‘We swapped Chippenham for New Zealand and feel better off already'
It sounds like the perfect place to visit – and stay. It's now easier to get a taste. In January, the New Zealand government relaxed its rules to allow non-nationals to work remotely for a foreign employer while visiting for up to 90 days, with the scope to extend to up to nine months.
What about when you want to take the plunge: how easy is it to move your life to the other side of the world and make a new home for yourself in New Zealand?
Robert and Sabrina Eaton are giving it a go, after moving from Chippenham in Wiltshire to Whangaparāoa on the Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland.
The couple have something of a wanderlust – they met in Jakarta, moved to Singapore, tried Sydney for a year – then Robert's career in telecommunications took them to Auckland for six months in 2017.
'After holidaying in New Zealand, we liked the scenery, the culture and the people, so we decided to move there,' says Robert, 46, who is from Essex and has also worked in Taiwan, China, the Philippines and Europe. 'I have been happy to go where the work goes and swap one country for another.
'I'd been working in the UK for Vodafone for six years and we bought a home in Chippenham. But it felt quite isolating – my team were all in Europe while I was working from home full-time – and I half-heartedly applied for a job,' he says. 'The offer was good. My UK gross salary was the same as my New Zealand net salary when we moved last year.'
Moving to New Zealand without a job can be tough. The country came out of a recession at the end of last year, but unemployment remains unchanged at 5.1pc – higher than Australia's 4.1pc and the UK's 4.4pc.
Many New Zealanders have left for Australia's more buoyant job market (and higher wages) – around 72,000 left in the year to December 2024, according to their government. But it can be easier to get a job if you work in certain industries. There is a skills shortage in sectors such as education, healthcare, engineering and cyber security.
Robert admits that he would earn even more if he did the same job in Australia, but they weren't as happy there. 'The life and weather are good, but it wasn't welcoming.'
However, Robert and Sabrina did not find New Zealand as affordable as they thought.
'We loved the area – the Whangaparāoa Peninsula has beautiful beaches around it – but we were shocked at how high the house prices were.' They are renting a four-bedroom house some 25 miles outside of Auckland at NZ$850 (£375) per week, although they could have paid NZ$700 (£310) for a smaller new-build in the area. With a big garden and sea views, the house is worth around NZ$1.25m (£554,000).
Robert takes a bus to Auckland for work which takes an hour each way, while Sabrina is looking for a job in recruitment.
'I'm hoping the market is going to pick up, but here in New Zealand it's all about who you know, so it takes time to get established,' says Sabrina, 47, who grew up in Malaysia. 'But the sense of community is better.'
The cost of living is lower than in the UK. Their groceries are $550 (£243) per month if they shop around, and other monthly costs include broadband at $50-$100 (£22-44), mains water at $100 (£44), electric at $170 (£75), gas at $80 (£35) and mobile phones at $40-$65 (£18-£29).
Petrol is cheaper than the UK, as is eating out – a quick lunch in Auckland costs around £6 to £8 each, a coffee $5 (£2.21).
The move itself cost £10,000 for a 20ft container, although the starting price for a move to New Zealand is £6,300, according to John Mason International, their removals company.
The couple also paid £1,000 in insurance. 'Once I lost everything when my container went overboard in transit,' says Sabrina, who adds that flying their cat over cost another £2,000.
Most people take out private healthcare, she adds, which they get through Robert's job. His role was on Tier 1 of the Green List of high-demand and hard-to-fill occupations (and he is under 55), so he was able to apply for a Straight to Residence Visa that is a direct pathway to permanent residency after two years.
The Green List Tier 1 includes roles in engineering, construction (especially surveyors), health and social services, IT and others (especially teachers). Tier 2 includes trades, such as plumbers and electricians, can get a Work to Residence Visa (which allows for an indefinite stay).
The cost for a couple to get a visa is from $6,450 (£2,860). Having a Work to Residence Visa means they are permitted to purchase residential property, which is otherwise banned for foreigners except Australians and Singaporeans.
Because the job market is not as buoyant it's important to do your research before arriving and sort out a job and visa before you go, says Liza Viz, of Beyond Recruitment. 'Finding accommodation near work can be challenging. Living expenses can be high so it's important to make sure you have budgeted for housing and transport.'
Salaries have reached record highs despite the number of listed jobs having dropped by 45pc year on year in Auckland, according to Frog Recruitment.
Yet some are similar to the UK. An average teacher in New Zealand earns $65,398 (£29,000), according to jobs site Talent.com, and an electrician makes $78,000 (£34,589). The corresponding UK averages are £43,600 and £33,000, respectively, according to the portal.
'I'm currently recruiting for a dean in higher education and the salary offered is higher than the UK,' says Liz Jones, of People2people recruitment, which specialises in placing people between the UK and New Zealand and Australia. 'There's a call out for water engineers in Wellington.'
She warns that it can be hard for workers over 45 to get a visa. 'Under 45s generally have an advantage in the points-based system which allocates higher points to younger applicants, enhancing their chances of meeting the eligibility thresholds for these visas.'
But there are new incentives, including a revamped golden visa – from April, it became easier for high net-worth individuals to move there on its Active Investor Plus Visa. Its 'growth' category requires an investment of $5m (£2.2m) into eligible growth sectors – the other 'balanced' category asks for $10m (£4.5m) into property investments and bonds. It has also streamlined the process for internationally trained nurses to apply.
In the year to December 5,600 British people moved to New Zealand according to government figures (and 4,500 left during the same period). But John Mason International report seeing an increase of outbound moves this year so far over 2024. They report a notable shift away from Auckland, with more British migrants choosing Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton.
New Zealand's points system offers more for those with job offers outside of Auckland, meaning it can be easier to get a visa if the job is based outside the capital, while those seeking an Entrepreneur Work Visa get double points for this.
But New Zealand is not a low-tax paradise – its effective tax rates are similar to the UK. Although the maximum rate for high earners is lower, at 39pc, rather than 45pc, the UK's more generous tax-free allowance benefits those on lower incomes.
There are the Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa for those over 66 who can invest $750,000 (£332,000) in enterprises, property or managed funds that offer a commercial return and contribute to the New Zealand economy, and have $500,000 (£221,326) to live on and an annual income of $60,000 (£26,559).
UK state pensions can be paid directly into your New Zealand bank account. Robert says moving over his private pension will be straightforward. 'We can transfer it to New Zealand tax-free within four years of arrival and it goes into a QROPS [qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme].
'This is held separately to my KiwiSaver [New Zealand's government backed pension scheme], and they can't be combined.'
Although it's early days, the couple think they have made the right choice. 'Yes there are a few social issues, like homelessness in Auckland, but we can see ourselves staying here,' says Robert. 'We feel better off here financially, and for quality of life.'
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