Upping sticks and making the move to New Zealand doesn’t have to be the far-fetched dream it might appear. Sure, the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ might well be a long way from home, but that’s no reason for you to give up on your aspirations of living and working in New Zealand.
With even the most cursory glance at the local newspapers seemingly nothing but negative news – political uncertainty, the mess of Brexit and Donald Trump becoming the most powerful man on the planet – there’s never been a better time to pack your bags and start your new life in New Zealand.
If you still aren’t quite sure, let us give you a little nudge in the Aotearoa direction, with our top five reasons to make the move to New Zealand.
1. A Kiwi lifestyle is like no other
Ever feel like you’re just living to work? The endless drudgery of the nine-to-five, bookended by frustrating commutes on overcrowded trains, can be a hard cycle to break out of. That’s no way to live, however – and, when you get a glimpse of the modern Kiwi lifestyle, you’ll be all the keener to find a job and jet off to New Zealand.
In New Zealand, we work hard to get the job done, but we believe that time away from the office, construction site or hospital is good for the soul – which is why the country is ranked third in the world when it comes to work-life balance, according to HSBC’s Expat Explorer survey. We’re not just happy with the bronze medal, however – the same survey put us top of the league for ‘quality of life’.
‘Stress’ isn’t a word you’ll find in many Kiwis’ vocabulary – the laidback pace of life in this secluded part of the world will see to that. And that’s the thing – in a country the size of the UK, but with just a handful of the population, New Zealand is easy-going, welcoming and open for business. That hectic tube commute will soon be a distant memory.
2. Plenty of jobs for every skill set
The global financial crisis certainly hit the planet hard, but down here in New Zealand, we came out the other side of it largely unscathed. This means that, unlike in the UK and large swathes of Europe, not to mention the USA, there is a raft of jobs up for grabs in NZ. Some are more in demand than others, but it’s highly likely that you’ll be able to find employment in your field of expertise.
The unemployment rate in New Zealand stands at just 4.9 percent, according to Statistics NZ. That’s comparable to the UK (4.8 percent), but with far less competition for jobs in New Zealand due to its tiny population, landing that dream career move will be a darn sight easier down here.
Additionally, the New Zealand government has developed a ‘skills shortage list’ that can help make the path to a work or residence visa far easier. With construction, health and IT professionals in hot demand right now (amongst a host of others), working in New Zealand could soon become a distinct reality – we’ve even put together a few tips to help you along the way!
3. It’s one of the most beautiful countries on Earth
What do you think of when conjuring images of New Zealand? We’d forgive you if you brought to mind the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies or even the famous ‘haka’, the war dance performed by the national rugby team before each of their games (rugby, of course, is nigh-on a religion here).
And you know what? That’s absolutely fine, but there’s far more to New Zealand than hobbits and the haka. We’re talking sky-piercing mountains, crystal lakes, sprawling forests, shimmering beaches and endless plains – but enough with the travel writing cliches, even if they’re correct! Modern cities, traditional town and hidden hamlets dot the landscape from Cape Reinga in the north to Stewart Island in the south, all waiting to be explored by the eager expat.
Even if you live and work in Auckland (by far our biggest and most populous city) you’re never more than a short drive from a beach. Even better, just one hour west of the CBD will see you in a different world – the Waitakere Ranges. Out here, it’s hard to imagine that the city lifestyle slots in so seamlessly with an outdoors vibe – but it does, and you’ll love it.
Just in case you don’t believe us, some 90 per cent of migrants stated that NZ scenery either exceeds or meets their expectations, according to an Immigration New Zealand study – can they all be wrong?
4. New Zealand is very safe
The world is a dangerous place right now – it seems you can’t flick on the news or open the paper without hearing of some awful atrocity. And that’s a problem that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon – but in New Zealand, you’ll find yourself in a sanctuary away from it all.
That’s not to say that the country is free from crime – it’s not – but on the whole, you’ll feel a whole lot safer walking the streets of a city like Wellington than you might in London, New York or Paris. In fact, only Iceland is a safer nation than New Zealand, according to the Global Peace Index, so you can go about your business without fear of a mugging or abuse. That’s just how Kiwis roll – a live and let live attitude that permeates every creed and culture enjoying their lives here.
It’s not just the people in New Zealand who’ll leave you in peace. Unlike Australia, even the local wildlife won’t give you any grief – large, dangerous spiders stick to Oz, as do crocodiles. Big sharks do occasionally patrol New Zealand waters, but attacks on humans are exceedingly rare. Finally, there are no snakes at all in NZ, so if you have an aversion to these slippery customers and are looking for the perfect excuse to come on over, now’s your chance!
5. A wealth of wonderful weather
New Zealand’s climate is officially classed as temperate, so you can expect hot summers with the odd sprinkling of rain. In the winter, the heavens will open with a little more frequency, but that’s what keeps it all so wonderfully green.
Of course, snowfalls across much of the South Island and the lower half of the North during winter – how else would we keep those world-class ski resorts running? – but it’s rare you’ll see the cold stuff in Auckland or anywhere above.
If it’s comfortable weather you’re after, New Zealand makes for an ideal destination. Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington all enjoy well over 2,000 hours of glorious sunshine each year, according to New Zealand Now – that’s 250 hours more than southern England, the UK’s warmest spot. Even so, it doesn’t get so unbearably hot you’ll be begging for the winter – as if you would!
So, there you have it – five reasons to pack your bags and make the big move. To find out more about emigrating to New Zealand, be sure to contact our expert team who will be happy to assist you in your great Kiwi adventure!
