We moved to NZ from the UK, as you say it's not straight forward visiting family and food is bit more expensive ... but not too much.

Education is good. My son is 6 and he is expected to put more effort into his school day than in the UK. His reading and writing have improved 10 fold since we arrived 5 months ago, teaching in the old faashioned 3 R's does seem to be more rigorous here. My husband is a High School teacher and has commented many times on the high levels of respect shown by pupils and their good behaviour - much better than in the UK.

Overall, we came for the lifestyle. Beaches all very close, lots of things to do that do not anything. Kiwi's are on the whole far less uptight than the English, very friendly - albeit very bemused as to why so many people want to move to NZ. We have been shown so much kindness by local people, it would never happen in the UK.

Tell them to ship their entire house contents over, make sure they have good water proof coats and they will love it