Have you ever been to New Zealand?

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TalProgrammer@reddit

Yes, twice. First time was for a month travelling quite some time ago the second was for a job interview.

I was offered the job but did not take it in the end so I guess that would mean it’s a “no” to living there. Not quite that simple though as it was a particular set of unforeseen circumstances that intervened at the time that led ,me to decline the offer.

The reason I applied in the first place was I could see the way the UK was heading with Brexit and the rise of the far right and I just wanted out. Unfortunately NZ has since been stupid enough to elect a right wing government that is making the exact same mistakes as the UK has done with policies like Austerity.

So if I was looking to bail out now, NZ would be far less attractive than it was. Which just goes to show even if the grass looks greener in a different country things can change rapidly so it no longer does.

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Sasspishus@reddit

I was in NZ for nearly 2 years on a WHV and had a great time! I did consider relocating permanently, but I would have struggled to get a visa and I was feeling pretty homesick by that point. Its a really really long way from home and it's hard to keep in touch with family and friends in the UK when it's around a 12 hour time difference. Might be different if I was there as a couple/family and had a support network there, but without that, I wouldn't move there permanently.

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Medium_Roof_3745@reddit

Yes, North Island only though.

I would not live there, my 3 holidays a year to mainland Europe would be curtailed to the point of sadness.

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feeb75@reddit

Aussie the Pacific Islands and SE Asia are right there though

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Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit

KL is a 10 hour flight from Auckland

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tartanthing@reddit

Used to take me that long to drive from Wellington to Auckland.

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Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit

I’ve done that train ride. Loved it

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tartanthing@reddit

It's definitely a special train ride. I'd recommend it. I did it before they opened Britomart and it terminated at Beach Road.

I did the Wel-Auk drive at least once a month when I was driving Backpacker Tour Buses.

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Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit

I really liked NZ. If my wife was less of a city girl I’d consider relocation

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Medium_Roof_3745@reddit

You might want to check the scale on your map because they are further away than you think.

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weaseleasle@reddit

They aren't really right there. The closest destination is probably Sydney and that is a 3 hour flight. Its 10 and a half hours to Singapore. Its 11 hours to fly London to Bangkok, its 14 to go from Auckland. SEA is pretty solidly half way between the two. Even the pacific islands take a long time to reach, and they are all very small, expensive and not particularly diverse. good for a 1 off visit, not a suitable substitute for all of Europe.

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Pure_Cantaloupe_3195@reddit

Yes. Truly beautiful country. Too far away from anything and too quiet for me.

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New_Line4049@reddit

No. And no.

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CharmingMeringue@reddit

Yes and maybe.

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Shitelark@reddit

Do they have pie?

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sbisson@reddit

So much pie.

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Shitelark@reddit

If the asteroid comes I will consider it. Two small cold islands in the middle of the ocean though, we have that here.

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tartanthing@reddit

Definitely not cold in summer. Sea is plenty warm up north.

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Ginandor58@reddit

Yes. 1987. Rainbow Warrior was still berthed, (half sunk) at a pier near my ship in Auckland. Beautiful city.

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oldie349@reddit

Yes and yes.

30 years ago, loved it!

My trip included Auckland, Whakarewarewa, Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mount Cook. Given a choice, I’d live in Queenstown I think.

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tartanthing@reddit

I lived in Queenstown. Took me about 3 months before I found somewhere to stay permanently. Couch surfing. Wicked view from the house in Fernhill across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil Peak and Walter Peak.

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eunderscore@reddit

Yis

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tartanthing@reddit

Troo bro

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tartanthing@reddit

Lived there 10 years. Best time of my life.

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The_Gene_Genie@reddit

Lived there, hated it. Still got my visa if Putin goes even further off his rocker though

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24976445@reddit

Yes, on two occasions. I have historic family ties running through the country so there's always been that as a draw.

The one thing that would stop me from living there is the fact I'd need to drive to get by in a way that I simply don't have to in the UK.

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Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit

Yes

Yes but my wife would grumble about the lack of … anything much to do. And limited shopping.

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Shadow-Inversions@reddit

Yes, yes

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thefooleryoftom@reddit

Yes and yes. Utterly beautiful, lovely people, nice and quiet.

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Mysterious_Bite_3207@reddit

No it doesn't exist

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catdog_man@reddit

Yes, visited for a month in 2012. Loved it. History, culture, lifestyle etc were all amazing.

At the time, I would have definitely moved but didn't want to leave my elderly dad at home.

Now I've got kids and don't want to uproot them.

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Granite_Lw@reddit

Yes & yes.

It's a great country to be in but you'd want to make your money in the UK first so you can move over with fewer financial pressures.

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E420CDI@reddit

r/MapsWithoutNZ

No

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Old_Association6332@reddit

Yes, twice. Loved it both times. I live in Australia, and the advantage to the place is that it has so many similarities to Australia, it almost felt like a mirror universe in terms of working my way around the place. Yet, I feel it a lot more progressive and forward-thinking than Australia on some things, and I love the way they've incorporated so much Maori culture, heritage and customs into daily life there.

On the downside, it is expensive and employment may be an issue. If I were younger, and in better physical and mental health, though, I would seriously give it some thought, though

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fragmnt@reddit

Yup. And planning to move there this / next year.

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feeb75@reddit

Dual Citizen here born and raised in NZ. Currently living in the UK and have been so damn homesick for the past 2 years.

Going back next month for good.

I'll miss how convenient everything is, I won't miss the weather.

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Plenty_Suspect_3446@reddit

lol you say that as though NZ First don't decide every second election based on immigration.

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Plenty_Suspect_3446@reddit

Yes. I have lived there. I wouldn't again, but its easy for me to say since i've got an NZ passport and can go back if ever I please. If id never been I probably never would but maybe the idea that I couldn't would incentivise me to give it a go.

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rikky44@reddit

Lived there for 4 years, best place in the world.

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Willing-Confusion-56@reddit

No

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feministgeek@reddit

Lived there for a decade. Loved it, although was close to Wellington. I don't think you would want to be too far outside metropolitan areas unless you really want the quiet life.

The plane journey is definitely a negative though. It gets harder each time you do it.

Would still be out there most likely if it weren't for the reasons I had to come back to the UK.

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TheRealVinosity@reddit

Visited 4 times. Lived there for a year.

Beautiful country. Some lovely people. But the isolation is real; in all senses.

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MMH1111@reddit

No, but my brother has and thinks it 'well worth a visit'. He liked the bicycle vineyard tour they did.

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PomegranateV2@reddit

No, I have not.

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ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit

Show me on a map and I’ll consider

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Shitelark@reddit

Look at your feet, it's there.

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BG3restart@reddit

Yes, in February/March this year. If it wasn't so far from everyone I love, I would move there in a heartbeat. I felt really at home there.

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hongkonghonky@reddit

Low salaries

High cost of living

Miles and miles from anywhere

Probably inbreeding (NB I have no evidence for this)

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AssumptionEasy8992@reddit

Are you talking about the UK?

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hongkonghonky@reddit

Touche (apart from the distance and Noel Edmonds)

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RikB666@reddit

My wifes Dad lives there - been to visit a couple of times, but no way would I live there!

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Kent_biker@reddit

I went there in 2010 and spent 3 weeks including Christmas. It was a little weird seeing all the Christmas stuff in the shops when it was 25°c and having Christmas dinner by the pool, but I guess it's what you're used to! I absolutely loved the place and the people and did think about emigrating but I have kids and grandkids in the UK and I was too old to get a work visa.

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

I lived there for a year. Any questions?

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barriedalenick@reddit

Never been - a bit too far from everything for me to go live there but I have relatives there and would like to visit.

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CropDustingBandit@reddit

Best country on earth in my opinion.

Spent a year there, 6 months in Auckland and 6 months in other places. Good work culture, world class landscapes, nice people.

It's kind of like the UK but less crowded, less hate and nicer landscapes.

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flippertyflip@reddit

Yes. Toured the South Island and spent time in Wellington. Incredible place. Would be bliss to grow up there. I'd happily spend a few years there. But it's not home.

Also all the other reasons ppl have pointed out. Far. Jobs. Costs etc...

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imtheorangeycenter@reddit

Yes, yes - but south island only.

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Successful-Grand-549@reddit

I haven't but something tells me I'd enjoy living there

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its_raining274@reddit

Yes and yes!

It's the most beautiful country I've ever visited, breathtaking scenery, with the nicest people. However as others have mentioned it does have its downsides: high cost of living, few job opportunities, extreme isolation from the rest of the world. These would be the main ones.

I'd say if you're a high flyer that craves achievement and a busy life you'll probably hate it. If you're chill, and happy to have an easy going lifestyle where you'll never set the world alight you'll probably love it.

I should add if you love the outdoors there'll be plenty for you to enjoy. Not so much if you're interested in shopping, live music/events etc.

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Whulad@reddit

Yes - liked the people beautiful scenery .

No - miles from anywhere, quite small town and I like big cities, it’s also hugely over romanticise by Brits as a wonderful liberal haven. It actually has many problems similar to us; there are very limited career opportunities and economically it’s not doing so great.

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coffeewalnut08@reddit

No. I'd happily live there for a while, it looks beautiful and the climate is not so different to here.

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iamnogoodatthis@reddit

Yes. And sure for a while, it has lots of fun mountains and wilderness to explore. But not long term, it's too far from everyone I know.

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Princes_Slayer@reddit

I’m yet to find it on most maps, so no idea where it is

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TheShakyHandsMan@reddit

It doesn’t exist. Tolkien wrote about it in his fantasy novels.

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SubstantialFly3316@reddit

Yes, my Dad lives there.

I'm not sure I'd live there currently. Cost of living very high, doesn't seem to be bulging with employment opportunities.

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MickSturbs@reddit

My parents emigrated there from South Africa with us kids in 1976. We lived in Dunedin. We were still school-going but my dad was in engineering and struggled with the slow pace of getting anything done. A lot of school leavers went to Australia to look for work. My dad got fed up and we returned to SA after a year. Having said that, it's a beautiful country and I'd like to visit again one day.

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Methcapades12@reddit

Nah

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AverageCheap4990@reddit

Would love to go. If I was younger I would move but it's so far away from my family I think I couldn't.

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k987654321@reddit

Spent a few months there when I was 20. It’s an incredible country in terms of the people I met, and the scenery is just out of this world.

It’s sort of like the UK, with all the good landscapes blow up to 50% more epic and basically empty in terms of population.

But I never worked or had to find housing so can’t comment on that - which is pretty important for quality of life stuff obviously.

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philff1973@reddit

I don’t think so.🧐

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SherlockOhmsUK@reddit

Yup.

Nope.

Went in ‘05 and travelled around watching the rugby. Nice place, lovely countryside, bit too quiet for me

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Due_Illustrator5283@reddit

Eh

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qualityvote2@reddit

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