MISTAKES WE MADE MOVING TO NEW ZEALAND - what I wish I had known, tips for a smooth move
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
- Enjoy this long, rambly video (or don’t) of me giving tips and sharing mistakes we made moving to New Zealand. I compiled a list of things I wish I had known before moving to New Zealand.
Music credit goes to my husband.
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CONTACT:
becca.a.loveless@gmail.com
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Oh Becca, I could feel your pain with all the changes and things you didn't know or expect. We are world travellers so know all about plugs etc. There is so much to buy when you start out but it's a one off cost... cheap stuff you buy can be replaced. I'm pretty sure if you put a call out on Marketplace or somewhere that you'd get glass jars! I don't keep mine (I have enough) but many people hoard them for people just like you.
I'd love to meet up with you sometime. I'm harmless (Nana of three boys and Mum of two adults). I'd be meeting up more as a mother figure I suppose with a ton of help and advice :) We have a beach house over in the Coromandel area and I'd be happy to offer it to you for a few days for free. You'd only need the petrol to get over there but it's truely the most beautiful part of the world. Let me know.
I keep having to remind myself exactly that - most of our stuff is just cheap junk that can and will be replaced. And I definitely want to meet up! I just emailed you. Let me know a good time that works for you!
I'm making the move to start work at Auckland city hospital in august and all of your videos have been so helpful!
Good to hear! It's why I wanted to make this video specifically. If you have any questions feel free to ask!
Hi Becca, thanks a lot for sharing this video. We are planing to go through the same process with our baby. And this is very helpful!
Good luck with your future plans!
Glad it was helpful! And thanks!
Setting up a house after a move like yours, can take awhile! I am sure that your husbands work colleagues have stuff they don’t use/need that they would be more than happy to off load onto your family!
Thank you for taking the time to share your story. It sounds like it has been at times very stressful.
It has, but now that we're more settled it is absolutely wonderful. And you're right, it will take awhile but we'll get there.
That was really helpful. Would you recommend bringing utilities? And how does one go about finding a landing pad? Take care and keep up the good work 👍👋
Utilities like a washer and dryer? Personally no - unless you’re moving from Australia the plugs and voltage will be different and it seems like it would be very expensive to have it shipped over here. And the best I can recommend is getting an Airbnb for at least a couple of weeks to give you time to get over here and settled a bit so you can get out and start checking out rentals.
@@Becca.Loveless Thank you for taking the time to answer. I think you are doing a great job and hope everything keeps going the way you've wanted. 🤗👋
Buy yourself a 230V to 110V transformer and you'll be able to run those US appliances. Just make sure the power rating is adequate. The transformer will likely be much cheaper than replacing those items.
We'll look into it! But it might not be worth it at this point because we've already fried two of the items..
Importing spices would be illegal - you'll get stung at customs. Check your bathroom plug some of them will take 110volts(usa) as well as 240. Good thing you brought your own baby - they are really expensive here.
I thought importing spices was illegal too. But we did bring some curry spices and declared them and they didn't seem to have any issue with it. They didn't even pull it out to look at it so that's what made me think maybe it wasn't a big deal? I guess it depends on what types of spices. And we've checked our bathroom outlet - it's not a dual one. Also, lol.
@@Becca.Loveless I thought anything you can eat is not allowed. Spices would be hot so not likely to attract bugs etc. (I am guessing)
Poor thing, your stress levels must be off the charts. I was about to say, reach out and get to know a few people already here, especially ex-pats who have been through the same process; but you mentioned this near the end. It will take time to settle in, and I wish you the best. Your videos do make a difference, even to us kiwis who have no idea what you guys go through.
That's great! I love knowing that my videos are helping even one person. And we're not stressed anymore now that we're in our new place and mostly settled. It just took some time and some good friends!
Not mistakes, just learning curves :) you always kinda forget just how different other countries can be.
In regards to spices - check out the Sandringham shops which aren't too far from where you are, there are a couple of spice shops that sell in bulk for reasonably cheap (cheaper than the supermarkets) and also the dairy there with the big lotto sign out the front used to have bulk spices too. It's the usual bulk bin - fill a bag kinda deal.
There is also a produce shop on Dominion Road called Fresho that had some larger packs of certain spices - no cool jars with them seeing as they are bulk but again usually cheaper than the supermarket. And Khyber Spice Invaders in Royal Oak :)
Another place to check out would be Bin Inn, I think the nearest to you would be Remuera or Onehunga.
I hope the rain isn't getting to you too much! It's kinda coming into that season and winter in Auckland tends to mean a lot of rain!
That is a very nice way of putting it :)
Thank you so much for the spice recommendations! I'm definitely going to check those out. We love Fresho! It's very close to where we live and we have been there several times already! Love their produce prices. Khyber Spice Invaders sounds very fun lol.
The rain hasn't bothered me yet! But a few months of it constantly raining will probably get to me. I'm also worried about how damp/moldy our house is going to get. We'll see..
@@Becca.Loveless You're welcome! If the house is a little damp, it might be an idea to invest in a dehumidifier, but you can get refillable small bucket type things called Damp Rid or something like that from the Warehouse that you can stick in the wardrobes etc.
The thing with the rain to remember is, in Auckland if we get a lot over Winter, while it sucks, it's also a good thing cause we pretty much never get enough over summer and have droughts so the more it rains in winter the higher the reservoirs will be for summer! At least that's the way I look at it - silver linings and all that!
@@lisad8281 thanks for telling me that! I’ll be happy every time it rains this winter now.
Why risk having your glassware broken in transit? You can buy glass preservation jars in Countdown for a couple of dollars. Also, Bonne Maman conserves, which you may know from the States, are available in New World; enjoy the contents and then the jars are ideal for kitchen storage.
My husband said the same thing. Which is why we didn't bring them because he's a lot wiser than me.
Sometimes a good old mason jar is nostalgic!
When I met my wife she had lived in three countries and I had lived in four. After we married we lived in four more countries together. Yes we made all of the mistakes you mentioned. But we learned.
That’s incredible! We really hope to travel more in the future when the world clears up again.
KIa Ora, we moved here in 2011. Listening to your experiences mirror many of our own. Best wishes!
Moving to NZ is the best decision ever, eh? The moving here is a bit tricky but definitely worth it.
Hi Becca I'm a Kiwi lived in Christchurch all my life but love your and Billy's videos. Cheers
Thank you! We are excited to get to Christchurch in January!
If you have a baby you can take an extra bag with you (diaper bag), so you only had one extra technically :) they probably didn't notice. Also, anything electric with a motor won't work for sure, other stuff (like some curlying/flat irons for example) can be dual voltage, just remember to check, or buy a converter
Wish I’d known all that before! Haha oh well. It all works out in the end.
As a serial country mover I don't plan or organise anything,I just turn up with my clothes and personal paperwork. It all falls into place eventually,stress is all in the mind.
True - but we also all handle different situations differently. If I didn't have a baby I wouldn't have minded so much not knowing where we were sleeping each night. I thought I was a pretty low stress person, but I need to learn some things from you!
I moved internationally 3 times, not my approach, and now with kids even less so LOL Good for you but some of us need a plan :D Also, your approach works great if you have enough money to buy again everything you forgot or didn't want to take...
Ah well, we all make mistakes in life, I wish I would learn from mine though, but sometimes you just keep doing the same thing ha ha. Still, at least you are getting over the hurdles, even if they are stressful at the time, you'll get there. I do find that making lists, such as things to do, things to get etc, is a great help, it's very satisfying to be able to cross things of a list, you get the feeling you are getting somewhere.
That parrot might been a Rainbow Lorikeet, or a Rosella, did it have a blue head, or red.
Red head on the parrot. And if you could see the note lists on my phone you would be amazed. I have lists in my lists. But you're right - it's like the only thing keeping me sane, and crossing things off it is an amazing feeling.
Must have been a Rosella. Yep, keep on making those lists.
Hi Becca - glass jars -try Moore Wilson and Mitre 10.
I haven't heard of either of those places! Good to know.
Warehouse, Briscoses,, charity shops have class jars
I am now overflowing 😂 don’t know why I had such a hard time finding them those first few weeks!
We are moving home in July after 35 years out. Your videos are helpful, thanks. Don’t worry about buying yet, but do invest. Plenty of videos explaining the rent or buy argument. Based on your long term objectives renting can be more beneficial. Enjoy the ride!
Thanks for sharing! I hate the feeling of our rent money going into a black hole never to be seen by us again. But all in good time. We do invest and we're usually very frugal people.
Becca Loveless rent is dead money as is the first 20 years of a house loan! Stop seeing things as you have been taught and look at things differently! Rent is not a loss! Only if you see it as that! :-). Rent can be freedom from bondage. Debt is slavery. He that is in debt is a slave to the debtor. He that pays rent is free to make a choice! Have a good ride!
We live in Mt Eden! It is honestly the best suburb especially for people that work in the CBD. There’s heaps of bus options (commute is around 10-20mins). Both my husband and I walk to work! There’s a supermarket close by and Mt Eden Village is a gem. Dominion road is also relatively close and it’s filled with restaurants and there’s also a couple of organic food type stores! Let me know if you need any info etc always happy to help!
I underestimated how nice the buses are! Billy will usually take the bus and leave the car with me so I'm not trapped at home all day. And do you have a favorite organic store on Dominion? Not sure I've spotted them yet. Mt Eden Village is so beautiful. I love just walking by all the homes and admiring how cute and old they are.
@@Becca.Loveless There’s two that I know of - Commensense Mt Eden (right next to Countdown) and Farro which is further down. They carry great products but are a bit on the pricey side 😕)
@@dlxm1994 good to know! I’m going to have to check them out.
Visions of you carrying a Bidet and a cast iron pan onto the plane passing it off as "for the Baby" had me giggling 😂
Lol we’re definitely going to pack very differently when we fly back home 😂
Kia ora Becca, great reactions have just discovered your vid's and welcome to Aotearoa. The 'parrots' you are referring to, are probably Kereru (wood pigeons). Make an amazing 'whooping' sound when they take off. Nga mihi whanau! :-)
Kia Ora! Thanks! I think I've identified the bird as being the eastern rosella, so not the pigeon or the parrot, haha. I've seen them a few times now, and I love them.
Come up to the northern beaches: Orewa, Tawharanui Regional Park etc. Paradise, and way better for the little one than Piha! Not far from where you are, up past Albany, State Highway One :) Speaking of Albany - the Westfield Mall there is easily the best on the north shore... Also, a day trip out to Waiheke Island on a boat is good for a look at the city from the harbour, and don't lose sight of the fact that you haven't seen LOTRs NZ until you've seen the National Parks of the South Island! Great in January/February ;)
I second Tawharanui Regional Park!!
I want to go as soon as Billy has some time off from work!
We've been to that mall! It was great. We bought a rubbish bin from there (I'm sure you wanted to know that). We will definitely be going up to Orewa and Tawharanui Regional Park because you are not the first to recommend them to us! So excited to see how beautiful it is up there.
Fun facts about LOTRs - it's what made Billy want to play the French horn in the first place AND it's how me and Billy met and became friends! We both love it.
Jars., Moccona Coffee glass jars are great to collect, ask friends and colleagues to collect them for you, if you're not big coffee drinkers. they come in 3 different sizes, small, 400g and extra large, I use them for bulk spices, lentils, sugar etc. people often just throw them in the recycling bin. some people sell them on Trade me...
My jar collection is slowly growing! We have lots of friends that are collecting them for us. Haven't gotten any Moccona Coffee though! We'll have to get some just for the jar.
I can feel for her stress but how could she expect to house hunt when you are in QUARANTINE! the whole point of quarantine is that you are too not go out anywhere....
At the time we figured we would just “house hunt” online - which lots of people do! I know several people that even set up their rentals while still living overseas.
We realized for us we wanted to wait until we could get a better feel of the areas and homes ourselves.
You can apply for a Social benefit income for baby to help your family out i think the government department is called Winz look it up and find out the name might have change also they pay you fortnightly meaning every two weeks between $400 or 800 depending on your status a handy tip for you to know expat NZ living in Brisbane since 2006 originally from the East coast of Napier good luck Becca Loveless all the best Thanx?.
Good to know! That would be very helpful. And I've heard Napier is beautiful! I'm hoping to make it out there someday.
@@Becca.Loveless I'm pretty sure you need to be a NZ citizen or resident to get government benefits.
Welcome to NZ Becca. If you havent tried K Mart have a look .. cheap and when well stocked (Covid) worth a browse.
Love it there! Can't believe how cute all their furniture is.
Dental care is a big cost here, dental tourism to Thailand is a theme, if you hear the term murder house its about school dentists,
id post a nzonscreen link but yourtube doesnt like it that much?
Hawkes Bay is a region to buy a house, :)
Banks, PSIS is a NZ coop bank in pays you dividends, have a look, their online banking is great,
Thanks for the tips. Ill have a look at these.
For others
If you want a proof of address askj your bank in UK US EU to send you a bank statement to the address you are moving to here
Does this apply if you don’t have a place you’re moving to? For example when we came over we were shuffled to a hotel for MIQ for two weeks and then got a random Airbnb after so we had no idea where we were moving to.
@@Becca.Loveless that's why I've said. for others
I don’t know why you popped up in my feed, but your little family is so cute, welcome to New Zealand. Ps a bidet in NZ is normally attached to a toilet and squirts water to clean your private’s 😂 I don’t think you bought one of these 🤭 most of the little cheap shops have all sorts of glass jars.
You know, I wish it wasn't so embarrassing, but that is exactly what we brought lol. I'm glad you watched my video when it popped up in your feed because obviously I think my videos are worth watching. Just kidding - it's the opposite. I'm very new to this and feel my videos are garbage. BUT it has been a ton of fun making them and being able to talk to so many people!
Oh hey I've lived in NZ for 53 years and have never encountered one of those these Bidet things. I have no idea of how they work and why they are popular. It must sadly be an Auckland exclusive thing.
Good advice on glass jars though!
Kmart is great for little knick knacks like glass jars and home decor. They are only usually a few dollars and u can get what u want.
We love Kmart now! It's crazy that Kmart is still alive and well here. It went out of business many years ago in the US.
@@Becca.Loveless I suppose things like Walmart didnt help kmart survive. We only have kmart the warehouse and farmers so options are more limited. And kmart is the best lol.
Becca loveless
I'm sorry to hear about your comment moving here
Sometimes we so happy to rush things without thinking until we get there and oh
What we get into if you get my drift bey
I hope that everything is okay now
Have a bright and a happy future to you and your family
Your friend 🕷️🕸️🕷️♥️
We are very happy and settled now, thanks! It just took some time and day by day getting a few more things done and managed.
It seems like you didn't gather enough information on how to get an understanding of the cost of living, housing and adjusting to NZ. There are other ways of choosing the right accommodation, housing and ways of living.. For example, having your own garden and looking at local markets and the whole secondhand shopping culture in NZ would have saved you a lot of money for furniture and other important things for your home. You could have scoped out garage sales that normally happen on Saturdays and visited the organic days in parts of Auckland and at the rubbish recycle places. You would have found some really good things for your home at a much cheaper rate. There is a culture in NZ of refurbishing old furniture and old things. And little workshops around Auckland. And you could have gotten a few things for free. People would come to your home to bring things for you. This happens a lot in Auckland, My family does it too.
We got many things from friends and op shops. In hindsight id say we should have looked into a ton of things beforehand. But it’s all gone well now. Thanks for watching.
@@Becca.Loveless check with local council and organisations nearest to you. And local community polytechnics they have free workshops and classes where you can source free things. And you can organise community gardens at your home. There is a big community garden network in Auckland that can guide you to places near you. And you might be able to get people coming to help you start gardens. Having your own vegetable gardens to source foods. Also, check out orchids that give away free fruit in your area. Volunteering with community groups will help you get involved with the community and you'll be surprised with what resources and information you can gather.
i had to laugh when you said the housing market is very compeditive its actually more like a housing crisis you are very lucky to get a house so quickly we have a lot of families who end up homeless before they can get a house.
We were homeless for a day, but then his work helped sort us out so we didn't actually have to sleep in our car.
You'll want to go to a Asian supermarket to buy spices. Much better quantities. Get a transformer for your American appliances
I've heard the transformers don't really work all that well so we haven't tried to buy one yet (plus they're a little pricey). And yes we need to go to a good Asian store for spices! I feel like everything I've tried to make I realize I haven't bought a specific spice. V annoying.
@@Becca.Loveless Yeah very pricey. I had some friends from the US who got by ok with a transformer. Just depends if want to keep what you brought with you. Watch out for Anzac day sales at Briscoes and Farmers if you want to replace what you brought.
waiting for the madness to settle.. my wifes a kiwi and wife and brother is there..selling stuff slowly but next 2 years we will be in west coast hopefully
The west coast is beautiful! Hoping it all works out well for you soon!
@@Becca.Loveless thank you becca
A lot of appliances have a wee switch on them for 240/110 v
I've never noticed any! What!
Did you guys use a shipping container? Or just whatever you had on you when you flew in?
We didn't think a shipping container would be worth it for us as we didn't have any appliances or furniture, so it was just what we could carry in our suitcases.
When you say ‘bidet’ do you mean the bottom washing item?
Exactly that. I'm sorry we're so weird 😂
The parrot was probably an eastern rosella.
It was beautiful! I can't believe parrots are just flying around here. Makes me feel like I'm on another planet. I really want to study up on birds here and learn more.
@@Becca.Loveless Key ones to watch out for: Tui (the ones with the white neck ruffle), wood pigeons (huge green backed pigeons), fan tails (notably A.D.D), Pukekos (walking around with stick legs and a red beak). You might need to take a day trip to Tiritirimatangi island :)
@@iammattbarker we want to see tiritirimatangi soon! And I know the Tui bird call now - it’s my favorite.
@@Becca.Loveless, Bell birds give it a real push.
Go to Kmart for glass jars!
That's a good idea! I haven't thought to check there.
@@Becca.Loveless yeah it's great! Most are between $2-6 depending on size :)
Maybe Briscoes for jars
I need to check them out! Thanks for the recommendation.
briscoes seems like your kind of place
Lol only on giant sale days. Op shops are my number one place.
Hello family housing commission NZ would help you cut your cost in paying for your house 100 percent and tell them there is one wage coming into your household they just need some details like a wage in regarding your Husband wage income cost of expenditure food each week,cost of fuel cost for car,babies cost of baby wear,transportation if need be buses to travel car problems and yes AA car insurances is a must for roadside help they cover you where you are make sure you have your ID with you it helps big time my wife and myself have travel to the states she work in Hawaii and that,s how i met her back in NZ where build our brand new home in Napier good luck Becca and Husband and baby enjoy your Country Bye.
Thanks for the info! We'll be looking into that for sure.
Did you move to nz for safety reasons because your country was not safe?
We moved here because my husband got a job here. The safety was a perk :)
The sad list made me laugh 🤣😂
Haha, this was so long ago. Im glad we have moved beyond this.
A bidet? I think something is lost in translation!
Hand held bidet sprayer perhaps? ... not something that's very common here.
@@Scottygirlnz yeah, can't see a whole bidet in hand luggage 😂😂😂
No translation errors! A literal toilet bidet. In our luggage. It's like a toilet attachment type so it's a little bulky but very light. And I swear, bidets are the best things ever. It's the equivalent of getting a dishwasher for the first time. Once you have one, you never want to go back.
@@Becca.Loveless aah, we think of a bidet as the whole ceramic toilet type thing. It did conjure up quite an image.
@@Becca.Loveless Oh I've used one and they are great. Can you not get a plumber to fit it to you current toilet? I'm sure they would have a part that would make it work??
this Waman is awesome listen to what she is sayin ...ok dont think i spilt that right ops
Lol thanks 😊
as a kiwi i think ya awesome i know nothing is easy but ya will work it out ,,,,,,,, ps ..ya child so so so cute,,,,PS may not sound true but will get better ....as in befor ya know it we will,,,,as in nz will row on ya .........we yes i love ya contentl ya l ya
You’re right again! It did get immensely better once we got settled into our new home :)
kmart!
Love it!
You obviously haven't travelled that much nor did you really do your homework properly before moving...
1) Anyone from countries like Australia or the UK will be fine with the power voltage - just adapters will be needed for the UK.
2) You need a power converter then your items will work, but those kinds of things can be expensive and if you forget to use them...goodbye electronics!!!
3) Why didn't you ship things over in tea chests or containers? Probably would have been a wiser idea and could have been done months ahead of your arrival and been put in storage and/or delivered door to door.
4) NZ does have things like Mason jars, but you will have to source them in places like garage sales, Thrift shops or from little old ladies that like to pickle and bottle their fruit and vegetables. Some shops likely sell them too or online.
5) Does NZ really need more people in it when there is a housing crisis and Pandemic going on? I don't think so - not right now or in the near future.
Now, NZers are quite hospitable and truly some of the most laid back and kindest people you will ever come across on the whole (not all) and if you are invited over to someone's home it isn't usually for 5 minutes. If you do decide to have anyone over to your place make sure to have a good supply of brown tea not just coffee. Biscuits too! Biscuits in NZ are cookies and there are some good brands in NZ like Griffins.
You will need to convert your USA nouns somewhat as well to NZ nouns like: Rock melon for Cantaloupe or Coriander for Cilantro etc.
Unlike the USA - most things aren't in large or bulk quite the same way and some things you just cannot get at all.
Lastly, don't be afraid of the full tattooed men (maybe some women) or the women with tribal tats on their chins and try to be as respectful as possible of the Maori culture and it's people. You won't be doing the Hongi anytime soon, but there is no harm in learning a few things or how to
pronounce words like Whakatane/Fa ka tah ne. After all - the Maoris were the first ones in NZ after the Mori Oris maybe. Debateable topic.
Point is - you can't be in NZ and be blind to everything Maori as it is everywhere and truly a beautiful culture.
Anyways, you've learned things the hard way it seems so I hope from now on its onwards and upwards.
She'll also have to get used to people walking around barefoot, even in the supermarkets.
Jeez
Way to be part helpful and a dick at the same time...talented!
You're very right - I haven't travelled all that much and I'm definitely not smart enough to do homework ahead of time (lol). Your comment was very well thought out and appreciated.
1. I figured people moving from Aussie would know that they don't need different adapters and things.
2. We already fried one (or two) of the things we brought so I don't feel an adapter would be worth it at this point. We've just bought replacements. It was more that I was sad that those items were brought over with us in our precious suitcase space.
3. Shipping containers are only worth it if you have furniture or appliances. We didn't have those and we didn't want to pay super high prices to ship over junk so we decided to just bring what could fit into our bags. At the time it seemed brilliant. Actually hauling all of that stuff was a mistake in the moment.
4. I'm working on the jar situation. It will just take time to collect them secondhand (because firsthand for a lot of jars is expensive) and I have a lot of bulk stuff that I want to put into containers now. But I'll be patient.
It's been a lot of fun getting used to the really good coffee here. And we've definitely picked up on the coming over means staying a while thing. Which is good because Billy and I are both the types to overstay.
I haven't been scared of anyone here because everyone has been too kind!
And we are so interested in learning about Maori culture. I'm trying to look up a lot of pronunciations right now and learning the meanings of the words I see most often.
Learning things the hard way is my favorite way. A lot more interesting, I'd say.
I was excited for this but haven't actually seen much of it.