Pros and Cons of Living in New Zealand

Thinking about living in New Zealand? We spent ten years there, so we have done plenty of pondering on both the good and the not-so-good. Here is our honest list of the pros and cons of living in New Zealand, to help you work out whether it is the right fit for you. Let us start with the pros.

The pros of living in New Zealand

It really is picture-perfect

It may sound a cliché, but living in New Zealand often feels like living inside a gallery of beautiful pictures. In a country roughly the size of the UK you get every kind of landscape, so you never have to travel far to find something breathtaking. Whether you are in the suburbs of Auckland or deep in the countryside, you are never far from a stunning view, from the sand dunes of Ninety Mile Beach in the north to the mountain passes of the Southern Alps in the south. The Auckland region alone is ringed with gorgeous beaches, and the rest of the country only gets better.

It embraces its Māori heritage

Aotearoa, as the country is known in te reo Māori, was first settled around 700 years ago by Polynesian voyagers. Despite a difficult history between European settlers and Māori, the culture is proudly woven through everyday life: the haka before an All Blacks match, the carvings in public spaces, and the place names you will slowly learn to pronounce like a local. It is one of the things that makes New Zealand feel like nowhere else.

There is always something to do outdoors, often for free

If you love nature and adventure, you will fit right in. With around 15,000 kilometres of coastline and a huge network of public parks, you can fill your weekends for little more than the cost of the fuel to get there. There are beaches for surfing, swimming or lazing about, and the Department of Conservation looks after a network of walking tracks that is free to use, from gentle strolls to multi-day alpine hikes.

Great local food and coffee

New Zealand’s economy leans on farming and horticulture, which is good news at the dinner table. Fresh, local, seasonal produce is easy to find at weekend farmers’ markets, butchers and independent shops, and if you fancy a farm-to-table, grow-your-own life, it is a brilliant place for it. The coffee and café culture is excellent too, with some genuinely good restaurants dotted around.

The cons of living in New Zealand

The weather can be a mixed bag

You learn quickly to keep an umbrella handy, even in summer. The climate is temperate with lovely summers, but it is also wet, and winters can be grey. Auckland is famous for its four-seasons-in-a-day downpours, and if you pick Wellington, you will find the “Windy City” nickname is well earned. New Zealand also has some of the most intense UV in the world, so the sunburn and skin cancer risk is high. Slip, slop, slap is not optional here.

Life can be quiet

With a population of around five million, New Zealand can feel short on nightlife and big events, especially outside the main cities. The smaller towns are lovely but sleepy, and if you are used to a busy, buzzing scene you may find it flat at first. Kiwis tend to prefer a quiet weekend with good friends over a big night out.

It is not cheap

For all the free activities and cheap in-season produce, the cost of living is high. Housing in the main cities is expensive and rising, and because so much is imported with little competition, plenty of everyday goods cost more than you are used to. Do your homework on the areas you are considering. Our cost of living guide breaks down what we actually paid, year by year.

It is a long way from everywhere

Living at the bottom of the world can feel isolated. Your nearest neighbours are a three-hour flight away, and while there are plenty of daily flights from the main centres, it is nothing like Europe where you can nip off for a weekend abroad. If you like to see family often or travel a lot, the cost and time of those long-haul trips is a real trade-off. For many, though, what you gain in daily life makes it a sacrifice worth making.

Frequently asked questions

Is New Zealand a good place to live?

For most people who make the move, yes, as long as you go in with your eyes open. The lifestyle, safety and scenery are the big draws, while the cost and the isolation are the trade-offs.

What are the biggest downsides of living in New Zealand?

The cost of living, the distance from the rest of the world, the intense UV, and how quiet it can feel outside the main cities.

Is New Zealand expensive to live in?

Yes. Housing, groceries and imported goods are all dear. Our cost of living guide has the real numbers.

Is New Zealand a safe country?

Very. It consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world, which is a big reason people move there with young families.

Still weighing it up? Browse our living in New Zealand guides, or compare two of the main cities in Wellington vs Auckland. Got a question? Get in touch through our contact page.