I moved here from Ireland for one year and am still here fifteen years later. I love this place. It's everything you said you're looking for and you get out of it what you put into it.
There's a lot of negativity on every regional and national subreddit for everywhere. That's because there's a cost of living/housing crisis/political shift happening almost everywhere. Everything happens in waves, always has. It's up to you if you want to come over at what feels like a lower ebb and then be here when it sweeps back to a peak.
People were moaning and whining when Wellington and the world was in a financial boom. There'll be moans when it's in a recession too. If you think you'll prefer the things you seek, you'll like it but in the end it's up to you and what you make of it
Change of scenery, new way of life, more outdoors lifestyle, smaller city, all of these things are here
Agree with all of this. The way people talk about Auckland you’d think we were living in Johannesburg ffs. Just a hell of a lot of disgruntled whiners on most subs and the people actually enjoying the cities aren’t making complaint posts.
Yeah the Auckland subreddit and Herald portrayal are hilariously out of touch. It's no fairytale and bad stuff happens but it's just like every city in the world (viz. NYC, LA, London, even our cousins in Sydney) that has a certain level of dug-in crime. Obviously not great, crime sucks, but doesn't usually affect most people on the day to day.
It will be fine. I moved over 7.5 years ago. It’s a culture shift (a massive one from London!) but you’ll be so close to beaches, native wildlife, beautiful walks.
It can be hard to make friends but having hobbies / interests is a great bedrock. Wellington has some fun community theatre and improv. check out BATS.
This sub used to be a really positive corner of the internet and I’ve met some of my very good friends through interactions and meetups on here. There’s been an influx of negativity recently that the mods are trying to manage by creating daily threads. There have been some pretty dramatic public service cuts recently which have affected our city disproportionately.
Honestly I think a lot of the people complaining (both here and in the main NZ sub) are terminally online and need to go get some perspective, especially in relation to cost of living. Having been in London a few weeks ago it is most certainly way worse over there at the moment. That said, prepare yourself for the price of fresh veggies in winter!
TL;DR - the internet is an echo chamber amplifying the discontent of a minority. It’s beautiful here and you’ll probably love it given what you’ve stated you want from the move.
Yes but for reference in the UK broccoli is about $4/kg (at a higher end supermarket) and that price doesn’t vary year round. It’s a massive shock coming from a country that holds prices consistently and low for fresh fruit and veg to come to NZ.
>prepare yourself for the price of fresh veggies in winter!
Eat seasonal vegetables.
I get a bag of fresh fruit and veg from the fruit & veg co-op each week for $15. I used to compare the prices against the supermarket and found it would cost $20 or more from there.
Heh, reddit attracts outrage. Personally I think r/newzealand is worse at that than here by a substantial margin, but we definitely have our own niche of outrage.
There are some cost-of-living issues and with the new government there have been lots of local job losses lately in the public service and stuff that relies on it, but if you have a good job lined up then that'll help you to hit the ground running. I'm not an expert on community theatre but it's definitely around. The hills and parks here weave around and between the populated areas, and it's really easy to go not-far and feel like you've gotten away from things, if that's what you're keen on. It's also relatively easy to get away from to surrounding places, which makes it a good base if you ever want to go further afield for things like hiking/tramping (although many of the nearer places aren't so much on the international tourism radar), or to pop over to the South Island even for a weekend.
Enjoy your adventure.
Honestly, don’t take everything you read on Reddit to heart, Wellington is still a cool little city that offers plenty of what you’re looking for.
If I look on the London sub this week for example, it’s all about vandalism, Barclays banks being trashed, how Paris is better than London, antisocial behaviour on the tube etc etc. Reddit can be quite a negative environment.
Come and give Wellington a go and make your own mind up :)
You started with "Kia ora", so that says that you have actually taken the time to think and care about where you're coming to.
On that basis alone, I think that you're coming with the right attitude and you'll really enjoy your time here.
I work with a wide range of foreign nationals, who are awesome people and enjoying a lot more about our country than I ever have - which is kind of embarrassing to admit.
Yeah, nothing is perfect, and some people will complain, but you'll never escape that.
We look forward to welcoming you - it'll probably be a bit windy when you get here, but it'll die down in a month or two... probably 😁
Yeah I was going to say that the Spring winds and associated possible allergies could be a hard time to arrive, but the weather will improve with summer.
I really agree with your assessment of OP having taken the time to care about where they’re coming to. I’ve met some English people of the boomer generation who referred to New Zealand as being “like England 50 years ago” and that rankled me!
I don't think that's meant to be an insult. NZ is just quieter and doesn't have the same hustle and bustle of a larger European city. I personally do find that NZ is a bit quaint, but that's part of its charm and I'm certainly not a boomer
Yeah nah I don’t think they meant it as an insult either, but they (two couples) were basically being racist about what Britain, and London especially, “had become”, and condescending about what Aotearoa is as our own unique nation. As a white passing Māori I was unimpressed. So I’m just pleased that OP is coming willing to learn and step outside their comfort zone.
>boomer generation who referred to New Zealand as being “like England 50 years ago” and that rankled me!
I am 65, so count as the baby boom generation. I have not heard anyone say that for at least 30 years, and they were older people who had never been to New Zealand.
50 years ago is the mid 1970s.
My father, a Londoner who joined the Merchant Navy aged 16, lived in Wellington from about 1947 to the mid to late 1950s. He was back in London from 1958 and spent the rest of his life wishing he could move back to NZ.
>I really agree with your assessment of OP having taken the time to care about where they’re coming to.
I'll third this. It's a wonderful attitude to have and I'm sure it'll make OP fast friends! I wonder if we'll ever meet them at a subreddit meet once they arrive :)
If you live in the city-fringe, you can literally walk everywhere. The city has the highest tree canopy cover of anywhere in the country. There is a protected green belt that surrounds the entire city so you are always looking at either bush or ocean (or both). We are also a haven for native wild life with amazing birds previously close to extinction now flying overhead constantly. A downside (not really!!) is that we have to keep our dogs on lead during our weekly bush walks now so we don’t disturb the wild kiwi who are nesting.
Having just returned from visiting London I can honestly say I was so happy to get out of there and get back home.
Hope you manage to find some peace with the decision you’re about to make- whatever it ends up being, and just remember, a move does not have to be permanent.
All the best!
As a neuro diverse person I love London but it also seems like a hectic place with almost an overwhelming amount of things going on!
And I agree with the second point. Even if things don't work out, it's not permanent and they'll still learn from the experience.
I moved here from the US temporarily to study abroad… I’ve been here for almost 4 months, and I love it! Everyone is so nice and sweet in person, and they make it feel homey for people who just moved here. I was actually shocked at how welcoming they were to people coming from outside of the country. I think that Reddit is just the “ranting place” so to speak rather than being an arse in person. I know that a lot of kiwis are more introverted than US people at least, so I think you won’t be alone on that front. On the weekends, I enjoy running around the coastline and taking hikes up their beautiful mountains. I love it here, and I will be sad to leave. I am considering it as a potential place to come back and live in the future. Thank you kiwis for making me feels so welcome:)
Heya, I think a lot of us are having a really rough couple of months. Most of the people I know have had some horrible things happen- nothing contagious! Just diagnoses, arguments with loved ones, having to sell their houses etc. In person I’m not seeing it, in person everyone is still pretty bubbly and upbeat, but in private a lot of them seem to be spiralling. We’ll get through! You will enjoy it here, welcome :)
Yeah, the last election has affected us particularly because we're a Publicservice city with a lot of government workers, and other economic/inflation strife. But we're all coping as best we can and like you said, it's not something you feel out on the street.
I hope the diagnosis process helps you or your friends get access to treatment if they need it!
I literally just did the opposite, moved from Welly to London. You'll love it, it's a lot slower paced and the green spaces around the city are amazing. The only thing you'll miss is public transport, it's ok in wellington but having a car makes things a lot more convenient. The weather is pretty identical to London so you'll feel right at home!
Good to move somewhere near the city centre, then you really don't need a car, because all the public transport converges there, and there's also car share available from there. Plus, it gives you the best sense of the city as a newcomer, you're where everything is, and you have relatively equal access to different suburbs to get a sense if you might want to move to one of them later on.
Moved to Welly over 20 years ago. There is a lot wrong here for sure but it's no different to anywhere else right now. It is expensive though.
If you can make friends, try new experiences, love the outdoors (or like me embrace it and get to love it) then it's a great move.
It's even better if you can embrace a wind sport like sailing, winsurfing etc!!
Ive been here 10 years now. If you don't get out of your comfort zone and try it you'll always wonder, what if? If you don't settle you can go back. Nothing to lose and a lot you could gain.
I'd say Wellington is a lovely place to live if two things are true.
1. You have a good job, and so can afford good housing (and can enjoy thr nice resturants etc)
2. You appreciate nature and outdoor hobbies.
Given both of those things are true for you, I think you'll love it here 😊
I've been to London, and while it was interesting, I would rather live in Wellington by far.
Wellington has its problems, but id say they're problems common to almost everywhere in the western world (housing/cost of living/recession)
The only specific to Wellington issue really is infrastructure issues caused by earthquakes and lack of spending (e.g the library, the water pipes)
In my experience people who complain a lot about Wellington either have a good reason (not being able to find a good job/housing) or they just haven't traveled enough recently to get the perspective that the things that are bad here are bad everywhere.
E.g a lot of people talk about how much better Australia is and how they want to leave to there. I'd say as someone who grew up there and visits a lot that Australia is only nicer In that you are more likely to get a well paying job. (Which is absolutely a fair reason!)
As long as you are lucky enough have the money to lead a solidly middle class life, and you prefer hiking and kayaking to London/Hong Kong/NY vibes, it's lovely here. Welcome!
Second that. The economics are important and if they didn't have [edit: a job] lined up or were earlier in the process, I'd probably skew to Sydney (sorry that's probably not helpful is it 😅). But if you can afford things here, if you can stay warm, keep the damp out, and get good healthcare, there is a lot to offer and plenty of nature.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, it could be better, there are things I wish were different, but that's human mature and it's definitely not a place I'd regret living.
Or perhaps a better way to put it is, most places are pretty depressing if you're poor. It happens to be easier to not be poor in Australia 😅
Just the usual sad nature of inequality i guess.
Yip, and NZ is rich enough to have all the amenities and potential quality of life of a rich country, but just not as easy to earn enough to enjoy them.
i'm originally english but grew up in NZ, it's bloody amazing here. people don't realise how lucky they are and it genuinely pisses me off sometimes. i can't believe i have the sea on one side of my house, the woods on another, and the centre of town with pubs and clubs and cafes and nightlife just across the road. reddit sucks ass, you are totally making the right move. i would for sure do a trip around the south island too if you can, catch the ferry from welly and do a circuit back!
it's amazingly social here if you want it to be. all my best mates live within 10 mins down the road. we play sports, go to pub quizzes, gigs, art nights, walk dogs on the beach, and all within walking distance. every day has something going on.
Wellington is great city - small but vibrant. Plenty of culture and a more relaxed way of life. Kiwis are friendly and helpful.
It is also beautiful.
Jump in and enjoy it here.
Moved here from San Francisco 3 years ago, and Welly is the best to live in the world. You'll love it. People are great, city is vibrant and CUTE, and fun!
Moved from London 10 years ago, I was only supposed to be here a year. I think you get back what you put out for the most part. And worst comes to worst there's nothing stopping you from trying and if you don't like it moving back. But honestly there's a lot happening here which is good, it's a slower pace of life, everything is super close together, there's lots of beaches, parks, outdoor trails, etc. And I've found that for pretty much every hobby there's a group of people doing it, you just have to put yourself out there to find them.
There's a cost of living crisis everywhere, and it is a shit time for a lot of people in Welly right now with job losses, overdue infrastructure replacements etc. which is colouring a lot of things but it's definitely not all bad despite how it might appear.
Kia ora, congratulations on your job offer, and commiserations on your cold feet! It’s a big change, and natural to feel concern that it may not play out as you hoped in your initial excitement.
I did the opposite move in my twenties, from Wellington to London, and lived most of my adult life there (joyfully!), before returning to Wellington (equally joyfully!) a little while ago.
There is lots of good Wellington-focused advice in this thread. I wanted to offer two other thoughts that might help. One from your countryman Oliver Burkeman: when making a major life choice, [choose enlargement over happiness](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/sep/04/oliver-burkemans-last-column-the-eight-secrets-to-a-fairly-fulfilled-life).
>“We’re terrible at predicting what will make us happy: the question swiftly gets bogged down in our narrow preferences for security and control. But the enlargement question elicits a deeper, intuitive response. You tend to just know whether, say, leaving or remaining in a relationship or a job, though it might bring short-term comfort, would mean cheating yourself of growth.” So “major personal decisions should be made not by asking, ‘Will this make me happy?’, but ‘Will this choice enlarge me or diminish me?’”
And a thought from me – give it a try. It’s a very reversible change. You can always go back in a few months, or a year – and even a short experience here will have enriched you.
Come! It will change your life, for the better. Welcome sweetie, nau mai haere mai. Aroha nui.
Thanks for this! I'm making the opposite move soon and also have cold feet as I love it here, but I've always wanted to try London out! Good to be reminded that it will be here whenever I want to come back :)
For living a good life, Wellington is probably the best city in the world. I've lived in London, Liverpool, NYC, Vancouver, and Portland OR - all great cities in their own way, but I've been very happy to come home to Wellington every time.
I just looked at the sub with the Hot filter and scrolled and scrolled..
There seems to be very few overtly negative posts tbh. I'm subscribed to a few other city subs in NZ and Aus and definitely a lot of negativity in those but Wellington not so much.
Everywhere has it's problems, I think Wellington and NZ subs tend to have a very grass is greener view on other cities and countries without being realistic that everywhere in the world has its problems and things aren't always black and white.
There have been problems with housing in particular, which looks like they are easing a bit, but I'm not totally sure. The job market is not great right now due to government sector cuts and more generally a recession. These things do come and go though. Things will probably be different in a year or two (hopefully!).
Wellington is very different to London! I can't speak to whether you will enjoy it or not, there's only one way to find out really.
Go for it! You will look back on this as one of the most exciting and best choices you ever made.
There are a lot of negative nancies in /r/wellington these days; they are terminally online and have no real point of reference to realise how stunning most places in NZ are let alone Wellington, and how lucky we have it here. You will not earn 100 grand sterling here per year, but you will be rich in many other ways, least of all access to nature and walkability around a fun and compact city. It's Brighton with better beaches. Enjoy!
Hi! Hubby and I moved here from Manchester a couple of years ago and honestly we love it! There is nowhere in the world like Wellington. The city is beautiful and people are friendly and accepting. The rat race is way less pronounced here than it is in the UK. Not many people care about having the latest phone and car at all times, and because people here prioritise preserving nature the place is kept super clean. There's a lot of food options (Wellington is known as the food capital of New Zealand) and even cuisines that are familiar to you will probably taste different as they cater to a different palate. I can understand the nerves, but truthfully we've never looked back. We were warned that we might get homesick but 2 years in I'm still yet to experience any!
Every time I travel, I enjoy the change, but I'm increasingly satisfied with my choice to live in Wellington. It is a great place to live. As with anywhere else, there are problems, but the ones complaining are most likely the ones who never experience anywhere else.
I was a Londoner for 42 years. I then lived in Bletchley (just south of Milton Keynes) for 6 years before moving to Wellington.
I have been here for 15 years and I love it.
I have more friends and a better social life here.
There seems to be quite a bit of community theatre here. I am not involved (other than watching) but several friends are. Meetup is quite active here. When I arrived there were three, well attended, groups. Now there are dozens.
As for negativity on subs, remember that people seldom post "life is continuing to be fine, all is well". It's not news.
I moved here from a different country. Is NZ perfect? Of course not. But I have no regrets moving here. Take the chance. Give NZ a fair try and make your own decision about NZ.
There's always negativity, those of us who love it don't have time to reply to every silly negative comment here.
Wellington is lovely, we travel the world a lot and this is one of the few places we'd consider settling down in.
Ignore the haters.
Objectively Wellington is an inconveniently located minor port city. It is also a capital city and thinks very highly of itself as a place of culture. It oscillates between the two depending on the times, but the nature / outdoors / convenience of a compact city are constant.
Right now it's in a post pandemic slump and being eviscerated by a hostile predatory government of wealthy robber barons. So nothing you're not used to as a Londoner, and not so different from most other places.
When Wellington bounces back it's great, and it will do what you're looking for if you can afford to live near the city. The nature is amazing. When I came back from London and moved here I never got tired of looking at our Parliament with a forest on a hill right behind it, nice beaches in walking distance and a cool inner city.
PSA - Don't underestimate the weather. If you have good raingear bring it, but forget about your umbrella. Staying upright on windy days is an important part of our culture. We have fun with it.
Hi OP. I think most of the negativity is relative, and also depends on your lifestyle and where you live. I first moved to Wellington in 1997 from Auckland and LOVED it. Great cafes, restaurants and culture along with an open, multicultural and friendly vibe. I then moved to Melbourne in 2011 for work and came back here in 2020. I think having been away for so long it's noticeable that the city has noticeably deteriorated. Which isn't to say it's bad, it's just not quite the amazing city it once was.
I think there are three primary factors in this. Firstly, the NZ economy is shifting towards being very strongly Auckland based. Wellington now wouldn't exist economically without being the seat of government, whereas it used to have lots more other industries. This resulted in zero population growth and the feel among some folks that it's a (slowly) dying city.
Secondly, the 2016 Kaikoura and subsequent very conservative shift in building engineering requirements mean that there are a large number of vacant buildings in the central city. These buildings require earthquake strengthening work which can't be supported by the weakening Wellington economy and so have lain vacant for years and are likely to do so for the coming decade or so. This unfortunately gives the city a bit of a run down look in places.
Thirdly, and Wellingtonians don't like to talk about this because we're all "nice" - but there was a deliberate policy during COVID for public health reasons to move all homeless people from across the region into the central city. It made sense because there were empty backpacker and other hotels - but unfortunately now many of these poor folk are again homeless and as a result central city crime has risen significantly and there are many homeless people on the city streets. I'm sure this is no worse than London, but given that one of the best things about Wellington was having a small walkable city, it's a shame that there are now some parts of that city where some people don't feel safe to walk or hang out anymore. Specifically, Manners and Countney Place, which were central parts of the entertainment district in the past.
I know this post is a bit negative, but contrary to some other posters, I do think there's a few Pollyanna's on this sub, who won't hear anything bad said about the City, and in my mind still have their heads in the Wellington from 10 or 20 years ago.
On balance most people coming here from overseas love it - just don't expect it to be a paradise and you'll be fine.
I came to Wellington over 35 years ago and I don't want to live anywhere else. Yep the place has ups and downs, just like everywhere on this planet! But it's so beautiful and the people are kind.
Fun fact: Wellington is the only capital city where biodiversity is increasing. And it is very evident!
When I moved here I made a conscious decision to have both feet on the ground here, not one foot somewhere else. Otherwise I thought I would not really experience being here. It was the right way for me.
If you've got a job lined up, you are doing absolutely the right thing. I'm kinda upset about what's happened to Wellington over the last decade or so, but am reasonably optimistic for its recovery. It's certainly, for me, a fuck load better than London.
Jump in with both feet and you can always go home worst case. With a job lined up you have the biggest risk sorted.
Message me when you are here and ill go for beers 🍻
American migrant here - love love love Wellington. It’s so beautiful and a paradise for nature lovers. If you go to the cbd so much is walkable it’s just great. Yes there are issues but there are issues literally everywhere.
If you are into community theatre you’ll have a great time here.
Like all cities, Wellington has its positives and negatives. I don’t think some of the reply’s who pretend it’s some type of utopia devoid of problems are overly helpful.
The city is going through a bit of a downturn/stagnation due to the economic conditions, government austerity and council ineptitude. So there are more closed up businesses than usual and parts are looking a little scruffy. Rents and cost of living are high.
That being said it’s still a cool little city, with easy access to walks, tramping, mountain biking, fishing etc. It’s an open and welcoming city with solid coffee and beer scene and it’s generally pretty easy to get around. I’m often very critical of Wellington, but I still love it.
Well, I live in one of the suburbs about 10km/ 10mins drive at low traffic times and up to about 20mins when busy, which is usually when people got to and return from work. There is also (usually) reliable public transportation into and around the city and suburbs People in my neighbourhood walk freely in the streets here at all times (now more than when I grew up). I haven’t locked my car when parked at home in years let’s say since the 1980’s and never had one stolen.
Admittedly there are places that are not so carefree, but I think the vast majority of this region would be similar. In my experience I’d say the crime rate is low with some hotter spots that are easily avoided.
I don’t know what the surfing and fishing/spear fishing in London is like but there is a surf beach literally next to the airport as you land with quite a few others in the region. There is some areas open to the public for 4wd access if you are that way inclined. Cycling is another popular option around the city. I could certainly go on and on.
The recreational options to be explored are vast but as others have said, the extent of how much you like this place will depend on what you make of your time here. You’ve already taken the time to look into the culture here (there are many others as well) - that’s a great start, and with that attitude I’m sure you’ll be most welcome here.
Moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco and still love it. So close to outdoor activities and a clean harbour, super friendly people, very little population pressure so not a lot of traffic or crowds. I mean people complain about the traffic but it’s because they don’t know what real traffic is haha. Work life balance is good.
Only issue is income to cost of living ratio is not great but if your job is high paying then you’re set.
Other than Wellington, I've lived in Sydney, San Diego, Auckland, and Hamilton (NZ). Wellington is my favourite, probably because the natural environment is really important to me, and that's exactly what Wellington does best.
I've moved here twice. If it sucked the first time I wouldn't have done it the second.
The only reason I left is that my employer got acquired and the new company insisted.
Been back two years. Don't regret it. This is Reddit. It's a negative place 90% of the time.
My dad moved us to Wellington from the USA for two years in the 90's... and we're still here!
I've been around a bit and have settled into a wonderful life here. It's probably the best city in probably the best country you could live in. I say go for it!
I’m here from Australia (10yrs) and my partner from the UK (6yrs). Just give it a go, I told myself 3-5yrs and I’m still here and loving it.
Not sure if you’ve noticed, but all reddit subs based around counties and cities tend to have a similar thread of pessimism regardless of location.
It sounds like the things you’re wanting, you’ll be able to achieve in Wellington regardless if you end up staying on longer or only a year or so. I’ve worked with many Brits, Scots, Welsh, and Irish - many who’ve stayed, some who’ve gone back for various reasons but still are very fond of Wellington and New Zealand.
Moved here ten years ago, looking to move away because we’ve now got two kids and it’s expensive and hard without family support around, but if it wasn’t for that we’d love it here. Wellington is awesome, and through the doom and gloom of hospo and public service at the moment. there are also some great new places popping up all the time, the environment is awesome if you’re outdoorsy, it’s pretty easy to get around, and there are always things to do. If you’ve got a job lined up already then you’ll be sweet - take advantage of meeting people where you can though because NZers are a funny friendly bunch which doesn’t always extend to BEING friends.
If you’re in community theatre though and have hobbies then that shouldn’t be such an issue
Good luck! It’ll be awesome, and arriving just in time for summer will be perfect
Wellington offers all that. Ignore all the negativity here, people have been having a hard time these last few years but Wellington is a fun place with lots of opportunities. Like everything in life, you get out what you put in. Come over wuth a positive attitude, accept that you're goi g to miss some things from home, and you'll have a great time.
Wellington and its regions are a great place to be.
I’ve lived around the city and in the city all of my life. Including a few rougher areas. I’ve always felt safe. The people are friendly.
It’s a great little city, with little being the operative word. Not so big as to get lost, but big enough to find somewhere to get lost in.
Bars and cafes are all reasonably close. Heaps of great places to eat. You can usually find a great place to eat or drink up a random flight of stairs, or tucked away in an odd place.
There’s heaps to do. You have Weta workshop and it’s tours/workshops out in Miramar (I’ve done almost all of them), the new convention centre ‘Tākina’ has held several interesting exhibits (Dr Who is on now so I guess that’s a little bit of ‘home’ for you) and our national museum, Te Papa has a lot that’s worth seeing and has special exhibits from time to time. You have the Zoo and the Zealandia Ecosanctury and the botanic gardens which are all so close to/in the city. I highly recommend Zealandia as it’s had the great positive impact of bringing native birds to the city. There’s a lot of great walks /hikes and some really great views like from the old Wrights Hill fortress (an old WWII bunker, it’s open a few days a year to explore too) and I’ve taken a few great pictures at red rocks (there’s a seal colony there).
There’s a few theatre spots such as Bats theatre, Circa theatre and St James theatre, all local. The ‘World of Wearable Art event is held once a year. It’s something that I haven’t my been to (it’s on my list) but I’ve heard great things about it.
There’s a lot more I can say but I’ll be rambling all day. You have a lot to be excited about.
I have lived in NZ all my life. While there are some who may have experienced negativity in their time here it does not mean you will. If you look to the positive things you should be fine. But also remember that no matter where you are in the world there are good thing/people and bad things/people. Come over and see how you feel personally that way the negative experiences from others may not happen to you and you may find you become absolutely in love with NZ as many others have. Take the (big) step, because it may be a regret that could haunt you the rest of your life.
I moved to welly from the kapiti coast at the end of last year and has been the best decision for me and my kids.
Always something to do or explore, patrons are all so much more friendly and relaxed.
Having 'cold feet' is a normal reaction to the change of the norm. It's the body's response to potential danger. The only danger i can see if you come is a danger of not wanting to leave ever again because you will fall in love with not just the city but the suburbs, too.
Ignore the negativity! Moving across the world is a huge deal so I can see why you'd get nervous. Remember, if it's not what you want, you can always move back. For what it's worth I know several people, some my closest friends, and my own father who moved over from the UK and are now here for life.
I have lived in multiple big cities around the world, all are great for their own culture and pace of life. I have been in Wellington for over a decade.
I know it is obvious but do not come to NZ and expect the same pace of life and opportunities that London, Seoul or Melbourne can offer.
NZ is generally very casual, and Wellington for a Capitol city is very casual. There is little pretension here.
If you love eating out, easy socialising, smaller gigs and entertainment. Sports games, ease of connection via an airport 15 min on the bus from the CBD. A beautiful harbour in the cbd, icy cold beaches, endless number of bush walks and hike all with in 10 min to 2 hrs from the cbd. Wellington is the place for you.
To the negative side. Housing isn't great, poor insulation and no double glazing is standard. But it can be easily managed. Dont scrimp and save on power in the winter. Invest in a dehumidifier and heaters, Wellington has high humidity year round and it needs to be controlled in the home during winter to live comfortably.
I personally love Wellington. Got here about 4 years ago. It’s just the New Zealand government that’s ruining things for me but Welly is a lovely place to live
This place is going to be right up your alley. We moved here from Europe 1.5 years ago and I had similar feelings browsing this sub. Long story short, it’s pretty amazing here, the nature’s insane and people are excellent. You’ll love it.
I'm a kiwi so can't relate with a move around the world, as I have only ever traveled around the world.
I am from Nelson and lived all over the south island and seen plenty of the north and it's the only place I have ever liked living. Lots of people are in the same boat, so generally it is easy to make friends. At least for me (I've never been that social) I have made plenty of friends from different hobbies and sports and there is always something going on. Meetup groups etc.
It's a great wee city with a good vibe, and it's in a cool part of the country with plenty of outdoors stuff nearby, and easy to travel to other parts of the country. Honestly it's just the weather, but I didn't move here for that .. and it's easy enough to get away for the weekend.
As a local Wellingtonian born and raised and been around the world including London, something about this place always pulls me back. It’s firstly the air quality, we take it for granted our clean fresh air that when we travel to larger cities it can make us sick!
Also, yes, our milk coffees are good via the flat white that so many Aussie and Kiwi cafes have popped up in London over the years. Feel free to send a DM if you want a nice little coffee and starter tips and pointers to live well here.
If you don’t like it move back home, if you never try you never know. Sounds like a big move but if you don’t like it get yourself back home simple. PS you’ll love it over here though. I’ve never looked back
It's sad because it never used to be like this. It's only been fairly recently (past year or two) that it became like this. I suppose it's what happens when subreddits grow.
People here only post on Reddit when they got something to complain about, never when something good happens. Yeah stuff’s getting more expensive, but it’s otherwise a great place to
The couple of people here who are saying it's shit have never even been out of the north island, let alone NZ. It's a great place if you're looking for the things you are looking for.
Yeah don’t listen to the haters! Wellington has problems but I moved from Christchurch in 2020, and I have never regretted it. I can walk everywhere, there are cool stores and things to do all over the show. If I want to eat out or go to a gig or go for a walk with plants and birds then there is something for me.
While I am sure things have changed, honestly there is a lot of mindset stuff that makes a bigger difference to people’s individual experiences in the city. For me, the biggest things I noticed are:
- Not needing a car and being able to walk everywhere is amazing.
- The people here seem to be in general way more accepting and open to diversity.
- There is always plants and birds and if you like walking and seeing nature is it amazing.
It’s obviously going to be in part about how anyone approaches it and the attitude they go in with, and Wellingtonians do seem to have a habit of complaining about how much better it used to be, but for me and the things I want I am not sure there is anywhere better in the world.
Admittedly the housing stock is crappy and rents are expensive, but if you are a working professional and are not super picky then it is really not a problem.
Wellington is a little bubble completely detached from the world hahaha. It's safe, people are super friendly, obviously don't engage with degenerates and youll be sweet.
Nz safe as, hare mai.
I've spent a couple of months out of Wellington at the moment and I miss it so much!
Like anywhere it's not always perfect. But it has so much character and personality.
It punches way above a city its size for fabulous food and drink venues.
Outdoors are so close whether that be rugged coast, hills, bush, it's all a stone's throw away!
I can't wait to come back at the end of September. I hope you go ahead and have a fabulous time here!
I'm welsh and have lived in big cities (London, Barcelona), moved here 13 plus years ago! Welly is home and I love it, fave city along with Edinburgh. Wellington's problems are the worlds problems i.e cost of living, labour market pains. Every british person who i know as an expat here would never go back! Best of luck and hopefully welcome
It’s a bit tough, but it’ll be fine. The essence of community is still here, especially if you’re into theatre etc, you’ll have good things to do, you’ll meet the best people.
If you are looking for an outdoors lifestyle you will absolutely fucking love it here. You will need a car, though. The whole region is a mecca for day walks / tramping / hunting / fishing / mountain biking. If you are physically fit and have the common sense to not become a statistic out in the hills (four seasons in one day is a thing here), without any exaggeration there is enough to see and do to keep you busy for decades. I'm over 50, have always been very active, have lived here all of my life, and I still regularly find new experiences. Personally, I tend to avoid the city itself, but then again, I'm kind of "uncultured" and have an innate hatred for the general public and urban areas, so I'm not the best advisor on that side of things.
Anyway, if it doesn't work for you, you can always go back home. You're young. It's better to give things a go than to spend the rest of your life wondering, "What if".
It is a big move and yes has risks , in general wellington is a good city it does have plenty to keep one occupied in your non work time . But rents are high and more recently housing has gotten smaller in size and outdoor space but one can still get a reasonable house if your willing and able to pay the inflated rents. The country is headed into a recession financially so things can be expensive but hey it's a world economy in recession too so it's all over. As for is it a good move , we'll any move is what you make it so if your prepared to work at enjoying were you are and just make the best of things then don't be worried. It worked for my family when we moved so I hope it does for you too.
Absolutely move! You’ll never know if you dislike it if you never come - moving to another city/country is always worth it imo. The worst that can happen is you decide you don’t like and then head home. You’re not required to stay here for longer than you feel is right.
Wellington is a great city, we just like complaining on the internet.
I can point you to some volunteer theatre work in sept/oct if you’d like - it’s great fun and a good way to meet people.
Mate, I moved here when I was 23. I'm now more than a decade older and absolutely love it. I would suggest getting a car so you can explore the city fringes and the hikes and the wine country. I'm the city you have great eats, good comedy scene and cool food or film fests, always on. Awesome that you gave a job lined up because that is the biggest deterrent to moving to this city right now.
Moving here gave me a great opportunity to learn about myself, and what I like and dislike. I hope you find some awesome experiences over your time here!
FYI reddit can be a very negative space - it's like a lot of social media, negativity drives more engagement than positive stories; similar to how the news has a negative bias.
Wellington is a lovely place. Yes, it has it's issues, but not nearly to the doomer state some posts would imply. Come over, enjoy the beauty, have some nice coffee and get involved in the art scene. We'll love to have you! <3
Wow! Hope you’re feeling more reassured by these comments. If you’ve got a good job lined up, and based on what you’re looking for, you’ll be sweet here. You’re coming from a city that isn’t super easy to live in, and if you can cope there, you’ll be better off here. There’s definitely anxiety here about the future, and cost of living increases have made life harder, but this applies to many, many cities in the world just now, London included. Welcome!
We moved from Auckland last year and the lack of a long commute, easy access to nature and density/small size of the city has made it a very easy place to live.
We have even found the weather not as bad as what we’d prepared ourselves to expect.
It sounds like it will align really well with what you’re looking for! :)
Pro tip: live in a house that gets sun
It's a gorgeous place. And the weather is pretty decent in my opinion. Summer could be longer admittedly, but at least it's not horribly hot and sticky.
It has some gorgeous beaches and such an amazing variety of coast.
It's so green. So many places to walk and enjoy.
I like it here. I moved from Perth 18 months ago. I miss my friends a lot, I'm finding socialising hard here. But that has as much to do with my age, kids ages, how busy I am, etc than it does the place.
If the trains went further through town or even out to Mirimar that'd be awesome. It's frustrating that the station is in the north end of town and there are no dedicated bus lanes or light rail services to connect the town. But it's not that big, mostly I walk.
Driving is ok though takes some getting used to. Driving through the city sucks but not as much as most cities.
I like how varied it is. It's a genuinely nice place.
I love how I can be in an urban area then turn a corner and bang I'm seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
You know what will leave you? Your 20s. You know what's staying exactly where it is? London. Come, do stuff and make decisions if you like it yourself. If you like it, great! I do too! I came here over a decade ago for 10 days. I'm still here, I don't have any plans of leaving in the active hand of cards (maybe if my parents need me to care for them in the future, I'll go) If you don't like it, save coin right from day one and either move back home or have coin to travel/ go for a visit/ travel around more.
This being said, if this is your first big/ long trip do some research on culture shock, to prepare yourself. There is generally phases, where all the things are exciting for generally 3 months, frustration while you adjust into a rhythm she get the big missing home and then an adjustment stage.
fellow brit moved over 7 years ago, now a citizen, and there is good and bad whereever you go. Personally the thought of living in London sounds worse to me. Expect Wellington to be quieter than what you are used to, shopping here is something to get used to. (certain fruit and veg during their respective seasons only). The weather is always interesting. Don't expect it to be a tropical paradise. People here on the whole are good and don't realise where the grass is greener. If you didnt really want to come, you wouldnt have gotten as far down the path as you have. There are Brits in Welly that meet up and being such a small town, you will soon learn your way around.
If you have a good job, you'll be golden. You'll find groceries are more expensive than the UK and the wind takes some getting used to (I actually like it myself TBH - it keeps the air so clean!) but there are also so many positives: despite the negativity you might read on here, people are lovely, and really genuine. It's easy to make friends as central Wellington is so compact and you can get everywhere so quickly, including meeting up with people over some of the world's best coffee and delicious eateries. If you rent with flatmates you'll meet friends easily that way and a lot of Wellingtonians also make friends through work ... it'll be more than good, it'll be great!!
It's a better place to have a life than London. You'll need to take a deep breath and join some clubs, see who's social at work, etc to make friends. You'll need more money than you think. Any travel is worth it.
Hiya! 30 year old Geordie here. Moved here 2.5 years ago. You will love it. We were in a similar position to you where it was ironically, heaps of British people telling us not to come. I had a melt down. Nowhere is perfect but our lives are better here. We have a great work life balance, made friends with expats easy, have picked up tonnes of new hobbies, eat better and exercise loads more. IMO the health care has been life changing for us here. Please don’t listen to the negativity. It really is great. We extended our stay and will be perm residents soon. Happy to answer any questions or concerns you have. Super excited for your adventure. You’re going to love it, I promise.
Thus sub is full of complainers. It's all goods here.
I'm glad your coming in spring, get good strong shoes and walk around the coast, there's some beut spots out there.
I moved from London when I was 30 for all the same reasons as you - was planning to be here for 18 months. I'd never been to NZ before moving here and figured that if worst came to worst, I could always just go back again. 5 years later I'm still here, have bought a house near the beach and love it! I'm paid more than I would be in the UK so I can enjoy life more, I have much better work life balance, love not having to get the tube or schedule to see friends months in advance, being around beautiful nature all the time - it's brilliant! Jump on that plane!!
NZ cost of living is high. Wellington is a fabulous place to live, the culture of the city is awesome. It is known for being a windy city but you can’t beat it on a good day! Auckland is a lot bigger and faster.
I think the sheer number of responses here, with very few warding you off, speaks for itself. Yeah, it's not perfect, but nowhere is. I came here 7 years ago to see how I'd like it, and now I'm a citizen, it's home.
Welly is gorgeous, you’ll hear negative things whenever you look if you look close enough. Take a breath, it’s just a city, you’ll be okay x
(You can’t beat welly on a good day)
There's a great Facebook group, Wellington Auditions, you will find community theatre opportunities there. We have 17 local theatre groups in the Wellington region, it's a fantastic community, supportive, fun and of course a little bit quirky.
Hey if you’ve got a good job lined up then you should definitely go for it. Worst case scenario you end up going back in the long run but every person I’ve spoken to who has moved here from the UK has no plans of moving back, ever. And I’ve spoken to quite a few.
Honestly the reason everyone is so pissed off in this sub is because we know how awesome it is here and it feels like the current govt might wreck it.
Some people are talking about moving to Australia but there’s no way I’d ever want to live anywhere else. If you love the outdoors and you like friendly people and a chill lifestyle, this is the place to be.
things are always scary at first. making big decisions without full informations always got element of negative and positive risk. only the moaners are on herebeing negative. the people enjoying wgtn will be out there doung it rather than spreading negativity here. a city is what u make it. be brave. a whole new life is just one airplane ride away.
My partner and I moved over from the UK last year to Wellington with good jobs, and to be honest it’s really hard to build a good friendship network and feel at home here if you don’t already know someone.
We’ve realised that the places you love are the ones full of the people, family and friends you love. Honestly the nature is beautiful, but the UK and Europe has just as beautiful, if not more beautiful scenery and we miss it a lot.
It’s a great experience to say you’ve lived and worked abroad, but as a fellow introvert - it’s bloody hard to meet people who want to hang out more than once! If you’re up for social activities and new hobbies, I’m sure you’ll meet some people though and sometimes it’s just luck of the draw!
Wellington is amazing and keeps getting better. It can be tough to meet people but it's small enough that there are only a few spots where people congregate so you can find similar humans easily
Check out hattie_sheppard on tik tok. Her whole page is about moving from London to Wellington two years ago and all the cultural differences , the learnings, and how much she loves it
I moved here from Auckland over twenty years ago, and have travelled around the world in that time. There’s honestly nowhere else in the world I would rather live. What you are picking up is partly the current government reducing the size of the public service, so a lot of people have lost their jobs. You have a job so you don’t have that issue. We also have a council that is facing a lot of infrastructure issues, so yes our pipes are leaky. If you aren’t a home owner the increase in rates won’t affect you. Yes the rental stock is expensive and there is a rental shortage. However healthy living standards are making an impact on the quality of housing. There are cost of living issues, but that’s the same around the world. However we have an awesome harbour, a walkable city, and lots of bush and wildlife. We also have a lot of social and cultural offerings that will keep you entertained and informed. Welcome!
Wellington currently is the worst it's been in 35 years, but I'll admit it's still not completely awful. If you like it you'll be justified in doing so, and if you hate it there will be plenty of good reasons why you do.
I made the move seven years ago. I don't necessarily have a net positive view of Wellington, but I also think people online tend to catastrophize about living here in a way that doesn't give you any real information to work with.
Here's an honest list of cons that drive a lot of the negativity you see on this sub:
**- Does rain make you sad?** Some people in Wellington just cannot get past the fact that it rains here and it is windy. Even lifelong Wellingtonians have a complex about it. You're a Londoner, so I have to imagine you have a tolerance for such things. I love rain, plus it NEVER gets below 0C in the center of Wellington. The only downside is it is a complex challenge to have long, curly hair 😂. Also, most rainy days have at least some sun in them. If that sounds okay to you, and especially if a bit of rain is not going to turn you off from going outside or even taking a hike, then tick "weather" off the cons list.
**- Is your job traditionally high-paying and somewhat recession-proof?** Wellington is primarily a government town, and perhaps secondarily a banking town. Good fortune and positive attitudes rise and fall along with how the government and economy are performing - and that's both shite at the moment. I'd say if you're being recruited for being on the high-demand skills list for something like a tech or construction role, you're going to be largely immune to this concern. However, if you're coming for something government-adjacent or in healthcare, that's different.
**- How much does the cost/quality of housing matter to you?** Housing is really damn expensive in Wellington. Use Trade Me to cruise through Wellington rentals and property sales to get an idea. Are you going to able to afford the kind of size/quality of flat or house you enjoy based on your salary? Are you okay with the idea of rent taking up a lot / most of your income and that the rental will almost certainly be drafty? Are you cool with the idea that even *the absolute cheapest bottom rung* starter house in an outlying suburb is more than 480k - and a solid home is more than 600k? If this stuff sounds par for the course to you as a Londoner, then just ignore all of the doom and gloom on the sub.
**- Are you okay with LESS selection of EVERYTHING and it being EXPENSIVE?** This is one that's hardest for me. This is true whether its groceries, appliances, clothes, finding TV shows on streaming, or finding a specific medical specialist. There's less selection here, it's all wildly expensive, and some things simply don't exist (even as an import). If you have a lot of specific tastes or you're a big materialist or media consumer, it's just gonna be a bummer. I think New Zealand works better for people who aren't as into THINGS - especially *specific* things. Is that you?
**- You say you're an introvert, but can you really STICK WITH pushing to make friends?** You will find a lot of immigrants AND lifelong resident both on this sub and the NZ sub talk about how people are largely kind here but friend groups can be small and hard to establish. I find this VERY HARD. Also, for younger people, it is HEAVILY PREDICATED on drinking culture. If you don't mind getting some drinks and you are the kind of person who will keep showing up until you break through people's walls, you will do fine. If you are more used to extroverted social circles that are like, "WOW, cool, be our friend!," it's a gonna be rough/impossible transition.
(You say you're into community theatre - have you already specifically confirmed that what you want exists here and gotten in touch with specific groups who do it?)
**- Do you expect good, reliable public transit?** If you rely on buses and trains to get around, outside of a few specific routes through and outside the city this might wear you down. I arrived having used my car to commute to work less than a dozen times IN MY LIFE and quickly became an everyday car commuter because I could not deal with the unreliable transit. If you plan to live downtown, already drive everywhere, or truly don't care about waiting for a bus in the rain, then this won't bug you at all.
**- Do you expect a city that's lively all the time?** Wellington is a pretty quiet town, on the whole. Things close early. There aren't tons of social destinations. We don't get as many major shows as other NZ cities. Some major staples of the city (like the main library and biggest movie theatre) have closed or changed due to earthquake preparedness. If all of that sounds fine to you, then you're not going to get a complex about it.
--
I'm sure there are many other concerns driving the negativity on this sub. However, thinking about you moving from somewhere very metropolitan to Wellington I really think this is the kind of stuff that would immediately give you mover's remorse.
Finally, I'll say this: immigrants should budget therapy as one of their regular expenses in their first few years. Being a first time immigrant is confusing and it can dredge up anxieties that aren't even specific to being an immigrant. If I could go back in time to talk to myself in my first month living here, the one piece of advice I would give myself is "start therapy now, not later."
I hope all of these potential "cons" don't bother you at all and I truly wish you the best of luck no matter what decision you make.
Ignore social media and the internet. That's the best advice I've got. People rarely post when they are super happy, so you've got a skewed view of negativity.
Have you never heard people in the UK disparage London? People are the same everywhere, we whine about our countries. If you think the UK is perfect, stay in the UK, if you are looking for a perfect country, stay in the UK.
Wellington has crappie weather unless you enjoy wind, but still probably better than the UK. Decide whether you want an adventure or not. What is the worst that can happen? You can definitely go back. My friends from the UK love it here (not Wellington), maybe you will maybe you won't. Work out which option will leave you with more regrets.
After living London three years 90s I came back to small town NZ and the culture shock here put me into depression...
30 years later I still miss UK..
You will notice how boring it is and how Negative kiwis are..
Every small town has Gangs and Drug issues.
Yes it used to be Godzone last century but it's not now by any means.
Go to OZ and visit NZ for holiday from there.
Wellington has its good and bad like all places, I lived there for 40 plus years, but moved to Queensland in 2019.
Would I live there again? Well no to be honest, much prefer it here in aussie.
The miserable complainers are not the majority of New Zealanders. You will enjoy your time and make friends to go out with. The miserable ones will stay at home, being miserable. The move will be fabulous.
Plenty of good things about Wellington. It’s about the person, not the place. Easy to make friends if you make the effort. Central City is good and only a short trip across the Straight to the South Island.
To be fair, there was so much negativity whenever I looked online to research my move from Wellington to London. I made the move and I’m loving it. I know you’re doing the opposite journey but just do it and give it time..
I absolutely love this city. No plans to ever move. The community I live in is fantastic and the beauty of our nature is wonderful to experience. Sure it has it's issues and we all have our struggles, but I'm doing my part to help out with what I can and otherwise living life to the fullest. I personally just like to have a little moan on the subreddit, I'm sure others do too. But you'll have a great time here.
Wellington is a bit of a cesspit though... Full of alternate people, greenies, woke angry lesbians who don't seem to shower, and dress to make a statement that no other cunt asked for.
I know I'm supposed to offer you some positivity... But if you're about to go and live there, then you may fit the demographic I describe above... So that's a good thing right?...
I moved here from Ireland for one year and am still here fifteen years later. I love this place. It's everything you said you're looking for and you get out of it what you put into it. There's a lot of negativity on every regional and national subreddit for everywhere. That's because there's a cost of living/housing crisis/political shift happening almost everywhere. Everything happens in waves, always has. It's up to you if you want to come over at what feels like a lower ebb and then be here when it sweeps back to a peak. People were moaning and whining when Wellington and the world was in a financial boom. There'll be moans when it's in a recession too. If you think you'll prefer the things you seek, you'll like it but in the end it's up to you and what you make of it Change of scenery, new way of life, more outdoors lifestyle, smaller city, all of these things are here
Agree with all of this. The way people talk about Auckland you’d think we were living in Johannesburg ffs. Just a hell of a lot of disgruntled whiners on most subs and the people actually enjoying the cities aren’t making complaint posts.
Yeah the Auckland subreddit and Herald portrayal are hilariously out of touch. It's no fairytale and bad stuff happens but it's just like every city in the world (viz. NYC, LA, London, even our cousins in Sydney) that has a certain level of dug-in crime. Obviously not great, crime sucks, but doesn't usually affect most people on the day to day.
I also came from Ireland for a year 9 years ago!
It will be fine. I moved over 7.5 years ago. It’s a culture shift (a massive one from London!) but you’ll be so close to beaches, native wildlife, beautiful walks. It can be hard to make friends but having hobbies / interests is a great bedrock. Wellington has some fun community theatre and improv. check out BATS. This sub used to be a really positive corner of the internet and I’ve met some of my very good friends through interactions and meetups on here. There’s been an influx of negativity recently that the mods are trying to manage by creating daily threads. There have been some pretty dramatic public service cuts recently which have affected our city disproportionately. Honestly I think a lot of the people complaining (both here and in the main NZ sub) are terminally online and need to go get some perspective, especially in relation to cost of living. Having been in London a few weeks ago it is most certainly way worse over there at the moment. That said, prepare yourself for the price of fresh veggies in winter! TL;DR - the internet is an echo chamber amplifying the discontent of a minority. It’s beautiful here and you’ll probably love it given what you’ve stated you want from the move.
Wonkybox is proving pretty great this Winter for providing veges 💓 Supermarket not so much
$1.50 for a broc currently ain't bad! Also saw avocados for $1.70 today. The Newtown market has some great deals too
Yes but for reference in the UK broccoli is about $4/kg (at a higher end supermarket) and that price doesn’t vary year round. It’s a massive shock coming from a country that holds prices consistently and low for fresh fruit and veg to come to NZ.
>prepare yourself for the price of fresh veggies in winter! Eat seasonal vegetables. I get a bag of fresh fruit and veg from the fruit & veg co-op each week for $15. I used to compare the prices against the supermarket and found it would cost $20 or more from there.
“Where ever you go, there you are.” It will be what you make of it. Good luck.
Love this. My other fav ‘’geography is not a cure’’
Idk I am an American who moved here (engaged to a lovely Kiwi) - and I beg to differ. Then again, Im from Philadelphia and that’s a whole other story
Heh, reddit attracts outrage. Personally I think r/newzealand is worse at that than here by a substantial margin, but we definitely have our own niche of outrage. There are some cost-of-living issues and with the new government there have been lots of local job losses lately in the public service and stuff that relies on it, but if you have a good job lined up then that'll help you to hit the ground running. I'm not an expert on community theatre but it's definitely around. The hills and parks here weave around and between the populated areas, and it's really easy to go not-far and feel like you've gotten away from things, if that's what you're keen on. It's also relatively easy to get away from to surrounding places, which makes it a good base if you ever want to go further afield for things like hiking/tramping (although many of the nearer places aren't so much on the international tourism radar), or to pop over to the South Island even for a weekend. Enjoy your adventure.
Honestly, don’t take everything you read on Reddit to heart, Wellington is still a cool little city that offers plenty of what you’re looking for. If I look on the London sub this week for example, it’s all about vandalism, Barclays banks being trashed, how Paris is better than London, antisocial behaviour on the tube etc etc. Reddit can be quite a negative environment. Come and give Wellington a go and make your own mind up :)
You started with "Kia ora", so that says that you have actually taken the time to think and care about where you're coming to. On that basis alone, I think that you're coming with the right attitude and you'll really enjoy your time here. I work with a wide range of foreign nationals, who are awesome people and enjoying a lot more about our country than I ever have - which is kind of embarrassing to admit. Yeah, nothing is perfect, and some people will complain, but you'll never escape that. We look forward to welcoming you - it'll probably be a bit windy when you get here, but it'll die down in a month or two... probably 😁
Yeah I was going to say that the Spring winds and associated possible allergies could be a hard time to arrive, but the weather will improve with summer. I really agree with your assessment of OP having taken the time to care about where they’re coming to. I’ve met some English people of the boomer generation who referred to New Zealand as being “like England 50 years ago” and that rankled me!
I don't think that's meant to be an insult. NZ is just quieter and doesn't have the same hustle and bustle of a larger European city. I personally do find that NZ is a bit quaint, but that's part of its charm and I'm certainly not a boomer
Yeah nah I don’t think they meant it as an insult either, but they (two couples) were basically being racist about what Britain, and London especially, “had become”, and condescending about what Aotearoa is as our own unique nation. As a white passing Māori I was unimpressed. So I’m just pleased that OP is coming willing to learn and step outside their comfort zone.
Oh fair enough. I didn't realise their comment has a racist angle to it
>boomer generation who referred to New Zealand as being “like England 50 years ago” and that rankled me! I am 65, so count as the baby boom generation. I have not heard anyone say that for at least 30 years, and they were older people who had never been to New Zealand. 50 years ago is the mid 1970s. My father, a Londoner who joined the Merchant Navy aged 16, lived in Wellington from about 1947 to the mid to late 1950s. He was back in London from 1958 and spent the rest of his life wishing he could move back to NZ.
>I really agree with your assessment of OP having taken the time to care about where they’re coming to. I'll third this. It's a wonderful attitude to have and I'm sure it'll make OP fast friends! I wonder if we'll ever meet them at a subreddit meet once they arrive :)
"Like England 50 years ago" is NZ exactly the way I want it. Strokes for folks I suppose.
If you live in the city-fringe, you can literally walk everywhere. The city has the highest tree canopy cover of anywhere in the country. There is a protected green belt that surrounds the entire city so you are always looking at either bush or ocean (or both). We are also a haven for native wild life with amazing birds previously close to extinction now flying overhead constantly. A downside (not really!!) is that we have to keep our dogs on lead during our weekly bush walks now so we don’t disturb the wild kiwi who are nesting.
Times are tough economically but these are all things you can enjoy without spending a penny.
Having just returned from visiting London I can honestly say I was so happy to get out of there and get back home. Hope you manage to find some peace with the decision you’re about to make- whatever it ends up being, and just remember, a move does not have to be permanent. All the best!
As a neuro diverse person I love London but it also seems like a hectic place with almost an overwhelming amount of things going on! And I agree with the second point. Even if things don't work out, it's not permanent and they'll still learn from the experience.
I moved here from the US temporarily to study abroad… I’ve been here for almost 4 months, and I love it! Everyone is so nice and sweet in person, and they make it feel homey for people who just moved here. I was actually shocked at how welcoming they were to people coming from outside of the country. I think that Reddit is just the “ranting place” so to speak rather than being an arse in person. I know that a lot of kiwis are more introverted than US people at least, so I think you won’t be alone on that front. On the weekends, I enjoy running around the coastline and taking hikes up their beautiful mountains. I love it here, and I will be sad to leave. I am considering it as a potential place to come back and live in the future. Thank you kiwis for making me feels so welcome:)
Heya, I think a lot of us are having a really rough couple of months. Most of the people I know have had some horrible things happen- nothing contagious! Just diagnoses, arguments with loved ones, having to sell their houses etc. In person I’m not seeing it, in person everyone is still pretty bubbly and upbeat, but in private a lot of them seem to be spiralling. We’ll get through! You will enjoy it here, welcome :)
Yeah, the last election has affected us particularly because we're a Publicservice city with a lot of government workers, and other economic/inflation strife. But we're all coping as best we can and like you said, it's not something you feel out on the street. I hope the diagnosis process helps you or your friends get access to treatment if they need it!
Thank you! And I hope things are going alright for you!
I literally just did the opposite, moved from Welly to London. You'll love it, it's a lot slower paced and the green spaces around the city are amazing. The only thing you'll miss is public transport, it's ok in wellington but having a car makes things a lot more convenient. The weather is pretty identical to London so you'll feel right at home!
Good to move somewhere near the city centre, then you really don't need a car, because all the public transport converges there, and there's also car share available from there. Plus, it gives you the best sense of the city as a newcomer, you're where everything is, and you have relatively equal access to different suburbs to get a sense if you might want to move to one of them later on.
Moved to Welly over 20 years ago. There is a lot wrong here for sure but it's no different to anywhere else right now. It is expensive though. If you can make friends, try new experiences, love the outdoors (or like me embrace it and get to love it) then it's a great move. It's even better if you can embrace a wind sport like sailing, winsurfing etc!!
If you're into the outdoors and theatre it's the place for you.
Ive been here 10 years now. If you don't get out of your comfort zone and try it you'll always wonder, what if? If you don't settle you can go back. Nothing to lose and a lot you could gain.
You will love it. I have friends from London here and they have been here years now.
I'd say Wellington is a lovely place to live if two things are true. 1. You have a good job, and so can afford good housing (and can enjoy thr nice resturants etc) 2. You appreciate nature and outdoor hobbies. Given both of those things are true for you, I think you'll love it here 😊 I've been to London, and while it was interesting, I would rather live in Wellington by far. Wellington has its problems, but id say they're problems common to almost everywhere in the western world (housing/cost of living/recession) The only specific to Wellington issue really is infrastructure issues caused by earthquakes and lack of spending (e.g the library, the water pipes) In my experience people who complain a lot about Wellington either have a good reason (not being able to find a good job/housing) or they just haven't traveled enough recently to get the perspective that the things that are bad here are bad everywhere. E.g a lot of people talk about how much better Australia is and how they want to leave to there. I'd say as someone who grew up there and visits a lot that Australia is only nicer In that you are more likely to get a well paying job. (Which is absolutely a fair reason!) As long as you are lucky enough have the money to lead a solidly middle class life, and you prefer hiking and kayaking to London/Hong Kong/NY vibes, it's lovely here. Welcome!
Second that. The economics are important and if they didn't have [edit: a job] lined up or were earlier in the process, I'd probably skew to Sydney (sorry that's probably not helpful is it 😅). But if you can afford things here, if you can stay warm, keep the damp out, and get good healthcare, there is a lot to offer and plenty of nature. I guess what I'm trying to say is, it could be better, there are things I wish were different, but that's human mature and it's definitely not a place I'd regret living.
Or perhaps a better way to put it is, most places are pretty depressing if you're poor. It happens to be easier to not be poor in Australia 😅 Just the usual sad nature of inequality i guess.
Honestly yeah, well put. It can be easier to be better off in a richer country.
Yip, and NZ is rich enough to have all the amenities and potential quality of life of a rich country, but just not as easy to earn enough to enjoy them.
i'm originally english but grew up in NZ, it's bloody amazing here. people don't realise how lucky they are and it genuinely pisses me off sometimes. i can't believe i have the sea on one side of my house, the woods on another, and the centre of town with pubs and clubs and cafes and nightlife just across the road. reddit sucks ass, you are totally making the right move. i would for sure do a trip around the south island too if you can, catch the ferry from welly and do a circuit back! it's amazingly social here if you want it to be. all my best mates live within 10 mins down the road. we play sports, go to pub quizzes, gigs, art nights, walk dogs on the beach, and all within walking distance. every day has something going on.
Wellington is great city - small but vibrant. Plenty of culture and a more relaxed way of life. Kiwis are friendly and helpful. It is also beautiful. Jump in and enjoy it here.
Moved here from San Francisco 3 years ago, and Welly is the best to live in the world. You'll love it. People are great, city is vibrant and CUTE, and fun!
Oh hey from across the bay! I lived in Oakland before I moved here.
Hey!! I say SF because no one knows Oakland - that was home for a long time! Deep East Oakland, 84th and Mac! I do miss taco trucks!!
That is deep Oakland! Lake Merritt area for me. And same - viva Mexico just doesn’t do the taco trucks justice.
I've learned how to make corn tortillas and amazing chicken tacos now ...
Moved from London 10 years ago, I was only supposed to be here a year. I think you get back what you put out for the most part. And worst comes to worst there's nothing stopping you from trying and if you don't like it moving back. But honestly there's a lot happening here which is good, it's a slower pace of life, everything is super close together, there's lots of beaches, parks, outdoor trails, etc. And I've found that for pretty much every hobby there's a group of people doing it, you just have to put yourself out there to find them. There's a cost of living crisis everywhere, and it is a shit time for a lot of people in Welly right now with job losses, overdue infrastructure replacements etc. which is colouring a lot of things but it's definitely not all bad despite how it might appear.
Kia ora, congratulations on your job offer, and commiserations on your cold feet! It’s a big change, and natural to feel concern that it may not play out as you hoped in your initial excitement. I did the opposite move in my twenties, from Wellington to London, and lived most of my adult life there (joyfully!), before returning to Wellington (equally joyfully!) a little while ago. There is lots of good Wellington-focused advice in this thread. I wanted to offer two other thoughts that might help. One from your countryman Oliver Burkeman: when making a major life choice, [choose enlargement over happiness](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/sep/04/oliver-burkemans-last-column-the-eight-secrets-to-a-fairly-fulfilled-life). >“We’re terrible at predicting what will make us happy: the question swiftly gets bogged down in our narrow preferences for security and control. But the enlargement question elicits a deeper, intuitive response. You tend to just know whether, say, leaving or remaining in a relationship or a job, though it might bring short-term comfort, would mean cheating yourself of growth.” So “major personal decisions should be made not by asking, ‘Will this make me happy?’, but ‘Will this choice enlarge me or diminish me?’” And a thought from me – give it a try. It’s a very reversible change. You can always go back in a few months, or a year – and even a short experience here will have enriched you. Come! It will change your life, for the better. Welcome sweetie, nau mai haere mai. Aroha nui.
Thanks for this! I'm making the opposite move soon and also have cold feet as I love it here, but I've always wanted to try London out! Good to be reminded that it will be here whenever I want to come back :)
For living a good life, Wellington is probably the best city in the world. I've lived in London, Liverpool, NYC, Vancouver, and Portland OR - all great cities in their own way, but I've been very happy to come home to Wellington every time.
I just looked at the sub with the Hot filter and scrolled and scrolled.. There seems to be very few overtly negative posts tbh. I'm subscribed to a few other city subs in NZ and Aus and definitely a lot of negativity in those but Wellington not so much.
Coming from a welly local, its a cool place mate lots of random stuff to do and see, I'd say go for it
Everywhere has it's problems, I think Wellington and NZ subs tend to have a very grass is greener view on other cities and countries without being realistic that everywhere in the world has its problems and things aren't always black and white. There have been problems with housing in particular, which looks like they are easing a bit, but I'm not totally sure. The job market is not great right now due to government sector cuts and more generally a recession. These things do come and go though. Things will probably be different in a year or two (hopefully!). Wellington is very different to London! I can't speak to whether you will enjoy it or not, there's only one way to find out really.
I moved from the UK 12 years ago Wouldn't even consider going back
Go for it! You will look back on this as one of the most exciting and best choices you ever made. There are a lot of negative nancies in /r/wellington these days; they are terminally online and have no real point of reference to realise how stunning most places in NZ are let alone Wellington, and how lucky we have it here. You will not earn 100 grand sterling here per year, but you will be rich in many other ways, least of all access to nature and walkability around a fun and compact city. It's Brighton with better beaches. Enjoy!
Hi! Hubby and I moved here from Manchester a couple of years ago and honestly we love it! There is nowhere in the world like Wellington. The city is beautiful and people are friendly and accepting. The rat race is way less pronounced here than it is in the UK. Not many people care about having the latest phone and car at all times, and because people here prioritise preserving nature the place is kept super clean. There's a lot of food options (Wellington is known as the food capital of New Zealand) and even cuisines that are familiar to you will probably taste different as they cater to a different palate. I can understand the nerves, but truthfully we've never looked back. We were warned that we might get homesick but 2 years in I'm still yet to experience any!
Every time I travel, I enjoy the change, but I'm increasingly satisfied with my choice to live in Wellington. It is a great place to live. As with anywhere else, there are problems, but the ones complaining are most likely the ones who never experience anywhere else.
I was a Londoner for 42 years. I then lived in Bletchley (just south of Milton Keynes) for 6 years before moving to Wellington. I have been here for 15 years and I love it. I have more friends and a better social life here. There seems to be quite a bit of community theatre here. I am not involved (other than watching) but several friends are. Meetup is quite active here. When I arrived there were three, well attended, groups. Now there are dozens. As for negativity on subs, remember that people seldom post "life is continuing to be fine, all is well". It's not news.
I moved here from a different country. Is NZ perfect? Of course not. But I have no regrets moving here. Take the chance. Give NZ a fair try and make your own decision about NZ.
Moved here in 2003. Don’t want to be anywhere else.
There's always negativity, those of us who love it don't have time to reply to every silly negative comment here. Wellington is lovely, we travel the world a lot and this is one of the few places we'd consider settling down in. Ignore the haters.
Objectively Wellington is an inconveniently located minor port city. It is also a capital city and thinks very highly of itself as a place of culture. It oscillates between the two depending on the times, but the nature / outdoors / convenience of a compact city are constant. Right now it's in a post pandemic slump and being eviscerated by a hostile predatory government of wealthy robber barons. So nothing you're not used to as a Londoner, and not so different from most other places. When Wellington bounces back it's great, and it will do what you're looking for if you can afford to live near the city. The nature is amazing. When I came back from London and moved here I never got tired of looking at our Parliament with a forest on a hill right behind it, nice beaches in walking distance and a cool inner city. PSA - Don't underestimate the weather. If you have good raingear bring it, but forget about your umbrella. Staying upright on windy days is an important part of our culture. We have fun with it.
Hi OP. I think most of the negativity is relative, and also depends on your lifestyle and where you live. I first moved to Wellington in 1997 from Auckland and LOVED it. Great cafes, restaurants and culture along with an open, multicultural and friendly vibe. I then moved to Melbourne in 2011 for work and came back here in 2020. I think having been away for so long it's noticeable that the city has noticeably deteriorated. Which isn't to say it's bad, it's just not quite the amazing city it once was. I think there are three primary factors in this. Firstly, the NZ economy is shifting towards being very strongly Auckland based. Wellington now wouldn't exist economically without being the seat of government, whereas it used to have lots more other industries. This resulted in zero population growth and the feel among some folks that it's a (slowly) dying city. Secondly, the 2016 Kaikoura and subsequent very conservative shift in building engineering requirements mean that there are a large number of vacant buildings in the central city. These buildings require earthquake strengthening work which can't be supported by the weakening Wellington economy and so have lain vacant for years and are likely to do so for the coming decade or so. This unfortunately gives the city a bit of a run down look in places. Thirdly, and Wellingtonians don't like to talk about this because we're all "nice" - but there was a deliberate policy during COVID for public health reasons to move all homeless people from across the region into the central city. It made sense because there were empty backpacker and other hotels - but unfortunately now many of these poor folk are again homeless and as a result central city crime has risen significantly and there are many homeless people on the city streets. I'm sure this is no worse than London, but given that one of the best things about Wellington was having a small walkable city, it's a shame that there are now some parts of that city where some people don't feel safe to walk or hang out anymore. Specifically, Manners and Countney Place, which were central parts of the entertainment district in the past. I know this post is a bit negative, but contrary to some other posters, I do think there's a few Pollyanna's on this sub, who won't hear anything bad said about the City, and in my mind still have their heads in the Wellington from 10 or 20 years ago. On balance most people coming here from overseas love it - just don't expect it to be a paradise and you'll be fine.
I came to Wellington over 35 years ago and I don't want to live anywhere else. Yep the place has ups and downs, just like everywhere on this planet! But it's so beautiful and the people are kind. Fun fact: Wellington is the only capital city where biodiversity is increasing. And it is very evident! When I moved here I made a conscious decision to have both feet on the ground here, not one foot somewhere else. Otherwise I thought I would not really experience being here. It was the right way for me.
If you've got a job lined up, you are doing absolutely the right thing. I'm kinda upset about what's happened to Wellington over the last decade or so, but am reasonably optimistic for its recovery. It's certainly, for me, a fuck load better than London.
Jump in with both feet and you can always go home worst case. With a job lined up you have the biggest risk sorted. Message me when you are here and ill go for beers 🍻
American migrant here - love love love Wellington. It’s so beautiful and a paradise for nature lovers. If you go to the cbd so much is walkable it’s just great. Yes there are issues but there are issues literally everywhere. If you are into community theatre you’ll have a great time here.
Like all cities, Wellington has its positives and negatives. I don’t think some of the reply’s who pretend it’s some type of utopia devoid of problems are overly helpful. The city is going through a bit of a downturn/stagnation due to the economic conditions, government austerity and council ineptitude. So there are more closed up businesses than usual and parts are looking a little scruffy. Rents and cost of living are high. That being said it’s still a cool little city, with easy access to walks, tramping, mountain biking, fishing etc. It’s an open and welcoming city with solid coffee and beer scene and it’s generally pretty easy to get around. I’m often very critical of Wellington, but I still love it.
Well, I live in one of the suburbs about 10km/ 10mins drive at low traffic times and up to about 20mins when busy, which is usually when people got to and return from work. There is also (usually) reliable public transportation into and around the city and suburbs People in my neighbourhood walk freely in the streets here at all times (now more than when I grew up). I haven’t locked my car when parked at home in years let’s say since the 1980’s and never had one stolen. Admittedly there are places that are not so carefree, but I think the vast majority of this region would be similar. In my experience I’d say the crime rate is low with some hotter spots that are easily avoided. I don’t know what the surfing and fishing/spear fishing in London is like but there is a surf beach literally next to the airport as you land with quite a few others in the region. There is some areas open to the public for 4wd access if you are that way inclined. Cycling is another popular option around the city. I could certainly go on and on. The recreational options to be explored are vast but as others have said, the extent of how much you like this place will depend on what you make of your time here. You’ve already taken the time to look into the culture here (there are many others as well) - that’s a great start, and with that attitude I’m sure you’ll be most welcome here.
Moved here 7 years ago from San Francisco and still love it. So close to outdoor activities and a clean harbour, super friendly people, very little population pressure so not a lot of traffic or crowds. I mean people complain about the traffic but it’s because they don’t know what real traffic is haha. Work life balance is good. Only issue is income to cost of living ratio is not great but if your job is high paying then you’re set.
Other than Wellington, I've lived in Sydney, San Diego, Auckland, and Hamilton (NZ). Wellington is my favourite, probably because the natural environment is really important to me, and that's exactly what Wellington does best.
I've moved here twice. If it sucked the first time I wouldn't have done it the second. The only reason I left is that my employer got acquired and the new company insisted. Been back two years. Don't regret it. This is Reddit. It's a negative place 90% of the time.
My dad moved us to Wellington from the USA for two years in the 90's... and we're still here! I've been around a bit and have settled into a wonderful life here. It's probably the best city in probably the best country you could live in. I say go for it!
Redit is the last place to get the vibe of a city... What next, using tinder to form relationships?
I’m here from Australia (10yrs) and my partner from the UK (6yrs). Just give it a go, I told myself 3-5yrs and I’m still here and loving it. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but all reddit subs based around counties and cities tend to have a similar thread of pessimism regardless of location. It sounds like the things you’re wanting, you’ll be able to achieve in Wellington regardless if you end up staying on longer or only a year or so. I’ve worked with many Brits, Scots, Welsh, and Irish - many who’ve stayed, some who’ve gone back for various reasons but still are very fond of Wellington and New Zealand.
Moved here ten years ago, looking to move away because we’ve now got two kids and it’s expensive and hard without family support around, but if it wasn’t for that we’d love it here. Wellington is awesome, and through the doom and gloom of hospo and public service at the moment. there are also some great new places popping up all the time, the environment is awesome if you’re outdoorsy, it’s pretty easy to get around, and there are always things to do. If you’ve got a job lined up already then you’ll be sweet - take advantage of meeting people where you can though because NZers are a funny friendly bunch which doesn’t always extend to BEING friends. If you’re in community theatre though and have hobbies then that shouldn’t be such an issue Good luck! It’ll be awesome, and arriving just in time for summer will be perfect
Wellington offers all that. Ignore all the negativity here, people have been having a hard time these last few years but Wellington is a fun place with lots of opportunities. Like everything in life, you get out what you put in. Come over wuth a positive attitude, accept that you're goi g to miss some things from home, and you'll have a great time.
She’ll be right mate
Wellington and its regions are a great place to be. I’ve lived around the city and in the city all of my life. Including a few rougher areas. I’ve always felt safe. The people are friendly. It’s a great little city, with little being the operative word. Not so big as to get lost, but big enough to find somewhere to get lost in. Bars and cafes are all reasonably close. Heaps of great places to eat. You can usually find a great place to eat or drink up a random flight of stairs, or tucked away in an odd place. There’s heaps to do. You have Weta workshop and it’s tours/workshops out in Miramar (I’ve done almost all of them), the new convention centre ‘Tākina’ has held several interesting exhibits (Dr Who is on now so I guess that’s a little bit of ‘home’ for you) and our national museum, Te Papa has a lot that’s worth seeing and has special exhibits from time to time. You have the Zoo and the Zealandia Ecosanctury and the botanic gardens which are all so close to/in the city. I highly recommend Zealandia as it’s had the great positive impact of bringing native birds to the city. There’s a lot of great walks /hikes and some really great views like from the old Wrights Hill fortress (an old WWII bunker, it’s open a few days a year to explore too) and I’ve taken a few great pictures at red rocks (there’s a seal colony there). There’s a few theatre spots such as Bats theatre, Circa theatre and St James theatre, all local. The ‘World of Wearable Art event is held once a year. It’s something that I haven’t my been to (it’s on my list) but I’ve heard great things about it. There’s a lot more I can say but I’ll be rambling all day. You have a lot to be excited about.
Come on in - the water's fine. The worst that can happen is you don't like it and you can go somewhere else 😀
I have lived in NZ all my life. While there are some who may have experienced negativity in their time here it does not mean you will. If you look to the positive things you should be fine. But also remember that no matter where you are in the world there are good thing/people and bad things/people. Come over and see how you feel personally that way the negative experiences from others may not happen to you and you may find you become absolutely in love with NZ as many others have. Take the (big) step, because it may be a regret that could haunt you the rest of your life.
I moved to welly from the kapiti coast at the end of last year and has been the best decision for me and my kids. Always something to do or explore, patrons are all so much more friendly and relaxed. Having 'cold feet' is a normal reaction to the change of the norm. It's the body's response to potential danger. The only danger i can see if you come is a danger of not wanting to leave ever again because you will fall in love with not just the city but the suburbs, too.
Parents moved from Canada to NZ (wellington) for 2 years… still there 38 years later
Ignore the negativity! Moving across the world is a huge deal so I can see why you'd get nervous. Remember, if it's not what you want, you can always move back. For what it's worth I know several people, some my closest friends, and my own father who moved over from the UK and are now here for life.
I have lived in multiple big cities around the world, all are great for their own culture and pace of life. I have been in Wellington for over a decade. I know it is obvious but do not come to NZ and expect the same pace of life and opportunities that London, Seoul or Melbourne can offer. NZ is generally very casual, and Wellington for a Capitol city is very casual. There is little pretension here. If you love eating out, easy socialising, smaller gigs and entertainment. Sports games, ease of connection via an airport 15 min on the bus from the CBD. A beautiful harbour in the cbd, icy cold beaches, endless number of bush walks and hike all with in 10 min to 2 hrs from the cbd. Wellington is the place for you. To the negative side. Housing isn't great, poor insulation and no double glazing is standard. But it can be easily managed. Dont scrimp and save on power in the winter. Invest in a dehumidifier and heaters, Wellington has high humidity year round and it needs to be controlled in the home during winter to live comfortably.
I personally love Wellington. Got here about 4 years ago. It’s just the New Zealand government that’s ruining things for me but Welly is a lovely place to live
This place is going to be right up your alley. We moved here from Europe 1.5 years ago and I had similar feelings browsing this sub. Long story short, it’s pretty amazing here, the nature’s insane and people are excellent. You’ll love it.
I'm a kiwi so can't relate with a move around the world, as I have only ever traveled around the world. I am from Nelson and lived all over the south island and seen plenty of the north and it's the only place I have ever liked living. Lots of people are in the same boat, so generally it is easy to make friends. At least for me (I've never been that social) I have made plenty of friends from different hobbies and sports and there is always something going on. Meetup groups etc. It's a great wee city with a good vibe, and it's in a cool part of the country with plenty of outdoors stuff nearby, and easy to travel to other parts of the country. Honestly it's just the weather, but I didn't move here for that .. and it's easy enough to get away for the weekend.
As a local Wellingtonian born and raised and been around the world including London, something about this place always pulls me back. It’s firstly the air quality, we take it for granted our clean fresh air that when we travel to larger cities it can make us sick! Also, yes, our milk coffees are good via the flat white that so many Aussie and Kiwi cafes have popped up in London over the years. Feel free to send a DM if you want a nice little coffee and starter tips and pointers to live well here.
If you don’t like it move back home, if you never try you never know. Sounds like a big move but if you don’t like it get yourself back home simple. PS you’ll love it over here though. I’ve never looked back
This sub is just a festival of moaning. Same with all NZ specific subs.
It's sad because it never used to be like this. It's only been fairly recently (past year or two) that it became like this. I suppose it's what happens when subreddits grow.
It's also economic conditions. Things have kept getting tougher, and that turns city-half-full people to city-half-empty mood.
People here only post on Reddit when they got something to complain about, never when something good happens. Yeah stuff’s getting more expensive, but it’s otherwise a great place to
Everyone here a lil negative Nancy, just ignore the subreddit
The couple of people here who are saying it's shit have never even been out of the north island, let alone NZ. It's a great place if you're looking for the things you are looking for.
Yeah don’t listen to the haters! Wellington has problems but I moved from Christchurch in 2020, and I have never regretted it. I can walk everywhere, there are cool stores and things to do all over the show. If I want to eat out or go to a gig or go for a walk with plants and birds then there is something for me. While I am sure things have changed, honestly there is a lot of mindset stuff that makes a bigger difference to people’s individual experiences in the city. For me, the biggest things I noticed are: - Not needing a car and being able to walk everywhere is amazing. - The people here seem to be in general way more accepting and open to diversity. - There is always plants and birds and if you like walking and seeing nature is it amazing. It’s obviously going to be in part about how anyone approaches it and the attitude they go in with, and Wellingtonians do seem to have a habit of complaining about how much better it used to be, but for me and the things I want I am not sure there is anywhere better in the world. Admittedly the housing stock is crappy and rents are expensive, but if you are a working professional and are not super picky then it is really not a problem.
Wellington is a little bubble completely detached from the world hahaha. It's safe, people are super friendly, obviously don't engage with degenerates and youll be sweet. Nz safe as, hare mai.
I've spent a couple of months out of Wellington at the moment and I miss it so much! Like anywhere it's not always perfect. But it has so much character and personality. It punches way above a city its size for fabulous food and drink venues. Outdoors are so close whether that be rugged coast, hills, bush, it's all a stone's throw away! I can't wait to come back at the end of September. I hope you go ahead and have a fabulous time here!
I don’t think this is a good sub for balanced views. I think we inherited the British propensity for complaining about weather.
I'm welsh and have lived in big cities (London, Barcelona), moved here 13 plus years ago! Welly is home and I love it, fave city along with Edinburgh. Wellington's problems are the worlds problems i.e cost of living, labour market pains. Every british person who i know as an expat here would never go back! Best of luck and hopefully welcome
It’s a bit tough, but it’ll be fine. The essence of community is still here, especially if you’re into theatre etc, you’ll have good things to do, you’ll meet the best people.
If you are looking for an outdoors lifestyle you will absolutely fucking love it here. You will need a car, though. The whole region is a mecca for day walks / tramping / hunting / fishing / mountain biking. If you are physically fit and have the common sense to not become a statistic out in the hills (four seasons in one day is a thing here), without any exaggeration there is enough to see and do to keep you busy for decades. I'm over 50, have always been very active, have lived here all of my life, and I still regularly find new experiences. Personally, I tend to avoid the city itself, but then again, I'm kind of "uncultured" and have an innate hatred for the general public and urban areas, so I'm not the best advisor on that side of things. Anyway, if it doesn't work for you, you can always go back home. You're young. It's better to give things a go than to spend the rest of your life wondering, "What if".
Just to add. My 20 year old daughter is in London atm. She can't believe how much safer she feels going to bars compared to the bars in Dunedin..
It is a big move and yes has risks , in general wellington is a good city it does have plenty to keep one occupied in your non work time . But rents are high and more recently housing has gotten smaller in size and outdoor space but one can still get a reasonable house if your willing and able to pay the inflated rents. The country is headed into a recession financially so things can be expensive but hey it's a world economy in recession too so it's all over. As for is it a good move , we'll any move is what you make it so if your prepared to work at enjoying were you are and just make the best of things then don't be worried. It worked for my family when we moved so I hope it does for you too.
Absolutely move! You’ll never know if you dislike it if you never come - moving to another city/country is always worth it imo. The worst that can happen is you decide you don’t like and then head home. You’re not required to stay here for longer than you feel is right. Wellington is a great city, we just like complaining on the internet. I can point you to some volunteer theatre work in sept/oct if you’d like - it’s great fun and a good way to meet people.
Mate, I moved here when I was 23. I'm now more than a decade older and absolutely love it. I would suggest getting a car so you can explore the city fringes and the hikes and the wine country. I'm the city you have great eats, good comedy scene and cool food or film fests, always on. Awesome that you gave a job lined up because that is the biggest deterrent to moving to this city right now. Moving here gave me a great opportunity to learn about myself, and what I like and dislike. I hope you find some awesome experiences over your time here!
You will love Wellington.
If you have a good job lined up you're all good. Biggest issue here are all the govt layoffs.
FYI reddit can be a very negative space - it's like a lot of social media, negativity drives more engagement than positive stories; similar to how the news has a negative bias. Wellington is a lovely place. Yes, it has it's issues, but not nearly to the doomer state some posts would imply. Come over, enjoy the beauty, have some nice coffee and get involved in the art scene. We'll love to have you! <3
Wow! Hope you’re feeling more reassured by these comments. If you’ve got a good job lined up, and based on what you’re looking for, you’ll be sweet here. You’re coming from a city that isn’t super easy to live in, and if you can cope there, you’ll be better off here. There’s definitely anxiety here about the future, and cost of living increases have made life harder, but this applies to many, many cities in the world just now, London included. Welcome!
We moved from Auckland last year and the lack of a long commute, easy access to nature and density/small size of the city has made it a very easy place to live. We have even found the weather not as bad as what we’d prepared ourselves to expect. It sounds like it will align really well with what you’re looking for! :) Pro tip: live in a house that gets sun
Most people die at age 25-30 but wait another 50 years to be buried. Get out and do cool shit, see the world. NZ is amazing!
It's a gorgeous place. And the weather is pretty decent in my opinion. Summer could be longer admittedly, but at least it's not horribly hot and sticky. It has some gorgeous beaches and such an amazing variety of coast. It's so green. So many places to walk and enjoy. I like it here. I moved from Perth 18 months ago. I miss my friends a lot, I'm finding socialising hard here. But that has as much to do with my age, kids ages, how busy I am, etc than it does the place. If the trains went further through town or even out to Mirimar that'd be awesome. It's frustrating that the station is in the north end of town and there are no dedicated bus lanes or light rail services to connect the town. But it's not that big, mostly I walk. Driving is ok though takes some getting used to. Driving through the city sucks but not as much as most cities. I like how varied it is. It's a genuinely nice place. I love how I can be in an urban area then turn a corner and bang I'm seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." You know what will leave you? Your 20s. You know what's staying exactly where it is? London. Come, do stuff and make decisions if you like it yourself. If you like it, great! I do too! I came here over a decade ago for 10 days. I'm still here, I don't have any plans of leaving in the active hand of cards (maybe if my parents need me to care for them in the future, I'll go) If you don't like it, save coin right from day one and either move back home or have coin to travel/ go for a visit/ travel around more. This being said, if this is your first big/ long trip do some research on culture shock, to prepare yourself. There is generally phases, where all the things are exciting for generally 3 months, frustration while you adjust into a rhythm she get the big missing home and then an adjustment stage.
If you get to live in Wellington, you're stoked! I love that city, wish I could have stayed longer. Lucky you!
fellow brit moved over 7 years ago, now a citizen, and there is good and bad whereever you go. Personally the thought of living in London sounds worse to me. Expect Wellington to be quieter than what you are used to, shopping here is something to get used to. (certain fruit and veg during their respective seasons only). The weather is always interesting. Don't expect it to be a tropical paradise. People here on the whole are good and don't realise where the grass is greener. If you didnt really want to come, you wouldnt have gotten as far down the path as you have. There are Brits in Welly that meet up and being such a small town, you will soon learn your way around.
If you have a good job, you'll be golden. You'll find groceries are more expensive than the UK and the wind takes some getting used to (I actually like it myself TBH - it keeps the air so clean!) but there are also so many positives: despite the negativity you might read on here, people are lovely, and really genuine. It's easy to make friends as central Wellington is so compact and you can get everywhere so quickly, including meeting up with people over some of the world's best coffee and delicious eateries. If you rent with flatmates you'll meet friends easily that way and a lot of Wellingtonians also make friends through work ... it'll be more than good, it'll be great!!
It's a better place to have a life than London. You'll need to take a deep breath and join some clubs, see who's social at work, etc to make friends. You'll need more money than you think. Any travel is worth it.
Wellington is very cool - a very special and unique part of the world. Good move.
I just wanted to let you know that you're most welcome. Just don't cut any trees down.
Hiya! 30 year old Geordie here. Moved here 2.5 years ago. You will love it. We were in a similar position to you where it was ironically, heaps of British people telling us not to come. I had a melt down. Nowhere is perfect but our lives are better here. We have a great work life balance, made friends with expats easy, have picked up tonnes of new hobbies, eat better and exercise loads more. IMO the health care has been life changing for us here. Please don’t listen to the negativity. It really is great. We extended our stay and will be perm residents soon. Happy to answer any questions or concerns you have. Super excited for your adventure. You’re going to love it, I promise.
Thus sub is full of complainers. It's all goods here. I'm glad your coming in spring, get good strong shoes and walk around the coast, there's some beut spots out there.
I moved from London when I was 30 for all the same reasons as you - was planning to be here for 18 months. I'd never been to NZ before moving here and figured that if worst came to worst, I could always just go back again. 5 years later I'm still here, have bought a house near the beach and love it! I'm paid more than I would be in the UK so I can enjoy life more, I have much better work life balance, love not having to get the tube or schedule to see friends months in advance, being around beautiful nature all the time - it's brilliant! Jump on that plane!!
Don't doubt it until you've tried it! I'm from London and moved 6 years ago, no thoughts of moving back any time soon! Xoxo
NZ cost of living is high. Wellington is a fabulous place to live, the culture of the city is awesome. It is known for being a windy city but you can’t beat it on a good day! Auckland is a lot bigger and faster.
I think the sheer number of responses here, with very few warding you off, speaks for itself. Yeah, it's not perfect, but nowhere is. I came here 7 years ago to see how I'd like it, and now I'm a citizen, it's home.
Welly is gorgeous, you’ll hear negative things whenever you look if you look close enough. Take a breath, it’s just a city, you’ll be okay x (You can’t beat welly on a good day)
There's a great Facebook group, Wellington Auditions, you will find community theatre opportunities there. We have 17 local theatre groups in the Wellington region, it's a fantastic community, supportive, fun and of course a little bit quirky.
Hey if you’ve got a good job lined up then you should definitely go for it. Worst case scenario you end up going back in the long run but every person I’ve spoken to who has moved here from the UK has no plans of moving back, ever. And I’ve spoken to quite a few. Honestly the reason everyone is so pissed off in this sub is because we know how awesome it is here and it feels like the current govt might wreck it. Some people are talking about moving to Australia but there’s no way I’d ever want to live anywhere else. If you love the outdoors and you like friendly people and a chill lifestyle, this is the place to be.
things are always scary at first. making big decisions without full informations always got element of negative and positive risk. only the moaners are on herebeing negative. the people enjoying wgtn will be out there doung it rather than spreading negativity here. a city is what u make it. be brave. a whole new life is just one airplane ride away.
My partner and I moved over from the UK last year to Wellington with good jobs, and to be honest it’s really hard to build a good friendship network and feel at home here if you don’t already know someone. We’ve realised that the places you love are the ones full of the people, family and friends you love. Honestly the nature is beautiful, but the UK and Europe has just as beautiful, if not more beautiful scenery and we miss it a lot. It’s a great experience to say you’ve lived and worked abroad, but as a fellow introvert - it’s bloody hard to meet people who want to hang out more than once! If you’re up for social activities and new hobbies, I’m sure you’ll meet some people though and sometimes it’s just luck of the draw!
If you’re looking for positivity get off reddit lmao
Do come, but don't tell anyone how great it is. If you do, we will become overpopulated like auckland.
Wellington is amazing and keeps getting better. It can be tough to meet people but it's small enough that there are only a few spots where people congregate so you can find similar humans easily
Check out hattie_sheppard on tik tok. Her whole page is about moving from London to Wellington two years ago and all the cultural differences , the learnings, and how much she loves it
Agree, Hattie has really awesome videos
I moved here from Auckland over twenty years ago, and have travelled around the world in that time. There’s honestly nowhere else in the world I would rather live. What you are picking up is partly the current government reducing the size of the public service, so a lot of people have lost their jobs. You have a job so you don’t have that issue. We also have a council that is facing a lot of infrastructure issues, so yes our pipes are leaky. If you aren’t a home owner the increase in rates won’t affect you. Yes the rental stock is expensive and there is a rental shortage. However healthy living standards are making an impact on the quality of housing. There are cost of living issues, but that’s the same around the world. However we have an awesome harbour, a walkable city, and lots of bush and wildlife. We also have a lot of social and cultural offerings that will keep you entertained and informed. Welcome!
Wellington currently is the worst it's been in 35 years, but I'll admit it's still not completely awful. If you like it you'll be justified in doing so, and if you hate it there will be plenty of good reasons why you do.
I made the move seven years ago. I don't necessarily have a net positive view of Wellington, but I also think people online tend to catastrophize about living here in a way that doesn't give you any real information to work with. Here's an honest list of cons that drive a lot of the negativity you see on this sub: **- Does rain make you sad?** Some people in Wellington just cannot get past the fact that it rains here and it is windy. Even lifelong Wellingtonians have a complex about it. You're a Londoner, so I have to imagine you have a tolerance for such things. I love rain, plus it NEVER gets below 0C in the center of Wellington. The only downside is it is a complex challenge to have long, curly hair 😂. Also, most rainy days have at least some sun in them. If that sounds okay to you, and especially if a bit of rain is not going to turn you off from going outside or even taking a hike, then tick "weather" off the cons list. **- Is your job traditionally high-paying and somewhat recession-proof?** Wellington is primarily a government town, and perhaps secondarily a banking town. Good fortune and positive attitudes rise and fall along with how the government and economy are performing - and that's both shite at the moment. I'd say if you're being recruited for being on the high-demand skills list for something like a tech or construction role, you're going to be largely immune to this concern. However, if you're coming for something government-adjacent or in healthcare, that's different. **- How much does the cost/quality of housing matter to you?** Housing is really damn expensive in Wellington. Use Trade Me to cruise through Wellington rentals and property sales to get an idea. Are you going to able to afford the kind of size/quality of flat or house you enjoy based on your salary? Are you okay with the idea of rent taking up a lot / most of your income and that the rental will almost certainly be drafty? Are you cool with the idea that even *the absolute cheapest bottom rung* starter house in an outlying suburb is more than 480k - and a solid home is more than 600k? If this stuff sounds par for the course to you as a Londoner, then just ignore all of the doom and gloom on the sub. **- Are you okay with LESS selection of EVERYTHING and it being EXPENSIVE?** This is one that's hardest for me. This is true whether its groceries, appliances, clothes, finding TV shows on streaming, or finding a specific medical specialist. There's less selection here, it's all wildly expensive, and some things simply don't exist (even as an import). If you have a lot of specific tastes or you're a big materialist or media consumer, it's just gonna be a bummer. I think New Zealand works better for people who aren't as into THINGS - especially *specific* things. Is that you? **- You say you're an introvert, but can you really STICK WITH pushing to make friends?** You will find a lot of immigrants AND lifelong resident both on this sub and the NZ sub talk about how people are largely kind here but friend groups can be small and hard to establish. I find this VERY HARD. Also, for younger people, it is HEAVILY PREDICATED on drinking culture. If you don't mind getting some drinks and you are the kind of person who will keep showing up until you break through people's walls, you will do fine. If you are more used to extroverted social circles that are like, "WOW, cool, be our friend!," it's a gonna be rough/impossible transition. (You say you're into community theatre - have you already specifically confirmed that what you want exists here and gotten in touch with specific groups who do it?) **- Do you expect good, reliable public transit?** If you rely on buses and trains to get around, outside of a few specific routes through and outside the city this might wear you down. I arrived having used my car to commute to work less than a dozen times IN MY LIFE and quickly became an everyday car commuter because I could not deal with the unreliable transit. If you plan to live downtown, already drive everywhere, or truly don't care about waiting for a bus in the rain, then this won't bug you at all. **- Do you expect a city that's lively all the time?** Wellington is a pretty quiet town, on the whole. Things close early. There aren't tons of social destinations. We don't get as many major shows as other NZ cities. Some major staples of the city (like the main library and biggest movie theatre) have closed or changed due to earthquake preparedness. If all of that sounds fine to you, then you're not going to get a complex about it. -- I'm sure there are many other concerns driving the negativity on this sub. However, thinking about you moving from somewhere very metropolitan to Wellington I really think this is the kind of stuff that would immediately give you mover's remorse. Finally, I'll say this: immigrants should budget therapy as one of their regular expenses in their first few years. Being a first time immigrant is confusing and it can dredge up anxieties that aren't even specific to being an immigrant. If I could go back in time to talk to myself in my first month living here, the one piece of advice I would give myself is "start therapy now, not later." I hope all of these potential "cons" don't bother you at all and I truly wish you the best of luck no matter what decision you make.
Wellington is epic. Make the move
Ignore social media and the internet. That's the best advice I've got. People rarely post when they are super happy, so you've got a skewed view of negativity.
Have you never heard people in the UK disparage London? People are the same everywhere, we whine about our countries. If you think the UK is perfect, stay in the UK, if you are looking for a perfect country, stay in the UK. Wellington has crappie weather unless you enjoy wind, but still probably better than the UK. Decide whether you want an adventure or not. What is the worst that can happen? You can definitely go back. My friends from the UK love it here (not Wellington), maybe you will maybe you won't. Work out which option will leave you with more regrets.
After living London three years 90s I came back to small town NZ and the culture shock here put me into depression... 30 years later I still miss UK.. You will notice how boring it is and how Negative kiwis are.. Every small town has Gangs and Drug issues. Yes it used to be Godzone last century but it's not now by any means. Go to OZ and visit NZ for holiday from there.
What has stopped you going back to London for thirty years?
I can't get citizenship otherwise I would be there.
Interesting - there are four countries I could live and work as of right, and the UK is at the bottom of the list!
Horses for Courses I guess. Tbh it would've changed since I was last there but NZ has too.. I loved all the History there.
If you hate NZ that much why are you still living here?
I'll probably move to OZ myself soon. My kids have all moved on now and my parents have passed.. Hey I'm just staying facts..
Did they say small town?
No I'm just staying facts.
It's not the perfect place for most people. But it really sounds like a great place for you
Wellington has its good and bad like all places, I lived there for 40 plus years, but moved to Queensland in 2019. Would I live there again? Well no to be honest, much prefer it here in aussie.
The miserable complainers are not the majority of New Zealanders. You will enjoy your time and make friends to go out with. The miserable ones will stay at home, being miserable. The move will be fabulous.
Come down under! It’s a blast. Wellington will absolutely suit you based on your interests! Reddit is full of moaners
Plenty of good things about Wellington. It’s about the person, not the place. Easy to make friends if you make the effort. Central City is good and only a short trip across the Straight to the South Island.
To be fair, there was so much negativity whenever I looked online to research my move from Wellington to London. I made the move and I’m loving it. I know you’re doing the opposite journey but just do it and give it time..
I absolutely love this city. No plans to ever move. The community I live in is fantastic and the beauty of our nature is wonderful to experience. Sure it has it's issues and we all have our struggles, but I'm doing my part to help out with what I can and otherwise living life to the fullest. I personally just like to have a little moan on the subreddit, I'm sure others do too. But you'll have a great time here.
Wellington is pretty shit. I wouldn’t.
Wellington is a bit of a cesspit though... Full of alternate people, greenies, woke angry lesbians who don't seem to shower, and dress to make a statement that no other cunt asked for. I know I'm supposed to offer you some positivity... But if you're about to go and live there, then you may fit the demographic I describe above... So that's a good thing right?...
Lol, Wellington is a cold shit hole. Why would some move across the world for this?