Settling Tips

These are tips on how to settle successfully in New Zealand, gathered from what various people who have been through it have said.
You may not agree with them. You may not want to follow them. That's fine.

• The better your initial financial position the better. Being able to buy a house with a small or no mortgage, will reduce our expenses.

• Sell your house before you emigrate. This will give you more financial flexibility, and remove the uncertainty about when and how much you'll get for your house. It will also probably mean that you'll get more for it, as vacant properties tend to sell for less, as do those where people are desperate to sell.

• If you have children, their happiness will be important for yours. It may be best to put effort into making sure your children get friends.

• You will be entering an unfamiliar job market. Avoid taking the first job you are offered, at an unrealistically low salary. Do some research into what salary you should expect.
  Don't expect to get a job at the same level as you had before. You may have to work your way up again.

• One of the biggest potential problems is homesickness. It's a very strong emotion, and it's unpredictable. I think you should make a concerted effort to make friends. If you have young children, join mother and toddler groups. If you have a dog, go where you're likely to meet other dog walkers. Always smile and chat to strangers ! Walk, rather than using the car.

• Rentals. Look at a range of them. Check which way they face and how they are heated. Cold and damp is the worst thing.
  Get a furnished one with a garage. That'll be somewhere to put your furniture when it arrives.

• Buying a house. This is a debatable one. Having your own home may give you a better house to live in and a feeling of being established. But, if you realise later that you've picked the wrong place or even the wrong country, it'll cost a lot of money to sell. Many people recommend renting for the first year.

• Moving money. It's safest not to move it to NZ until you are settled, and pretty sure you will stay. That will save losing money on the exchange rate. If rates move against you, doing otherwise could cost a lot.

• Don't just associate with other people from your country. You should meet Kiwis, and become part of Kiwi society. Not some ghetto.

• Try to have a positive attitude. You will encounter many problems or frustrations. If you wanted a simple boring life you should have stayed where you were ! Enjoy the experience. Each problem is a new challenge to overcome. Each time you succeed you'll feel good about yourself. The best things in life are earned. Not given.