This is a pros vs cons analysis that unpacks 56 bad things about living in New Zealand. This came together after five years of living in New Zealand since I left the USA. Use this as a guide if you’re thinking about making the big move down under so you can plan accordingly and stave off any surprises.
It has been five years since I bought a one-way ticket and made the big move to New Zealand. I certainly did my research before arriving. But it was mostly on the best places to sightsee and how to stay alive on a Great Walk.
High on my upcoming adventure, I didn’t even consider any bad things about living in New Zealand.
To be fair, no amount of research can prepare you for moving to a new country. But I hope this guide will give you a realistic view of living in New Zealand so that you aren’t surprised by the bad things if you’re thinking about moving here.
Sometimes it’s great. Sometimes it isn’t. Pros morph into cons, and vice versa.
Here are 56 bad things about living in New Zealand so that you can plan your big move accordingly to build a comfortable life in this beautiful country. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I love living in New Zealand so please don’t come for me! This post is balanced by the addition of the pros of living in New Zealand down below. And remember that everyone’s experience is subjective.
You may also be interested in reading about everything I learned from living in New Zealand.
1. Isolated from the rest of the world
Although I love the cluster of islands that is New Zealand, it sucks how isolated we are on the world map. Most people don’t even know where New Zealand is.
Far-flung from other countries, New Zealand sits lonely in the Pacific Ocean.
2. If you’re a travel-lover, it’s expensive to travel anywhere
Flight can be expensive, especially since the pandemic. Living in the Pacific is a great opportunity to explore all its islands, but it will still cost you.
3. It’s expensive to visit home
If you move here, know it will be long and expensive to return and see family. And you may not have the cash to do it often. For me, this is the single hardest thing about living in New Zealand.
4. Shipping costs
Another issue with being so isolated is the high shipping costs. If you’d like to buy anything from overseas, shipping can sometimes be more expensive than the product. If your mother wants to ship you a special package from home, she’ll use the shipping cost as another reason why you should’ve stayed home. Once, I shipped my family a box of small gifts for Christmas and shipping cost me $150. Ouch.
5. Imported parts cause delays
To compound the isolation, much of New Zealand’s industries rely on imported goods from overseas, which means long delays if you require an urgent service. For example, Shaun and I damaged our car last year on a gravel road and the shop is still waiting on the required parts from Japan. It’s been five months, and our car collects dust in the garage.
6. High cost of living
As I’m sure you heard, the cost of living in New Zealand is high. This is particularly grating to me, having moved here from Midwest, USA which has a relatively low cost of living.
Sure, import costs are to blame but there are other reasons too. The current inflation doesn’t help as the population becomes stretched for basic essentials.
7. Rent is expensive
Due to the housing crisis (unpacked below), rent in New Zealand can be expensive. For some, as much as 50% of every paycheck is eaten up by rent. Households with a median income can still find themselves in subpar accommodation since landlords are incentivised to keep increasing rent without increasing the quality of their homes.
8. Groceries are expensive
Due to the supermarket duopoly in New Zealand, competition is low for produce, which means there are limited measures to curb the rising cost of groceries. These days, our weekly grocery bill (for 2 people) is at least $250. And that doesn’t include our entertainment budget.
9. Wares are expensive
Due to the high cost of materials, wares are expensive in general which can make for a frustrating shopping experience. This humbled me down to my most basic needs, which could be considered a “pro” of living in New Zealand if you’re trying to manage your consumerism.
10. No Amazon
You may be thinking to yourself, what about Amazon? Given the exorbitant price of absolutely everything in New Zealand, it would be nice to have a super-warehouse of affordable goods with overnight shipping.
But nope, there is no Amazon in New Zealand. There is Amazon Australia… but the selection is quite limited and not worth the shipping costs.
11. Lack of consumer choice
Because everything is expensive and there are no online mall giants in New Zealand, there is a certain lack of consumer choice. Although New Zealand has a strong economy (a strong “pro” by the way), you are quite limited in brands and products. This poses a challenge for me, who takes her fashion very seriously, to find items I’m excited about.
I’m not saying it’s impossible… but it definitely takes some digging.
12. Owning a car is expensive
Petrol in New Zealand is expensive. But that’s not the only reason why owning a car here can drain the bank. New Zealand has strict vehicle regulations, which means maintaining your car and registration is a constant exercise.
From WOFs to oil changes to wheel alignments to tyre services and endless other requirements, we throw so much money at our car every year that it makes me reconsider owning one. And let’s not forget my previous point (#5) about imported parts. For this reason, road trips can come at a high cost, which is annoying when that’s a hallmark activity to enjoy life New Zealand.
13. Travel is expensive
Given that petrol is expensive and maintaining a car is expensive, your New Zealand road trip has already accumulated a big cost. But there’s also the fact that accommodation is expensive, as are activities and entertainment. This is why one of the most popular activities is hiking. Though the gear required can also get expensive. Sigh.
14. The housing crisis
A heated topic among Kiwis, the housing market in New Zealand is one of the worst.
The value of New Zealand houses has inflated due to an influx of celebs and upper-class groups. And given that everything is expensive to build and dependent on imports, a housing shortage inflated prices even further.
These days, buying a house is for the rich or those with parental help. Others are banding together (siblings, friends) to increase their chances. Others are buying in rural towns, sacrificing commute and community to get on the property ladder.
15. Competitive rental market
Due to the housing shortage, finding a place to rent can be a nightmare. In my experience, every viewing comes with a line out the door, and unless you submit your application within 20 minutes, you’ve likely lost your chance.
16. Landlords can be a pain
If you’re lucky, your landlord is reasonable and responsive to your needs. But there are some bad landlords in New Zealand. Many are greedy and prioritise profit over the wellbeing of their tenants. Join any of the Facebook groups and you’ll find story after story of landlords ignoring requests to fix basic amenities, gaslighting tenants, or going overkill with inspections.
17. Older homes
To my disappointment, the majority of homes in New Zealand are old and not in a charming way. Because of the leaky homes crisis (#18 below), New Zealand lost a lot of time renewing its infrastructure. And because so many people live in older homes, they are constantly battling a myriad of headaches like:
18. Poor insulation, no central heating, and bad wiring
Maybe this is why Kiwi ingenuity is part of the culture because they are constantly drawing up creative solutions to keep things functioning around them. And fine, maybe those old heat radiators do have a bit of charm. But sometimes a girl wants convenience over charm.
19. Damp homes
To add to that, many homes in New Zealand have poorly fitted single-glazed windows. Which means homes tend to run cold and damp. When my mother visited me in Wellington, she rented an AirBnb that turned out to be damp and she spent the next fortnight emptying a dehumidifier on a daily basis.
20. Building standards haven’t always hit the mark
There’s a thing in New Zealand called the “leaky homes crisis”. From 1988 to 2004, homes built in New Zealand were not fully weather-tight, which overtime caused rot, mould, spores, and structural issues. This ongoing construction and legal issue impacts thousands… even some schools.
21. The dreaded 20% deposit
Most banks require a 20% deposit to buy a house, which many young professionals (like me) just don’t have. To make my point clear, a less-than-average home in a New Zealand city costs around $800,000… which means you’d need $160,000 to your name. Most people don’t have that kinda cash sitting around, and you’d be even less inclined to throw it at a shitty property.
22. It is quite Western
With it being such a large move from the USA to New Zealand, I was surprised to find how Western it was. For a tiny country in the middle of the ocean, I had expected something a bit more unique though I should have known since New Zealand (much like the rest of the world) was colonised by the Crown. New Zealand gained independence from Britain in 1948, though it is still part of the Commonwealth.
23. The culture is English-influenced
If you are someone who finds English culture quite bland, you’ll be disappointed to know New Zealand’s culture is heavily influenced by the English. Although it’s slowly developing a personality, most of the elder population still drink English tea like it’s water, indulge in fish and chips, and inflicted with “Boomer” mentality.
24. The impact of colonialism is annoying and, at its worst, devastating
Not unlike most countries, colonialism devastated the indigenous culture in New Zealand and it’s hard not to become annoyed by it when you are literally as far away as you can get from Britain. Colonisation here eroded Māori culture and traditional practices. And despite Te Tiriti o Waitangi (a treaty signed between the Māori chiefs and the Crown that allowed Britain to form a Government in New Zealand as long as Māori were protected and got to keep their land), the Crown still participated in large-scale confiscation of Māori land, the impacts of which Māori communities still feel to this day.
25. Māori culture is growing but way too slowly
I’m happy to report Māori culture is slowly coming back in New Zealand, though it can be frustrating to see how this movement is being impeded by economic hardship and the (albeit decreasing) number of bigots.
26. The culinary identity could be improved
Outside of Māori cuisine (and the delicious hāngī), New Zealand’s culinary identity is British-based with Pacific influences. Not to say that New Zealand food is bad. (In fact, there is a “pro” about the incredible food below). But as a Lebanese person, I come from a culture with a bold culinary identity around which the entire culture revolves. And New Zealand has some work to do in this area.
27. Not much of a Middle Eastern presence
This may matter less to you but as a Lebanese person, I do feel quite distant from my culture living in New Zealand. There aren’t many Middle Eastern restaurants other than the occasional kebab shop. And the Middle Eastern population is scarce compared to the thriving community in Australia.
28. Food markets are scarce
One of my favourite activities in another country is frequenting its food markets. There is no place better to learn about authentic foods, locally-grown produce, and the locals’ way of life. Unfortunately in New Zealand, food markets are scarce, and those that exist are rather small. And any market that isn’t serving up hāngī is a failed one, in my opinion.
29. The holidays are upside down
Even after half a decade of living in New Zealand, I still get bummed that the holidays are upside down. Never mind the confusion of which month you’re in at any point in the year.
30. Halloween is underwhelming
Because the seasons are flipped, Halloween in New Zealand is in spring. And it’s just not the same. Although some people try to decorate with pumpkins and autumn colours, it doesn’t work right when the world around you is waking up in fields of happy flowers and rising temperatures.
31. Summer Christmas is weird (or awesome, depending how you look at it)
Because I am so attached to the nostalgia of a white Christmas, it took a long time to adjust to a hot Christmas. Although I love it now – weeks off work, burgers on the Barbie, swimming at the beach – it’s hard to get into the “Christmas spirit”. It’s not the Christmas of my childhood and it never lands the way I hope.
32. Winter feels extra long
Without Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas to lighten up those cold winter days, the winter season can feel extra long and boring, and I won’t lie that seasonal depression can creep in and I start missing home very much (especially while receiving photos of my family at the beach).
33. There is a hole in the ozone layer
Because of little pollution and a hole in the ozone layer, the sun in New Zealand is rather intense. Just recently on our travels, Shaun and I got sunburnt after 20 minutes at the lake without sunscreen.
Even though my skin contains more melanin than the average John Smith, I’ve never experienced a sunburn like in New Zealand. The angry purple of it, hot tingling pain, and the itch in the days afterwards… not fun.
34. One of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world
Due to the above, New Zealand (next to Australia) has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. If you choose to live here, plan to make SPF 50++++ part of your daily routine. Even in winter.
35. Prone to natural disasters (even before climate change)
New Zealand is a geological wonderland, and it can get very active. To give a few examples:
36. The loom of earthquakes is disconcerting
New Zealand is prone to earthquakes. And when you move here, you will hear all about how we are due for a major one. Read here about how the earthquakes gave me a newfound sense of respect for Mother Earth.
37. Volcanoes are uncomfortably active
Despite that, people still go to great lengths to hike them and enjoy the sights. New Zealand is notorious for the Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption of 2019, which killed 22 people and injured 25.
38. Boiling rivers are a thing
Predominately in Rotorua, boiling rivers are a natural phenomenon and they are super cool to look at. But they can be a hazard if you’re not careful (though I admit boiling river injuries are quite rare).
39. The sandflies and mosquitoes are horrendous
I don’t know what it is but I react badly to New Zealand mosquitoes. A single bite will itch for days, bad enough to keep me up at night. And the sandflies are pesky when you’re trying to enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery you’ve ever seen.
40. The quiet can be unnerving
I mention a few times on this blog I didn’t experience much culture shock after moving to New Zealand until I hit the rural parts. Which is most of the country. If you aren’t used to it, the quiet is a bit unnerving. I’m often left wondering what people even do around those parts.
41. The majority of towns can be classified as “sleepy”
Outside the main cities, New Zealand is mostly pastures and sheep. Forget resorts and skylines and shopping malls. Instead, you’ll find fishing villages and farm towns run by humble businesses.
42. Small towns are very small
When I travelled around the USA, I would spend days exploring a city, sampling from its endless restaurants and shops. In New Zealand, exploring an entire town can take a few hours. Sometimes less.
43. The nightlife could be improved
Because New Zealand’s way of life is slow and most towns are quite small, the nightlife can be a bit lacking. The cities certainly have something to offer (Auckland is fun and Queenstown is a vibe) but it doesn’t live up to the nightlife on other islands, like Bali or Thailand. The pandemic took an axe to the entertainment scene too, though it’s heartening to see things beginning to rebuild.
44. Slow living can be a culture shock
If you’re coming from a country that is either very fast or very loud (or both), New Zealand’s slow way of life can be a shock. There is a general lack of urgency and when a work-life balance is prioritised above all, it can be hard if you subscribe to the “work hard, play hard” mindset… which I used to. When you’re on such a different page, it can take awhile to connect to people.
45. The shopping kinda sucks
If you’re coming to New Zealand predominantly for shopping, you won’t have much luck outside Auckland. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great New Zealand brands and an increasing number of small sustainable businesses. But everything is so expensive that your dollars don’t go very far.
46. Some people have reported New Zealand to be “boring”
I’m certainly not one of those people… but others who are used to big cities, bright lights, and a pumping entertainment scene tend to find themselves a bit bored in New Zealand.
47. Tall Poppy Syndrome is infuriating
Tall poppy syndrome refers to criticising successful people and bringing them back down to size. New Zealanders have no tolerance for ego, which I wholeheartedly support. But I find it frustrating when I see my friends make themselves small because they don’t want to seem “boastful”, even when they are incredible.
48. It’s a tricky balance to pitch yourself
With this culture of humble behaviour, it can get tricky to sell your worth, especially as an entrepreneur. I’ve had to find a way to pitch myself while grounded in reality, back myself while keeping any grandeur in check.
49. It can mess with your confidence
With this pressure to stay humble, it can become difficult to know your worth, particularly for those who have been shot down by trying to stand out from the crowd. As a Lebanese-American, I know my value and although I have a keen awareness of my flaws, I know where I excel. And I’ve had to uplift a few of my Kiwi friends to make them aware of their own skills.
50. If you’re American, your accent will get made fun of. A lot.
So people here make fun of my American accent. It’s a strange feeling to be “othered” as soon as I open my mouth, and I wonder if they realise how much they do it.
51. The American sense of humour doesn’t jive well with New Zealanders
My humour is rather dry and sarcastic and I thought that I would fit in well here. But New Zealand humour is a particular niche and I’ve often found myself on a completely different page from others.
52. Public transportation could be improved
Although public transport is strong inside the cities, public transportation across the country is shocking. There are virtually no trains, and the bus can get very expensive.
53. Bad roads might fuck up your car
Shaun and I do a lot of travelling and our car has been damaged multiple times because of gravel or potholes. And as mentioned above, fixing your car in New Zealand is expensive and at times achingly slow.
54. The biggest show tours often skip New Zealand
Because New Zealand is so small and isolated, many artists skip it on their world tours, which can get frustrating. Although it does give you a new appreciation for those who make the time to come out here, usually because they have a special place in their hearts for New Zealand (shoutout to Ed Sheeran).
55. It may take a while to build strong friendships
This isn’t to say New Zealanders aren’t open to connecting. But when you come here as an expat, you are usually surrounded by expats. And because New Zealand is so far and isolated, not many stick around long term. In the first two years of living in New Zealand, I made then lost so many friends that my heart became sick of goodbyes. Befriending the locals and making a place for yourself inside their communities will take time.
56. It takes a lot of money to live a comfortable life
You have to be quite privileged to live a comfortable life in New Zealand. And you have to be patient too. There are plenty of job opportunities but it takes time to build a career and have enough money in your pocket to finally take a breath and enjoy everything it has to offer.
Is New Zealand still a good place to live?
Absolutely, New Zealand is still an incredible place to live. That may sound weird considering I just listed a whopping 56 bad things about living in New Zealand. But have a look around this blog and you’ll see why this country can enchant even the grumpiest of characters.
I said it at the beginning but it’s worth repeating: I love living in New Zealand. Most of the above are manageable, especially if you’re looking to grow out of some toxic habits (ahem fast living, ahem consumerism).
Pros of living in New Zealand
Beautiful country, incredible scenery
Everyone knows New Zealand is breathtaking. Physically, this cluster of big and tiny islands offers every vista imaginable, from mountains to glaciers, ancient forests to sparkling beaches.
New Zealand sits on the Alpine Fault (the boundary where two major tectonic plates, the Australian plate and Pacific plate, grind against each other). This has resulted in some unique natural phenomena around New Zealand, like geothermal activity, earthquakes, and volcanic zones. And it helped shape the Southern Alps.
If you have an affinity for the outdoors, New Zealand makes a decent playground. At the rumble of every earthquake, you’ll find yourself caught between “this is so scary” to “this is fucking cool”.
Temperate weather
The earth may do crazy things in New Zealand but the weather is pretty mild. Hurricanes are rare, and homes don’t have basements because tornadoes aren’t a thing either.
New Zealand gets four seasons (summer, autumn, winter, and spring), and they tend to behave as you expect them to. For now at least.
Summers bring warm weather, blue skies and lots of beach time. Winters bring snow-capped mountains and ski resorts.
But yes, the seasons are flipped south of the equator, so the holidays are all wonky as mentioned above.
Island lifestyle and Māoritanga
Living in New Zealand is very relaxed. Although the islands are large enough not to feel like islands sometimes, Kiwis still adopt that “island” lifestyle. This is largely due to the Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand), of whom we have a lot to learn. I talk deeply about Māoritanga (the Māori way of life) in this post where I share one of the fundamental ways New Zealand has healed me.
Living here, I learned to turn the dial down on my angst for status and working my life away. My priorities became time with friends and family, my connection to the natural world.
Friendly people
This means New Zealanders are, for the most part, kind, open and genuine. Even if it takes a while (these things can’t be rushed), living here will yield meaningful connections and true friendships.
Low crime rate
New Zealand is #2 on the Global Peace Index. It’s one of the safest countries in the world, which made it easier to make the big move as a solo female traveller. I ran into virtually no trouble travelling the length of the country on my own. Even living in the city, I always feel safe walking around by myself, even after dark.
High quality of living means it’s a great place to raise a family
According to the OECD Better Life Index, New Zealand outperforms in many areas of wellbeing compared to other countries. It excels in many areas to build a happy, safe and successful life, which means it’s also a great place to raise a family. And there’s no better place to nurture young minds than a country with so much green earth to run around in.
Incredible local foods
As discussed, the sun in New Zealand is strong. This means New Zealand earth produces generously. Minus what’s imported, fruits and vegetables taste amazing. Restaurants with a seasonal menu provide some of the finest dining I’ve ever had.
New Zealand is also surrounded by water, bringing in a range of sea creatures from ocean to table. Fishing villages serve delectable seafood right off the boat. And when paired with fresh locally-sourced ingredients, it’s a dining experience to die for, especially if done by traditional hāngī cooking.
Coffee and beer
On the same note, coffee and beer cultures thrive here in New Zealand. The cities are known for streets packed with cafes and local breweries where many Kiwis pack themselves with friends any day of the week.
Wellington particularly excels in this area, as every Wellingtonian will tell you. My obsession with coffee (and growing liking for beer) is well-met here.
Small country, geographically and in population
The great thing about New Zealand is that it’s small and quick to get around. If you move here, you’ll never be too far from the coast. You’ll be able to see a lot in a short time and exploration in every city is manageable. In Wellington, the CBD is so small that all my needs are within walking distance… including work, the beach, and my friends’ flats.
New Zealand also doesn’t have a large population. That means, career-wise, it doesn’t take long to make a name for yourself, whether you’re corporate or entrepreneurial. There are a lot of opportunities for success here in New Zealand, and it doesn’t take your soul to make significant strides.
Great tourism infrastructure
Although New Zealand tourism surged quite abruptly, its infrastructure is robust. It’s easy to drive around New Zealand. The roads have high safety standards (other than the occasional pothole) and are landmarked expertly so you never get lost.
There are also many many many lodges, hotels, B&Bs, and backpackers if you’re on a budget.
If you move to New Zealand, you’ll also be enchanted with the camping culture. There are camping facilities everywhere you go, a variety managed by DOC, local councils, or privately owned. A great infrastructure to ensure your basic needs are met while living outdoors. Even the elderly go camping. It’s adorable.
No predators or scary critters
As you begin living among nature, you’ll quickly become grateful that there are very few things to worry about in the wilderness. In this way, New Zealand is very different from Australia.
There are no predators and rarely any poisonous things. I was shocked the first time Shaun (my partner) walked barefoot into a field of long grass. I asked about snakes. Nasty spiders. Ticks.
But it’s not really a problem in New Zealand. If you’re someone who gets the heebie jeebies from slimy skittering creatures (ie me), then New Zealand is perfect for you.
Just don’t mind the sandflies.
Progressive politics
After living in Lebanon and then the USA, I quickly embraced the simple politics in New Zealand. By comparison, there isn’t too much corruption and I can appreciate a Government that sometimes laughs at itself.
If you enjoy a functioning democracy, progressive politics and a Government that (for the most part) genuinely cares about its citizens, you’ll enjoy living here in New Zealand.
I will say things have been a little weird since the pandemic. But I don’t think any government got out of that unscathed.
Is it a good idea to move to New Zealand?
Yes, it is a good idea to move to New Zealand because it will be the adventure of your life!
I hope the pros and cons above help you make a decision about living in New Zealand. There’s a reason I’m still here, after five years. I’m enamoured by the Kiwi charm, the rumbling earth, the easygoing attitude. But no place on earth is perfect. There is a balance of good and bad. Moving countries is no small feat so remember to go gently with yourself. And expect that it will take time to truly acclimate.
