Most Important Things To Note Moving To New Zealand

TheCoolWay

Moving to Auckland next summer, any important pieces of advice / things an Irish person should be particularly aware of when moving there / New Zealand?

spunkymunky

If you plan to settle, give yourself time to see the place first. Hard to do once you start working and there is a lot to see and do!

Also, house can be cold here in winter. Little or no insulation generally no heating. Keep that in mind when signing a lease.
Also, they are generally unfurnished!

Cookie_Monster

As said houses are generally not well insulated, only have single glazing, may not even have a heating system and can be damp.
Auckland is less of an issue being further north but they just had the coldest winter in 30 years!

Don't take anything for granted about a property and make sure you check it thoroughly.
Furniture is generally not included; means no fridge, no washing machine etc. Oven / hob unit is about the bare minimum you will usually get.
Auckland is pretty much like Dublin rental market wise at the moment, central stuff is horrifically expensive or live out of town and deal with not so great PT and bad traffic.

Furniture is very expensive here new so use resources like trademe.co.nz to find good/cheap stuff or if you're going to be here long term simply ship as much as you can, it'll be way cheaper and is GST (VAT) exempt when emigrating.

Your NCB will be accepted here if driving so bring it, you can drive on an Irish licence for a year. Insurance is not mandatory as basic 3rd party is included in registration costs but full cover is cheap too.

Good sunnies / shades are a must in summer. The sun here is really harsh due to the lack of ozone and you'll burn super fast too so be prepared. The flip side is its lovely in summer and shorts and tshirts is the norm for about 6 months

If you don't already, learn to love rugby :pac:

Mrs OBumble

All you need to know to live in NZ:

Slip, slop, slap.

Drop, cover, hold

TheCoolWay

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

All you need to know to live in NZ:

Slip, slop, slap.

Drop, cover, hold

?

TheCoolWay

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

As said houses are generally not well insulated, only have single glazing, may not even have a heating system and can be damp.
Auckland is less of an issue being further north but they just had the coldest winter in 30 years!

Don't take anything for granted about a property and make sure you check it thoroughly.
Furniture is generally not included; means no fridge, no washing machine etc. Oven / hob unit is about the bare minimum you will usually get.
Auckland is pretty much like Dublin rental market wise at the moment, central stuff is horrifically expensive or live out of town and deal with not so great PT and bad traffic.

Furniture is very expensive here new so use resources like trademe.co.nz to find good/cheap stuff or if you're going to be here long term simply ship as much as you can, it'll be way cheaper and is GST (VAT) exempt when emigrating.

Your NCB will be accepted here if driving so bring it, you can drive on an Irish licence for a year. Insurance is not mandatory as basic 3rd party is included in registration costs but full cover is cheap too.

Good sunnies / shades are a must in summer. The sun here is really harsh due to the lack of ozone and you'll burn super fast too so be prepared. The flip side is its lovely in summer and shorts and tshirts is the norm for about 6 months

If you don't already, learn to love rugby :pac:

I will need to work on all of the above, bar the last point

Seanie_H

TheCoolWay wrote: »

Moving to Auckland next summer, any important pieces of advice / things an Irish person should be particularly aware of when moving there / New Zealand?

If your budget allows, aim for Parnell, St Helier, Okahu Bay or along the North East bay.

Mrs OBumble

TheCoolWay wrote: »

?

Ok, so you probably need to know how to use google too :-)

One is advice for avoiding sunburn. The other is what to do in an earthquake. Both very useful pieces of public health information.

spunkymunky

Seanie_H wrote: »

If your budget allows, aim for Parnell, St Helier, Okahu Bay or along the North East bay.

I dunno about this. Newmarket, Ponsonby Takapuna would be more along the lines for me (Parnell too).
Defo North East Bays aswell. I like Birkenhead although Not for pubs.

TheCoolWay

Location that can reach the cbd and socialising spots handy enough via public transport...

on_my_oe

If you're moving to Auckland, you need to decide if you're going to buy a car or rely in public transport - if it's public transport, realistically you are limited to the CBD. Mt. Eden, Parnell, Ponsonby Remuera, Newmarket, Takapuna, Devonport, Dominion Rd etc

But NZ doesn't begin and end with Auckland. Depending on what you're looking for, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, the Hawkes Bay, Dunedin are all liveable. NZ doesn't do double glazing or insulation (as mentioned), and you'll have a heart attack opening your power bill (gas isn't wide spread). Food is comparable to Ireland, apart from meat and diary products (a friend posted his NZ grocery receipt on FB recently). Pak'n'Save is your friend, followed by Countdown. Depending on where you live, there are often weekend farmers markets. Many homes have big chest freezers allowing for bulk buying.

Also, you can save a bundle on stuff by buying online from overseas / abroad as in most cases you don't get import duty / GST taxes on up to $400. Useful when you want new trainers but don't want to buy $200.

Bank fees are similar to Ireland but you get charged per transaction, with some account fees allowing a small number of 'free' transactions.

Rent is usually paid weekly or fortnightly, with six weeks deposit ('bond'), and unlike Ireland it's held by a government agency. Many people get laid weekly or fortnightly, but monthly isn't unheard of. Smaller companies can put you on trial (probation) for 90 days and let you go with no reason. There are two more public holidays in NZ, including Jan 2nd (it's harder to kick a hangover in the heat). The country almost shuts down for two weeks over Christmas unless you're in retail or emergency services.

The Warehouse and Briscoes (both are always having a sale) are good for household goods. Farmers is like Debenhams, so a bit pricier.

Seanie_H

TheCoolWay wrote: »

Location that can reach the cbd and socialising spots handy enough via public transport...

Those areas are quite close to the CBD and have public transport. Particularly Newmarket which has a good town center too.

Auckland is funny in that the CBD, apart from the Viaduct and Wharf, is dead at the weekends. There's a lot of life in the surrounding towns, like Newmarket, Parnell etc.

I don't know how active you are but it's said that in Auckland you need a car to get around. That said, you could happily do without one by living in any of those places. Something to consider once you settle in anyways. Skiing in winter is only a 4 hour drive to Taupo and the Corramandel in the summer is only 2 hours away too.

Mrs OBumble

on_my_oe wrote: »

If you're moving to Auckland, you need to decide if you're going to buy a car or rely in public transport - if it's public transport, realistically you are limited to the CBD. Mt. Eden, Parnell, Ponsonby Remuera, Newmarket, Takapuna, Devonport, Dominion Rd etc

But NZ doesn't begin and end with Auckland. Depending on what you're looking for, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, the Hawkes Bay, Dunedin are all liveable. NZ doesn't do double glazing or insulation (as mentioned), and you'll have a heart attack opening your power bill (gas isn't wide spread). Food is comparable to Ireland, apart from meat and diary products (a friend posted his NZ grocery receipt on FB recently). Pak'n'Save is your friend, followed by Countdown. Depending on where you live, there are often weekend farmers markets. Many homes have big chest freezers allowing for bulk buying.

Also, you can save a bundle on stuff by buying online from overseas / abroad as in most cases you don't get import duty / GST taxes on up to $400. Useful when you want new trainers but don't want to buy $200.

Bank fees are similar to Ireland but you get charged per transaction, with some account fees allowing a small number of 'free' transactions.

Rent is usually paid weekly or fortnightly, with six weeks deposit ('bond'), and unlike Ireland it's held by a government agency. Many people get laid weekly or fortnightly, but monthly isn't unheard of. Smaller companies can put you on trial (probation) for 90 days and let you go with no reason. There are two more public holidays in NZ, including Jan 2nd (it's harder to kick a hangover in the heat). The country almost shuts down for two weeks over Christmas unless you're in retail or emergency services.

The Warehouse and Briscoes (both are always having a sale) are good for household goods. Farmers is like Debenhams, so a bit pricier.

Great post - the only thing you forgot was www.trademe.co.nz - the place to get just about everything. (Jobs, housemates, 2nd hand furniture, and lots more ...)

OP, why do you think you would need to get to the CBD? I can understand that if you're working there - but many people don't, and never go near it.

Personally, I wouldn't move to Auckland - it's just like Dublin but hotter. Go almost anywhere else.

TheCoolWay

I want somewhere that's warmer than Ireland and I'm after office work hence want to be within easy reach of cbd.

May buy a car, but don't want to depend on it. They are so expensive over there...

on_my_oe

Makeup and perfume is scarily more expensive, and there's no Boots (Life Pharmacy and Amchem just don't measure up). Revlon is considered a premium brand - you go into Farmers, and they have a beauty counter, much like Clarins or Estée Lauder. Fortunately Sephora deliver (yes, that $400 limit comes in handy).

Electronics are expensive - computers, mobiles etc. TVs are not as bad, because of the trade deals with Asia. Most people drive Japanese imports, and the most common price bracket on the car yard is $9,999.

on_my_oe

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Great post - the only thing you forgot was www.trademe.co.nz - the place to get just about everything. (Jobs, housemates, 2nd hand furniture, and lots more ...)

Damn, knew I forgot something important! Trademe is like boards and adverts - there's community forums etc my siblings frequently find housemates (called 'flat mates') and sell cars on it.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

G
OP, why do you think you would need to get to the CBD? I can understand that if you're working there - but many people don't, and never go near it.

Personally, I wouldn't move to Auckland - it's just like Dublin but hotter. Go almost anywhere else.

I'd second that, there are much better places to live, and to be honest you could probably pick up 'an old banger' cheap and live in somewhere like Tauranga, the Hawkes Bay etc It depends on what type of office work you want to do

Cookie_Monster

Cars are cheap imo, especially something with a proper engine in it.

bambgirl92

Is gambling legal in New Zealand?? Cos I have experience working in a betting shop and I couldnt find any jobs in that area.

TheCoolWay

on_my_oe wrote: »

Damn, knew I forgot something important! Trademe is like boards and adverts - there's community forums etc my siblings frequently find housemates (called 'flat mates') and sell cars on it.



I'd second that, there are much better places to live, and to be honest you could probably pick up 'an old banger' cheap and live in somewhere like Tauranga, the Hawkes Bay etc It depends on what type of office work you want to do

Online Marketing

cpoh1

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't move to Auckland - it's just like Dublin but hotter. Go almost anywhere else.

The only thing Dublin has in common with Auckland is that it has expensive houses, traffic and lots of people living there. Aucklands local beaches, surrounding islands, quality of the water in the harbour and the general quality of life far outstrip what Dublin has to offer. Auckland genuinely is a great place to live if you can afford the nicer neghbourhoods. I spent a few months in Devonport myself and while not ideal from an access perspective was super from a lifestyle point of view.

Auckland taken on its own merits against any other cities in the world stacks up really well its just that when compared with the rest of NZ and the quality of life on offer it just falls short. NZ is about so much more than city living.

That aside I would look at places like Nelson in the South island. Close to some amazing places and lovely climate also.

on_my_oe

bambgirl92 wrote: »

Is gambling legal in New Zealand?? Cos I have experience working in a betting shop and I couldnt find any jobs in that area.

In NZ we don't have chains of bookies like the UK and Ireland - there's just one, the TAB. You'll find them as standard shops and Inhouse as part of a bar, RSA, or Working Men's Club. The phrases are different (Quinella / Double, Trifecta etc), and odds are in decimals rather than fractions. You may find you find a job in a suburban bar where skills as a TAB operator give you an edge.

https://careers.nzracingboard.co.nz/search

on_my_oe

TheCoolWay wrote: »

Online Marketing

Ok, then Wellington and Auckland are more likely to be your destinations, but don't rule out the smaller locations. I'd start with headhunting the marketing agencies, but don't be surprised if you don't get any immediate bites; Kiwis like to perceive themselves as keen 'DIYs' and 'early adopters'. This means that usually we think we can do it all ourselves on no budget, with social media and online marketing being key areas where we'll take a stab at it ourselves. Kiwis love Twitter and Facebook, and many of my friends who have businesses do do it themselves.

TheCoolWay

on_my_oe wrote: »

Ok, then Wellington and Auckland are more likely to be your destinations, but don't rule out the smaller locations. I'd start with headhunting the marketing agencies, but don't be surprised if you don't get any immediate bites; Kiwis like to perceive themselves as keen 'DIYs' and 'early adopters'. This means that usually we think we can do it all ourselves on no budget, with social media and online marketing being key areas where we'll take a stab at it ourselves. Kiwis love Twitter and Facebook, and many of my friends who have businesses do do it themselves.

When I kill a PPC campaign selling rugby balls, they'll soon stand up and notice

qdawg86

Wellington weather is ****e for most of the year and when you get your residency....VOTE GREEN !!!

Also.....don't listen to too many NZ "experts" aka Irish people who've lived here for a year or two.

its lovely here but there's nothing really to "get used to".

Just enjoy

SpaceTime

Don't ask Australians for advice on NZ ... They're often have bizzare notions about the place.

TheCoolWay

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Cars are cheap imo, especially something with a proper engine in it.

I thought they were really pricey over there???

Cookie_Monster

TheCoolWay wrote: »

I thought they were really pricey over there???

$5,500 got me a 2002 3.5l v6 diamante 3 years ago, and it's easy to pick up something decent for under $2k that isn't a pissy little 1 - 1.4l

While probably not as cheap as Irish cars you get a lot more for your money in general so I'd consider it better value here.

on_my_oe

qdawg86 wrote: »

Wellington weather is ****e for most of the year and when you get your residency....VOTE GREEN !!!

Also.....don't listen to too many NZ "experts" aka Irish people who've lived here for a year or two.

its lovely here but there's nothing really to "get used to".

Just enjoy

I think there are things for you to get used to, but it's not a massive culture shock - admittedly I did it in reverse, as a Kiwi living in Ireland. Some of the lingo is different (lockers for bedside cabinets, press for cupboard, the Manchester department for the linen section), and some of the food - I have an irrational need for feijoas at the moment after being deliriously excited to see tamarilos a couple of weeks back in Aldi. The sense of humour can be very different - I don't get Damo at all, and a lot of the skits on Fm104 Strawberry Alarm clock are awful - but in general, it's grand, and I'm sure it'll be the same for an Irish person heading to NZ. So as you go with a positive frame of mind and accept a bit of banter about <insert stereotype here>, there's nothing to worry about.

Cultural explanation - Bring a plate doesn't mean your host has run out of crockery, but that you're supposed to contribute a dish of food to the spread, like a salad or meat for a BBQ or similar

Mrs OBumble

on_my_oe wrote: »

Cultural explanation - Bring a plate doesn't mean your host has run out of crockery, but that you're supposed to contribute a dish of food to the spread, like a salad or meat for a BBQ or similar

We could make a thread of these :-)

Shifting = moving house. No sexual connotations at all.

A ride = a lift in a motor vehicle. Ditto re sexual connotations.

A pint is not a fixed amount: many kiwi pint glasses are 450ms, some are less. A few pubs sell an "Irish pint" which is the 568 you'll be used to.

Shimmy Jimmy CocoPop

Thinking of heading there myself for a year or 2, Auckland or Wellington. I've read the cost of living is ridiculous and a lot of people moan about it. Is this true?

spunkymunky

Get a car...no matter where you are. Youll wanna go see places!! You can get a cheap enough car and the wof (NCT) being every 6 months, means they are generally in good nic (not always tho). Also note that any finance owing on the car is passed on to the person who buys it!! Make sure to ask the question!
Strangely, you dont hear a lot of horn beeping here! Lot of traffic and dumb drivers...very dumb but not many horns. Cant remember the last time i used it!!

Settling is easy enough, beers is different, food generally the same. Saying that, lifestyle is different with an emphasis on out doors which is great (You will never have seen so many boats be towed about the place)

Cost of living is comparable to each city. Tauranga is cheaper generally but you will more than likely get paid less. A friend (Contract Project Manager) just moved there and she is on about 20 -30 less an hour than Auckland)