Hi Sarah

Welcome to the forum.

If you have Aussie PR status then you can come and go to NZ at will (unless the rules have been changed recently).

I see you are from Staffs too. We are between Stafford & Wolverhampton but will be in the manawatu very soon (when house is sold).

We lived in Oz a few years ago (Darwin) - didn't like it much at all. Like you say - characterless !

Diny