A very nice video regarding some of the pluses of living in NZ. I am and US citizen (known as a Yank in NZ) and I agree with your differentiating the North American culture with that of the more relaxed and family oriented culture of the Kiwis. Everyone who knows or visits New Zealand has their favorite place, before I went there I felt it would be Aukland, because I love Rugby and that was the original reason for my extended visit, but it ended up being the city of Napier (which has a fascinating history) and the region of Hawkes Bay. You touched on the relationship between the Kiwis (descendants of English settlers) and the native Maoris. I was astonished to learn that the native population was nearly consumed by the settlers, much like what happened in the USA, but that about 120 years ago they began to turn that around with a concerted effort and then some 50 years ago it really kicked in and that lead to the current appreciation of the melding of New Zealand's two main populations. To me this is a lesson that the entire world can learn from and live by.
Fantastic words, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience in NZ! Napier and the Hawke's Bay region was so gorgeous, even following the cyclone/flood damage. We only got to spend a couple of days there but I'm so glad we did. The world can definitely learn a thing or two from NZ in ways of life and indigenous culture!
I appreciate this video. I went to visit my boyfriend in 2022 for 2 weeks and I did NOT want to come back to the states. I was born and raised in Texas and I love it but those 2 weeks in NZ just did something to me. I could feel the love they have for their land and their culture and it was so beautiful to see. I am hoping to be moved over there by the end of the year. 🤞This video just confirmed EVERY question that was running through my mind. Thank you so much. ❤
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed this video. NZ is truly a fantastic place to live despite it's flaws, especially compared to parts of the US!
@@dashuriia-ttv Keep me updated if you do move please lol! I’m from TX too and i feel like moving to NZ would be better for my family! Safer and kinder 😫
Fellow Canadians perspective, Pros: - Weather for sure. Winters do happen but are extremely short lived. A couple months as opposed to half the year or more. Won't need winter coats / tires etc. - Non stop outdoorsy adventures within a couple hours of your location in every direction. Literally an infinite playground for the outdoorsy type. - People are friendlier than in Canada overall although both are friendly. - Job flexibility. I was allowed to clock in and out whenever I wanted as long as it was between certain hours. - Rent on a weekly basis. LOVED this. Easier to manage expenses and or find a spot to stay. Cons: -Low pay and high expenses. Something as simple as a bottled drink could be upwards of $5 depending where you shop. The Currency is also weak in comparison to CAD. It would be way easier to come from Canada than vice versa. - Things I would normally just purchase for myself without thinking twice would sometimes take me a month or more to save up for. You honestly go a little stir crazy sometimes because of the lack of desposible income. - I may be wrong in saying this but overall it feels like theres alot more opportunities in North America vs NZ/Aussie for your average joe blow. - Being from Canada its easy to jump into their culture for the most part but we have alot of different sports / tv shows etc. You can feel pretty isolated at times. If you were to ever move here full time I think it would be wise to come with a good chunk of change and probably not have intentions of ever leaving. Overall NZ in my opinion 100% is a better place to raise a family than Canada but the severe financial burden heavily brings it down. Unfortunately you need $$ to live and I think this would be more stressful in NZ vs Can.
the cost of living here in NZ makes getting ahead a challenge. If you're on minimum wage you can't save. i think the average income - but I may have that wrong - is NZD$70,000, which isn't fantastic. House prices are off the charts. but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I lived in Tasmania for 6 years but NZ is home.
just spent 6 weeks in canada and hand on heart its got way more going for it than nz...i married a canadian and im glad i did because nz is poked...we have 2 kids and we cant see a future here for them..we are moving a small ski town in alberta where house prices are half the price to here. there are no vape shops next to schools cheaper food cheaper petrol and everyone is freindly...our kids will get ahead in canada and may evan be able to afford a house...unless you have generational wealth you will never own a house in nz...
@@KaneTaylor-z2x how will you manage the very cold winters and short summers? you obviously don't mind living inland, which I could never do. love the sea too much. what about Trudeau? he's pretty awful in my opinion but obviously we take the good and the bad with politicians wherever we are. all the best for you.
@@carrier411 we love the mountains ..canada a stunningly beautiful country.. and year i love the ocean have surfed all my life but its about our kids future..and it aint far to jump on a plane to mexico to get my surfing fix...all my wifes friends and family (canadians)are all way better off financially with little to no morgages unlike us who have worked the same amount of years our morgage is still big.. we are in our forties...in talking to people in canada they were in disbelief that ram raids are common place in nz and shopping malls get burgled broad daylight...not sure how long you have been in nz but ive been hear 45yrs and it aint the country it used to be belive me..there is no future for our kids here..this country is the only country in the oecd that has zero growth two years running its actually broken..the waitangi tribunal is a massive issue its a cash cow the cost the nz tax payers billons every year..trudeau wont be there for ever yep he is a female version of jacinda adern..cant wait to get over there...and i love the poutine!!!
Great video!!! Definitely agree on the weather, cannot believe how many beautiful sunny days with green grass in the heart of winter. A lot of very welcoming people and the coastal landscapes just continuously blow me away 😃😃
That is SO exciting!! I hope I didn't oversell Wellington haha but you are so lucky to get to move there!! I wish you the best of luck with your move ☺
be prepared for the wind lol. it's rated the windiest city in the world (or 1 of them). they hardly get a summer in Welly, but you could visit Nelson and Abel Tasman NP etc for some sunshine and beaches!
From a statistically meaningful perspective, Wellington gets more sunshine, less rain and (wait for it) LESS notifiable* wind than Auckland. And WAY less tornadoes! 😳😂 Being so hilly, Welly as lots of suburban enclaves where crossing the road can feel like a different planet. Biggest tip I can give for making a good first impression; Tell a Kiwi that they live in paradise and watch them melt. 👍❤️ * notifiable wind = gale force or stronger. BF 6+
Wellington is not windy! It's just that the people of Wellington enjoy fresh air and so they order fresh air, it's just that sometimes that fresh air is delivered in a rush.
Hi Brittany, I am actually in Wellington right now, I’m about 2 weeks into a 3 week NZ holiday. Holiday has been great. I agree what you said about Wellington. I’m 68 years old and I’ve been to (I think) every major city in the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and NZ. And I think the best quality of life in any major city in those countries is in Wellington. It’s pretty amazing. (I would give 2nd, 3rd and 4th place to Vancouver, Melbourne, and Auckland.). So hope you get to live there one day!
That's so awesome! I'm glad you are enjoying what sounds like an incredible trip 😊. Do you have any other highlights? We still have a lot of exploring to do & I'm always keen for some recommendations!
the weather in welly is dodgy, but if you can look past that, good on you! and the earthquake risk (bang smack in the middle of 2 plates lol) it's a quirky small capital. lots to do in a compact city.
This had some really good points! I was born in Auckland but moved to Belgium as a child and i have never been back, now im an adult i am seriously considering moving to NZ. Currently in the research stage thaha!
@@RajeevPeethambaran-u7r I think NZ would be a great place to be an artist. They seem to be very accepting of that kind of work and it's so beautiful there so lots of inspiration 😍
Awesome Te Reo pronunciation first of all - after so long away I forget words and meanings, not that I knew that many to begin with 😳 totally agree with your list and glad to see Wellington got its own mention (have you made a trip up into the Wairarapa out of interest?) only other place I’d add would be the west coast of the South Island, so wild rugged and kinda gothic feeling!
Ah thank you!! I need to keep practising my Mãori pronunciations and say more of their words in videos, I'm glad I got Te Reo right. I've been watching the news a lot lately and that's helping. We have not been to Wairarapa, that's north island near Welly, right? We are hoping we'll get to spend some time back on the north island before we leave NZ to explore more. We missed a lot on our way down here. The west coast of the south island is the one spot we haven't really explored down here yet! Definitely on the list.
Oh i really had to cry.. when I heard about the free children and the city welington! I really have to check out if it is the place for me and my son to life!
Such a thoughtful list Brittany. Many Kiwis do get frustrated with this place and move abroad - but many also do come back eventually. It can be tempting to stereotype the average Kiwi but they are quite a diverse group ....especially since so many of them are immigrants to the country. It's an isolated island nation with some eccentricities - but most Kiwis are very welcoming to foreign visitors and are always keen to hear what they think about NZ. We Kiwis can be a little bit insecure about our place in the world and how we are perceived.
I find it so fascinating that everyone is an immigrant to New Zealand in a way! No humans existed here before the Mãori came in 1200-1300AD so perhaps that is part of the reason why so many here are welcoming. Definitely a unique country but I find it quite "westernized" which makes sense with it's colonial history. I think the vast majority of people have a very positive view of New Zealanders!
Excellent video. Yes, I agree with you in regard to your comments about Wellington.. I was brought up in Auckland, but I always longed to be in the charming city of Weliington. As a young person back then, socially it was a great place to be. Friendly and with an excellent nite club scene. I could not move to Welington because I was looking after my dear mother who lived in Auckland. It is also a cultural city with live theatre, great museums and as you point out , a wonderful down town waterfront board way walikng system.
Thanks for your video and i have to agree with all of your points. Especially myself beeing .Māori, living, working and married with one son in Germany (wife is german). Big difference, especially with work. I enjoy my weekends. Its a bit hard when my wife doesnt understand that i need them. So my weekends are usually planned, which offen leads to lengthy disagrements haha. But your working point is on point as opposed to Germany. Anyway, thanks for the video and btw ive subscribed to you now:-) Tena koe (tena queer) pronounced in Māori) meaning thankyou:-)
Thank you for commenting and sharing your perspective! I always find it interesting to hear about expats who moved away from NZ and their experience abroad. Welcome to the channel, thanks for subscribing ☺
Agree on Wellington. Such a great place. I think if I could live close enough to take the train in when I wanted, that would work for my Wellington fix.
After watching this video I feel like moving to new Zealand .... Work schedule seems laid back and relaxing ... But as a doctor I think it doesn't change so much for me !!! But I am sure it will be better than the part of the world where I am living. Thanks for the video Brittany.
New Zealand is in desperate need of doctors! You could probably get a work visa easily. The pay is quite less than other developed countries but there's a LOT of pluses to living here. Might be worth looking into if you're interested!
I'm sure it would change. Having to offer reduced money means a better work life balance with strict limits on work time is used as inducement. As someone said, check it out...
Thank you for the informative video. It has been an eye-opener for some of us in South Africa. 1. How is accommodation in New Zealand? 2. What work is in demand?
Accomodation is expensive and difficult to find, at least that was our experience. We stayed in overpriced Airbnb's for a month at a time for about 6 months before finding an apartment in Nelson that we got incredibly lucky on (furnished, across from a beach and $550/week rent). It will depend on what city you live in. Christchurch has more accommodations to choose from and at better prices. Medical personnel work is highly in demand. The immigration NZ website has a list of the top needed professionals for the country that will fast track you to residency!
I always enjoy your videos. We have been living in Christchurch now for about a year, having immigrated from South Africa. I sent all my family and friends a link to your Christchurch videos as you really did such a great job of portraying the City.
Came here 18yrs ago from the UK, homesick for the 1st 2yrs, Costly plase to live, wellyington very expensive. Come here for the lifestyle NOT the wages
Amazing 9 reasons Brittany. 👍👏 I love this video. Great job. 👍I also heard that shools/universities and child care are free. Great heath system as well. Lots of love 💖💖
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! The only thing with healthcare here is hospital and doctor wait times are crazy long! I think the average hospital wait time is 6 hours and for a doctor (non-emergency) is like 4 weeks. So definitely some improvements needed there!
@brittanymorgan09 As a resident I have not found this to be the case. Of course hospital times depend on the current load and degree of emergency. 6 hours seems longer than any hospital wait time I have endured. No doubt others have a different experience. Anything from same day to see any General Practitioner to 4-5 days to see a particular doctor.
universities are definitely not free. all tertiary education costs, although there is a first year free scheme with conditions - first time studying etc. schools have yearly fees -but under $200. childcare has some free hours for 2+ but there are charges overall for childcare.
Definitely move here if you wish to earn about 20 to 30% less than in Australia and you wish to pay about 60% more to refuel your vehicle. And you don’t like shopping at independent retail stores in your little local suburban shopping centre. And you dislike paying so little for a meal at one of the local service clubs who all have cafes, bistros, and restaurants, the joining of one of those service clubs will cost you less than $50 and annual subscriptions will be about $30. So much of OZs internal economy is kept afloat by the disposable income the wage and salary earners in OZ having the disposable in their pockets that the NZ equivalent does not. And don’t forget to ask yourself if the things that you avoid by choosing NZ over OZ are the things that are going to pay the mortgage
Global peace index with Canada at number 11. So I checked the uk 🇬🇧 nice to know we’re at number 37 good grief I’m not surprised tbh it’s terrible here
The grass is always greener. Moving out of NZ (after being born and raised for 31 years)in the next month due to the way the country is heading(It is the same as every country in terms of politics, everyone wants to leave to find something better) Just need to find somewhere that treats you best.
Not always. I actually prefer living in Canada! I also made a video about why I wouldn't live here long term. Moving to New Zealand made me realize how much I love Canada and living there so while we enjoy our time in NZ, I look forward to going home.
@@unsupervisednonsense6663 I did believe NZ would be better than Canada because of the lack of honesty on UA-cam about living here. You won't know for sure until you move to another country and try it out!
@@unsupervisednonsense6663 the grass is LITERALLY greener is NZ though 😂. We are spoilt for choice as people from developed countries to get to choose to leave a political space we don't agree with or leave to try on another lifestyle. There are many many people in our world who would kill to live in Canada, New Zealand or anywhere that's relatively safe. For them, the grass is truly greener in countries like ours.
The competition one is incorrect. Less people yes but less jobs too (especially 'dream' jobs). Heres a thing, I came to NZ in 92, my application for residency cost $1000NZ (loads then). Also my prospective first employer here had to show that my position could not be filled by a Kiwi. (Tough but fair). I got the job.
Hi Brittany, I appreciate your videos. An American UA-camr once noted that in contrast to the United States, New Zealand is not a nation where consumerism prevails, and items tend to be more expensive. Do you think this factor has a significant impact on the quality of life in New Zealand?❤
I think New Zealand is quite consumerist, perhaps it wasn't as bad in the past. There are tons of fast fashion shops and wasteful products everywhere. I don't see much difference between the US and NZ in respect to that. I think the quality of life here has more to do with culture, politics and weather!
The city centre area was quite walkable with lots of pathways so I think if you lived down there it would be alright but definitely not as walkable as Wellington!
I am currently teaching secondary Math in Florida. I am planning to pursue a teaching career in NZ. I am torn between staying in Florida or go for NZ. I am planning to bring my family with me by the way regardless which country I choose. US or NZ? Help me decide.
@@biongrenn8010 I haven't lived in the US but there's a ton of negatives like violence, politics and crazy expensive healthcare that make that country an easy no for me!
@@brittanymorgan09 Lol facts, I wonder how Kiwi's and Canadians see the US right now, I'm here and I feel like the rest of the world is either afraid of whats happening in the US or they're laughing at the US.
@@RaceCarFriends most people I've met here, even Americans, think the US is a joke right now. It's like watching reality TV when they talk about the US on the news lol 😂. It's tough for me because I LOVE the US so much, travelling there is amazing and the people are great but the politics and safety are just horrifying. I hope it gets better soon. 🤞
Our healthcare policies are a nightmare in America and there's no denying it. Our workplaces stopped offering dental plans so we just don't go to the dentist as much. And we used to have eye care and one pair of glasses every two years but they stopped that plan too. And my hearing aids - they do not cover at all. Nor one penny. My hearing aids cost me $7,000 and we just didn't go on a vacation that year. It's really very hard here esp for retirees. 😢
I have a question, is it legal to live off the land (in the wild) In New Zealand? And is it legal to build my own house in the wild? Like on a hill or something?
A lot of comments on this and many other similar "guide" video's are about the too high cost of living in NZ. I am 64 and lived my entire life here in NZ, always only had jobs in the retail sector on minimum wages as has my wife, we have bought and sold 3 homes since 1981 and never gone cold or hungry. I have to wonder what is actually expected by some?
I'm curious, how much did you pay for those properties and how much did you sell them for? Where were they located? The price of real estate has absolutely sky rocketed in New Zealand since the pandemic, especially in Auckland. Not a chance in hell anyone working minimum wage would qualify for a mortgage as a first time home buyer in this country today.
@@brittanymorgan09 yes property costs went silly in the early period post covid but then dropped some starting 18 months ago. Auckland and other obvious places like Queenstown Tauranga to name a few are not places you could expect to earn a mortgage in on minimum wages we all know that. As I stated we bought our first home in 1981 which was another world by todays comparison and that was in Feilding, $26 000 sold that in 1990 and bought house number 2 in Palm Nth $89 000, sold that in 2002 for very little profit and sat on the money deciding to rent for a spell as interest rates were insane back then. The entire time we lived in the Palmy house the interest rate was 16.25 % Spent the next 14 years renting, both working our retail jobs and saving hard while still living quite well and bought our 3rd home in the Manawatu in 2016 for $248 000 on a 15 year mortgage at very low repayments because of what we had saved to put into it. I know it's bloody tough today for first home buyers as I watched 3 of my own children struggle with it over the last 6 years but they got there, all 3 of them just last year and none of them are in high paying jobs.
I heard in NZ that owning a herd of sheep if good for people with endless holidays in mind. They are pretty autonomous animals and don't require any care. No predators like wolves etc.
As a New Zealander I would not recommend moving here. The cost of living is extremely high , and wages are poor. There is also a rising unemployment rate and fewer job opportunities. The outdoors is about all it has going for it.
Wdym? Im from Croatia, average salary here is 18000 euros and average home price in Zagreb where I live is always over 1m euros. You havent seen the rest of the world, so be grateful of what you have
2:05: "work culture is a little bit more laid back here although Auckland can swing a little more westernised". What does that even mean? I live in the Netherlands and work culture extremely chill. I worked for 5 years in Costa Rica and people work crazy hours with just 12 vacation days per year. Which one is "more westernised"? That word seem to not mean anything really
@@fabigato by "Westernized" I mean being shamed for taking vacation, leaving work on time (aka doing your work in a timely manner) and employers expecting you to put their business ahead of everything else in your life. Try living in north america for a bit & you'll see.
@@brittanymorgan09 yeah. You mean north American then, not western. Try shaming sometime for taking vacations in Germany and you'll see. Hell, not even north American, it's the same in East Asia, it's even worse in Japan. So western is by far not the term here
Brittany, there are lots of fun things to do in New Zealand, specially outdoors, but aren't you afraid that you're gonna miss kids when you grow older? The pleasure of son/daughter visiting, grandkids staying and playing ? knowing that your family will be around, bc in general, the way I see it, the world has a bright future
To think having children guarantees you anything is silly. A lot of children do not keep contact with their parents, pass away unexpectedly or move far far away from home. I wouldn't have children just to have company/family around. I have other family and friends and will live a perfectly happy life without children. Please don't assume people without children are missing out on anything. We're not.
"most Kiwis are very welcoming to foreign visitors" however very difficult to connect with, or have deeper relationships with....if you are thinking of moving here, wait untill the elelection in 4 weeks, you might change your mind of you knew who was going to run the country for the next 4 years....i have been here for 12 years, my kiwi partner are kind of fed up with NZ, and are thinking of leaving for europe, the new leadership here might tip that balance....houses are way over priced and substandard (generally) rent is high, food is high, utiities are very high, health costs exist, dental is expensive, cars are expensive, its isolating here, there is a false ideal of better lifestlye, which in the 12 years ive been here equates to "less" people so thats less crowded beaches for example, if you are in a very good job and your earning potential is favourable you might be able to afford a good lifestyle, but that isnt exclusive to NZ. the reality of living in NZ is VASTLY different than the image. live here for 1 year, youll get the flavour, it isnt for everyone.
I've already made a whole video on the reasons why I wouldn't live here long term! You touched on a vast majority of the points I talked about in that video - ua-cam.com/video/Iu0v9h21Dn4/v-deo.htmlsi=aABTs4Wp3cC4nA_S I have no plans to move here permanently but others may find it better here than wherever they currently reside. Everyone has a different life and perspective, I'm just sharing mine.
bring on the election!!!!! if it goes the wrong way i think a lot of people are going to leave...just hanging in there for the change of government at the moment!!
Quick question...heard NZ recently voted in a sort of right wing government. Part of why I'm thinking of moving to NZ is because I'm trying to get away from some of the right wing stuff. How is it politically in NZ? Do you feel there is still an openness and tolerance to the culture?
@@mempto NZs "right wing" party is still pretty progressive and left wing compared to countries like the US. Things have changed there since they've been in power though, they cancelled the new ferries they desperately needed and clawed back some indigenous language things. I haven't been following other changes since I moved away but it might be worth a deep dive if that's really important to you. The south island is much more conservative. Cities like Wellington and Auckland are more open to progressive lifestyles and beliefs.
Depends what you mean by black. There are next to zero African americans. Loads of Indians (they run the dairies which I call corner shops and super friendly). Plenty of Chinese (who generally keep themselves to themselves). Of course there are the First Nation people (or second but I won't go into that). The Maori are great people, very friendly generally. What you do not get here is much racial intolerance but then again that's because the border is a lot of ocean and there is not sh..t loads of illegal immigrants.
A very nice video regarding some of the pluses of living in NZ. I am and US citizen (known as a Yank in NZ) and I agree with your differentiating the North American culture with that of the more relaxed and family oriented culture of the Kiwis.
Everyone who knows or visits New Zealand has their favorite place, before I went there I felt it would be Aukland, because I love Rugby and that was the original reason for my extended visit, but it ended up being the city of Napier (which has a fascinating history) and the region of Hawkes Bay.
You touched on the relationship between the Kiwis (descendants of English settlers) and the native Maoris. I was astonished to learn that the native population was nearly consumed by the settlers, much like what happened in the USA, but that about 120 years ago they began to turn that around with a concerted effort and then some 50 years ago it really kicked in and that lead to the current appreciation of the melding of New Zealand's two main populations.
To me this is a lesson that the entire world can learn from and live by.
Fantastic words, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience in NZ! Napier and the Hawke's Bay region was so gorgeous, even following the cyclone/flood damage. We only got to spend a couple of days there but I'm so glad we did. The world can definitely learn a thing or two from NZ in ways of life and indigenous culture!
hello from Napier :) sunny Hawke's Bay.
I appreciate this video. I went to visit my boyfriend in 2022 for 2 weeks and I did NOT want to come back to the states. I was born and raised in Texas and I love it but those 2 weeks in NZ just did something to me. I could feel the love they have for their land and their culture and it was so beautiful to see. I am hoping to be moved over there by the end of the year. 🤞This video just confirmed EVERY question that was running through my mind. Thank you so much. ❤
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed this video. NZ is truly a fantastic place to live despite it's flaws, especially compared to parts of the US!
good I will swap my citizenship with you then since you hate your country.
@@dashuriia-ttv Keep me updated if you do move please lol! I’m from TX too and i feel like moving to NZ would be better for my family! Safer and kinder 😫
Fellow Canadians perspective,
Pros:
- Weather for sure. Winters do happen but are extremely short lived. A couple months as opposed to half the year or more. Won't need winter coats / tires etc.
- Non stop outdoorsy adventures within a couple hours of your location in every direction. Literally an infinite playground for the outdoorsy type.
- People are friendlier than in Canada overall although both are friendly.
- Job flexibility. I was allowed to clock in and out whenever I wanted as long as it was between certain hours.
- Rent on a weekly basis. LOVED this. Easier to manage expenses and or find a spot to stay.
Cons:
-Low pay and high expenses. Something as simple as a bottled drink could be upwards of $5 depending where you shop. The Currency is also weak in comparison to CAD. It would be way easier to come from Canada than vice versa.
- Things I would normally just purchase for myself without thinking twice would sometimes take me a month or more to save up for. You honestly go a little stir crazy sometimes because of the lack of desposible income.
- I may be wrong in saying this but overall it feels like theres alot more opportunities in North America vs NZ/Aussie for your average joe blow.
- Being from Canada its easy to jump into their culture for the most part but we have alot of different sports / tv shows etc. You can feel pretty isolated at times.
If you were to ever move here full time I think it would be wise to come with a good chunk of change and probably not have intentions of ever leaving. Overall NZ in my opinion 100% is a better place to raise a family than Canada but the severe financial burden heavily brings it down. Unfortunately you need $$ to live and I think this would be more stressful in NZ vs Can.
Love this comment and your breakdown!! Thank you for sharing this 😀
the cost of living here in NZ makes getting ahead a challenge. If you're on minimum wage you can't save. i think the average income - but I may have that wrong - is NZD$70,000, which isn't fantastic. House prices are off the charts. but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I lived in Tasmania for 6 years but NZ is home.
just spent 6 weeks in canada and hand on heart its got way more going for it than nz...i married a canadian and im glad i did because nz is poked...we have 2 kids and we cant see a future here for them..we are moving a small ski town in alberta where house prices are half the price to here. there are no vape shops next to schools cheaper food cheaper petrol and everyone is freindly...our kids will get ahead in canada and may evan be able to afford a house...unless you have generational wealth you will never own a house in nz...
@@KaneTaylor-z2x how will you manage the very cold winters and short summers? you obviously don't mind living inland, which I could never do. love the sea too much. what about Trudeau? he's pretty awful in my opinion but obviously we take the good and the bad with politicians wherever we are. all the best for you.
@@carrier411 we love the mountains ..canada a stunningly beautiful country.. and year i love the ocean have surfed all my life but its about our kids future..and it aint far to jump on a plane to mexico to get my surfing fix...all my wifes friends and family (canadians)are all way better off financially with little to no morgages unlike us who have worked the same amount of years our morgage is still big.. we are in our forties...in talking to people in canada they were in disbelief that ram raids are common place in nz and shopping malls get burgled broad daylight...not sure how long you have been in nz but ive been hear 45yrs and it aint the country it used to be belive me..there is no future for our kids here..this country is the only country in the oecd that has zero growth two years running its actually broken..the waitangi tribunal is a massive issue its a cash cow the cost the nz tax payers billons every year..trudeau wont be there for ever yep he is a female version of jacinda adern..cant wait to get over there...and i love the poutine!!!
Great video!!! Definitely agree on the weather, cannot believe how many beautiful sunny days with green grass in the heart of winter. A lot of very welcoming people and the coastal landscapes just continuously blow me away 😃😃
Thank you 😘😘
Great vid! I’m moving to Wellington early next year! Also from Canada lol. Counting down the seconds can’t wait
That is SO exciting!! I hope I didn't oversell Wellington haha but you are so lucky to get to move there!! I wish you the best of luck with your move ☺
Wellington is crazy windy, can't swim because it is cold. Also earthquakes- Welly jas a lot of them in a day because of fault line it seats on.
be prepared for the wind lol. it's rated the windiest city in the world (or 1 of them). they hardly get a summer in Welly, but you could visit Nelson and Abel Tasman NP etc for some sunshine and beaches!
From a statistically meaningful perspective, Wellington gets more sunshine, less rain and (wait for it) LESS notifiable* wind than Auckland. And WAY less tornadoes! 😳😂
Being so hilly, Welly as lots of suburban enclaves where crossing the road can feel like a different planet.
Biggest tip I can give for making a good first impression; Tell a Kiwi that they live in paradise and watch them melt. 👍❤️
* notifiable wind = gale force or stronger. BF 6+
Wellington is not windy! It's just that the people of Wellington enjoy fresh air and so they order fresh air, it's just that sometimes that fresh air is delivered in a rush.
Haha I love that!! 😄😄
Hi Brittany, I am actually in Wellington right now, I’m about 2 weeks into a 3 week NZ holiday. Holiday has been great. I agree what you said about Wellington. I’m 68 years old and I’ve been to (I think) every major city in the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and NZ. And I think the best quality of life in any major city in those countries is in Wellington. It’s pretty amazing. (I would give 2nd, 3rd and 4th place to Vancouver, Melbourne, and Auckland.). So hope you get to live there one day!
That's so awesome! I'm glad you are enjoying what sounds like an incredible trip 😊. Do you have any other highlights? We still have a lot of exploring to do & I'm always keen for some recommendations!
the weather in welly is dodgy, but if you can look past that, good on you! and the earthquake risk (bang smack in the middle of 2 plates lol) it's a quirky small capital. lots to do in a compact city.
This had some really good points! I was born in Auckland but moved to Belgium as a child and i have never been back, now im an adult i am seriously considering moving to NZ. Currently in the research stage thaha!
@@ananab3857 the research stage is so fun!! It really is a gorgeous country 😍
Thank you for your insights, Brittany. As an artist, I'm planning to move to New Zealand and would love to hear your thoughts on it.
@@RajeevPeethambaran-u7r I think NZ would be a great place to be an artist. They seem to be very accepting of that kind of work and it's so beautiful there so lots of inspiration 😍
Awesome Te Reo pronunciation first of all - after so long away I forget words and meanings, not that I knew that many to begin with 😳 totally agree with your list and glad to see Wellington got its own mention (have you made a trip up into the Wairarapa out of interest?) only other place I’d add would be the west coast of the South Island, so wild rugged and kinda gothic feeling!
Ah thank you!! I need to keep practising my Mãori pronunciations and say more of their words in videos, I'm glad I got Te Reo right. I've been watching the news a lot lately and that's helping. We have not been to Wairarapa, that's north island near Welly, right? We are hoping we'll get to spend some time back on the north island before we leave NZ to explore more. We missed a lot on our way down here. The west coast of the south island is the one spot we haven't really explored down here yet! Definitely on the list.
Oh i really had to cry.. when I heard about the free children and the city welington! I really have to check out if it is the place for me and my son to life!
It's a really fantastic place to raise kids!
that was really great. I am seriously considering moving there
Do it. worse is that you will return home!
Such a thoughtful list Brittany. Many Kiwis do get frustrated with this place and move abroad - but many also do come back eventually. It can be tempting to stereotype the average Kiwi but they are quite a diverse group ....especially since so many of them are immigrants to the country. It's an isolated island nation with some eccentricities - but most Kiwis are very welcoming to foreign visitors and are always keen to hear what they think about NZ. We Kiwis can be a little bit insecure about our place in the world and how we are perceived.
I find it so fascinating that everyone is an immigrant to New Zealand in a way! No humans existed here before the Mãori came in 1200-1300AD so perhaps that is part of the reason why so many here are welcoming. Definitely a unique country but I find it quite "westernized" which makes sense with it's colonial history. I think the vast majority of people have a very positive view of New Zealanders!
Excellent video. Yes, I agree with you in regard to your comments about Wellington.. I was brought up in Auckland, but I always longed to be in the charming city of Weliington. As a young person back then, socially it was a great place to be. Friendly and with an excellent nite club scene. I could not move to Welington because I was looking after my dear mother who lived in Auckland. It is also a cultural city with live theatre, great museums and as you point out , a wonderful down town waterfront board way walikng system.
@@alastairtopham5939 thank you so much! I really hope one day I get to live in Wellington, even for a bit. It has such a lovely charm to it.
Thanks for your video and i have to agree with all of your points. Especially myself beeing .Māori, living, working and married with one son in Germany (wife is german). Big difference, especially with work. I enjoy my weekends. Its a bit hard when my wife doesnt understand that i need them. So my weekends are usually planned, which offen leads to lengthy disagrements haha. But your working point is on point as opposed to Germany. Anyway, thanks for the video and btw ive subscribed to you now:-) Tena koe (tena queer) pronounced in Māori) meaning thankyou:-)
Thank you for commenting and sharing your perspective! I always find it interesting to hear about expats who moved away from NZ and their experience abroad. Welcome to the channel, thanks for subscribing ☺
Agree on Wellington. Such a great place. I think if I could live close enough to take the train in when I wanted, that would work for my Wellington fix.
That's a great point! Public transit is actually decent in Welly so it'd be alright to live outside of the city too. Such a magical place!
I love that you gave Wellington its own spot. If you ever need a Wellington tour guide/driver, let me know!
Thank you so much for the offer! I might start applying for jobs in Welly next year & see if we can extend our visas! I'd really love to live there.
After watching this video I feel like moving to new Zealand .... Work schedule seems laid back and relaxing ... But as a doctor I think it doesn't change so much for me !!! But I am sure it will be better than the part of the world where I am living. Thanks for the video Brittany.
We are crying out for doctors here in New Zealand - you would be snapped up!
New Zealand is in desperate need of doctors! You could probably get a work visa easily. The pay is quite less than other developed countries but there's a LOT of pluses to living here. Might be worth looking into if you're interested!
I'm sure it would change. Having to offer reduced money means a better work life balance with strict limits on work time is used as inducement. As someone said, check it out...
Thank you for the informative video. It has been an eye-opener for some of us in South Africa.
1. How is accommodation in New Zealand?
2. What work is in demand?
Accomodation is expensive and difficult to find, at least that was our experience. We stayed in overpriced Airbnb's for a month at a time for about 6 months before finding an apartment in Nelson that we got incredibly lucky on (furnished, across from a beach and $550/week rent). It will depend on what city you live in. Christchurch has more accommodations to choose from and at better prices.
Medical personnel work is highly in demand. The immigration NZ website has a list of the top needed professionals for the country that will fast track you to residency!
I always enjoy your videos. We have been living in Christchurch now for about a year, having immigrated from South Africa. I sent all my family and friends a link to your Christchurch videos as you really did such a great job of portraying the City.
Thank you so so much, that is amazing!! I am so glad you're enjoying my content so much. People like you are my motivation to keep going 🥰
Came here 18yrs ago from the UK, homesick for the 1st 2yrs,
Costly plase to live, wellyington very expensive.
Come here for the lifestyle NOT the wages
Brilliant Information
Thank you! I really appreciate the love on this one ❤
Amazing 9 reasons Brittany. 👍👏 I love this video. Great job. 👍I also heard that shools/universities and child care are free. Great heath system as well. Lots of love 💖💖
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! The only thing with healthcare here is hospital and doctor wait times are crazy long! I think the average hospital wait time is 6 hours and for a doctor (non-emergency) is like 4 weeks. So definitely some improvements needed there!
@@brittanymorgan09 wooow.😲..did not know this...
@brittanymorgan09
As a resident I have not found this to be the case. Of course hospital times depend on the current load and degree of emergency. 6 hours seems longer than any hospital wait time I have endured. No doubt others have a different experience. Anything from same day to see any General Practitioner to 4-5 days to see a particular doctor.
universities are definitely not free. all tertiary education costs, although there is a first year free scheme with conditions - first time studying etc. schools have yearly fees -but under $200. childcare has some free hours for 2+ but there are charges overall for childcare.
not only you cant beat welli on a sunny day you cant beat it on anyday actually
Totally! Wellington is such a gem 💎
Definitely move here if you wish to earn about 20 to 30% less than in Australia and you wish to pay about 60% more to refuel your vehicle. And you don’t like shopping at independent retail stores in your little local suburban shopping centre. And you dislike paying so little for a meal at one of the local service clubs who all have cafes, bistros, and restaurants, the joining of one of those service clubs will cost you less than $50 and annual subscriptions will be about $30. So much of OZs internal economy is kept afloat by the disposable income the wage and salary earners in OZ having the disposable in their pockets that the NZ equivalent does not. And don’t forget to ask yourself if the things that you avoid by choosing NZ over OZ are the things that are going to pay the mortgage
Wellington coffee is the best in the world.
Global peace index with Canada at number 11. So I checked the uk 🇬🇧 nice to know we’re at number 37 good grief I’m not surprised tbh it’s terrible here
The grass is always greener. Moving out of NZ (after being born and raised for 31 years)in the next month due to the way the country is heading(It is the same as every country in terms of politics, everyone wants to leave to find something better) Just need to find somewhere that treats you best.
Not always. I actually prefer living in Canada! I also made a video about why I wouldn't live here long term. Moving to New Zealand made me realize how much I love Canada and living there so while we enjoy our time in NZ, I look forward to going home.
@brittanymorgan09 probably was before you came though right?
@@unsupervisednonsense6663 I did believe NZ would be better than Canada because of the lack of honesty on UA-cam about living here. You won't know for sure until you move to another country and try it out!
@@unsupervisednonsense6663 the grass is LITERALLY greener is NZ though 😂. We are spoilt for choice as people from developed countries to get to choose to leave a political space we don't agree with or leave to try on another lifestyle. There are many many people in our world who would kill to live in Canada, New Zealand or anywhere that's relatively safe. For them, the grass is truly greener in countries like ours.
@brittanymorgan09 Absolutely! Aren't we brats haha
The competition one is incorrect. Less people yes but less jobs too (especially 'dream' jobs). Heres a thing, I came to NZ in 92, my application for residency cost $1000NZ (loads then). Also my prospective first employer here had to show that my position could not be filled by a Kiwi. (Tough but fair). I got the job.
Hi Brittany, I appreciate your videos. An American UA-camr once noted that in contrast to the United States, New Zealand is not a nation where consumerism prevails, and items tend to be more expensive. Do you think this factor has a significant impact on the quality of life in New Zealand?❤
I think New Zealand is quite consumerist, perhaps it wasn't as bad in the past. There are tons of fast fashion shops and wasteful products everywhere. I don't see much difference between the US and NZ in respect to that. I think the quality of life here has more to do with culture, politics and weather!
Is Christchurch a walk-friendly city? On the same level as Wellington?
The city centre area was quite walkable with lots of pathways so I think if you lived down there it would be alright but definitely not as walkable as Wellington!
I am currently teaching secondary Math in Florida. I am planning to pursue a teaching career in NZ. I am torn between staying in Florida or go for NZ.
I am planning to bring my family with me by the way regardless which country I choose.
US or NZ? Help me decide.
@@biongrenn8010 I haven't lived in the US but there's a ton of negatives like violence, politics and crazy expensive healthcare that make that country an easy no for me!
@@brittanymorgan09 oh wow. I didn't expect a reply. Thank you. Now I have more reasons to choose NZ
I am going to Newzealand soon...😊
Lol @ The US being at 131 😆 I loved this video lol I literally feel like packing up and moving ASAP!
Thank you, I'm so glad it inspired you! Yeah haha the US not doing so good 😂
@@brittanymorgan09 Lol facts, I wonder how Kiwi's and Canadians see the US right now, I'm here and I feel like the rest of the world is either afraid of whats happening in the US or they're laughing at the US.
@@RaceCarFriends most people I've met here, even Americans, think the US is a joke right now. It's like watching reality TV when they talk about the US on the news lol 😂. It's tough for me because I LOVE the US so much, travelling there is amazing and the people are great but the politics and safety are just horrifying. I hope it gets better soon. 🤞
@@brittanymorgan09 I agree with you 100% the US would be amazing with better policies and leadership, but for now its a huge mess lol.
Our healthcare policies are a nightmare in America and there's no denying it. Our workplaces stopped offering dental plans so we just don't go to the dentist as much. And we used to have eye care and one pair of glasses every two years but they stopped that plan too. And my hearing aids - they do not cover at all. Nor one penny. My hearing aids cost me $7,000 and we just didn't go on a vacation that year. It's really very hard here esp for retirees. 😢
Night sky❤
The Southern Cross is an amazing experience.
Especially from a nighttime coastal beach.
Totally! The milky way is so bright and visible down here!
I have a question, is it legal to live off the land (in the wild) In New Zealand?
And is it legal to build my own house in the wild? Like on a hill or something?
I don't think so unfortunately. You'd have to own the land to do those things as far as I know.
@@brittanymorgan09 understood, thank you so much.
Any suggestion which city will be great for retirees?
Nelson for sure!
A lot of comments on this and many other similar "guide" video's are about the too high cost of living in NZ. I am 64 and lived my entire life here in NZ, always only had jobs in the retail sector on minimum wages as has my wife, we have bought and sold 3 homes since 1981 and never gone cold or hungry. I have to wonder what is actually expected by some?
I'm curious, how much did you pay for those properties and how much did you sell them for? Where were they located? The price of real estate has absolutely sky rocketed in New Zealand since the pandemic, especially in Auckland. Not a chance in hell anyone working minimum wage would qualify for a mortgage as a first time home buyer in this country today.
@@brittanymorgan09 yes property costs went silly in the early period post covid but then dropped some starting 18 months ago. Auckland and other obvious places like Queenstown Tauranga to name a few are not places you could expect to earn a mortgage in on minimum wages we all know that. As I stated we bought our first home in 1981 which was another world by todays comparison and that was in Feilding, $26 000 sold that in 1990 and bought house number 2 in Palm Nth $89 000, sold that in 2002 for very little profit and sat on the money deciding to rent for a spell as interest rates were insane back then. The entire time we lived in the Palmy house the interest rate was 16.25 % Spent the next 14 years renting, both working our retail jobs and saving hard while still living quite well and bought our 3rd home in the Manawatu in 2016 for $248 000 on a 15 year mortgage at very low repayments because of what we had saved to put into it. I know it's bloody tough today for first home buyers as I watched 3 of my own children struggle with it over the last 6 years but they got there, all 3 of them just last year and none of them are in high paying jobs.
Just like I said in your previous video Brittany, New Zealand is British Columbia down under eh.
I love that the city names are Māori
Me too! I hope the spread of the language continues to grow here ☺️
I heard in NZ that owning a herd of sheep if good for people with endless holidays in mind. They are pretty autonomous animals and don't require any care. No predators like wolves etc.
Interesting! That's definitely true about the no predators thing. Must be part of the reason why there's so many sheep here!
You obviously know nothing about sheep. Just never get any animals to look after.
@@TheTheotherfoot of course. I am just telling humor I heard in NZ.
Yay Canadians we have Canadian
🇨🇦 neighbours , great people , best neighbours ever …. C’mon down
Canada ❤
No children, that’s odd and strange, that’s the north American thing also.
1st to comment!
As a New Zealander I would not recommend moving here. The cost of living is extremely high , and wages are poor. There is also a rising unemployment rate and fewer job opportunities. The outdoors is about all it has going for it.
Wdym? Im from Croatia, average salary here is 18000 euros and average home price in Zagreb where I live is always over 1m euros. You havent seen the rest of the world, so be grateful of what you have
Its too bloody cold in Iceland to misbehave. 😉
2:05: "work culture is a little bit more laid back here although Auckland can swing a little more westernised". What does that even mean? I live in the Netherlands and work culture extremely chill. I worked for 5 years in Costa Rica and people work crazy hours with just 12 vacation days per year. Which one is "more westernised"? That word seem to not mean anything really
@@fabigato by "Westernized" I mean being shamed for taking vacation, leaving work on time (aka doing your work in a timely manner) and employers expecting you to put their business ahead of everything else in your life. Try living in north america for a bit & you'll see.
@@brittanymorgan09 yeah. You mean north American then, not western. Try shaming sometime for taking vacations in Germany and you'll see. Hell, not even north American, it's the same in East Asia, it's even worse in Japan. So western is by far not the term here
Yeah nzers also travel a lot so we know what it's like to be in a foreign country. Hense our attitude to new commers
Brittany, there are lots of fun things to do in New Zealand, specially outdoors, but aren't you afraid that you're gonna miss kids when you grow older? The pleasure of son/daughter visiting, grandkids staying and playing ? knowing that your family will be around, bc in general, the way I see it, the world has a bright future
To think having children guarantees you anything is silly. A lot of children do not keep contact with their parents, pass away unexpectedly or move far far away from home. I wouldn't have children just to have company/family around. I have other family and friends and will live a perfectly happy life without children. Please don't assume people without children are missing out on anything. We're not.
Birds are EVERYWHERE!
The bird sounds are amazing here! 😍
@@brittanymorgan09
Seeing parakeets flying free, is such a joyful experience.
"most Kiwis are very welcoming to foreign visitors" however very difficult to connect with, or have deeper relationships with....if you are thinking of moving here, wait untill the elelection in 4 weeks, you might change your mind of you knew who was going to run the country for the next 4 years....i have been here for 12 years, my kiwi partner are kind of fed up with NZ, and are thinking of leaving for europe, the new leadership here might tip that balance....houses are way over priced and substandard (generally) rent is high, food is high, utiities are very high, health costs exist, dental is expensive, cars are expensive, its isolating here, there is a false ideal of better lifestlye, which in the 12 years ive been here equates to "less" people so thats less crowded beaches for example, if you are in a very good job and your earning potential is favourable you might be able to afford a good lifestyle, but that isnt exclusive to NZ. the reality of living in NZ is VASTLY different than the image. live here for 1 year, youll get the flavour, it isnt for everyone.
I've already made a whole video on the reasons why I wouldn't live here long term! You touched on a vast majority of the points I talked about in that video - ua-cam.com/video/Iu0v9h21Dn4/v-deo.htmlsi=aABTs4Wp3cC4nA_S
I have no plans to move here permanently but others may find it better here than wherever they currently reside. Everyone has a different life and perspective, I'm just sharing mine.
bring on the election!!!!! if it goes the wrong way i think a lot of people are going to leave...just hanging in there for the change of government at the moment!!
@@alexandramcpherson4189 I am SO interested to see what happens in this election and how things change....SOON!
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
It's all about nature and no architecture, no culture
Thank you for acknowledging the indigenous Maori culture, kia ora!
@@wood_rat it's such a fantastic part of New Zealand, I loved the culture!!
Quick question...heard NZ recently voted in a sort of right wing government. Part of why I'm thinking of moving to NZ is because I'm trying to get away from some of the right wing stuff. How is it politically in NZ? Do you feel there is still an openness and tolerance to the culture?
@@mempto NZs "right wing" party is still pretty progressive and left wing compared to countries like the US. Things have changed there since they've been in power though, they cancelled the new ferries they desperately needed and clawed back some indigenous language things. I haven't been following other changes since I moved away but it might be worth a deep dive if that's really important to you. The south island is much more conservative. Cities like Wellington and Auckland are more open to progressive lifestyles and beliefs.
Cruel to animals..don't forget that!
Do NOT move to New Zealand. Stay out!!!
Omg
I wonder if a lot of black people live out there
lol
Depends what you mean by black. There are next to zero African americans. Loads of Indians (they run the dairies which I call corner shops and super friendly). Plenty of Chinese (who generally keep themselves to themselves). Of course there are the First Nation people (or second but I won't go into that). The Maori are great people, very friendly generally. What you do not get here is much racial intolerance but then again that's because the border is a lot of ocean and there is not sh..t loads of illegal immigrants.
Why should I move to New Zealand? Because beautiful women like you live there. : ))