Is there anything not so good about New Zealand?

Question

I'm a college student from the U.S. majoring in Business. For the longest time I have had a facination with New Zealand and am more passionate about moving there than anything else I've ever experienced in my life. I've read and studied and all I hear are positive things about it. The one draw back I hear is business and jobs are not as readily available as other places. Can anyone tell me anything else that could be a con about New Zealand? I know the good, just want to know the whole story. Anyone tell me something that has moved there from America so I can compare something? Thanks!

Answer 1

Its a great country. However, its very expensive, even by international standards, for just about anything. House prices have ballooned to ridiculous levels in the last 5yrs, yet wages have not moved at all. 95% of New Zealanders earn less than $NZ 20 per hour, often much less. Minimum wage is around $11. A 2bdrm apartment/ house/ flat in Auckland will cost a minimum of $300 per week, not much less anywhere else in the country. Doctors are quite expensive now, probably $70 for a 10 minute consult. So too is any vice (alcohol, cigs, drugs, etc). Cars are very cheap used, and many Jap sports models. Meals and rooms similar cost to the US. Very multicultural, not a place for racial phobias. Hope this gives you something else to consider.

Answer 2

The only thing I really disapprove of here in NZ is the driving. When you've done your driver training in the US or Europe, like I have, the way they drive here strikes you as downright foolhardy. They all seem to think they're immortal, and they race down the roads in a hectic manner that presumes "all will be well around the next bend, and if not, ah hell, I'll just crash and burn".
I used to be a car nut, but NZ is really putting me off driving altogether.

Other than that, I would have to pretty much disagree totally with every single word n zed said here (sorry friend, nothing personal):

By international comparison, house prices here are a steal, whereas used cars cost a fortune. If I were a business man, I would start importing cars from England. You can fetch NZ$ 16.000 for a Volvo S80 which would be GBP 3000 in the UK, and cars like the Mercedes G-Wagon, available from £2000 in the UK, may fetch premium prices here.

This is a very open and, if I may so, relatively rudimentary country in which many things don't exist yet, but the society is ready for them. If you come here and take a good look around, you will find business opportunities galore. Think "San Francisco in the late 70s" - that's the kind of world you have here.

Answer 3

I lived there for a few years in my twenties when I was just out of college. As I worked as a dairy herd manager (this was prior to vet school...), my job focus was different...there were lots of agricultural jobs available (low pay though...). I loved my time there and think of it often. I cried when I moved back to the US! Beautiful country, wonderful people. The biggest drawback for me was the distance from home. Looks like a long distance on paper but when you are actually there, family and friends seem just so far away. Should the desire or need to travel back to the States arise, it is expensive (but then again, I'm from the East coast...if you are from the West coast, it is bound to be a little cheaper!) as well as time consuming to travel.
If you have a fascination with New Zealand (as I did when I was in college)....give it a go! You won't regret it. Even if you don't end up staying long term, go and see what it is like for a year or so.

Answer 4

I know of an American who went to NZ as a tourist in the 1970s and stayed. He started a bicycle business which was one of the larger cycle shops in Auckland in the mid 1980s and was employing about 4 people. At the time the NZ economy was not as bouyant as it is now. If housing prices are booming in some cities it means people are moving there and that cannot just be because they like the place.

Answer 5

I think tourism in the South Isle would be the burgeoning area for a business. In my view it is also far more beautiful than the North, which is very reminiscent of Australia (apart from the hot mud geysers). Putting it bluntly the North is a pale comparison of Oz but the South is incomparable!! Economically there is still a huge migration of Kiwis to Australia. But its bloody dry over here (Oz), so go to NZ. Good luck mate!

Answer 6

I moved from NZ many years ago cos I did not like the weather.
Apart from very average beer NZ is a great place.

I have never heard it is hard to find jobs, business seems to be booming

Go there and try it.

But Australia is a better place to live

Answer 7

I have visited New Zealand on numerous occasions and cant find a bad thing to say about it .I don't think unemployment is as bad as a lot of other countries so go for it your experience will be great.As an Aussie you don't know how much it hurt to say this but its almost as good as Australia.almost.

Answer 8

yes, there is certainly something good since that was one of the location settting for the movie NARNIA, LION WITCH OF WARDROBE! ( but thta's in New Zealand)