Moving to New Zealand from the USA

My name is Tunde.  I am from the USA and Hungary.  I moved to NZ from the USA.

I have engaged NZ Shores for getting my residency because I wanted the process to succeed on the first attempt and wanted to minimize my stress. The most challenging part of the process was getting the right documents together in the right format. My adviser was Allan Crome. Allan has explained the whole process and his reasoning behind his actions. He has been available throughout the whole process. Made it all stress free for me.  He was a pleasure to work with.

First impressions of New Zealand

I came for a job and settled in for a 2-year visit. My first impression was how small NZ was, how few people were around me and that I cannot get products that I was used to.

What do you miss from home?

I miss some things from the USA. But I have decided not to try to replace them, but to get used to what is here. The good thing about New Zealand is that you do not have to keep up with the Joneses.  What I miss the most are my friends; they are not replaceable.

Your advice to other migrants

My advice to other migrants is to integrate as fast as you can. You moved, let go of the old. This is your home now. Learn the norms of New Zealand’s culture as soon as you can and live by them. If someone advises you that your old customs are not for your new country, don’t get offended. You are here now, adopt.

One thing I wish I knew before

One thing I wish I knew before I moved was that I was going to stay. Then I would have gotten a visa that was on the path to citizenship. No matter, I am a citizen now.

People in New Zealand are friendly, but it is hard to make friends here. If you want to be able to buy everything and have it delivered the next day, NZ is not for you. If you want everything done for you, immediately on a short notice, this place is not for you. I stayed because life is better here. I have work-life balance, I can save, and I have a much shorter commute. I have more time outside of work and so I can have hobbies. People here are not hyper competitive. Not everything is always about money here. You are a human being here, not a profit making unit. We have medical care; medical insurance is affordable. Healthy food is still affordable. The air is clean. No one is going to shoot at you. It took me about 2 years to decompress. I miss part of the USA, but I have no desire to go back. I made my home here.