A huge decision ; well worth it in the end

Challenges

The most challenging part of the process is paperwork! As we had lived in multiple countries prior to making this move the timing of police clearances was critical. The paperwork required can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but the help of the NZ shores portal made it a whole lot easier. There is a significant cost to obtaining the necessary paperwork so research and some forward planning was essential.

NZ Shores advisers

My advisor was Melissa Neuhoff, and I could not have asked for a better person to work us through this process. Melissa went above and beyond, especially through our residency process where we had to seek a medical waiver. We always felt supported through the process which made all the difference.

First impressions

My first impression of New Zealand was, WOW! The scenery is breath taking. The people are welcoming, friendly, and genuinely want to help. Kiwi’s are just awesome people.

What we miss

What we miss most from home is family and friends. Naturally with the distance and expense it just isn’t viable to shoot back to South Africa for a quick visit.

Our advice to new migrants

My advice to other migrants is to be patient.

It is a massive process and most steps take time. We were surprised at how different the culture is in New Zealand compared to South Africa. My best advice would be to explore the New Zealand way of doing things with an open mind.

One thing I wish I new before I moved was that the word “tea” is actually dinner, morning tea is just tea. This led to some very confusing and possibly awkward situations when we first arrived. New Zealand has blown I expectations in so many ways that if anything I wish we had made the move sooner.

Leaving South Africa is a huge decision and it will come with many ups and downs but it is well worth it in the end.