First Month
The first month after we landed was a whirlwind: getting over jet lag, figuring out living basics, trying to feel established. We fumbled all the time, made a lot of mistakes, and had to learn to roll with the punches. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. I’ve compiled an overview of things to consider upon landing. There are quite a few links to other posts and resources embedded, so I hope you are able to take some time to digest this information. Please comment with questions or send an email to thebumblemom@gmail.com.
Transportation: Like most cities, Auckland has a number of different transportation options to choose from. There are rental cars right at the airport, car sharing providers, and public transportation available. The most likely scenario is that you’ll want to rent a car, then purchase a vehicle relatively quickly. We found the best rental rates - especially for longer term rentals - to be with Apex Car Rentals, though the usual car rental companies are all onsite if you are a loyal member with one. The upside to renting a car at the airport is that it is much easier to deal with the inevitable mass of luggage you’ll have with you. The downside is you’ll have to drive (on the wrong side of the road if you’re coming from a left hand drive country like the US) with bleary, jet lagged eyes and that can be scary. If you’re uneasy about this, there is a rideshare pick up location just outside the terminal where you can pick up an Uber, Ola, or Zoomy ride. Pro tip: if you want to rideshare, prebook your ride and request a large car. Most of the rideshare cars are Priuses, so trunk space may be tight.
Car shopping is relatively straight forward. There are loads of cars available on TradeMe and at both new and used dealerships. There are all of the usual car dealerships in Auckland, some unusual, like Peugeot and Renault, plus some brands that we weren’t familiar with, names like Skoda, SsangYong, and Holden. Plan on paying cash for a car as car loans tend to be exorbitantly expensive, but it is possible to find relatively inexpensive used cars. Think a few thousand dollars for a 2012 model. Spend some time on TradeMe to understand which models are more or less expensive than in your home country. We were shocked that Volvos are about $20,000 more here than in the US, but other brands, like Toyota, are cheaper. To give you an idea, a quick search for Toyata RAV4s in Austin revealed 2017 models selling for US$20,998+ tax, title and license, whereas a similar 2017 RAV4 in New Zealand was selling for NZ$25,990 - or US $16,633 - and included those extra costs.
As I mentioned in my driving post, if you’re going to have a tough time with which side the blinker lever is, make sure you get a European car, not an American or Asian one. Also, you probably won’t have your driver’s license yet, so the purchase process will be slightly more complicated than if you have a New Zealand license already.
Lodging and Accomodations: When first landing, you’ll need somewhere to stay. Assuming a company hasn’t arranged housing for you, I suggest staying in an AirBnb. Pro tip: if you’re arriving early, early, early in the morning (like just about every flight from the US does) get your reservation for the night prior to your arrival so you can stroll in at 6 am and take a shower. It makes a huge difference.
If you haven’t spent much time in Auckland and don’t know where you want to live, try making a string of AirBnb reservations in a few different neighborhoods so you can speed date possible locations before finding more permanent housing. I found that I had a pretty good feel for places after three or four days. This helps at first, but after a few moves, you’ll probably be ready to settle down. At this point, you have two options: continue to stay in AirBnbs and enjoy furnished accomodations or go ahead and rent a house and “camp” until your container arrives or you’re able to have furniture delivered.
AirBnb costs can vary wildly depending on the size of the place you’re staying in, the time of year, the length of time you’re staying, and the location. Summer months and holidays are extremely expensive in Auckland, but if you agree to a long term rental, you may be able to get a better deal. If you’re looking for a decent place in the city to land with kids, I would expect to pay somewhere between NZ$120 and NZ$250 per night.
Many people choose to house hunt right away. It is less expensive than an AirBnb and it is important to have an address if you want to enrol kids in public school. If you haven’t already, check out my Renting post, this will give you a good overview of the process. Be prepared to have bond and the first week’s rent to pay upfront. Our bond was 4 week’s rent, and I can happily report that at the end of our lease, we got all of it back with no trouble.
Communication: Getting set up with a mobile provider in New Zealand is a good thing to do within your first few days. Bring an unlocked phone with you if possible so you can simply put in a New Zealand SIM card which shouldn’t cost more than around NZ$5. You’ll be greeted immediately upon exiting the secured area of the airport with cell phone providers, so you could take care of this right away if you want to. However, you’ll find SIM cards everywhere in New Zealand, so you don’t have to rush into it if you’re not interested.
There are a number of different providers to consider. I’ve got my two cents here, though I’ve found people to have strong convictions about which provider they prefer. It’s a personal choice, and it is easy enough to switch from one to another, so I wouldn’t fret much about your initial decision. If it doesn’t work for you, then change a couple of months in. There are plans than range from NZ$10 a month to NZ$80 a month, so you should be able to find something that fits your budget and usage.
Staying connected with the US is relatively easy, too. There are different ways to do this, through Skype, FaceTime, Google Voice, etc. We use RingCentral, and I love how it allows me to keep one phone with two numbers.
Banking: This is a hot topic because no one wants to feel disrespected or taken advantage of by their bank. It is also a very personal decision based on your banking habits and priorities. There are a handful of bigger banks here: ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, and KiwiBank are popular choices, but a full list of registered banks can be found here. I would recommend making appointments with bankers at a handful of establishments and learn about their offerings first hand before making a decision. Like all decisions, if you discover that your banking decision wasn’t the best for you a few months down the road, it is possibly to switch banks, so try not to lose much sleep over this decision. Be smart, but not neurotic.
You’ll definitely want an EFT-POS card as nearly everything is done with plastic in New Zealand, and your bank of choice should issue you a card. Don’t worry about your US credit here. You essentially get a clean slate once you move over to New Zealand. Our US credit wasn’t checked at all. For anything. Ever. One big desire I see in expats is to maximize the benefits from those cards, especially with the Airpoints program. Ironically, Amex, which isn’t universally accepted here, gives the best Airpoints return.
When transferring money to New Zealand, definitely talk with your bank to see what their fees are. This can vary wildly by bank or brokerage firm. Many people choose to use Transferwise instead.
Stay healthy: Assuming you are eligible, it is a good idea to go ahead and sign up with the national health scheme. This is very simple to do: pick a medical practice, make a quick call to establish yourself as a patient, and fill out a three page form. Even if you’re not eligible, it is a good idea to register with a doctor relatively quickly. Unfortunately, a big move to a new country is not only very stressful, but it exposes you to a whole new germ pool. Chances are you’re going to get sick a few weeks after arrival. My kids got sick about two weeks after we landed, and I swear someone in our house was ill for nearly three months. It felt like it would never end. (It did.)
Prepare for the Happiness Curve: Although I logically knew about the happiness curve, I wasn’t prepared for it. I was so preoccupied by the excitement and newness of New Zealand, that I didn’t realize we were entering the slump a few months in. I feel like a little prep on my part right from the beginning would have helped. Primarily, I wish I had reached out to more expats sooner so I would have a village to commiserate with.
New Zealand Now’s chart pretty much sums it up:
I can confirm that right around eighteen months, things started to look up, but there was a point that was very, very difficult. There are so many ways to build a village here, and despite what some of the online groups will have you think, Kiwis aren’t any more or less friendly than any other group. Friendships take effort, time, and commitment, and though it might be difficult, often times as the “new person,” it is going to take you extending an invitation for coffee or for a playdate to start building those relationships.
So meet your neighbors, get involved with an activity, volunteer at your kids’ school, get on an expat group online to connect with people. Put a little bit of effort into this as soon as you arrive, and it will pay dividends when the slump comes. I think it is important to start prepping for this as soon as possible because the stronger your village foundation is, the better you will be.
Finally, remind yourself that the craziness of the first month will pass. And chances are you won’t remember many details after the fact. I once heard Ann Bancroft (the explorer, not the actress) say that she kept going back to the Arctic because she forgot the terrible moments and only remembers the exhilarating parts. I would say the same amnesia comes into play when uprooting your entire life and moving to a new country. It is stressful, difficult, and one of the most empowering things I’ve ever done. On occasion, when there’s a particularly beautiful sunset or stunning rainbow out my window, I give myself a little pat on the back for making it. You will, too.
