How to settle smoothly in New Zealand

 

tips of settling in NZ
TOP TIPS FOR SETTLING SUCCESSFULLY IN NZ.

At Migration and Investment, we are often asked for the top tips for moving to New Zealand successfully. Although it’s challenging to narrow it down, here are our 8 top tips:

  1. Leave your old home behind – no matter where you come from, NZ will be different; if you embrace those differences, you will settle more easily and be accepted by the locals more quickly.
  2. Get involved – when you first arrive in a new city, you usually don’t know anyone, or only a few people if you do. The quickest and easiest way to meet new people is to get involved in local activities like coaching rugby or doing volunteer work. These activities are a sure-fire way to make friends quickly.
  3. Choose the school, not the suburb – New Zealand operates a zone-based schooling system, so you need to live within the school’s zone for your children to attend. We highly recommend picking the right school for your children first and then finding a house. (FYI, the NZ school year starts in Jan).
  4. Bring special items, not furniture – bringing memorable items such as family photos and the antique your grandmother left you can help make NZ feel like home straight away. Why do I say don’t ship furniture? You will be able to buy new for a similar price to the cost of shipping, and it can take 2-3 months for the furniture to arrive.  More about this in the next newsletter.
  5. Set up your bank account before leaving home – you can open a bank account in NZ online and transfer funds before you leave home.
  6. Driving – you can drive for 12 months on your existing license (you don’t need an international license as long as yours is a photo license). Make sure to apply for the NZ license before your home country license expires.
  7. Plan in advance for your furry friends – if you want to take your pets with you to NZ, start the process as soon as possible; the lead-in time can be six months or more. Quarantine is usually only ten days.
  8. Get the right advice – before you embark on your move to New Zealand, make sure you know your options, the process, and what documents you need to get in order before you do anything else. 

Please talk to us if you need assistance with anything concerning your emigration to New Zealand.

Click here to book a free, no-obligation appointment with one of our experts.