It’s time to close the circle. Our first visit to NZ was in 2003/2004 for a holiday. Then back to the UK to sell up everything. We arrived in New Zealand at the beginning of January 2005.
One of the oddest experiences of the outward journey was realising that we had no keys. Such a trivial fact, but significant that we didn’t have a home or a car to call our own.
We spent the first week in an apartment on Auckland’s waterfront and by the time the furniture had arrived in late January 2005, we had arranged a year’s rental of an apartment in Takapuna. We then moved north to Warkworth for eight years. Finally, the last year back in Takapuna.
To cut a very, very long story short, we’ve built a retirement village, started two technology companies, built a house and made a bunch of life-long friends; got Residency then Citizenship. What could possibly go wrong you’ll be thinking?
It’s the word FAMILY. Despite travelling around the world back to the UK at least once a year for the last 10 years, we still cannot get our heads round the emotional distance. Our two sons in the UK have both married since we have been here, and a wonderful grand-daughter now pulls at our emotions. Weekly Skype chats are no substitute, however marvelous.
Everything that you’ve heard about NZ is more or less true. It’s friendly, the climate is better that the UK in every respect, the countryside is stunning, the crime rate is low, and the lifestyle can be very comfortable. If you’re in skilled employment, you’d probably be better off here than in the UK.
Has our immigration been a ‘failure’? Technically, I suppose. Even though we have been super-engaged and super productive, my wife’s heart has never really been here, and she has always felt the tug in ways I can’t quite understand. I guess the reality is that the family connections for women are often stronger than they are for men.
Are we glad we did it? Yes and no. Yes, it’s been a great adventure. And no, because family will always trump everything else. And that’s probably how it should be.
Thanks to the EmigrateNZ community: I was an avid user of ENZ eleven years ago in the lead-up to our moving to New Zealand from the UK. I received lots of support and encouragement from the members of the forum then, though it’s likely that very few of them will be reading this by now. But it’s nice to acknowledge the help that this forum provided. Thanks and good luck everyone!