Hi everyone
This is Susanne from NZIE Student Services and this article is about Settling into NZ.
I am from England and I only moved over here, from the UK in July 2017. So I know what it is like to move away from home and try to settle in a new country. So hopefully I can give you some good tips to help you settle in fast!
Tip number one.
Get to know people especially Kiwis and other local people. Now I know it might be tempting to only hang around with people from your own country but you are limiting yourself if you do. Getting to know Kiwis and other local people is important as it will help you in so many ways. Firstly you will continue to improve your English as you will be practicing it all the time. Secondly, you will start to understand more about the cultures here which will help you get a job and make new friends. And thirdly you will also expand your social network and may get more opportunities in the future.
Tip number 2
Get involved in the community. This one has so many benefits, firstly it links to tip number one because you will get to know local people but also it will make you feel more connected to your new home. So how can you do this? Well, there are lots of ways, volunteering being the best one, or you could join the local church or community centre or you could join a local sports or activity group like a community walking or hiking group. Check out websites like Facebook, Neighbourly and Meetup for groups and activities and check out sources such as Volunteering Auckland to get started.
Tip number 3
Learn about this great country! New Zealand is one of the youngest and most diverse countries in the world which makes it really interesting! Spend some time reading about the history of this great country, learn about the Kiwi and Maori cultures, check out art galleries and museums and go sightseeing! You’ve arrived in spring and the weather is getting better so get out there and get exploring!
Tip number 4
My final tip is just to get yourself organised! If you haven’t already, get yourself down the bank and open an account, then apply for your IRD which is your tax number which you’ll need if you want to work here. Head to Trade me or Facebook flatmate groups and start checking out cool places you might want to live. Then decided what club/group/volunteering you want to try and decide to try it out.
I hope this has given you lots of ideas to get you started. I know moving to a new country can be daunting but you have done the hard part and you are here now! So look at it as an incredible adventure so don’t be afraid and go for it!
Author: Susanne Cooke
NZIE Student Services
