To Ship My Belongings To New Zealand?
You may visit our website to start your quote or explore more about our services, such as local and international relocation, and shipment protection.
If you need to consult us about your needs and relocation process, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team is ready to guide you through the process of your relocation.