Moving to a new country is complicated! Naturally, you've had a lot of questions for us about our experience moving from South Africa to New Zealand. From questions about our life, future plans, and experiences to everything New Zealand related, we're answering as many of them as possible. Let’s get into it!
Why did you pick New Zealand and what led you to move overseas?
In early 2022, our New Year's resolution was to decide where in the world we wanted to live. A few months later, Craig received a message on LinkedIn about a job in New Zealand, and we decided to go for it!
Would you consider moving back to South Africa or going to Australia?
We don’t know what the future holds, but if we wanted to go to Australia, we would have just moved there in the first place. Immigrating is expensive, so making New Zealand our new home was a big commitment.
How long did it take you to adjust and settle in?
In some ways, adjusting was pretty easy, but other things, like learning about the currency and new brands, took longer. The key for us is to make everything into an adventure :)
Do you feel drawn to the South African expat community?
It’s natural for expats to gravitate towards each other. Often, locals introduce us to other South Africans they know, so we do have a bit of a network that way.
Do you have friends in New Zealand?
Yes! Our friends from Durban, who you might have seen in a few of our South African videos, now live nearby, and we've met other great people through YouTube.
Is it possible to make Kiwi friends?
Yes, it is, but not always easy. Auckland is very international, so we don't meet many Kiwis day-to-day. However, we’ve made some Kiwi friends at church and work. If you’re Kiwi (or any other nationality) and want to be friends, let us know, we love meeting new people ;)
Have any Kiwis suggested that you are rude or abrupt?
No, we haven’t experienced that. Everyone has been welcoming, friendly, and chatty, especially in Whangarei, where our Kiwi neighbours came over to welcome us and even invited us to their home.
Do you have a New Zealand accent now?
No, but we do use a lot of New Zealand words. We’ll probably always have a South African accent, but you tell us — do we sound Kiwi yet?
Is Auckland home now, or has another part of New Zealand caught your eye?
Auckland is definitely home for us. We love the city and everything it offers — food, events, sports, concerts, and nightlife.
What do you love most about New Zealand?
The beauty of the country is incredible. We love the beaches, parks, rugged coastlines, and trails, plus it’s all so safe to explore.
What's your favourite food in New Zealand?
Whittaker's chocolate, the variety of craft beers, and the international cuisine, especially the Thai Panang curry from the night markets.
How does the food quality and taste compare to South Africa?
The answer to this will probably differ from person to person. We love the food here, especially the lamb chops and the chicken pieces are huge! Food in New Zealand is generally more expensive compared to South Africa, particularly in the fresh produce department.
Is the cost of living higher in New Zealand than in South Africa?
Yes, New Zealand is one of the most expensive countries in the world, and this topic deserves its own blog post, so keep a lookout for that!
Do you work, Chantal?
Yes, I work part-time from home in customer service.
What's your experience with GPs and waiting times?
We usually wait about two days to see a GP. When we had COVID, we visited an emergency clinic where we were in and out within an hour.
What is crime like in New Zealand?
We’ve heard that crime is down 35% since last year, and we generally feel safe, especially with the police presence in Auckland.
Are you still using Skinny, and are you happy with it?
Yes! Both Craig and I are on Skinny, and I even have a code for free data if you’re interested. If you use my code P7CN5AH when you sign up for a $17 or above plan, you'll receive a one-off bonus 4GB data.
What about the weather?
New Zealand has fast-changing weather, but we love the distinct seasons. Summer sunsets are a highlight, as we can go to the beach after work.
How do New Zealand taxi drivers compare to South African taxi drivers?
This is something that we can't compare, as it's not the same at all. Driving in New Zealand is a very different experience compared to South Africa. It's a lot more relaxed, although many people here complain about traffic. We live strategically so we hardly drive anywhere, but even the times that we have been in traffic, it's never been standstill. The last place we lived in SA had terrible traffic due to many many accidents and broken-down trucks all the time, so we're pretty happy and chilled driving in NZ.
Do you see yourselves as Kiwis now?
Yeah, nah — Na, yeah
Do you miss your hometown?
When we just got married, we lived in a beautiful beach town near Ballito for about 4 years. We do miss the constant holiday vibe and having the Indian Ocean on our doorstep.
What do you miss most about South Africa?
We miss our friends, family, and the familiarity of home.
What South African foods do you miss most?
Durban bunny chow, pork rashers, sushi (which is much cheaper in SA), Wimpy breakfasts, Spur wings, and biltong.
Are you All Blacks supporters now?
We're supporting the AB's as long as they're not playing against the Springboks 😅
What was the Rugby World Cup experience like in New Zealand?
It was amazing! We watched the final on the big screen at Eden Park, surrounded by All Blacks fans. When they lost, they left quietly, and we found other South Africans to celebrate with.
Is the experience of watching an All Blacks game as intense as a Springboks game in South Africa?
It’s different. In South Africa, rugby is more of a whole-weekend affair, with everyone in green and Bok Friday where everyone wear's their green shirts. There is a whole vibe outside the stadium with braais going and planes flying over the pitch. Here in NZ, we've only watched one All Blacks game, which was at Mt Smart. The crowd was almost a 50/50 split, because there are so many Saffas here in NZ. We'll have to go to a few more AB games before we can really tell what the difference is.
Any regrets?
No real regrets. It’s hard being far from friends and family, but technology helps, and we’ve loved having our parents visit.
Was immigrating to New Zealand worthwhile, and why?
Absolutely. The opportunities here in a first-world country are endless, and we’re excited about the prospect of travel opportunities with a New Zealand passport one day.
We hope you found our Q&A helpful! If you have more questions, share them below in the comments :)
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