real Life “We couldn’t be happier!” iane Voisey L Words

Above, the couple love living close to the sea

Embracing the Kiwi way has been the secret to a successful move to , NewMeet Zealand forthe Jonathan mover Seaton NAMES MOVED FROM Jonathan (62) and Gwyneth (54) Seaton Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

OCCUPATION MOVED TO Jonathan used to work in database and Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand system design in the UK, an occupation he Wellington hopes to pursue in NZ. Gwyneth worked in FURTHER INFORMATION the voluntary sector in the UK and hopes Migration Associates: (tel) 0148 355 0920; to explore new opportunities in NZ (web) www.migrationassociates.com

www.getmedownunder.com Australia & NZ | March 2014 77 MOVING DOWN UNDER real Life PORIRUA

Share your story! If you are heading Down Under to start a new life and are willing to share the story about your move with us, we would love to hear from you! Simply email us at [email protected] aced with the prospect of We can see Inlet with a very positive attitude and not seeing our children from our bedrooms, and the old knew that we couldn’t delay in “Our NZ (or grandchildren) my Whitby golf course is behind us. getting our lives organized. pros wife Gwyneth and I The house was completely We have not been shy and people and Fdecided to seriously investigate renovated by the previous owner here have responded positively. We cons” moving Down Under. and it was like moving into a brand miss some of our special friends in In January 2008 our middle new house, even though it was built the UK but we’re of an age when Pros: daughter Anna took up a job with a in the mid 1980’s. many will be celebrating their 25th n Back with family. n Better lifestyle. charity in Wellington. We visited We love the style of Whitby. It’s wedding anniversaries and may be n Locals are used to Anna in October 2008 and enjoyed probably as close to ‘little England’ making the effort of getting to NZ. having Brits around. our three-week visit and tiki-tour as you’ll get north of Wellington. It As for the future, we’re hoping to of the South Island. has all the beauty of Pautahanui get fulltime work in Wellington for Cons: She brought her future Kiwi Inlet but is elevated, avoiding the a few years and build up some n Earthquakes. n Incessant wind. husband to the UK to marry him dangers of tsunamis. It has lots of savings. We’re also looking forward n Miss the breadth and in December 2009, and we again walks and recreational areas and it is to seeing the growing-up of our depth of BBC broadcasting. visited New Zealand in January 2010 for a repeat wedding. ❛ During 2010, our youngest We came with a positive attitude daughter, Sally and her husband Gwyneth and Jonathan have embraced and knew that we couldn’t delay in Craig, announced that they were their new outdoor-orientated lifestyle moving to Sydney, Australia. They getting our lives organized ❜ emigrated in November 2010. Sydney, with the intention of New Zealand (INZ) announced We also investigated our pension As we had planned a holiday in applying for residency in New that they were closing their Family status and obtained some advice just 12 minutes from our daughter grandchildren and trips to Sydney Fiji to celebrate my 60th birthday Zealand and selling up in the UK. Category stream while they from Global Qrops. Anna in Aotea. when Air New Zealand are in October 2011, we thought it Just before our Fiji trip, the introduced a policy change. Our We took the decision to take offering deals. would be an opportunity to dip husband of our eldest daughter application had to effectively be put most of our belongings with us. FEELING SETTLED Our advice for other British our toes in New Zealand properly. Jenny applied for a job as a pastor at on hold, which was somewhat Our children had saved money by We couldn’t be happier since people wanting to move to New Images (from top to bottom), Gwyneth in their We met with our eldest daughter a church in Wellington. disappointing for us. shipping less but had then found moving here. The scenery is Zealand is to do your prep! There new house; the couple (Jenny) and her husband Simon in He was successful in applying for In August we started talking to that the cost of replacement was stunning. I am slowly beating the are loads of resources available on making the most of Milton Keynes and talked it the job and so he, Jenny and their Borey again about the criteria we beyond their means. garden into shape! the internet. If possible, come and Wellington’s famous coffee culture; the chance through with them and they gave We arrived in Auckland in Over Christmas recently the try it out at least for two months. to see their grandchildren us their blessing. ❛ September and flew straight on to whole family stayed with us for two When you’re here, embrace the grow up has been the best part of their move We decided to rent out our We set out on our return to Wellington. We set ourselves a nights. There were 14 of us in the Kiwi way! Milton Keynes home for six two-month limit on living with house. We visited the beach on months, and after our holiday in the UK, with the intention of our daughter and this spurred us on Christmas Day and went surfing, Fiji we flew down to Wellington in applying for residency in NZ ❜ each day to do what was needed. but we also had roast turkey and all the hope that we could rent a During our first week we bought the trimmings. property on the Kapiti Coast. We three daughters moved out to New would use for our application under a new car and we started house We are much happier than we secured a rental in Raumati. Zealand 15 months ahead of us. Tier 1, and at the end of August hunting. We were the proud were in the UK. New Zealanders In March 2012 we set out on our Their visa application got processed our Expression of Interest (EOI) owners of our new home towards seems to have a more positive return to the UK, via a visit to in two days, and we were the last to was accepted. Exactly three months the end of October. outlook on life. There are less make it here! later, our EOI was selected by INZ We had three criteria for a house; crowded shops, it’s easier to get to for consideration. it must have a view, a wood burner see a doctor, parking is easier and The couple bought a four-bedroom VISA PROCESS On 13 February 2013 we were and if possible a ‘self contained’ we love watching films amongst an house in Whitby, Porirua Borey Chum at Migration invited to apply for permanent guest area. We also wanted some audience of only 60 people on Associates was our migration agent. residency and our application went land for a veggie patch. comfy two-seater sofas. We made a visit to Borey Chum’s in one month later. Although we We bought our home outright There are lots of sporting office in Guildford in May 2012 were quoted 4-6 months to get a using the money raised from our opportunities here, such as horse- having met him at a Down Under response, we were given the house sale in the UK. We used riding, sailing and tennis. Kiwis Live expo in Birmingham. approval, in principle, just three Smart Currency to effect the take their personal fitness much We found the whole process months later, in late June 2013. money transfers from our UK bank more seriously than Brits. We live quite logical. Borey gave some to our New Zealand bank. on a seriously steep road and we invaluable insights into health issues SELLING UP We live in a traditional cedar- often see runners, joggers, fast and enabled us to put some actions We sold our house privately in the clad, timber-framed house, with walkers, cyclists, and families in place that we believe led directly UK just a week after receiving four bedrooms, a study, a large taking an evening walk. to a less-problematic and successful confirmation of our permanent kitchen diner and large lounge. We visa application. residency status. are close to good local amenities. A NO REGRETS! The family enjoy spending Within days of our visit to We financed our migration from local shopping centre is three We wouldn’t change anything quality time together Migration Associates, Immigration savings and the sale of our house. minutes away by car. about the move here. We came

78 Australia & NZ | March 2014 www.getmedownunder.com www.getmedownunder.com Australia & NZ | March 2014 79 Porirua has a sea inlet which MOVING DOWN UNDER is great for swimming

WHY MOVE TO...

It’s easy to enjoy an outdoors lifestyle in this beautiful coastal city… PoriruaWHAT IT’S LIKE colleges, 28 primary schools, Porirua is a city located on the two intermediate schools, a northern edge of New huge range of early childhood Zealand’s Wellington region. options, and a Maori-focused There are plenty of lifestyle tertiary education institute. perks here for those who enjoy Pre-schoolers are well the outdoors. catered for, with a choice of education industry. The city is that cover the full gamut of The city has a sea inlet, kindergartens, childcare home to a number of schools housing options, with small which is great for swimming centres, pre-schools, and colleges. seaside villages like Pukerua in the summer and a range of playcentres, Montessori, The business services Bay and , the watersports can be enjoyed creches and play groups. industry employs the next bush-clad hills of Kenepuru, here. There are beaches on the largest number of people the rural enclaves of Cook Strait, and the JOB OPPORTUNITIES (which includes business Pauatahanui and Judgeford, abundance of sea life here is Just 20 minutes drive from administration, scientific and the pleasant hillside great for snorkelling. Porirua lies Wellington city, research, contracting staff, suburbs at Papakowhai, Ascot There are plenty of walking the Hutt Valley and the Kapiti accounting, data processing, Park and Aotea. tracks and cycling trails too. Coast, which means that there legal services, among others), Most of the housing here Commuting from Porirua is are plenty of employment followed by health services and tends to be family orientated, easy as it has good road and rail opportunities across a wide construction trade services. with two to four-bedroom links into Wellington city. range of sectors, all within an homes on offer, ranging in easy commute. HOUSING price from NZ$300,000 EDUCATION The industry employing the Porirua has 25 suburban areas, (£147,559) to NZ$750,000 Porirua has a polytechnic, five largest number of people is the with over 16,500 dwellings (£368,897).

Homes in Porirua

MANICURED GARDENS ALL-DAY SUN STREET APPEAL NZ$245,000 (£120,506) NZ$199,000 (£97,880) NZ$549,000 (£270,033) This home boasts manicured gardens This two level, three bedroom Located in a quiet cul-de-sac, this home at the front and back, with the section weatherboard home attracts all day sun in Whitby has great street appeal, warmth partially fenced and complete with and is ideally located near public transport, and character. Features include four vegetable garden and outdoor barbeque schools and shops. All of the spacious bedrooms, open plan kitchen, formal area. Airy and light, the home comprises bedrooms have built-in wardrobes. It has dining room and lounge and modernised of three bedrooms, separate dining and an open plan living and dining area and bathroom and ensuite. It offers excellent living rooms and updated bathroom. The a separate laundry room. It has all the outdoor living space that is easily accessed property backs onto a park. potential to grow in value. from inside the house.

Contact: Harcourts Contact: Harcourts Contact: Professionals Real Estate Web: www.harcourts.co.nz WEB: www.harcourts.co.nz WEB: www.professionals.co.nz

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