New Zealand not the expat dream any more

British expats are now queuing up to leave New Zealand as rental costs soar and traffic increases.

For many decades, New Zealand has been a favourite destination for British expats due to its glorious scenery and friendly locals, but it seems the honeymoon is now ending as rental prices soar. One Facebook group is publishing comments from disenchanted expats who’re leaving the country after blaming the poor state of public transport, unfriendly New Zealanders and soaring house rental charges. Official statistics are now showing a fall in the number of arrivals as well as an increase in the numbers of those leaving to try again in another country.

Migrants from the UK are now making up the third largest group of expats departing the country, with some 6,000 returning to Britain between June last year and the same month this year. As against those numbers, some 9,000 British expats arrived, a 25 per cent fall of almost 3,000 from last year’s figures. One couple from Hereford had decided on New Zealand as their new home as they were hoping to have children and considered the country would be a good place to raise a family. The husband works in construction, but the couple were horrified when they realised the cost of renting a home.

As a result, they had to downsize their expectations, the wife found local public transport an absolute nightmare and Auckland’s horrendous traffic problems made getting a car a waste of time. Others posting on the same expat forum cited difficulties breaking into the cliques formed by New Zealanders, saying it was simply too hard to make friends. It seems expats who’d married and had families after they’d arrived are also unhappy, citing the poor quality of affordable housing as well as the unfriendliness of local people. Another wrote he’d been living in Auckland for 10 years and still wanted to return to the UK, but had family now so was committed to staying on.