People & Places
New Plymouth: Here we come
What can you expect after you have left the UK existence for the shores of NZ? Emigrate New Zealand caught up with recent emigrant Mike Cole to find out about life in New Plymouth
ENZ: Where did you live in the UK and how does it compares to where you live now?
MC: We lived in Great Notley Garden Village, near Braintree in Essex. The house was a three-storey town house with four bedrooms. The garden was small and hemmed in on all sides by other gardens. We were overlooked at the back and one side. Great Notley was a new development and pretty well laid out with shops, a pub, play areas and a cricket green – an attempt to create the quintessential Essex village. Now we live in New Plymouth which is half way down the west coast of the North Island with great surf beaches to the front and an awesome mountain to the back of us. We have had our house built for us to our specification – something we could never have done in the UK. The house is a modern design with four bedrooms and a huge patio. The garden is a good size both at the back and front and we are not overlooked at all.
ENZ: What in particular do you like about where you living now?
MC: A better, more caring society, safer for the kids, better weather, great beaches, less traffic and people and a general 'can do' attitude. People are not frightened to talk with strangers and if you make an effort Kiwis will help you no matter what. We have some fantastic scenery on our doorstep and clean air. We do not wear UK winter coats here even though there is sufficient snow on the mountain to ski and we rarely scrape frost off the cars. Summer is really warm without being overly humid thanks to sea breezes. The sea is teeming with fish which make great barbecue material. In fact, our life has improved significantly in almost every facet!
ENZ: What would you say are the most important differences between your current life and your previous life?
MC:We are the main difference. On leaving the UK we were determined to alter our lifestyle and attitude to almost everything. We have now taken the opportunity to set up our own business, being encouraged by all around us to make a go of it. There is a safer environment for us and, most importantly, the kids and there are no class barriers and no-one trying to "keep up with the Joneses". This creates a much better family environment.
ENZ: How has your lifestyle changed since you moved to the town in which you currently live?
MC: We spend more time as a family doing the simple things, such as taking strolls along the beach and playing in the rock pools. Also,we have changed our attitude so, now, we are never afraid to ask for something. Because we do not let others dictate to us we now feel greater freedom in our decision making.
ENZ: Is your work-life better since you moved? How far do you have to travel to work? Do you enjoy what you are doing?
MC: Work-life is significantly better as I have been able to set up my own company. This has meant that I now work longer hours but then it's my business! I work from home but travel over most of the North Island and will have to spend time down in the South Island and the UK this year. The vast majority of my time I enjoy work immensely.
ENZ: Are you close to the local schools and how do rate the standard of education in New Zealand ?
MC: We are close to the schools that the kids go to, but then nowhere is very far away in New Plymouth. For the kids in Primary school the differences are that they are not in uniform and often go to school bare-footed! Their schools do not have fences around them and they actively encourage kids and families to use the school facilities both in and outside of school time. The standard of education is very good with a much more nurturing attitude where teachers teach and do not do a series of admin jobs to satisfy a paranoid government. If a kid here hugs a teacher they get hugged right back. Until about the age of 15 Kiwis will be behind UK kids but here they have a more gentle approach to school with pressure being increased as they get older – none of these ridiculous tests for 7/9/11 year olds as in the UK. Our kids have flourished. The main difference for them is the language opportunities here in NZ and the fact that they need to study the Maori culture!
ENZ: Have you had much experience of the Kiwi health care system and would you say that the quality of care is better or worse?
MC: Yes, we have used the system. For emergency care you would notice little difference, it's very professional and very quick. In NZ you pay each time you see the doctor and for your prescriptions. I would say that the quality is better but that may simply be because they are dealing with lower numbers of people and the fact that, as you need to pay, the doctor is obliged to give you good service or lose you as clients.
ENZ: Is the shopping good, what kind of shops might you find in your local area that you wouldn't find in the UK?
MC: I'd say here in New Plymouth there is a lack of general shops compared to an equivalent sized town in the UK. This can be a negative but in many ways it stops you shopping for things that perhaps you don't really need. To be honest, as a family, we have nearly everything we need and what we don't have we haven't really missed.
ENZ: Has your family's diet changed since you arrived in New Zealand?
MC: Yes, we eat more fresh food and tend to make more ourselves. Food tends to be more seasonal. There are fewer cream cakes and doughnuts, although the cakes they make are very sweet. Interestingly, Kiwi pumpkin is a vegetable all year round and is actually delicious. The fish here is wonderful, especially freshly caught snapper!
ENZ: How does the area's public transport system stand up to its British counterpart?
MC: Public transport is very limited here in New Plymouth. There are no passenger trains into or around the city, and, buses do exist but they are limited. This is not uncommon unless you are in the bigger cities. The vast majority of people will have cars and the majority of those will be four-wheel-drive. The big difference on the roads is that compared, to the UK, there is a complete lack of traffic. I have driven from Auckland to New Plymouth on a weekday afternoon in autumn and for nearly three hours of that trip saw only five other vehicles.
For further information:
Mike Cole now runs Brits NZ, a company that provides financial services to British emigrants.
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