I’m thinking of immigrating to New Zealand. The country seems beautiful. They seem to have a similar culture to Canada. The purchasing power of the dollar seems pretty similar. It doesn’t seem to get as cold as Canada and certainly much less snow than Canada.
So anybody from New Zealand and want to tell me about your country? What is the good and what is the bad?
I’m not from New Zealand, but my late husband was a native who retained his citizenship. For a time he wanted to return, so we explored the immigration process required for me to be there pretty thoroughly. I’ve also visited the country for extended stays a few times. We were close enough to immigrating that we had made an offer on a property.
I’ll assume you’ve already done your homework and are aware of how difficult it is to migrate to NZ but have identified a path for yourself.
You are right, it is a beautiful, beautiful country.
I would say their culture is more English mixed with some American, than Canadian. The older folks are generally monarchists and the younger more likely to prefer independence from Britain. It’s still a touchy issue. So are the Maori. Personally, I found the people in NZ to be well informed, intelligent and very interested in world affairs. They know as much or more about Americans than many Americans do themselves. They have a forthright nature and a wry cultural sense of humor that personally delights me.
If I remember right, only native New Zealanders may own coastal property, but it is always with the caveat that they must grant total unfettered access to the Maori people. Immigrants can’t own coastal property at all. I allow I may be wrong about this.
I would disagree that the purchasing power of the dollar is similar. It’s been awhile since I looked into the currency exchange rate in depth, but I can’t think what would have changed that would make a big difference in this. Even if there is parity with the American dollar, many NZ goods are very expensive when compared to American goods. The reason is obvious: Many goods coming to NZ must be imported from overseas. I remember looking for a tube of mascara while I was there and being shocked to learn it would have cost me $18 American. Nearly triple the price or more than the cost of what I bought at home. This is true for a lot of incidental items we take for granted as being cheap to purchase here.
Similarly, the choice of goods is very limited to Americans who are accustomed to wide choices in all things. I could have lived with this fairly easily, but it was a surprise. Example: Friends who immigrated from the States to the North Island were remodeling their kitchen. They wanted to replace their microwave oven. They learned that the place to shop for this item was their local post office. They had a choice of one model. To use it, you twisted a knob. That’s it.
Other American friends who migrated further north shared some interesting knowledge. They said that it really was like stepping back 50 years in America – including widespread use of chemicals such as 2-4-D to maintain that clean, environmental reputation. When a populated area was to be sprayed, they received only an informal notification in the local paper. Hopefully you read the paper that day!
They also shared that organic produce is scarce unless you grow it yourself, and that those gorgeous pristine beaches are infested with sand fleas that make hanging out on them rather miserable. The husband was struggling with depression because he hadn’t realized how much of his personal identity was wrapped up in what he did for a living (well-respected professor at UC Santa Barbara), and nobody in NZ appreciated the accomplishments he’d achieved in his career or cared. Why would they?
Of course you are aware that it is an extremely seismically active area. The top of the South – where we were interested to take up residence – is stunningly beautiful, but again, very vulnerable to earthquakes. I feel fortunate to have seen Christchurch before the big earthquake in 2011 that destroyed the cathedral and much of the rest of the charming town.
Wellington at the bottom of the North is known as Windy Wellington for very good reason. It’s windy in a way that will take the enamel off your teeth if you’re not careful.
I spent the least amount of time in Auckland so have no opinions about that area.
As for the good, there is simply no denying its incredible beauty. It is very lightly populated compared to America. Wildlife is rich and abundant. The people are kind, educated well and I always found it a delight to share their company. Most of their conservative thinkers would be considered lefties here. They inherited the “stiff upper lip” model of the British and don’t tend to emote the way Americans do. They’ll like you better if you are a quiet American, even if you are emoting.
Between Lord of the Rings hype and the wine industry there, the South Island in particular has become a tourist destination. The result is that the food and drink rival the finest in the world. There’s nothing like savoring a perfectly prepared plate of green lipped mussels and artisan bread with a local Sauvignon Blanc out on a picturesque patio of some tucked-away treasure of a restaurant.
Many New Zealanders are proud of their gardens and they grow stunning flower and vegetable gardens. In my experience, they are very self-reliant people.
Homes are built to take full advantage of natural solar heat. Even in towns, homes try to face south with lots of windows. It’s not uncommon for portions of a house to be closed off in winter and only a couple of rooms kept toasty with wood heat. It does get very cold in winter on the South Island – even at the top. Windows are not always double-paned (ice on the windows in the morning is not uncommon), and windows are rarely screened. For an American, this is weird.
That’s about all I’ve got. I’m sure actual New Zealanders who are obviously much more knowledgeable about their country will be along to share more, but I thought you might appreciate an American perspective as well.
Good luck! Given where we’ve ended up in this country, one of my greatest regrets in hindsight is not having moved there when I had the chance.
ETA: Missed the edit window. Homes in NZ face north, not south, to take advantage of passive solar heat. Woolgathering…
Um, NZ is already independent from Britain. It just happens to share the same royal family, nothing more.
I am confused about this issue, then. Isn’t there a continuing dispute between monarchists vs. royalists there? If you are independent, why did I keep hearing about it? I mean obviously, you are your own country, but…?
Fight my ignorance, please!
The Queen of New Zealand is the same person as the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Ok, I get that, by why do so many in NZ – or anywhere else – care so much? Do you want to remove any association to royalty from your culture? It is confusing to this American, obviously.
Thanks Aspenglow for all of the information. 
I hope some other people familiar with New Zealand will share their thoughts.
That is the key part right there. New Zealand (and Australia) are notoriously difficult to immigrate to legally and illegal immigration is right out. It is not impossible to do but you have to find one of the narrow legal paths for it. If the OP doesn’t have one, this just a fantasy and academic exercise.
Have we gotten to that point yet? It takes a whole lot more than just buying a plane ticket and showing up.
I did the pre-immigration points calculation over a year ago at the immigration New Zealand website. I think I would qualify or at least be considered. I signed up for their newsletter at the same time. I just got an email from them and one of the jobs that are in demand are scientific researchers and post-secondary educators, which are the jobs I’d be looking for. And getting that email is what made me think, you know maybe I should go for it.
So are a bunch of whales, apparently.
This is odd. Were they in some tiny town somewhere with no access to a Harvey Norman or similar store? Or was it perhaps 30 years ago when microwaves were more rare than they are now?
Put simply, the debate is whether New Zealand should be a monarchy or a republic. Independence isn’t a factor here; New Zealand has been independent for decades. National identity probably is an issue to some extent; if New Zealanders are a distinct nation, it’s neither necessary nor proper that their nation-state should have a non-New Zealander as head of state, or so the feeling runs. But political ideology would also be a factor; people simply object to the notion of a hereditary head of state, and would object so even if she were a New Zealander.
When were you last here Aspenglow? Some of your comments were way out of date.
Coastal property - overseas persons may need to get consent to buy coastal property over 0.2 hectares, but most such requests are routinely granted. And a resident isn’t counted as an overseas person. Maori get no special access rights to any land in private (or public for that matter) ownership. There may be some residual Maori ownership of parts of the foreshore and seabed, but this wouldn’t apply to any coastal property in private hands.
Range of goods - yes lots of stuff is more expensive, but the post office hasn’t sold microwaves ever, and the range available even in small towns is much greater than 1.
2,4- D remains one of the most highly used herbicides in the US as well..
Organics are huge here. And sandflies aren’t universal.
Hi Aspenglow, we had a lengthy discussion about the difficulties for a Commonwealth realm to convert from monarchy to republic in a thread back in December: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=814722
(Starting around post 60).
Short version, from both the Canadian and Australian perspectives: it’s not the idea of getting rid of the monarchy which is the major stumbling block. Even if there is substantial support for abolishing the monarchy, the real question is “What do you replace it with?” That can cause a major political / constitutional debate.
Mind you, I would think it would be potentially easier for NZ to go republican than either Canada or Australia, because constitutional amendments in those two countries are tied up in federalism requirements. That’s not the case in New Zealand, which is a unitary state.
This was in 2004/2005 time frame, so some time ago – but not 30 years. Probably more to do with the former reason you mention. I think they were somewhere near Feilding, near Palmerston North. Obviously no one is ever that far away from a Harvey Norman, but in their immediate vicinity in that time frame, the choice was very limited – for an American.
I spend several weeks in New Zealand and Australia last year. I’ve also lived in southern Ontario, Canada for a year, and used to spend lots and lots of time in Ontario back when the border was truly open.
To me, Australia (particularly the cities) reminding me of Canada. New Zealand reminded me a lot more of the United States. I actually find it strange that I can even make this distinction, because being a Michigander, Ontario is pretty much identical (the GTA being the exception) to Michigan. Most of California is more foreign to me than Ontario, for example.
Housing in New Zealand (in the cities) is significantly more expensive than in Michigan, but I find the price of housing in the GTA ludicrous as hell, too, so your purchasing power may already account for that. On the other hand my friend’s 40 acre horse farm outside of Napier with a decent sized ranch and several pole barns cost less than my Michigan house, but he’s in the country.
Food was dirt cheap. Holy cow, I’ve never eaten so much fresh lamb in my life! (We did the RV thing, and did most of our own cooking). Returned to China and New Zealand lamb was about $30 per pound, and it’s still dear here in Michigan at about $15.
Restaurants were also very reasonable factoring in not having to leave a tip. Even in expensive spots like Queenstown I had awesome steak dinners with wine about par with the USA, less tip, so about a 20% savings.
You probably already know that everyone lives on the North Island and the South Island is abandoned (relatively speaking), but I actually loved the South Island more, and of course there are cities and towns there.
On the South Island in particular, the most “Canadian” feeling was like being in Toronto or certain parts of the GTA: the massive quantities of Chinese people!
I’m not sure what part of Canada you’re from; I’m familiar with Ontario, and I know that Vancouver people are somewhat different, but I hope my perspective helped.
Thanks Balthisar! I had not really thought of moving to Australia. Maybe I should investigate that too. 
I’ve been all over Canada. I’ve lived in 5 of our 10 provinces so far so I’m familiar with pretty most of Canada. The area I know least is BC having never been there at all.
Here’s the points calculatorfor all those looking to apply.
Thank you both for taking the time to explain the issue so much more fully. Clearly I had no good understanding of it and made matters worse with an erroneous reference to “monarchists and royalists,” which I understand are the same thing. To my dismay as I approach undeniable senior citizen status, I find my brain sometimes grabs the wrong word than the one I thought I typed. :o The edit window is unforgiving, so this is problematic sometimes.
During my visits there, I just remember discussions swirling around me that were very concerned about this issue. Again, my thanks for clarifying my misunderstandings. Apologies, too, to BeepKillBeep for my having offered incorrect information.
lisiate, I stand by all else I said based on my personal experiences and those shared with me by friends who moved there or statements made by my husband while he was alive. It is true that he had been away for a long time as he migrated to Australia when he was 22.
The friend who shared with me the information about organics lived near Gisborne. It isn’t that NZ uses 2-4-D, and I am aware we use it here, too. It was the fact that in her experience it was sprayed on areas with populations with so little advance warning to affected residents. Remember, these were coastal Californians where something like that would never happen. Even where I live – and I live very rural – we receive personal notifications from commercial foresters when they are going to spray anywhere near my farm.
As mentioned, my husband and I were concentrating our energies on the top of the South, near Blenheim, Havelock and Picton. The rural property we made an offer on was near Picton. It’s unlikely one could compare what is going on in Auckland or other more urban areas with what is going on in the parts of NZ with which I am most familiar.
I am not trying to insult any New Zealander or provide incorrect information. These are things that are engendered within my own personal experience only. We all have very different experiences and I acknowledged that New Zealanders would be far more knowledgeable than anything I had shared. I’m sure the OP would appreciate your New Zealand perspective, too – as that is what he asked for in his OP.