16 Reasons Not To Move To New Zealand From An Expat

New Zealand is a beautiful country with stunning landscapes, friendly people, and a relaxed way of life. 

A bunch of indexed routinely rank this country as one of the happiest countries and one of the best places to live, so it doesn’t surprise me that so many people dream of moving to this beautiful island. 

But after living in New Zealand for a year, I can tell you first-hand that a few harsh realities hit after moving to New Zealand. For starters, there are limited job opportunities, the cost of living is pretty high, and it’s far from literally everywhere in the world (except Australia). 

So, I want to clear the air and look at all of the reasons not to move to New Zealand. It may not be the dream come true you were hoping for.

1. New Zealand Is Far Away From Everything

One of the biggest challenges of living in New Zealand is its geographical location. Since it’s in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it’s far away from almost every other country.

That means it costs a lot of money to travel to other parts of the world.

Getting to Australia takes 3-5 hours, the Cook Islands are 4+ hours by plane, and anywhere else in the world is usually 12+ hours.

Honestly, this was my biggest issue when I lived there and was the worst part of living in New Zealand. It took me 23 hours (minimum) to get home to my family in Toronto! 

But that may have been more palatable if I could have traveled to other places easily. 

If you want to move abroad mainly because you love travel and want to see the world, New Zealand is not the best option. After the initial excitement of exploring New Zealand has worn off, you’ll start to feel stuck and isolated.

2. It’s Very Difficult To Bring Your Pets With You

Moving to New Zealand with a pet is not impossible, but I found it way harder than most first-world countries. 

The country has strict biosecurity laws and weird specific requirements for pets entering the country. It can be a lengthy and expensive process, which includes getting your pet microchipped, vaccinated, and tested for diseases. 

They also require you to get an import permit, observe a 10-day post-arrival quarantine, and have a home inspection after settling in New Zealand.

If you are planning on moving with your furry friend, be prepared for a lot of paperwork, planning, and expenses!

3. There Is A High Cost Of Living In New Zealand

New Zealand may seem like an affordable country to move to when compared to major cities like London or New York. However, living costs are still high in many areas, especially in big cities like Auckland and Wellington. 

When I lived in New Zealand, my monthly rent ranged from $1.5k to $4k NZ ($953 – $2542 USD), depending on whether I opted for a furnished place or a student flatshare.

The average person needs about $3,000-$4,000 NZ ($1906 – $2542 USD) per month to live comfortably in Auckland. That’s just for living expenses, like rent, food, and public transportation. Entertainment is also pretty expensive, too. 

4. It’s Difficult To Find Work

Finding a job is not easy in any country, but finding good career opportunities in specific industries can be particularly challenging in New Zealand.

If your skills are not from a Commonwealth country or the United States, you may need to get recertified for professions like medicine, law, and engineering. This process can be lengthy and expensive.

Even for temporary jobs, there can be stiff competition. It took me a month to find a job in New Zealand, and I had friends who struggled to find more than temp jobs and internships while living there.

If you want to guarantee that you’ll have a job when you arrive, start looking early. Use recruitment agencies and be super clear about the terms of your visa.

5. High House Prices

A high cost of living is something you might have expected in New Zealand, but did you know that it’s also true for the housing market?

Buying a house in cities around New Zealand is very expensive, especially in cities like Auckland, where demand far outweighs supply. 

Renting can also be hard to afford. In fact, it’s not uncommon for people to have flatmates well into their 30s or even 40s to afford living on their own.

6. House Are Not Well Built

Another of the big disadvantages of living in New Zealand is the quality of housing construction. 

Many houses in New Zealand aren’t well-built or insulated.

I can’t figure out why this is, but I remember having to sleep in just as many layers as I wore outside to stay warm. I thought it must just be my apartment at first, but it was the same even when I stayed with friends or traveled to other regions of the country. 

If you are used to living in modern, well-insulated homes, this part of moving to New Zealand might shock you.

7. Earthquakes

New Zealand sits directly on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means it’s prone to earthquakes.

I didn’t feel like they were very common, and most of the earthquakes aren’t destructive. 

However, it’s still a risk that comes with living there. Some parts of the country have stricter building codes than others due to this risk, but there is never a guarantee that your home will be earthquake-proof.

8. The Winters Are Wet

Many people associate New Zealand with beautiful sunny beaches and warm weather. 

However, the reality is that New Zealand has a mild climate, and winters can be extremely wet in many parts of the country – like torrential downpours!

I had to start carrying a change of clothes and shoes for work during the winter to avoid having to sit in wet clothes all day after running from the bus stop!

And it’s not just the rain you have to worry about, New Zealand is windy too. Wellington is actually the windiest city in the world!

If you are not a fan of wet or windy weather, New Zealand may not be the best place to live.

9. Public Transport Is Limited 

For the most part, you need a car to live in New Zealand. 

Technically, public transportation options are available, but they are usually inconvenient, especially outside of major cities. I found this true for both the North Island and South Island. 

I was used to this since it’s similar in Canada. But if you come from a country with accessible and efficient public transportation systems, you will probably find New Zealand’s lack of public transport extremely frustrating!

10. New Zealand Is Quiet

If you are used to the hustle and bustle of big cities, then even the more populated areas in New Zealand may seem like a ghost town in comparison. 

Outside major cities like Auckland or Wellington, many towns and smaller cities are quiet and isolated. 

To be frank, even the cities had limited nightlife, and finding things to do on the weekend was challenging. Most activities involve leaving the city to go hiking or on a boat tour.  

11. New Zealand Has A Small Population

New Zealand has a population of just over 5 million people, making it one of the least densely populated countries in the world.

If you enjoy peace and quiet, this might be what you want – a relaxed and uncrowded lifestyle. But it also means that certain services and amenities may be limited, especially outside cities. 

For example, some shops may have limited hours or close before 6PM. There are also fewer options for entertainment and limited international dining compared to larger countries.

12. High Rates Of Skin Cancer

New Zealand has the second highest rate of skin cancer in the world due to its location close to the ozone hole. 

This means that it’s important for residents to be mindful of sun exposure and wear sunscreen every day, even if they’re not planning to go outside. 

If you are someone who loves spending time outdoors, make sure to take precautions and protect yourself from the intense UV rays in New Zealand.

13. Tall Poppy Syndrome 

Tall Poppy Syndrome is a term in New Zealand where successful or high-achieving individuals are often criticized or belittled by the general population. 

It’s not universally the case, but where it is true, it creates a negative and competitive atmosphere in the workplace. 

While not everyone subscribes to this mindset, it’s important to be aware of it and not take any criticism or negativity personally when living in New Zealand. This can be a culture shock if you come from somewhere like the USA, where over-achievement is encouraged.

14. There Are A Lot Of Mosquitos 

Another thing that surprised me when I first moved to New Zealand was the abundance of mosquitos. 

In certain areas, they can be a real nuisance and have ruined a few of my hikes and camping trips. 

If you plan on living in or visiting areas with lots of trees or near bodies of water, be aware that you’ll need to wear insect repellant almost every day and check to see if you are up to date on your vaccines.

15. Dental Treatment Is Very Expensive

Another shocking aspect of living in New Zealand that can be a shock is the cost of dental treatment. 

For some reason, dental care isn’t covered by public healthcare. This wouldn’t be a big deal if it were affordable, but even regular teeth cleanings are expensive out-of-pocket.

If you move to New Zealand, you have to budget for regular check-ups and treatments, get private health insurance that covers dental care, or just get all of your dental work out of the way before you move! 

16. The Cities Are Boring

While New Zealand is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, the cities themselves may not be as exciting or vibrant compared to other major cities in the world.

If you enjoy a lively and diverse city life with lots of different cultural events and activities, then New Zealand’s smaller cities may seem dull in comparison. However, this also means that there is less traffic and pollution to deal with.

Final Thoughts

Despite these reasons not to live in New Zealand, there are still many reasons why NZ is a great place to live. New Zealanders are incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food is amazing (some of the best Asian food you’ll ever eat), and it’s consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world.

It also offers an outstanding work-life balance with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, surfing, and skiing. 

But I think it’s vital for anybody moving to a new country to know the potential downsides. The weather can be unpredictable and wet, public transportation is limited, and the country has a high cost of living. 

But try not to let that make your decision for you. Despite all the negatives, New Zealand is still one of my favorite countries, and I have so many good memories from living there!

If you need more inspiration on where to move, check out the best places to live in NZ!

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