I first moved to New Zealand in August 2016, meaning I have now been living in New Zealand as an expat for more than 6 years. This is quite mind-boggling to me, as it is such a long time, it’s the longest I have lived in any city and it’s much longer than I expected to be here. Having been an expat in New Zealand for 6 years, I feel I have got to know the place quite well, its delights, its quirks, and its somewhat frustrations. Because of this, I wanted to share 10 of the main things I have learned after 6 years in New Zealand.
1. It is far away
This is really obvious I know, but I didn’t really grasp how far away New Zealand was until I had lived here for a while, especially during COVID. To get anywhere the flights are pricey and the distance really should be the number one thing to asses when considering a move here. But, the distance is also what makes it so wonderful. It is spacious and the population is small and that’s why it is so unique and special.
2. It is windy
I mean, I do live in Wellington, but…IT IS windy. Somehow even though I know this, I feel like I re-learn it every time I step outside on a windy day!
3. Nature is the best medicine
Being able to get out to the most beautiful nature, pretty much any time you walk out of your front door is really good for the soul and is available in abundance in New Zealand. The country is vast and has so many different types of landscapes. Whether you are looking for beaches, mountains, lakes, or forests, it is all here and it is all stunning.
4. Kiwi People are a hard nut to crack but worth it
Kiwis are really kind people and are often reserved. Making friends can be tricky, especially for someone like me, who is also reserved. But once you crack the nut they are welcoming, interesting, and keen to share their lifestyle.
(I wrote a post about making friends as an expat which might be of interest)
5. Being an expat in New Zealand never gets easier, you just get used to it
Living overseas is not easy, I have written about this on multiple occasions (see My Homesickness) and in New Zealand it’s particularly hard because of the distance. Living this experience can be quite mind-boggling and although you sacrifice a lot (your country, your family time etc), you gain a lot too. What I have learned after 6 years as an expat in New Zealand is that being away never really gets easier, but you do get used it. You come to terms with the “funny feeling” and learn to live with it. It is still strange, yes, but it is much less painful.
6. The housing market is a trainwreck!
Enough said! See my post: Buying a House in Wellington.
7. People overseas think New Zealand is heaven
People overseas really seem to believe that New Zealand is a perfect place. I think this might be the Jacinda Ardern effect, the way they handled COVID, and the seemingly untouched beauty. In reality, of course, as with anything it is not as perfect as it seems. But it has been interesting to learn how much people overseas seem to think New Zealand is like heaven.
8. Summer is busy
All the public holidays are crammed into the first half of the year between January and June and Kiwis really try to make the most of them. This article in Stuff talks about how you can get savvy with your public holidays and take the least number of leave days to get the most number of days off. Quite clever really, but this fact about Public Holidays is one of the reasons for my next point.
9. Winter is long
Winter is LONG. With no Christmas festivities to break up the winter, it can be a slog. New Zealand doesn’t get as cold as in some parts of the world but it can be extremely grey, windy, and wet. If you can plan to escape for winter – maybe do it!
10. Maori Culture is beautiful
Maori culture is rich and fascinating and I’m hesitant to say…underappreciated. While things look to be improving in the way that Maori culture is valued, you do have to do the work to take part and learn about the true history of New Zealand. Maori culture is strong, and from the kai to the way people interact with each other, there is a lot of value to be gained from taking part in Maori culture and incorporating it into our expat life. The first step for any expat should be, the pronunciation of Maori words.
I hope you enjoyed reading this, of course, there is lots more that I have learned but these are the things that popped out at me today! I wrote a similar post to this back in 2018 when I had lived in Wellington for just one year: One Year in Wellington – what I have learned. It is interesting to look back and to see how things have evolved.
Are you an expat? What is the biggest learning for you? Or, if you are thinking of moving here, what are you thinking about, please leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading and come back soon.
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Lots of love,
Josie x
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