If you’re considering relocating to New Zealand, you’ve probably already researched the big things. You know you’ll be driving on the left, the seasons are opposite from the US, and you’re probably prepared to hear a few words and phrases you’ve never used before.
Smaller differences often catch Americans off guard. From how rent is advertised to how homes are heated, everyday life in New Zealand can take some getting used to.
Here are a few things you may not expect before making the move.
Your New Zealand Home May Feel Colder Than You Expect
New Zealand has a relatively mild climate, so Americans are sometimes surprised by how chilly a home can feel during winter.
Central heating isn’t standard in New Zealand homes. Instead, you may find heat pumps, wood burners or other systems that heat individual rooms. Immigration New Zealand even advises newcomers to consider a home’s insulation, heating and sunlight because some houses retain less heat than people from other countries are accustomed to.
There’s another small difference when you’re house hunting: north-facing is a good thing. Because New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, north-facing homes receive more sunlight.
If you’re looking for a house or apartment before you arrive, don’t just look at the number of bedrooms and location. Ask how the home is heated and insulated and how much sun it gets.
Rent Is Usually Listed by the Week
Americans are accustomed to seeing an apartment advertised for $1,800 or $2,500 per month. Start browsing New Zealand rental listings, and you’ll probably notice that the numbers look very different.
That’s because rent in New Zealand is typically charged weekly rather than monthly.
You’ll also want more cash available when you first move in than the weekly number might suggest. A rental bond or security deposit can be as much as four weeks’ rent.
Once you know that, the listings make a lot more sense. But it can be a little confusing the first time you’re trying to compare New Zealand housing costs with what you’re currently paying in the US.
A Short Distance Doesn’t Always Mean a Short Drive
New Zealand doesn’t look particularly large on a map, and distances between places can seem surprisingly short.
Don’t use distance alone to estimate how long a trip will take. Outside the major cities, you’ll encounter plenty of two-lane, narrow, winding and hilly roads. The New Zealand Transport Agency specifically warns international drivers that journeys can take longer than expected.
This can matter when deciding where to live. A town that looks reasonably close to your job, school or another city may not be as convenient as the distance on the map suggests. Look at actual driving times rather than just kilometers when you’re comparing locations.
Eating Out Works a Little Differently
Here’s one difference Americans may appreciate immediately: the number printed on a restaurant menu is much closer to what you’ll actually pay.
GST is already included in menu prices, and tipping isn’t generally expected in New Zealand.
So if something on the menu costs $25, you don’t have to mentally add sales tax and another 20% before figuring out what dinner is really going to cost.
You’ll notice other small language differences, too. Takeout is usually called takeaway, and if someone tells you they’re stopping at the dairy, they probably aren’t going out to buy a gallon of milk from a farm. A dairy is a small neighborhood convenience store.
Some Familiar Things Can Be Surprisingly Expensive
New Zealand’s location is part of its appeal, but its remoteness also affects what’s available in stores.
Imported products can cost more because they have farther to travel and New Zealand is a relatively small market. That can be particularly noticeable if you’re looking for a specific American brand or product you were accustomed to buying at home.
On the other hand, locally produced products and goods coming from nearby countries such as Australia may be more competitive.
It’s one reason moving overseas isn’t always about replacing everything you own once you arrive. If there are belongings you genuinely like and use, deciding what to bring with you can be worth some thought.
The Outdoors Are Part of Everyday Life
It’s difficult to separate New Zealand from its landscape, and once you live there, the outdoors can become part of normal life rather than something reserved for vacation.
Depending on where you settle, beaches, hiking trails, mountains, lakes and other outdoor recreation may be surprisingly accessible.
You’ll also quickly encounter some new vocabulary. Hiking is commonly called tramping, flip-flops are jandals, and a gravel road may be described as a metal road.
There’s a more serious side to New Zealand’s relationship with its environment, too. Protecting it is taken seriously, which brings us to one difference that’s especially important when you’re moving from overseas.
New Zealand’s Biosecurity Rules Are No Joke
You may already know that New Zealand has strict rules about bringing food, plants and animal products into the country.
What surprises many people is how much further those rules can reach.
Used hiking boots, bicycles, tents, camping equipment, fishing gear, outdoor furniture and even a barbecue can attract attention if they’re carrying soil, seeds, insects or other organic material.
If you’re bringing outdoor belongings from the US, make sure they’re thoroughly cleaned before they’re packed. A bicycle with mud on its tires or hiking boots with soil stuck in the tread aren’t things you want to discover at the last minute.
Learn More about What you Can and Cannot Bring to New Zealand
Give Yourself Time to Get Used to the Differences
Moving to New Zealand isn’t difficult because everything is completely unfamiliar. In many ways, that’s what makes some of these differences surprising.
You’ll still go grocery shopping, commute to work, find a place to live, and go out for dinner. You’ll just gradually discover that many of those familiar things work a little differently.
Before long, weekly rent won’t look strange, you’ll know exactly what someone means when they suggest getting takeaway, and stopping at the dairy won’t require any explanation.
Getting yourself settled is one part of the move. Getting your belongings there is another.
Schumacher Cargo Logistics has been helping people move internationally since 1977. If you’re relocating from the US to New Zealand, our team can help with the international transportation of your household goods and vehicles and guide you through the shipping process.
Planning a move to New Zealand? Request a quote from Schumacher Cargo Logistics, or call us at 1-800-599-0190 to speak with a New Zealand moving specialist.
