10 Reasons Why Americans Are Googling 'How to Move to New Zealand' — Abbay's Escapes

The recent presidential debate appears to have dismayed enough Americans that US Google searches for how to move to other English-speaking countries went through the roof the night the debate aired. New Zealand was one of those countries.

The debate was obviously a triggering event, but there is more to why Americans are interested in this little island nation at the bottom of the world. I'm no expert in politics, but I am an expert in being an American Expat in New Zealand. And I can tell you 10 reasons why Americans want to move here (exclusive of their political affiliations or grievances!).

1. The language.

English is currently the most widely spoken language in New Zealand, making it a pretty seamless transition for Americans or other native English speakers. I haven't lived abroad in a country where English isn't widely spoken, but I imagine that it makes already difficult administrative tasks - like applying for a visa, opening an overseas bank account, and making friends - significantly more challenging.

While English is the primary language, it's worth noting that Māori and New Zealand Sign Language both formally have special status under the law as official languages of New Zealand.

2. The relaxed culture.

It's easy to sense a strong common thread throughout this island nation of roughly 4.9 million people - a slower-paced, easygoing culture, with a tremendous amount of respect for free time and time off of work. When I moved here, on first impressions, I came to find life refreshingly much 'less busy' than in North America. I've realized this has a lot to do with how New Zealand's laid-back culture translates into balancing work and life.

From my personal experience and generally speaking, New Zealand does a better job at work-life balance. It often feels like this special place that represents 'how things used to be,' before we were over-scheduled and constantly connected. Some of the best coffee spots and restaurants close their doors over the Christmas period, the busiest time of the year because they're spending time with their families. Or maybe they're just going for a surf every day. Who knows, but it must not be worth the stress – this is something I'm continually relearning.

My fiance, Chris, and I enjoying time on the weekend spent outdoors and capturing the sunset over Auckland’s Waitakere region.

3. More time off of work.

Photo taken hiking NZ’s Routeburn track in Fiordland.

New Zealanders are fortunate that the New Zealand government stipulates that almost all employees are entitled to at least 4 weeks' paid annual leave (or paid time off) per year – this means 20 vacation days for anyone.

Since living abroad, I can't tell you how many times I've been asked, "How many vacation days do you get in America? You guys only get like 7 days a year or something, right?" This question originally caught me by surprise because I was lucky to work for an employer in the US with a very generous paid-time-off (PTO) policy. My last promotion actually allowed for unlimited PTO. However, annual leave is usually at the discretion of the employer in the US, and for that reason, many Americans either don't get many vacation days, or they have to build up vacation days based on a ridiculous amount of tenure. It turns out that the typical American worker only gets an average of 10 days per year.

4. Time off of work actually means time off of work.

Time off of work is taken very seriously. Generally speaking, time off of work means your colleagues in New Zealand will not call or email unless it is an emergency. Most good colleagues don't want to interrupt your precious time away from work, and they want to be treated the same way while they're taking time off of work.

5. Spectacular scenery.

I know I'm biased, but my short and bold answer is that it's the most beautiful and unique place on earth. I have been on plenty of outdoor adventures here, on one of New Zealand's famed hikes or world-class beaches, where nature felt so remote and so pristine that it left me with the feeling that dinosaurs could possibly live here. Honestly, I've thought to myself and said out loud, "It wouldn't surprise me if a T-Rex suddenly popped out of the bushes.". However, it's also important to give credit where credit is due - to the Kiwis who take great pride and effort in taking care of the environment and who expect visitors to do the same.

Photo taken hiking NZ’s Milford Track in Fiordland.

6. Great food and wine.

Photo taken enjoying the wineries on Waiheke Island in Auckland.

While New Zealand may be remote and relatively small in stature, one can find a world-class food scene. In fact, Auckland's food scene rivals any city worldwide from various Asian-inspired street food to high-end dining. Also never far from the coast, New Zealand boasts incredible seafood from the likes of notorious Bluff oysters and green-lipped mussels from the Coromandel to crayfish, New Zealand’s version of a lobster.

Now, let's talk about wine. The increasing popularity of New Zealand wine has also made it one of the world's top producers. New Zealand has several distinct wine regions with beautiful wineries and tasting rooms. One of my favorites is the Marlborough region, renowned for its world-class Sauvignon Blanc.

7. The weather.

New Zealand's sub-tropical climate boasts warm summers and mild winters across most of the country, especially the North Island. However, it's not so warm in the summer that you have to wait until the sun goes down to be outdoors– which quite the opposite from summers in Alabama. Also, while the country's lush green landscape is a testament to the fact that New Zealand receives a substantial amount of rainfall, figures are still lower than in the UK.

8. It’s peaceful and democratic.

No country is perfect when it comes to peace or politics, and New Zealanders have their own political quarrels just like everyone else. However, there is a lot to be said for our current Prime Minister, Jacinda Adern, who has risen to the international spotlight due to the government's response to Covid-19 – a response based on science and empathy.

The government's website even touts that New Zealanders "are active voters in their own country and enjoy a long tradition of calm and polite political debate." Calm, polite, empathy – who knew these words could even exist around politics in today's environment. Yet they do exist here in some capacity.

9. Subsidized healthcare.

Public healthcare in New Zealand is free or low cost. Say that again? Yep, the New Zealand Government pays for a portion of healthcare fees, which means New Zealanders only have to pay a part of the cost when they see a local doctor. This makes healthcare much more affordable than in the USA.

10. NZ's response to COVID-19: Stay safe. Be Kind.

Photo of encouraging words from Buzz Lightyear take in my neighborhood during our second lockdown.

In case you didn't hear it, New Zealand emerged as a gold standard with its response to Covid-19. Prime minister, Jacinda Adern, led the charge with a response that was early, strict, and best of all, compassionate. While all of the technicalities, such as lock-downs and masks, have been continually communicated, the overall tone and critical message has been a variation of "Stay safe. Be Kind." Kindness – isn't that we all could use more of? After all, the way we treat others is one thing we CAN control right now.

In conclusion.

New Zealand is doing some fantastic things, and yes, sure, the scenery is spectacular, but at the end of the day, it is a country with its own issues and areas for improvement, just like the USA. We have postcard-worthy landscapes around every corner, but still, we also have one of the highest youth suicide rates globally and harmful environmental effects related to the dairy industry. I’ll also add that we have an economy that relies heavily on global exports and tourism, which will continue to be severely affected by the pandemic.

It's a great country, but just like any country, we still have a lot of work to do. I am not suggesting that everyone should try to move here, but I am shamelessly suggesting that you add New Zealand to your bucket list and come see what all of the fuss is about.

Do you have any other questions about what it’s like to live in New Zealand? Let me know in the comments or drop me an email at abbay@abbays-escapes.com

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Warmly,

10 reasons why Americans are googling ‘how to move to New Zealand’