New Zealand is an smallish island a long long way from my home in the UK. Some might wonder, why move to New Zealand, population of 4.5 million and abandon London, the city with everything to offer?: I’ll tell you, the reason is four fold:
1.Getting a visa for New Zealand was easy…
Getting ‘involved’ with an Aussie meant I had to make a move abroad and getting a visa for New Zealand was just really easy!
It is a bit of a long story. I met my boyfriend, Lucas, 4 years ago, while I was living in Melbourne on a working holiday visa. We didn’t start dating immediately, we met randomly in a club and then a month later, I left to go home to the UK to start a master’s degree in London. We became friends and pen pals. Then, in the summer of 2015, he did a Euro tour with his friends and came to stay with me in Brixton and things got serious! (lol).
This was all great but Lucas was going back to Australia and I lived in London. I couldn’t just go back to Aus with him because I had ‘used up’ my working holiday visa and we had only just started our relationship, so were not really ready to jump into the Aus De Facto visa.
New Zealand became the next logical choice. I got prepared really far in advance and applied for the Working Holiday Visa so early thinking there might be a quota or a processing time, but No! The visa came through the same day. It only cost 70 pounds and required only an online form. SO EASY!
2. New Zealand has so much stuff to do…
Being outdoors has always been a part of my life. I grew up partly in the Lake District, and was constantly dragged on hikes by my parents, which, Ill admit, I used to hate. But now I appreciate it! I love skiing and cycling and the serenity of being in the mountains is something I have grown an obsession with. New Zealand offered all of these things in one package. Beautiful scenery; wildernesses hiking; skiing and the thrill of being somewhere new.
Having said this, people that know me probably wouldn’t describe me as an outdoorsy person. I reckon they would say that I love shopping and parties and cultural things. This is true, but New Zealand, and especially Wellington offered all this too. Welly is the cultural capital and has loads of cinemas, theatres and a pretty good art scene. It seemed to be the perfect blend of pristine outdoors and decent city life.
For Lucas it was a no-brainier, he is totally obsessed with fishing, diving, hunting, hiking and all of the outdoor activities which NZ has in abundance.
3. Its easy to move to an English speaking country…
This is a really boring reason to move somewhere, I know. I still have a fantasy about living in a rural Spanish village and becoming fluent in Spanish at some point. However, at this point starting completely new and needing to get work immediately, it was helpful that we could speak the language.
4. We could get the jobs we wanted…
New Zealand is small and I guess if you are a like an actor or you work in a very specific industry, it might be too small and opportunities are probably few. Tonnes of kiwis do the opposite and move away to London for job opportunities.
So, Why move to New Zealand? For us, the job market matched us perfectly. Lucas works in construction and he got a job instantly, before we even set foot in the country. He now has a promotion and opportunities that he may not have, were he still working in the more heavily saturated job market in Melbourne.
For me, I am more of a freewheeler, I don’t have a specific industry, I have a Masters of Arts and was working for arts and non profit organisations in London. My qualifications from London are different to what people have here which maybe makes them stand out. Its possible that there is less competition and I was able to find work that I am really happy with. I’m not sure if this is always the case but I also have a much better wage than I did in London. I also have time to focus on myself and on what I want to do, like this blog, for example. Here in NZ, if you’re not totally picky or specific and come in with an open mind, you can totally find your feet.
5. It is non-stressful
Having lived in London for three years, I was so so sick of the size of the place and the amount of people. I was cycling a 45 minute ride across the city for work everyday. And the alternative was sitting on the stinking packed tube for an hour; I was over it. Wellington offered the antidote to this. A small town, population 400,000 with a simple walk to work in the morning and 30 minute drive to near wilderness.
Before I came, NZ gave me the impression that it would be a much easier place to live than London and I was right. Wellington traffic is a bit ridic at times, I have to admit, but you can’t win them all.
SO, those are the 5 reasons why I moved to New Zealand. Had I known what I know now there would be even more… I am discovering new places and new opportunities all the time on this underrated island and Im hoping to stick my discoveries on this blog!
Thanks for reading!
Peace
Josie x