Move to New Zealand
from the UK
Over 260,000 UK-born residents already live here - that's over 4% of the entire population! You've got world-class hiking on your doorstep, picture-book scenery and a lovely relaxed pace of life. But are you prepared to fly 24 hours to start a new life on the other side of the world?!
At a Glance
- Capital
- Wellington
- UK Expats
- ~260,000
- Local Time
- Wellington
- Flight Time
- 24h+ (with stopover)
- Temperature
- 16°C now
GBP → NZD · 12 months
↑ +2.4%£1 = $2.28
13%
Cheaper than UK
cost of living
100%
English Spoken
6/10
Visa Ease
A
Safety
Large
Expat Community
Good
Healthcare
Overview
Britain and New Zealand are closer cousins than most countries ever get.
We drive on the same side of the road, have the same parliamentary setup, same borderline unhealthy obsession with sport. A huge chunk of the population has British roots, and there are well over 200,000 UK-born people living there today - you won’t exactly stand out.
You’ll just be another Pom… and yes, they will call you that.
Get used to it, Pom.
Day-to-day life feels oddly familiar at first, then slightly off once you settle in.
You’re driving on the left, but everything’s in kilometres.
And yeah, the coffee is excellent - better than most UK high streets for sure - but don’t expect a flat white after 3pm because everything shuts so bloody early.
The produce is fantastic, but anything imported (especially British brands) comes with a painful markup.
People in NZ are polite, relaxed, and easy to get along with - but building proper friendships can take time. It’s a common expat refrain in this part of the world: lovely people, just not instantly close. With time, you’ll get there eventually.
Where New Zealand really delivers is the lifestyle. It’s a beautiful place to live.
Unparalleled scenery, huge open spaces and the shooting location for Lord Of The Rings: it’s no wonder that so many Brits are moving to New Zealand!
You’re never far from the sea (128 km max!), and “going for a walk” quickly turns into something that would be a full-blown national park day out back home.
Kids grow up outdoors - barefoot in parks, swimming in rivers, and in schools that are known for tapping heavily into wellbeing as much as academics. If you’re moving for space, nature, and a slower pace of life, there’s a lot to love.
If New Zealand was on the other side of the English Channel, it would be one of the most densely populated islands on Earth - we’d all be wanting a slice of it.
Fortunately for the Kiwis… it’s not.
For Brits, this is about as far as you can fly before you start coming back.
Flights back to the UK are notoriously long and expensive, so popping home isn’t really a thing.
And that’s the only thing stopping many Brits from making the move.
Are you prepared to leave your life behind and travel 24 hours to start from scratch?
If you are, New Zealand is a wonderful place to live.
Who is New Zealand for? The ideal Brit is aged 28-45, mid-career with skills on the Green List (healthcare, IT, engineering, trades, education), arriving with a young family and bustling excitement for outdoors living. People moving toward something - space, safety, clean air - not running from something. Needless to say, NZ is NOT the place for those who grow homesick and/or want to visit the UK regularly.
Watch: Life in New Zealand
Hand-picked videos from expats and creators on the ground.
Moving to NZ (Everything You Need To Know)
7 Reasons New Zealand Might NOT Be For You
10 Things They Don't Tell You About Living In New Zealand
Visas & Immigration
Brexit didn’t really move the needle for New Zealand - the UK was never treated as an EU country in their immigration system anyway.
Brits still get some of the best access going, thanks to those old commonwealth ties.
You can stay visa-free for up to 6 months (most countries get 3), and the Working Holiday Visa is a definite bright spot - up to age 35 and up to 36 months total, versus the more typical 12-month setups elsewhere.
There’s also a 15,000 annual cap, but from what we’ve seen, it rarely fills instantly.
The UK-NZ Free Trade Agreement (2023) nudged things further in your favour, particularly around business travel and professional mobility… it’s not a golden ticket, but helpful at the margins.
Here’s a summary of the most common paths into NZ for Brits:
Visa-Free Entry (NZeTA)
Visa-Free Entry (NZeTA)
6 months visa-free is generous and gives some time to scout locations, attend interviews, and test whether NZ actually suits you. NZeTA costs NZD $17 via the official app or NZD $23 via the official website, plus the NZD $100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
6 months
~NZD $117-123
Working Holiday Visa
Working Holiday Visa
The gateway drug! Age 18-35, 15,000 annual quota. Brits get a special deal of up to 36 months - enough time to find skilled employment and transition to a work visa. Can work for any employer but not permanent roles. Study up to 6 months. One-time only.
Up to 36 months
~NZD $770
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Need a full-time job offer from an Immigration New Zealand accredited employer. From 10 March 2025, AEWV no longer has a general median-wage requirement; instead, employers must pay at least the New Zealand minimum wage and the market rate for the role. And you must still meet skill, qualification, registration and experience requirements relevant to the job (including a 2-year work-experience threshold where required).
Up to 5 years
~NZD $1540
Green List - Tier 1 (Straight to Residence)
Green List - Tier 1 (Straight to Residence)
This path offers immediate residency for acute shortage occupations: which includes roles like GPs, specialists, nurses, midwives, engineers, software engineers, cyber security specialists, quantity surveyors, vets, primary school teachers. If your profession is on Tier 1, this is the fastest route to settling permanently.
Permanent
~NZD $6450
Green List - Tier 2 (Work to Residence)
Green List - Tier 2 (Work to Residence)
Covers some extra healthcare roles, secondary teachers, early childhood teachers, and 10 skilled trades added August 2025 (builders, electricians, plumbers, automotive techs). Work for at least 24 months in a qualifying Tier 2 Green List role, meeting the relevant Green List pay requirement or the applicable median wage where no specific rate is set, and then you can apply for residence.
Residency after 24 months
~NZD $6450
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
Considered the golden ticket residence visa. Points-based: minimum 6 points from qualifications, registration, or income. Need a job at median wage (NZD $35/hour from March 2026), under 55, IELTS 6.5. Two new pathways launching August 2026 with reduced requirements.
Permanent
~NZD $6450
Partner of a New Zealander
Partner of a New Zealander
Must demonstrate a genuine, stable partnership with at least 12 months living together. Processing 4-15 months. Your partner cannot have supported more than one previous successful partner residence application... and additional recent-history restrictions also apply.
Permanent (resident visa)
~NZD $5360
If you’re minted with cash and ambition, there are additional investor visas at the serious end of the spectrum.
The Active Investor Plus route typically means committing NZD $5-10 million (roughly £2.1-4.3M) into approved investments. There’s also a newer Business Investor Work Visa (introduced in late 2025), which focuses more on actively buying and running a New Zealand business - usually requiring NZD $1-2 million and a meaningful stake in an existing operation.
Permanent Resident Visa comes after 2 years on a Resident Visa with 184+ days physical presence per year.
Citizenship requires 5 years on a residence-class visa with 1,350+ days total presence.
New Zealand allows dual citizenship - so you can keep your British passport. Minimum total timeline, you’re looking at roughly 7 years start to finish.
Popular visa strategy: Start with the Green List. If you’re a nurse, doctor, engineer, teacher, or in tech, it’s by far the cleanest route to residence - and often faster than anything else. If you’re under 35, the Working Holiday Visa is the easiest way in.
Cost of Living
Cost of living comparisons are a bit of a minefield. So for this section, we’ve stuck entirely to NZ’s Numbeo data (and British equivalents) to keep things consistent and comparable. It’s not perfect, but it’s one of the few sources that tracks real-world, user-reported prices at scale.
On that basis, New Zealand comes out around 12% cheaper than the UK overall (including rent) - but that headline hides some big swings depending on what you spend your money on.
Groceries are actually more expensive (about 5% higher), largely due to import costs and a smaller market.
Utilities, on the other hand, are quite a lot cheaper - no doubt helped by New Zealand’s renewable-heavy energy mix.
Rent is lower on average nationally, though places like Auckland close the gap quickly.
| Category | New Zealand | UK avg | London |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat, city centre | £843/mo | £1,019/mo | £2,367/mo |
| 3-bed flat, city centre | £1,323/mo | £1,680/mo | £3,810/mo |
| Meal out (for 2, mid-range) | £54 | £65 | £80 |
| Beer (pint, restaurant) | £5.18 | £5.00 | £6.50 |
| Monthly transport pass | £86 | £75 | £200 |
| Utilities (standard flat, monthly) | £111 | £240 | £286 |
| Gym membership (monthly) | £28 | £35 | £60 |
| International school (annual) | £12,331 | £16,593 | £22,597 |
Source: Numbeo, April 2026. Exchange rate: 1 NZD = £0.43.
Where NZ saves you money
Power and water are noticeably cheaper than in the UK, and over a year that adds up to a meaningful saving - easily over a grand for a typical household.
Numbeo reports £111 versus £240 for the UK average, saving over £1,500 a year. Not small change.
A few other areas come in cheaper too. Gym memberships are usually lower, eating out is a bit more affordable for mid-range places, and international school fees tend to undercut UK equivalents. And if you drink wine, you’re in luck - local bottles are cheaper and, frankly, much better than what most people are used to swigging back home.
Especially if you like a bit of Marlborough…
Where NZ costs more
Despite all the farmland, supermarket prices are consistently higher than the UK - especially for basics. Eggs, fresh veg, and everyday staples can be more expensive, and a weekly shop adds up quicker than you might expect.
Your fave British imports will also come with a sizeable markup.
Realistic monthly budgets
What can you expect to pay month-to-month in NZ?
Obviously, it depends largely on the lifestyle you’ll be pursuing. Here are some rough calculations based on the latest Numbeo data:
- Single person, Auckland: ~£1,580/month - one-bed flat £900, groceries £250, transport £90, utilities £80, dining/social £200
- Couple, Wellington: ~£2,090/month - two-bed flat £1,050, groceries £450, transport £130, utilities £120, dining/social £250
- Family of four, Christchurch: ~£2,800-3,400/month - three-bed house £1,000, groceries £600, two cars £250, childcare/school £400–1,000
YMMV!
Auckland is roughly 15% more expensive across the board. Queenstown's housing shortage pushes rents even higher.
Elsewhere, provincial towns like Hamilton offer savings of 25-30% on Auckland.
Cost of living tip: Don’t rely on national averages - pick your city first. Your postcode matters more than your salary. Auckland and Queenstown can feel expensive very quickly, while places like Christchurch or Hamilton are noticeably more forgiving on the bank balance. Get your housing cost right and everything else becomes manageable. Get it wrong, and New Zealand suddenly feels very pricy.
Climate
Weather data for Wellington, New Zealand. 30-year averages from Open-Meteo (1991–2020).
Average Monthly Temperature (°C)
Average Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Right Now in Wellington
Drizzle
Feels Like
12°C
Humidity
90%
Wind
38 km/h
Hottest Month
Mar (18°C)
Coldest Month
Aug (9°C)
Wettest Month
Jul (87mm)
Driest Month
Feb (42mm)
Annual Rainfall
843mm
Avg Temperature
12–15°C
Where to Live
Auckland is the most popular area for people moving to New Zealand, despite not being the capital (it’s still the largest and most populous city though!).
It’s found on the North Island and spread over two harbours with coasts on the Pacific Ocean and Tasmanian Sea.
The world’s most southern capital, Wellington is another joyful city, again set across a harbour on the North Island, and never too far from wide open, green spaces - subsequently earning its reputation as the windiest city in the world!
As a whole, New Zealand is a country of outstanding beauty and there are many suitable places for Brits to settle.
We’ll be adding city guides below to help walk you through the various pros and cons:
Auckland
NZ's largest city and home to the biggest British expat community. Strongest job market, harbour beaches, and Waiheke wine trips. Some would say that the suburban sprawl that can feel a bit soulless compared to other NZ cities.
~1.8M
£2,050–2,750/mo
Christchurch
The South Island's largest city, substantially rebuilt since the 2011 earthquakes. Historically the most "British" of NZ cities. Very flat and bikeable, with easy access to ski fields and Banks Peninsula.
~390K
£1,560–2,180/mo
Hamilton
NZ's largest inland city, 90 minutes south of Auckland. What it lacks in glamour it compensates in affordability - just 70-75% of Auckland's costs. Growing tech sector and a quietly expanding British community.
~185K
£1,540–2,140/mo
Queenstown
Spectacularly beautiful - mountains, Lake Wakatipu, world-class skiing. Popular with young British working holidaymakers. Housing is in acute shortage, rents are among NZ's highest, and the job market is narrow.
~29K urban
£2,090–2,900/mo
Tauranga
One of NZ's sunniest regions with 2,200+ hours per year. Mount Maunganui's surf beach, a real port economy, and costs at roughly 85% of Auckland. Growing British community seeking beach life without Auckland's intensity.
~163K city / ~350K region
£1,740–2,390/mo
Wellington
The capital is a major draw for culture - Te Papa, Weta Workshop, more restaurants per capita than New York, and an exceptional craft beer scene. Walkable, progressive, and you can live without a car.
~440K metro
£1,840–2,490/mo
Healthcare
New Zealand’s healthcare system will feel broadly familiar if you’ve used the NHS - but it’s not quite “free at the point of use” in the same way.
The big difference here is that GP visits aren’t free.
Most practices are actually just private businesses delivering subsidised care, so you’ll usually pay to see a doctor.
As an enrolled patient, expect roughly NZD $25-70 per visit (£12-32), depending on the clinic and your eligibility for subsidies.
Children under 14 are generally free at enrolled practices.
Hospital care is where the system feels more NHS-like. Emergency departments and public hospital treatment are free for eligible residents, and the standard of care is high.
Who gets access
- Residents and citizens: full access to publicly funded healthcare
- Work visa holders (2+ years): generally eligible for public care
- Working holiday / student visas: if this is your status, you are NOT covered - private insurance is required
There is a UK-New Zealand reciprocal agreement, but it’s limited.
While it may cover some necessary or urgent treatment while you’re visiting, it’s not a reliable substitute for proper health insurance.
And given the distance to get home, you’ll definitely want peace of mind here!
ACC
One thing New Zealand does exceptionally well is accidents.
Everyone in the country - including tourists - is covered by ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) for accident-related injuries.
What does this mean?
Well, if you break a leg skiing, crash a bike, slip on a wet floor - the treatment and rehab are covered, and in some cases even lost income.
The flip side is that because ACC covers accidents, you generally can’t sue for personal injury. It’s a completely different mindset to the UK.
As for the American mindset, well it’s a different solar system to that.
What things cost
Ballpark figures, actual costs will vary:
- GP visit (enrolled): typically NZD $25-70
- Prescriptions: usually $5 per item through the public system (with some exemptions)
- Specialist (public referral): free, but often involves waiting
- Emergency department: free for eligible patients
- Dental (adults): private - expect roughly £80-130+ for a check-up and clean
- Dental (children): free until age 18
Private health insurance
Most expats end up taking out private cover - not because the public system is particularly bad, but because it can be slow for non-urgent care.
Southern Cross is the dominant provider (it has around 60% market share), alongside providers like nib and AIA. A mid-level hospital plan for a healthy adult typically rcosts around NZD $1,500-2,500/year (£700-1,200), with family cover scaling up from there.
What you’re really paying for is speed - faster access to specialists, diagnostics, and elective surgery.
A mixed bag health system: Great if you fall off a bike. Slower if you need a knee fixed. The system works very well for accidents and emergencies, reasonably well for day-to-day care, and less well for dental and mental health (where private options often fill the gap).
Tax
One of the first things that will catch your eye: there’s no tax-free personal allowance.
You start paying income tax from your very first dollar.
NZ income tax rates
New Zealand uses a standard progressive system:
- 10.5% up to NZD $15,600
- 17.5% to $53,500
- 30% to $78,100
- 33% to $180,000
- 39% above that
On top of this, everyone pays an ACC earners’ levy (currently 1.75% from April 2026) up to an annual income cap. It changes yearly - refer to the link for the latest guidance.
There’s no direct equivalent of UK National Insurance beyond this.
What you see is largely what you pay.
The transitional tax exemption
A nice little perk for new arrivals, and one that often goes overlooked…
If you’ve been non-resident in New Zealand for at least 10 years, you get a 4-year exemption on most foreign passive income - things like dividends, interest, overseas rental income, and investment gains.
It doesn’t cover employment income, but if you’ve got UK assets - shares, property, savings - this can be a major advantage.
The key is planning ahead, because once that 4-year window closes, the full NZ tax net applies.
No capital gains tax
New Zealand doesn’t have a general capital gains tax, which is a big draw.
The main exception is the bright-line test for residential property. If you sell within 2 years, any gain is taxed as income at your marginal rate. Your main home is usually exempt.
Remote workers and the DTA
The UK-NZ Double Taxation Agreement is there to prevent double taxation, but it doesn’t mean you can pick and choose where you pay tax.
In most cases, once you’re living and working in New Zealand, your employment income is taxed there - even if your employer is in the UK.
Exactly how this plays out depends on your residency status, your employer setup, and how long you’re in each country.
If you think there’s even the slightest chance this could become an issue, please: speak to a tax specialist.
Frozen pension
One of the bigger long-term downsides for older expats: your UK State Pension is effectively frozen in New Zealand.
That means it’s paid at the rate when you first claim or leave the UK - you don’t get any of the annual increases, or the triple lock (and subsequent inflation adjustments).
Might not be an issue in years 1, 2 and 3. But over time, that gap becomes significant.
New Zealand’s own state pension (NZ Super) kicks in from age 65 and currently pays roughly £12,000/year. In many cases, your UK State Pension is taken into account and can reduce what you receive from NZ Super, although the exact treatment depends on your circumstances.
No CGT, no inheritance tax, no stamp duty on shares - NZ is certainly tax-friendly on paper. But no personal allowance and the frozen pension are two of the practical downsides. Get specialist cross-border tax advice before moving, particularly around the 4-year transitional exemption and pension planning.
Families & Schools
New Zealand’s school system is strong overall, but it works differently to the UK.
The most obvious departure point is that you won’t find many schools following the English National Curriculum. Instead, most state schools use NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement), which is widely recognised but structured quite differently.
Compared to UK qualifications, it is much more coursework-based and less exam-heavy.
If you’re thinking about keeping a clean path back to UK universities, the closest equivalents are Cambridge International (IGCSEs and A-Levels) and the IB Diploma, both of which are offered at a number of private schools.
International and private schools
You might find some marginal savings in NZ private schools vs their UK equivalents, but the prices are fairly similar:
- ACG Parnell College (Auckland): Full Cambridge curriculum (IGCSE/A-Levels). Probably the closest match to a traditional UK education. Fees roughly £12k-14k/year.
- Kristin School (North Shore, Auckland): IB Diploma alongside NCEA. Similar fee range.
- St Kentigern College (Auckland): IB Diploma plus NCEA. Fees of around £13,500/year.
- Scots College (Wellington): Primarily NCEA, with a more traditional independent-school feel.
Places can be competitive, especially in Auckland.
State schools
Given that New Zealand uses the English language, the state school system is much more enticing than the state systems in other countries we’ve profiled.
For most families, state schools are the default - and they’re generally very good.
If you’re on a work visa of 2+ years or have residency, your children can attend as domestic students (i.e. no fees). The quality varies massively by area, but many schools are excellent, with a strong emphasis on wellbeing, outdoor learning, and a less rigid classroom environment than the UK.
Keep in mind when choosing where to live: schools are zoned. Where you live determines which schools you can access, and popular zones can push up house prices.
Children start school on or near their 5th birthday, rather than in a fixed September intake… which takes a bit of getting used to.
Childcare
NZ has among the highest childcare costs in the OECD - roughly 37% of a couple's average earnings.
Full-time care for under-3s can easily cost £6k-£9k+ per year, depending on location. In some cities, it costs much more.
There is some help:
- Children aged 3-5 get 20 hours/week of free Early Childhood Education
- The FamilyBoost scheme refunds up to 40% of remaining costs, capped quarterly
Even with that, it’s still a significant line in the budget - especially for younger kids.
Practicalities
Driving
NZ drives on the left - same as the UK, another one of our shared traits.
You can drive on your UK licence for up to 18 months. Converting requires no test for UK holders with 2+ years' experience - visit an AA outlet, pass an eye test, pay the fee and you’re good to go.
A car is effectively essential outside Wellington's compact centre. Auckland's City Rail Link opens in 2026.
Phone and internet
You’ve got three main mobile networks: Spark (best overall coverage, especially in rural areas), One NZ (the rebranded Vodafone), and 2degrees (usually the cheapest).
Coverage in cities is excellent across all three; it’s only once you get properly rural that Spark tends to pull ahead of the pack. And even then, it can run into some difficulties.
Unlimited data plans are common and typically sit around NZD $40-70/month (roughly £18-32), depending on speed caps and perks.
Prepaid is easy to set up, and eSIM is widely supported if you want to hit the ground running.
Home internet is generally very good. Fibre (UFB) covers most urban areas and delivers anywhere from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps for around NZD $70-120/month (£30-55). Installation is usually straightforward, though rental properties can slow things down slightly.
If you’re going rural, expect fewer option… and in some cases, you might want to take a look at Starlink as a backup option (Elon Musk’s offering).
Banking
The big players are ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, and Kiwibank - and in practice, they all offer broadly similar everyday accounts.
You can usually start the application online before you arrive, then finish it in person once you’re in New Zealand (passport + visa + proof of address). It’s worth doing this early, as you’ll need a local account for pretty much everything…
Most everyday accounts have no monthly fees, and contactless / Apple Pay / Google Pay are standard. New Zealand is heavily card-based and rapidly turning paperless - you’ll rarely need cash.
Property
New Zealand is one of the hardest places in the developed world for foreigners to buy property - but it’s not quite the blanket ban it’s often made out to be.
The Overseas Investment Act 2018 still heavily restricts non-residents from buying existing homes. If you’re on a temporary work visa, you should assume you won’t be able to buy.
If you hold a residence-class visa, the rules are a bit more flexible. You may be able to buy or build one home to live in, but you’ll often need consent from the Overseas Investment Office - especially if you’re not yet considered ordinarily resident. The rules here have evolved (most recently in 2026), so it’s worth checking the latest guidance…
In practice, though, only New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and Australians/Singaporeans can buy freely without having to jump through hoops.
Most new arrivals from the UK stick to renting.
Language
English is the everyday language, so you won’t have any real communication issues.
Accents take about a week to tune into… then you stop noticing.
If you turn up not being able to spot the difference between an Aussie accent and a NZ accent, trust us: that won’t last for long!
Te Reo Māori is also an official language and you’ll see and hear it more than you might expect - on signage, in schools, in the media, and increasingly in workplaces.
You don’t need to speak it, but knowing a few basics can net you some brownie points with the locals.
Pets
Yes, you can bring pets to New Zealand, but it’s not a quick or cheap process.
And it’s pretty stressful for your best friend, too.
We’re talking about a loooong flight here.
You’ll need to follow a full checklist: microchipping, rabies vaccination, blood (titre) testing, parasite treatments, and an MPI import permit.
The timeline requires at least 6–8 months before travel, so moving on a whim is a definite no-no.
The big one people worry about is quarantine. Pets from the UK (a rabies-free country) can often avoid quarantine entirely if everything is done perfectly. If not, there may be a stay at an approved facility in Auckland or Christchurch.
Between vet work, paperwork, flights, and handling, you’re typically looking at £2,000-5,000+ for relocating a single pet, depending on the animal and how smoothly things go.
Also worth noting: some breeds are restricted or prohibited, and airlines have their own rules on top of the government ones…
It’s not fun, but it is doable.
The country changes. The expat questions don't.
Subscribe to The Departure Lounge — a window into the world of Brits building better lives abroad.
Get the next issue in your inbox, 100% free.
A weekly digest for Brits living abroad — or trying to make the dream happen. The reality, the admin, and everything in between, written for Brits who've actually left, or are seriously thinking about it.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime.