Nick SmithWhen I left the shores of the United Kingdom to travel to the other side of the world and settle in New Zealand, I will admit that I was petrified. I had never been to the country before and my only knowledge was information that I found online and from bloggers’ YouTube videos. If you mentioned the country “New Zealand,” I would instantly think of the All Blacks Rugby team and not much else. To put it bluntly, I was walking into the unknown.
So this February, I applied for a New Zealand Working Holiday visa. I was accepted instantly and began planning for the big move. New Zealand offers this visa to several different nationalities, so this allowed Sarah and me the chance to live and work together for the first time in our relationship. With the help of our New Zealander close friend, Dylan, we found out the best places to visit and what work was available to us. Dylan also offered us a place to stay for the first week, which was a blessing, as this gave us a great home base for us to sort out some of the less interesting parts of moving like bank accounts and phone plans. Another benefit of staying at Dylan’s house was meeting his wonderful family, who made us feel so welcomed to the country. I have so much love and gratitude for Ange, Chris, Rachel and Sarah who gave us fantastic recommendations and also gave us our first experience watching the All Blacks. (They did lose to Australia though…oops).
So what has been challenging… Well, surprisingly not too much. The language is the same, the food is very similar to the UK, and in NZ, they drive on the left-hand side like in the UK. Sarah and I have both found jobs easy to come by and are currently both working three separate jobs. Maybe this is lucky, or it had to do with us being very proactive in seeking work, I don’t know, but we are thriving down under and cannot wait for the summer to arrive. One thing that I wish that wasn’t so similar to the UK is the weather. In New Zealand, having a waterproof jacket everywhere is essential as you can experience four seasons in a few hours. Maybe that was our mistake in arriving at the end of Winter, but we have thoroughly enjoyed every minute so far. It has been far easier to adapt than I could have imagined.
Apart from the breathtaking views, the endless beaches and some of the best coffee shops, the locals have been incredibly friendly and helpful. We have currently settled down in New Plymouth, which is on the west coast of the North Island. It’s a small beach town that borders Egmont National Park, home to Mount Taranaki. It is a haven for surfers, hikers and coffee lovers alike. Through our different jobs and hobbies, we have met so many locals who have welcomed us like family and helped us find amazing trails, traditional food, and some secret spots. The local community is everything here. For example, the local council has rejected offers from major firms to open businesses here because the council wants to protect local businesses. I really like the mindset of supporting a local business instead of the huge multi-national firm. How refreshing!
As our time comes to an end in New Plymouth and we embark on our next adventure in the Hunua Ranges, I will always look back on New Plymouth with affection and gratitude.
Kia Koa New Plymouth (goodbye in Maori)
Great blog Nick. Glad you and Sarah are having a great time.