Last Updated on March 12, 2021 by Filip Poutintsev
New Zealand has long been popular with ex-pats, with its English-speaking residents, relaxed culture and absolutely stunning natural scenery. But it’s important to know if it’s going to be a good fit for you before you choose a country.
What if you get there, settle down and then realize that you’re not in the right place to live? Doing plenty of study and weighing a country’s pros and cons before moving there will help you avoid the awful situation. Here are a few.
Pros of Living in Finland
1. Cost of Living
Since New Zealand is stuck in the middle of the Oceania region, Australia and Southeast Asia tend to be the closest neighbours. That means fewer people choosing to stay or travel there, reducing the cost of living for most Kiwis.
Without significant expenses, you can have a high quality of life in the region. You ‘re going to pay more for imported products, food, and utilities, but staying local will save you a great deal. Living in Rotorua or Dunedin can cost you around $150 a week for a two-bedroom apartment.
2. Weather
New Zealand’s temperate climate is a very inviting one. This never gets too hot and the cold always appears to stay away. There are some dark days out there but they seem to outnumber those packed with sunlight. Whether you like snow, then the South Island is where you want to be, because it has more of the usual seasons. If you want to keep warm, then living on the North Island ‘s northern shores are your best option.
3. Low Crime Rate
Following the attacks on a Christchurch mosque in 2019 that took hundreds of lives, the number of homicides in the country averages around 50 per annum. According to the country’s 2018 Crime and Security Survey, crime rates are generally lower than in most of the major US cities.
Much of the population of the nation lives in Wellington, Auckland, or Christchurch, and that’s where most of the arrests and illegal activity take place. The most common incidents are car thefts. The use of weapons in crime throughout the country remains an uncommon occurrence.
4. Vast Wilderness
New Zealand has some of the world’s wildest, ruggedness, most untouched and most stunning wildlife. You can also find huge swaths of land just outside of towns so untouched it will feel like you’re the first person ever to set foot there.
There are plenty of opportunities to go hiking, biking, fishing, camping and backpacking. People outside would be more than willing to discover everything New Zealand has to offer.
5. Peaceful Life
In New Zealand, there is less pressure to be the strongest or richest, or most important person in your business. Here, people cultivate a good work-life balance.
In this country, work after hours is almost unheard of, unless you manage a farm or another agricultural company. That just does not take life that seriously. If you add fewer traffic problems in the quieter cities and large expanses of rural spaces, you might simply find that the quiet country life offers a lot of appeals.
6. Bank Account
Creating a bank account in New Zealand is both easy and straightforward. You can also open an account from overseas, as long as you have the correct documents (including a work visa or resident visa), and the process is easy and can be completed completely online up to a year before you arrive in New Zealand, so you know you ‘re already getting in order with your finances.
7. Healthcare
Whatever their citizenship status, everyone in New Zealand receive healthcare services. Whether you are a citizen or permanent resident, there are no out-of-pocket costs to think about when you decide to see the doctor beyond what you are paying in taxes. Also, non-residents can use this advantage on a temporary visa although there are often fees they may need to pay as part of the procedure.
8. Food
New Zealand is famous for some other wonderful things: coffee and honey. These are popular in New Zealand, and delicious. And, since it can be expensive to import food and goods, there is a real culture of eating what’s fresh, local and in season. Farm-to – table cuisine is popular in many countries but it’s just a way of life in New Zealand.
9. Education
When you do not have permanent resident status, your family will be paid a fee by the government to let your children attend the local public school. If you attain this status or become a resident, then you can have free access to the education system.
For their profession, the majority of the population holds an undergraduate degree, with prospects for graduates and doctorates growing too. For the region where you want to travel, you may want to review the existing laws to ensure that there are no hidden expenditures that can trigger any concern.
Cons of Living in New Zealand
1. The Feeling of Isolation
The world could become a small place, but New Zealand is still at the edge of what makes people feel relaxed. It is a rather small island nation with slightly more than four million people living there.
If you plan to move from North America or Europe, then you will be very far away from your current family and friends. The time zone is almost the reverse of what it is in the United States too, which may pose a problem for communication. You are going to make new friends living here, but when you arrive first it may feel really isolating.
2. Limited Public Transport
If you want to explore New Zealand, you might need to purchase a vehicle, particularly while exploring the popular rural areas of New Zealand. Public transport leaves a lot to be desired here. Trains do exist, but there is no nationwide rail network. For example, the train from Auckland to Wellington leaves, very early, once a day and is slow and incredibly expensive. The bus network is wide but reliability varies.
3. Housing
New Zealand had a rather positive approach to the housing conditions until very recently. It means that among other flaws, many older houses are poorly insulated. For example, it’s rare to find radiators in houses in New Zealand.
4. Mosquitoes and Sandflies
Since you live in a temperate area where standing water is normal, when you move to New Zealand, there will be a lot of mosquitoes and sand flies that bother you every night. Many people say their country’s first summer is the worst and with this disadvantage they didn’t know what to do. For any warm evening, you will need to use insect repellent because the bugs will bite. Just a beach visit on a windy day isn’t going to give you relief. Such insects are everywhere, literally.
5. Skin Cancer Might be a Concern
New Zealand is a country of beautiful sunshine. Unfortunately, the void in the ozone layer is right below. But New Zealand is getting higher rates of UV rays, which increases sunburn and skin cancer prevalence. The strong sunshine also ensures that anything put at home next to a window would very easily lose its colour.
6. Limited Career Option
Due to the aforementioned low population, it can be difficult to get work through in a particular sector. Most Kiwis who dream big are motivated to leave New Zealand once their studies are through. There’s also a tendency for artists to fight more here because the opportunities are less.
7. Dental Treatment Can be Expensive
When living in New Zealand, you can take advantage of the universal healthcare system, but it does not include dental coverage until you are an adult. Children get free care. A simple x-ray checkup is about $100 (in local currency). Fillings start at $160 per tooth, while extractions are approximately $200.
When you come in with a hygienist to get your teeth washed, that’s around $150 for a 45-minute rendezvous. Root canals start at $750 but multi-root teeth can surpass $1,200. Those prices are why more than half of the population don’t routinely go to the dentist. For this nation the dental insurance is different.
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