Thinking about going back to NZ from OZ

[steviebabynz]

Hi everyone
Hoping theres some ppl out there who have gone back to NZ after being in Oz who might have some advice or even some aussies living in nz.

We've been in oz almost 2 years and are feeling like we want to go home as we want to have kids. I always thought i could raise kids in oz no prob, but now im not so sure.

I can see how happy my aussie work mates are here and how kids can have a good life anywhere but we have no family here and i want our parents to be involved.

I know getting a mortgage is going to be hard regardless of which country but for day to day living i know we earn more here in oz.
Is $$ everything if all that extra has to be allocated to trips home, costs for ppl coming to us, no childcare help if i want to work part time etc and just having no family support.

I want our kids to have a similar childhood to us and we still feel so out of place here almost like we dont belong.

Hehe sorry for the rambling, just never been 100% sure we'd live here forever and maybe that we're ignoring what we really want. Its been a good experience and i wouldnt change it but maybe its time to go home.

How hard is it to live in nz at the mo - with costs etc??? we'd be debt free coming back hopefully with a little start to a deposit but i know somethings jst cost more at home.

Hoping to hear from some one :)

[AM]

I'm kind of in the same boat, but I've been in Oz for about 8.5 years now, I just can't shake the homesickness, and now with bub no.3 on the way, I am really really feeling the need to go home and be with family.

I too loved growing up in NZ, and I really want my kids to know their grandparents, cousins, aunties/uncles etc.

And I have NO family here, so I really feel the lack of support at times.

My partner is a bit spooked about how hard it will be financially back home, so we have decided that we will pack up all our stuff and store it here in Oz, then go back for a minimum of 6 months, (rent somewhere furnished) and then at the end of 6 months make a firm decision about it all...


I have heard that house prices are going down there at the moment which is GREAT, and even though other costs can be higher, I think you just have to adapt.

Life is what you make it really, there are always ways you can save money if you put your mind to it, I've always been able to live off the smell of an oily rag anyway, so I'm not that phased.

Anyway, I am so convinced that the benefits of being close to family will outweigh any financial cost, I'm willing to give it a really good go...just have to convince my dh he can survive on less money...:rolleyes:

[steviebabynz]

Hi AM

Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear I'm not the only one out there feeling like this. I like your idea of waiting on shipping stuff. Could b something we should think bout.
Very expensive to change your mind if you're shipping backwards and forwards:)

Funny how you have to leave to appreciate what you had. I was itching to get out of NZ and moaning how **** it was. Isn't hindsight a great thing.
Oh well good experiences anyway and who knows why things go the way they do.
As you said you can make it work if you want to

Good luck with your planning - hubby is a farmboy from nz too so luckily for us its not so much of a big decision and hes crazy about geting back into the open green grass :laughing:

take care - where in nz are you from originally?

[AM]

hehe I know what you mean! We came over for a 'look see' and we are still here!!

I do love OZ, I just think for the kids sakes home would be best - if all the family came over here, I think I'd be fine! Not going to happen though...

We came over from Tauranga, but I'm originally from Hibiscus Coast (North of Auckland) and dh is from Whangarei.

Where are you from? Would you go back to the same place? We are probably going to land in Kerikeri, then plan from there...