I think it's so sad that we (as a country), are terrible at taking criticism - how are we meant to improve if we don't acknowledge what we're doing wrong 😓
So true! And it's completely normal to have problems, every single country on this planet does! It's impossible to get better if you just shove everything negative down for sure!
@brittanymorgan09 I have also just become aware of a gang culture in Nelson - I didn't know (I've been there 4 times on holiday, and loved it, but holidays aren't the same. When I mentioned to my colleague about loving Nelson, and always having wanted to live there, she was shocked, because apparently it's known as not being safe! I think we're just a bit sheltered here in Dunedin - we're a weird bunch, but we're pretty safe (I'm comfortable with my 17-yr-old daughter working as waitstaff at night and taking the bus home late). Looks like we're going to be based in Ontario now when I move - do you know what sort of reputation it has (probably will be living in a small village)?
@@trudimclaren4301 I didn't know that about Nelson! I've seen biker gangs around here though hmm. Also, I love Dunedin and it's cute quirkiness ❤️❤️ As for Ontario well, it's a massive province. Do you know where abouts? I grew up in Ottawa and hated it (mostly the summer heat & humidity) but Ontario is quite beautiful in spots.
@@brittanymorgan09 we'd be looking at as close to the border with Quebec as possible (Alex has a friend who lives in a little town in Ontario, and it's lovely there). Alex has a well paying job just out of where he currently lives in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, so it needs to be as close as we can be, but there are a *lot* of extra hoops to jump through if you're moving to Quebec. Also, we can afford to buy a house with what I get from mine when I (officially) split from my ex-husband. I want our own place so much ❤️
@@trudimclaren4301 I'm not too familiar with the areas of Ontario that are closer to Montréal but lived in Ottawa for over 20 years and it's a really lovely city. Looks like a lot of cute small towns around there though!! I wish I could help further!
My wife and I left New Zealand in July/August 2023 to try it out in Brisbane. We were struggling to save for a house deposit with our income being absorbed by rent and food, however covid was the nail in the coffin for us, we gave up our desire to own a home in New Zealand faced with higher loans and repayments, not to mention longer saving period for deposit requirements. To be frank, so far we have found we are saving more and at a faster rate, it might be a combination of higher wages and a lower cost of living. We actually feel confident for the first time in many years about achieving our savings goals.
That's unfortunate that you had to leave but I totally understand. We just stayed in an old heritage home Airbnb for 1 night (3 bed, 1 bath) in Hokitika that's listed for $400,000. Unbelievably expensive in my opinion and it gets no better near city centres. Brisbane sounds amazing, I'm glad you've improved your situation!
Cheers! I'm glad these points resonated with you. There are still lots of people here willing to talk about the issues and that's a breath of fresh air honestly!
@@brittanymorgan09 it was actually quite scary learning to drive with all the bad driving and road rage. My first time driving through a roundabout by myself this guy road-raged at me 😱 , Christchurch drivers for ya! I would like our roads to be less stressful too !
@@francineharris9473 I bet you one day the truth will come out. That it is actually putting babies and young children in "day care" that is causing the mental health crisis. Most babies today are abandoned by their mother. No wonder they grow up depressed 😔
@@KellyMonk156 I agree and that's all by design as well, for the New World Order, but you must have discernment to see it. It was told by one of them as well
I lived in NZ for 18 years. Both your videos are spot on. You dare not point out any negatives about NZ or you get hate for it, which is weird because all countries have pro's and con's. I can't understand the aggression from Kiwi's when the obvious down sides are brought up 🤷 I'm also not a fan of the tall poppy syndrome. We have found people have an issue when they see others "making it". The safety side has definitely gone backwards quite quickly too. It wasn't this bad when we first moved here but now it is awful. Kids get attacked on trains and all police do is send warning to colleges, but they won't actually be proactive in catching the attackers. We've also found it quite xenophobic. It's not uncommon to hear the hate towards immigrants from Kiwi's. My elderly father was on a train speaking Greek to my mum on the phone and a Kiwi boomer confronted him and told him to go back to where he came from. My day was 90 years old for goodness sakes, it's a real bully mentality.
Wow that is so horrible, I'm sorry to hear your father had that experience. I wish NZ was more open to talking about these issues. It seems so hostile to me here sometimes and I try not to speak so people don't know I'm not from here to avoid judgement. It's very, very sad.
I appreciate you bringing this up, and I'm sorry to hear you had to deal with that circumstance and that, unexpectedly, your request weren't granted on time or no follow up at all.
Lived in Canada and as a Scandinavian it was the worst ever. If its worse in Newzealand .. It's not a pluss. But I have no idea about the facts there. I think you need to understand, that being from another country with higer standard of living than Canada has. Putting yourself in that situation , you as a Canadian Will as a foreiners perspektive say that both the health sektor and your banking system has low standard. And being a forener and not Canadian in Canada. It is complicated to understand the low level heathcare situaton for foreiners in Canada. Something you as a Canadian Will not exoeriance. Then again it is about higher standards in Canada compared to Scandinavia. Yes, I have lived in Canada. But it is a pluss to have these discussions about living in different countries 😍
I am a New Zealander living in Australia, I did my working holiday in Canada 🇨🇦. You outlined all the reasons I live in Australia. You were spot on your observations. Australia is expensive, it took me a long time to find a nonprofit to work for that up held there values they promoted. Melbourne is friendly. Sydney has too many psychopaths. Canberra is very insular. Brisbane is sweaty af. Adelaide don’t know.’ Perth, the world’s, most isolated city, they can’t merge in traffic. Australia has a rental crisis. And lastly the NZ road toll used to be worse, much worse. Spot on with not dealing with problems, Australians are better with that.
Greetings Brittany. I am so sorry to hear about your recent very scary situation that happened to you while going for a walk. Hope you will recover soon from this ordeal. Many Thanks for keeping the balanced & unbiased opinions. I really like your balanced approach on your video's. Please stay safe and stay aware....!!!!
Thank you for the kind words! Yes, it was a very scary and confusing situation and I avoid the area now but each day it gets a bit better and I'm gaining my trust in strangers back ☺
I moved to New Zealand from South America and I love it. Never would back to South America. I did spent some time and Canada and was okay. and I noticed a few things in Canada: Mental health issues,controversial abortions laws, Gambling addiction, family violence, poverty, prostitution discrimination etc... Wasn't too bad to live but does has a lot of issues and I couldn't live there either. I guess everywhere in the World has issues. New Zealand for me is safe, if you compared to South America, is very safe. Have been for 16 years and never saw a robbery or a crime in my town. New Zealand doesn't have much poverty, mostly people has a car and money for food and bills, they have the Dole, the help when someone doesn't have a job, and is about $300 per week per person in the family. The hospital is free and dentist until you are 18 years old. Has great free schools and universities and parks and a lot of stuff. The Country is clean you don't see much rubbish around, people are polite, the food is good, the scenery is amazing, I cant really find any significant thing to put me off. Has a lot of emigrants I reckon 1/3 of the population is just a good place to raise kids.
Thanks for your thoughts! I never said NZ isn't safe, just that I personally feel more unsafe here than other countries I've been to. I have a whole video about the positives of living here and safety is a huge one. Overall, it's a very safe country indeed. Canada is a massive country and each area is very, very different. Toronto vs Calgary vs Vancouver vs Ottawa and so on and so on. Crime rates, homelessness etc is definitely an issue. Poverty, violence, crime, etc exist everywhere. There are lots of bonuses to living here but I prefer Canada ☺️
@@tehzeebkhan7283 Both Canada and NZ are safe countries, there are dozens of countries that are way worse. I live in Québec City and I feel safer here than I ever felt anywhere else.
As a Kiwi the best way to describe New Zealand is under resourced, Health, Policing, pretty much anything Government run. On the positive side the sceneries great
Fair points. I think the driving situation is different because kiwi's are used to driving on narrow windy roads so if the speed limit is 100 kmph you can bet that most are doing at least that.
Sure but if everything is flying around in your car when you're going around a corner at 100km and you're squealing your tires....something ain't right haha. It's more the impatience and dangerous overtaking that bothers me. We speed in Canada, especially on highways (like 130km is normal on a 110km limit road). Also why do so many people here drive slow then speed up so much when a passing lane opens up??? Drives me insane lol. I pass people here a lot but I only do it safely.
@@brittanymorgan09 Some of them are just jerks but passing lanes are often on straighter sections because those parts of the road are easier to have double lanes on so the slower drivers feel more confident to speed up. Which is also why you get frustrated drivers who then become impatient. One of the better ideas on the roads was the introduction several years back of signs advising how far away the next passing lane would be which cuts down on the number of people trying to pass on more windy sections. Given that South Islanders often treated people from the North Island as unwanted guests only a generation or so ago I wouldn't take people glaring at you over your accent to heart.
Very comprehensive and good. The only comment I have is for the wingeing ( winge ) or complaining you mentioned. This is likely a cultural stoicism of suck it Up. As an American of Irish descent my family of origin always used this term when I was little and pouting : "Stop your wingeing" so def. seems cultural. Along these lines, I have read how for example Ex pats move to Costa Rica or some other Caribbean place and expect -- demand -- that the sense of efficiency and time be the same as they are used to. Obviously it Doesn't work like that -- we are different culturally and we can certainly note the issue and even complain about it as long as we also realize with respect ( and I sense that you do ) that this may the country's tradition -- it's not our way but it is their way, and is not " wrong ". Glad I watched. The negatives you mentioned would be problems for me as well.
Thank you for watching & for the taking the time to leave a great comment! I agree, it could be a cultural thing. With NZ's suicide rates though, mental health absolutely needs to be a focus for this country going forward regardless of "stoicism" or how it's always been. The time thing you mention about Caribbean is funny because it can definitely be like that here too! People like to take their time here where North American it's so demanding.
I went to NZ in 2013 on a working holiday visa for a year. I understand all of the points you make. I loved my stay there but there were some things I hated. I hated the lack of insulation and central heating like you mentioned in part 1. I also was in some sketchy situations where I did not feel safe as a woman walking around alone. I disliked the prices of fresh vegetables in the winter, I can't imagine how families there try to eat healthy in winter times. The reckless driving was also a thing back then and the high alcohol and beer prices. Don't get me wrong I made amazing memories there but there are a few things that are going really wrong but nobody seems to notice nor try to change them
Sound like you were a paranoid person before you came here and brought trauma with you especially if you came from dangerous countries like Canada and US.
Totally agree, it's an amazing and beautiful country but not without it's issues. We're finally in a place now that's insulated and it's made a world of difference, haven't used the heat pumps in months! Grocery prices are now quite affordable and that has helped tremendously. I'm really looking forward to the summer/fall when all the yummy stuff is in season. I wish NZ was more walkable and less car-centric. That's definitely one of the reasons I love Welly so much.
@@jillspence7227 it has nothing to do with entitlement. Take it as food for thought. You don't have to change anything, but it's also not cool to disregard problems that are getting talked about when you are clearly one of the people who would profit from a change for the better. Every country and society in generel has to stive for better I think. That's the way to evolve. In my job I do exactly that. So no, this is not a mean or entitled comment on a situation, it's a "hey maybe it bothers you as well and maybe people can work for a better world when they want to see change in those aspects"
My parents have traveled to many countries and said it's pretty much the same issues wherever you go (talking first world western countries here). I think NZ is trying to get better. Mental health is talked about so much more openly and we know this is an issue with young men. There's still so much more to be done, but I think it's really changing. Overall I'm really proud to be a Kiwi and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
Makes sense! New Zealand is still an amazing country and place to call home. I think most of us are a little biased on preferring the country we were born & raised in which totally makes sense. We've all got big issues to tackle in every country & I'm hoping things improve here and in Canada in the years to come.
I'm sorry Brittany to hear about the unpleasant confrontation wt huligan. I'm glad you're okay. 🙏 You're absolutely entitled to your opinion about NZ, and it's unfortunate that some people can't respect that. What's wrong with us humans that we do not have capacity to listen to each other.🥺 It's disheartening how we struggle to have meaningful, respectful conversations and instead resort to judgment and attacks because we do not think and feel the same. How radiculus it is. It's a concern for the world's direction. 🥺 I've heard positive experiences from permanent residents in NZ re: helth service, so maybe the health situation differs for visitors. Your resourcefulness in finding a solution to find the way to see the doctor is commendable.👍👏 All the best, and thanks for sharing your perspective on NZ. Lots of love💖💖
Thank you so much for the support 🥰🥰. I do hope the healthcare situation improves here, there's lots of talks on the government investing in it. Only time will tell I suppose! I hope NZ adopts a more open attitude with talking about issues and mental health too. That will make a world of difference for peace and happiness in the country.
Hi Morgan! Fellow Calgarian here! I just started my working holiday visa for New Zealand. Your content has been really helpful, thanks a lot! If accepted, I’ll be in New Zealand within the next 2-3 months, I’m really excited. Keep up the great videos. 👍👌
All countries have positives & negatives especially when relocating from another location. Some are obvious and other reasons are unique to individuals or groups. Calm down folks, she's just sharing her experience
I agree with most of your points, I just think it needs to be known that a lot of the problems with costs is due to covid recovery and the recent climate related hurricanes and flooding. Before covid, you could get those $99NZ flights to Australia or $150NZ to Fiji, return to South East Asia for $700NZ and $899NZ return to Los Angeles, but because of the pandemic many of the flight routes haven't been re-established, but prices are coming down. Also with the floods and cyclones it has made it one of the most expensive winters in New Zealand. For example, usually when things like Kumara are in season you would be able to get it at like $2.99 a KG, but now it is 13.99 because most of this season's harvest was damaged. It is the same with other vegetables and fruits. Two major food producing regions were hit and because we normally don't need to import these items because we have an abundance, we now have shortages and then also add the 70000 egg laying hens were set ablaze adding to egg shortages too. But I get your point, New Zealand has always been a little more expensive than other places when it comes to food, but currently it is ludicrous because of these factors. You are definitely here the worst time. It is same with the Craft Breweries, some of them started just before Covid lockdowns and now in a time with record costs including the price of hops and the shortages of malting barley from the Ukraine and the expendable income available after these factors and raised loaning interest rates to create a mini-recession to cut inflation. You are definitely here at the worst time, but I agree, New Zealand is not a budget destination and never has been, even when prices were lower, a lot of people come here expecting it to be like South East Asia and for their money to be worth more, but just because you get double the amount of the NZ dollar for your dollar, doesn't mean prices are the same, a breakfast in the USA is would be around $10+ and in NZ it would be around $20+ for the equivalent. One thing I think you might be confusing and might need to look in on is Tall Poppy Syndrome and the Kiwi "She'll be right" attitude because I feel these are very different from having a "whinge" or "whinging" about something because a whinge is usually a general complaint or reckon, and we are masters a good whinge, we will whinge about anything, and we even whinge about whinging. Whereas the "She'll be right" attitude is more do with emotions and masculinity for example: John: "I really feel like my life is falling apart, and I can't deal with it" Peter: "She'll be right, mate" END OF CONVERSATION
Thank you for the fantastic comment and write up! I've noticed prices have come way down recently for groceries though petrol/electricity/flights are all still quite pricey. I would book with Jetstar for flights if they operated in Nelson as they have great deals. I'm waiting and praying for seat sales to go to Aussie!! LOL. We applied for visas before COVID and the timing just didn't work out so I guess we are paying for it now with how expensive it has been. It's still been absolutely worth the cost though. Yeah, I wasn't too sure what "whinge" meant but I've heard of Tall Poppy Syndrome and the "She'll Be Right" attitude and It all plays into the "shut up and be happy" thing. I feel young men here have it the hardest and I hope it improves.
True but the prices were high by international standards before covid, let alone the hurricane last year. Banning battery hens has doubled the price of eggs which hasn't helped and there is something amiss with the roads. I don't know if it's extra trucks or inferior materials but they're getting potholes like never seen before which damages vehicles, slows traffic and requires extra time to fix.
@@damionkeeling3103 sorry Damon, I totally disagree, it is well documented through all media how much prices have risen from 2019-2023 and it was a transition away from battery hens, which they had 10 years of transition which they did nothing towards until it became illegal and billions of roading cost have been allocated to things like SH1 Kaikoura Earthquake and the complete wash out of other roads including Milford Sound road that had to be completely rebuilt, its not about inferior materials it is about allocation of funding to more important projects like completely having to rebuild huge roads and make them both earthquake and flooding resistant. We had the blocking of the Suez Canal, the Ukraine war, which to this day is affecting world wheat prices and this issue is not unique to NZ, every country is going through cost of living crisis for the same reasons.
@@damionkeeling3103 and we usually have been a bit more expensive than other countries because we are a small Island nation in the middle of nowhere so we never have the supply chains of North America or Europe or the cheap Labour of Asia etc. But these prices were worse because of these factors.
Hi Brittany, interesting to hear your views. I agree with some and on the driving side of things no one in my experience beats Canadian drivers in terms of how courteous they are! One positive about NZ which is *unique* to all of the middle to upper income OECD countries is that NZ has no capital gains tax. This makes a huge difference for anyone aspiring to FIRE or run a business. We moved back to NZ 20 years ago now to lower salaries than offshore in part for this reason - you get to a point where the capital gains >> the lower incomes.
It's refreshing to hear the criticism. So many foreigners or locals living in NZ and who post videos are so afraid of posting criticism ironically due to the backlash from NZ people who want to be thought of as always being "so kind". People need to be aware of the society they are coming into both the good and the bad.
Thanks for your honest opinion! Sounds a lot like the UK to be honest, especially the health care issue. Even as a born and bred UK citizen I struggle to get a GP appointment these days and youre easily waiting 6+ hours in A&E 😔 guess I’ll feel at home in NZ! Haha
You'll miss the winters but the lower North Island is quite well known for it's cold damp winters even if it doesn't get cold enough to burst pipes. I recall a German couple telling me the coldest they've ever been was winter in Palmerston North due to the damp chill rather than actual temperature.
as a non resident you can enrol at any clinic as a casual, it just means you will pay a non-funded price, i.e. $100 ish for a 15min consult. Whoever you called mislead you, or it might be they didn't have the capacity.
I'm getting the vibe now that it's very region and "status" dependant. I didn't know privatized healthcare existed here so I guess if you have money, you get the privilege of better care. I hope it improves in the public sector so everyone can have access to proper care!
@brittanymorgan09 I'm actually a new zealand citizen, and can't register at any doctors as I'm not a full time resident, every doctor I've called has been flat out rude about it and very dismissive. I'm ashamed of being a kiwi, I can only imagine how you get treated as a non passport holder
Great video Brittany I'm happy that you made this video. From someone that live in the US it seems that New Zealand has a strong American influence even though most Kiwi's don't personally care for American ideology, I can see the same mentality with the "Whinging" and even the health care system, and lack of caring when it comes to dealing with potential violent criminals. The main culprit I see that will make New Zealand almost identical to the USA in a short amount of time is the ideology of catering to the wealthy while ignoring those in poverty, I know right now that New Zealand is a million times better than the US, but it definitely seems to be heading down the same path, almost as if there's some shadowy force behind both countries. I hope Aotearoa can rediscover it's own true identity and focus on making live amazing for all Kiwis so that it can be a shining example of what a nation should be like, instead of following the US down into the abyss.
I see a lot of American influences here, it's kind of crazy! US sport team merch everywhere and even massive gun stores...weird lol. I hope NZ goes down a more European path than American but only time will tell. It will be interesting to see what the new NZ government does and changes over the next few years.
@@brittanymorgan09 Yeah I realized that I have a few Kiwi friends and it seemed like they all really looked up to the US until they came here and visited for a while then 2 of them moved to Australia instead lol I think for most people that grew up in NZ they long for more action and excitement etc. and to them maybe the US looks like a fun action movie, but the quality of life here absolutely sucks so I hope NZ steers away from US culture because it will make their paradise seem like hell after a while.
Hey Brittany, kind of a funny story. I've lived in Calgary my whole life and came across your videos right when you moved to NZ. It's gotten so expensive here especially the last year or so and I find the quality of life has really declined for a lot of people. I started looking into moving and being a big lord of the rings fan I've always had a secret love for NZ and that's how I came across your videos. It's been pretty cool seeing your point of view of all the ups and downs as I feel I can relate pretty well as a Calgarian. You also make a lot of great points that I wouldn't have even considered or really known until I would have gone through them like yourself. Finally decided to leave a comment and just wanted to say thanks for the great videos!
Welcome fellow Calgarian!! Yes I've heard the cost of living and such has really gotten out of hand in Calgary. I own a property in Victoria Park so I've been keeping a close eye on the market. I'm a bit concerned about moving back but at least wages are generally higher and fuel is muuuuuch less expensive. I'm originally from Ottawa and I think if I had moved directly to NZ from there, I wouldn't have ever returned to Canada. I just happened to fall madly in love with Calgary and the mountains and I consider it my home now. There's a lot of upsides to living in NZ and the cost of some things here has gone down (like groceries) but it's still hard to get ahead. Ontario is similar in that way I think. Thank you for the comment ☺️☺️
No overtime/penalty rates is insane! Drives me up the wall (6 months here from Aus) probably go back soon. And casual contacts with a 1 month notice is WILD. NZ is rough.
I agree with you. I came to NZ on a working holiday visa, too. And guess what, two weeks ago, i was attacked by a man just right at the sky city in Auckland, and someone smashed my car widow yesterday in Christchurch 😅. And the price of vegetables is skyrocketing in the winter!
@@jillspence7227 you are right, I have now lived in the country and town for some months, Blenheim, Tauranga, te puke, they're way more better than Auckland and Christchurch
Thank you so much for your nice talk on New Zealand.I am very interested in exploring the North Island in terms of their natural plants and trees.It seems fascinating as a really volcanic Island.Thank you so much for your input,Brittany Morgan.All the best🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
That's good you made a video. No country is perfect. Sad to hear that you had a bad experience. What I have learnt from life is to focus on the positive. Learn and stay away from the negative experience. Agree on Salary, Expensive craft beer, Healthcare, there are not many high paying jobs as US, AU, Europe or Canada. I don't care about the politician and politics. They can't improve anyone situation we need to take the responsibility to improve and protect ourselves. People born in developing countries will have a different perspective as compared to being born in Developed countries. I hope you enjoy the best and keep posting amazing videos and sharing your thoughts.
Thank you for your comment! I do try and focus on the positive but it's important to be realistic about expectations too. It's all about perspective like you said, it's depends where you come from. For me, I prefer living in Canada though my time in NZ has been incredible overall and I've made a lifetime of memories I will cherish forever!
Always love these videos as I can kind of compare notes from my experience living here for the past four years. Also it initiated an hour long (plus) debate with my kiwi partner 😂 we mostly agreed but on some points we’re agreeing to disagree.. he thinks that the kiwi attitude overall is stoicism and I agree with you completely that there’s a lot of work that needs to happen regarding people feeling comfortable opening up about their feelings, ESPECIALLY men. The ‘She’ll be right’ attitude has gone too far that it seems like every issue big or small can just be magically dissolved with those words. I understand the frustration with healthcare here because I remember the few times I went to see a doctor and the bill was over $100. It’s taken the four years of being here and finally being a PR to feel better about it but even still, doctor’s visits aren’t free. I find the wait times here to be a lot better and overall the care I’ve received to be better, too. Very sorry to hear that you were attacked. That’s awful and just made worse that the police didn’t take it seriously… seems even ´she’ll be right ‘ is their MO unfortunately. How are you feeling now living in Nelson? Does it feel safe there? I’ve been in Chch this entire time and haven’t had any trouble- and I walk pretty much everywhere I go. Growing up in Winnipeg I honestly feel as if anywhere is safer… I have feared for my life in downtown Wpg on multiple occasions. Lived in Victoria, BC for many years too and it was better but many homeless people who were wild cards and on drugs. Just had to be careful and cross streets when my gut said it was a good idea. Feeling so much safer in Christchurch!
Ahhh stoicism...well I can see that side of it I suppose. People do seem to open up as you get to know them but it's really unlikely they will complain and raise legitimate issues. You can still be a positive, upbeat person and speak about problems in a mature and confident manner. Toxic positivity is a real thing!! I realize now that I should have mentioned "She'll Be Right" specifically in this video instead of whinging. Ah well. Definitely the point I was trying to make though! Nelson has been interesting. I've had more negative interactions with people here than anywhere I've lived prior. A lot of entitled, old, rich white people. Everyone is quite friendly but there's an air of "I'm better than you" lol. Not a ton of diversity here so maybe the "lower class" are quite marginalized and ignored. I think the hospital here needs a lot of work and support. I used to walk through a sketchy area here to get to work and was always checking over my shoulder (in broad daylight). I maybe need to walk around with a giant Canada flag LOL. So you're a resident here but still pay for doctor's visits?? I didn't know that was a thing. Prescriptions are free though, is that right?
@@brittanymorgan09 Oh true, I could see Nelson being like that. The rich, entitled and stuffy vibes. When we went there we spent a lot of time at the Free House Pub and really loved it there! Really beautiful city too, sounds like if you avoid certain areas (sketchy and wherever the boomers are?) then you’ve got it made :) You do have to pay for doctors visits on PR or as a citizen, $50/visit. I don’t know about prescriptions, I know my partner gets his couple for free or subsidised where it’s ridiculously cheap like $5. lol @ wearing the Canadian flag around. I feel like trying that now just to see how it goes. I’ve only once felt discriminated against for being perceived as American but thinking I could’ve avoided the awkwardness by just wearing a flag instead haha.. genius!
@@carlystevenson950 We just went to the Free House last night with some new friends and absolutely loved it!!! Such a gem in Nelson, the vibe was amazing. Definitely felt like the "cool place to be" lol. Good to know about doc visits, I figured they would be free with PR hmm.
Hello, thank you for creating these detailed videos! I’m fascinated in theory with NZ as well, so it’s good to know the downsides. I live in the US and the healthcare system here is the stuff of horror movies 😆
Health care where I am in the states is fabulous, with abundant access and I have great Insurance -- There are places of course in the US where I'm sure it sucks but I didn't want others to think as a whole health care is poor all across America. There are states you couldn't pay me to visit in the US ---
You should also mention high cost of petrol to travel ....But as a New Zealander i agree with all you saying ,This country started down hill from 2017 to present under the last government (labour) wasted soooooo much money on .....Nothing ....
Good videos. I’d agree with you on driving. NZ drivers on average are up there with Brazilians in terms of risk taking. It’s one of the weirdest things about the country.
I grew up in Auckland. I agree with everything you said in the previous video as well as this one. I moved to Melbourne 16 years back for a better life, but unfortunately, I cannot say any different. I have experienced domestic violence in both countries. As I'm writing this, I'm actually stuck with my abusive parents due to being jobless and pregnant at the same time. The police never did anything about it. Both nations have really poor law system. The police don't help when it comes to abuse or harassment. I have experienced racism and bullying in both countries. In both countries I have mostly dealt with cold, unemotional men and friends who were too narcissistic for me to handle. I really hate the sound of Harley Davidson lol there's too many here! Roads here also have too many accidents, and guess what? They have made highways narrower since the pandemic so they can easily fine people by creating confusing roads with loads of secret cameras! So, after 25 long years (that's literally most of my life) I'm just gonna return back to my home country, even though I never really grew up there. At least I won't have to deal with racism, abuse and unnecessary fines. I belong to a south Asian country, so life will be much cheaper, and there will be people around to help me if I'm ever in need of help. There are drug addicts everywhere in Melbourne too! I have been harassed by drug addicts many times. I'm glad you pointed out this matter because it's getting ridiculously common in these nations! Due to poverty men are becoming drug addicts and they do nothing about it. After experiencing a similar incident like you, I stopped going for walks in parks during the day in my area. This world has become a very sad place 😔
I'm so sorry about your situation, I truly hope things improve for you. That's a lot of weight and responsibility on your shoulders. I hope you find a good group of supportive people to help with the baby and everything. It's a very negative and tough world out there but there's good people still. Sending you love and all the positive thoughts ❤❤
I agree with the driving, 100%. Thats why we dont really go out of the city that much because of this reason, their driving attitude, its a bit dangerous. Thanks for pointing out!!
Hey @Brittany love your videos! Planning to move abroad this year. Since you literally have lived in both places of my option, you would be the best person to answer this question. I have severe arachnophobia, which place will I least find spiders Calgary or South Island, NZ???
Great question!! I'd say they're very similar actually. I've seen a few spiders in each spot and they're typically small and harmless. More spiders in humid places and both Calgary and the south island are pretty dry so you really don't get them inside much unless you're in a basement.
Traveling from NZ to anywhere is an enormously expensive experience. For all the reasons you gave, but you missed 1, lack of airline competition. Since the NZ borders opened in August last year. There has been a slow return to pre-pandemic airline competition. Next year that should change as more and more airlines start offering services to NZ again. It will still be expensive, but at least you'll have options. One of those options of cause should be using a VPN to book cheaper flights using seasonal discounts on foreign websites. Driving on Kiwi 🥝 roads, you really do need to have a lot of confidence as they are not particularly good and maintaining them has been a local hot button topic for a long time. Which is why regional passenger rail has emerged as an alternative. But will not happen with the new incoming government. So get ready for a tonne of road works and associated road diversions over the next few years. As for wages and salaries. You are absolutely right. New Zealanders have been moving across the tasman to Australia in droves for better money 💲 and cheaper shopping at Aldi, Costco and Ikea. Maybe even a cheaper litre of petrol too. There have been moves to rectify this over the past 10 years, but pay parrady with Australia won't happen anyone soon.
Thank you for your insight! The airline issue is one I haven't even thought about but you're right. AirNZ has the monopoly and it's pretty dang expensive. I try and fly Jetstar when possible but they don't operate in Nelson (where we live now) and it's really frustrating. I hope that changes soon. Roads works here....oh man. Why are they 30km zones and not 50km?? Construction zones in Canada are usually 50km, sometimes 80km if it's on a busy highway but they're like always 30kms here. I guess road work is a common trope everywhere though, we complain about it in Canada constantly lol. I'm very curious was Aussie is like and how it compares to NZ. Hoping to get across the pond in the next few months to check it out. I saw online petrol is over one dollar cheaper per lite (in Sydney) so that's nice.
Health care gets better on a resident visa, and also all prescriptions are “free” for residents. They expect anyone on a temporary visa to have health insurance. What walk-in clinic are you going to in Calgary that only takes 15? The one on 17th ave had a two hour wait last time I was in there 😂. I also found kiwis pretty racist towards Americans in general, even if it was a bit passive. I would often try to subtly point out I was Canadian and get treated better. The salary, dollar value, and cost of living in NZ is painful, no question about it, and as you have found out the contracts are written pretty loose. I get the frustration, I went through a lot of the same things, and then moving back to Calgary a lot of things I forgot about here have frustrated the heck out of me as well. 😢
Gday Abraham, I will bring to your attention that a person can't be racist to Americans as that is a Nationality, You could be prejudiced to North Americans. Important difference. 🙂
I'm really glad to hear the healthcare situation is better for residents! Tough waiting period for some immigrants though. I have full health insurance but it doesn't cover anything non-emergency like antibiotics/mental health/birth control etc. Is it not difficult to get in with a new GP though? The person I talked to at the clinic did not know I was a non-resident, said I could become a new patient but also said they wait time to see the GP was 4+ weeks. Maybe it was just their office. I've been going to the clinic on Edmonton Trail down the street from Deluxe Diner for many years and they're suuuuper efficient lol. They have some bad Google reviews but my doc there is awesome. I'm not exactly looking forward to dealing with crap back in Calgary (gun violence seems out of control??) like high rent, freezing winters and dangerous transit situations but I just love that city so much. There's a lot to be improved in Canada too, I'll have to make a video about that once we are back and settled in.
I lived in NZ for 10 years on both lower wages and middle income. If you have good wage then NZ is A sweet place to live. What you have said is all true. I now live in Canada and i am better off than when I was in NZ but I still miss the place and my friends there. It's an awesome place to live for people who love the outdoors and the ocean dont mind the cold like rural living and can be independent. The people, both pakeha and Maori are great. Super kind and generous and very funny. 1. Canada also has a Dr shortage where many people don't have a family physician and need to go to Emergency at a hospital which also takes hours. It's actually a national crisis. 2. Wages are less especially compared to a higher cost of living. Good career Jobs also lack pension plans and extended health and dental benefits. 3. Kiwi culture has lots of male toxicity in rural communities and Maori communities. Harden up. 4. Kiwis are terrible drivers and roads are dangerous. 5. Kiwis binge drink they get smashed often. 6. It's typically very Christian and very conservative. 7. There's a meth problem and cannabis is illegal. 8. Housing is crazy expensive. 9. The NZD keeps you from leaving.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! I agree, there's tons of positives about living here and for a lot of folks, they outweigh the negatives. If we didn't have strong ties in Canada with family & friends I think we'd really consider being here long term and making it work. The lifestyle/chill vibe is far superior here! I do miss Canada though and look forward to return. I'm curious how I'll find it after a year in NZ, it might be a culture shock 😂
@@brittanymorgan09 Both Canada and NZ are amongst the top countries in the world to live. I am very privileged to be a Citizen of both countries. The negatives are mere first world problems like expensive craft beer. How spoiled are we. Calgary does have a ton of excellent craft breweries though. I think you're going to miss nz if not for the adventure but dont confuse tourism with immigration. Visiting a country is a rosey experience and different than living in a place long term. Hopefully you can pick up on that adventure spirit when you get home. Road trip!
LOL 😂 I do have to agree with the NZ dollar keeps you from leaving. I feel bloody stuck here, would love to return to Canada, but the housing crises there it be almost impossible
Alcohol tax is simply based on how much alcohol you brew. That means you pay for alcohol quantity, doesn't mean the boutique breweries are paying more than their share, but the paperwork and admin will cost more because it isn't spread over greater volume. The boutique breweries may be brewing higher alcoholic content beer, because they are usually better, that could make a difference.
I'd just add living here on a visa vs as a permanent resident is very different, just like in any country, permanent residents have better access to medical etc just like anywhere, so keep that in mind when deciding to live someone permanently. And that's coming from someone who has lived overseas on a visa and then got permanent residency, the difference was dramatic. If NZ was closer to the rest of the world I would be a lot happier here, the distance is the biggest issue I think... but I just earn too much here to give it up...
Well I'm really glad to hear you're having an amazing experience here! On healthcare, that's a bit sad to hear residents get treated better but I can't say for sure it's also like that in Canada. The path to residency in NZ is very long and expensive unless you're in the medical field or on some fast track to residency via your skills. It could be years of poor healthcare before getting the "right" to be treated like a human...not good. I think for anyone leaving their home country, the reasons must be quite compelling or it's just not worth the hassle.
@@brittanymorgan09 exactly, I agree think long and hard before leaving your home land, maybe there's somewhere in your homeland that would suit you better. Moving countries is so much harder than people can imagine unless you've done it. I was treated like a second rate citizen in Canada until I became a permanent resident, I was too scared to go to the hospital when I was on a work visa because of the bill I would get, and it took 4 years to become a permanent resident, it was stressful, expensive and in the end not worth it. I requalified in my profession, also stressful and expensive and couldn't get a job doing what I do as they had enough of their own very good graduates. It's tough being foreign. I say to everyone, travel but really think hard about moving. I LOVED Canada but it just didn't work out for me no matter how hard I tried, similar to your experience here although I gave it 9,5 years in Canada... it would have been so different if I had been raised and educated there. In the end it was my homeland that gave me the break I needed, no matter how much I'd rather be back overseas.
@@alexandramcpherson4189 fantastic points, I completely agree with you. I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience in Canada. Canada has a LOT of downsides and I can see why people wouldn't want to go through the effort to settle there (or anywhere that isn't homeland like you said). Immigrating is a much bigger hassle than I ever imagined and we're just on a Working Holiday LOL. The complexity of the real thing would just be too much. It would have to get extremely bad in Canada for me to do it but it's an option I guess! Now I have a much better idea of what would be involved.
exactly and it's all experience, that we wouldn't swap for anything, we grow and learn. The thing about Canada is it's so big and diverse there has to be somewhere there that's perfect, it's also so close to the rest of the world... I would still chose it over NZ!!!! the grass is always greener though eh@@brittanymorgan09
If you can only go to one, I'd say south but there's a lot to see on the north island too! We haven't travelled the north island as much as the south but are looking forward to doing that in the future.
Hi Brittany! I'm a Brazilian living in Manitoba, Canada. I'm finishing my journey to get my license as a Dentist here in Canada and I got to know that New Zealand accepts the canadian equivalency process to have my diploma recognized. After knowing that, my wife, who is a bank manager, got very excited to move to New Zealand as she hates cold. However, our 2-years-old son is a mild case of autism and I'm super afraid of Kiwi's health system (even though Manitoban one hasn't been good as well). Have you heard anything about market for dentist in NZ? I know they only have one dental school in the whole country. Thank you for sharing your experience!!
Hello! I haven't heard anything about the dental system here though I may need to figure out soon for some routine checkups. There is private health care here too so you can pay to "skip the line" so to speak. A lot of locals here have commented on this video saying healthcare is much better for residents though!
If your spouse hates the cold then she probably won't like NZ weather. I haven't been to Canada but I'm guessing NZ is the same if not colder than Canada?
@@brittanymorgan09 Holy kinas that's cold, my bad. If it gets below 10 Celsius. I'm putting on layers plus my puffer jacket. Maybe I'm just thin skinned lol....
It is damp, wet cold weather all winter long, houses have poor insulation, bad education system, lots of drug addicts, etc. I want my family out of NZ.
@@speaklife7119 depends on what you value! Canada has a wide range of cities and towns all in different price ranges. The weather can vary quite widely across the country too. I prefer big cities like Vancouver, Montreal or Calgary. Some may like smaller cities like Kelowna in BC or Guelph in Ontario. Eastern Canada is also very lovely and a slower pace of life.
Just this week at the bus stand in Central Auckland, someone from the back started telling us "you fucking foreigners". It was really scary because no one else present reacted to him. He was a middle-old aged white tall man. My partner and I have just arrived this month. I wish I had watched your video before 😅
As an American, you're really making New Zealand sound awesome. The idea that people can see a doctor, without paying hundreds per month for insurance, only to pay hundreds or thousands if you actually use it.
Nz certainly needs more regulations around the number of cars they have let into the country over the last 10years and number of cars per household. Definitely need better public transport system and to be hard on crime.
I appreciate the lack of overtime rates, however, it is possibly offset by the fact that canadians only get 1 week annual leave a year, atleast that is what a colleague in the UK told me years ago. We were at the BBC and had 5 weeks leave, he missed Canada, but loved holidays too much to go back.
NZ has deteriorated quite rapidly over the past 10 years. It's the worst it has been in my life here. Crime, health care, housing affordability, political division etc. I love my country, but man do we have some work to do. As for driving, in my experience a lot of the worst incidents I've encountered were tourists. They cant handle the single lane highways (which are more challenging than most western countries) and do stupid things. A young American woman almost put me and my daughter in a head on collision near arthurs pass a few years ago, it was crazy, in that case she tried to pass on a blind corner. Locals that travel these highways frequently know the road like the back of their hand, so get frustrated when tourists are hitting the brakes on every corner (tourists are either going too slow or way to fast for the road and just assume no one is coming the other way because some roads seem "empty") Nz highways do require a more agressive, alert driving style due to hills, winding roads, alpine passes etc, but the downside of that is that some locals drive far too aggressively ALL the time, so your observation is atleast partially correct on that front.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! The more I stick to driving on standard "city" roads, the less craziness I've seen LOL. But yeah, too many locals (usually young folks) ripping around corners in residential areas going 80km. I'm sure tourists can be brutal too but I've found they usually just drive slow. Glad to hear that nothing happened with your incident in Arthurs Pass. Very scary and I hope that driver learned something from it!! NZ is still such an incredible place and definitely one of the top countries to call home. But there's lots to work on like you said and the same is true for my home country of Canada. I'm glad people are more willing to chat about it!
I'm living in NZ for just over 3 months but compare to where I come from, i feel driving here is a lot safer 😂 I'm not being unpatient but i find some drivers drive really slow unnecessarily. Different people drive at their own pace. If you think someone is following you very closely, best is pull over to let them pass when its safe to do so. You'll never know whats their reason to drive faster. May be they are in their emergency situation. I have been in this before. So do not assume bad drivers when they are trying to over take you. May be you're really driving slow or they're in a situation.
Sorry for the unpleasant encounter. You know, ppl really makes the difference to a place. Safety and security is something especially women valued alot.
Absolutely! Luckily I haven't experienced anything like that since but have seen so many biker gang members in our area lately. It's an uneasy feeling for sure.
I agree with you NZ is a very difficult place to live in unless you have considerable wealth. As a NZ born person in would not return and find that the society is stifled.
Indeed. Bigots are no longer afraid to spew garbage and hate online thanks to the world we all now live in. It's a shame, but if the trolls come out it means what I'm saying is important to share. Thanks for the comment and support 😀
Any country in the world you can list multiple reasons for not living in that country. However agree with your comments Kiwi drivers are cramp and l have lived here for 50 years
We have definitely thought about it! I looked into extending our travels and doing Aussie for a year but we've decided we are ready to go back to Canada. We will be travelling Australia though, lots I want to see there!!
Moved to NZ about a year ago. Compared to living in South Africa, this is better on so many levels for my family and my children's future. If you really want to compare, make sure you can compare to a better and a worse place and then draw your conclusion. People tend to only compare between 2 things. There is a saying, there is your version, my version and the truth.
Hi, Buddy! Everything is relative...everything. Perhaps an Aussie or a Kiwi may experience the same thing back home in Canuckistan. Often one bad experience can wreck one's perception of a place, people or culture. I know of people who've had horrible experiences in Canada first blush and it tarnished their perception of Canada the Good. But I hear what you are saying. I'm a soft socialist at best. Yeah, our healthcare ain't perfect but we do have it. My ex-wife was an impatient driver and got the tickets to prove it! LOL. I believe you said you two are in Nelson? Other YTers say it's the best city in all of NZ or Wellington. It looks incredible there. Hope to make it there to do the Tasman Trail. Cheers!
Everything is definitely relative, all depends where you come from and what experiences you have to build on! All countries have their positives and negatives for sure. Nelson is a fantastic place to live for sure, I'd pick Wellington over it any day but that's because I am a city slicker haha! I hope you get to do the Tasman Trail, sounds fantastic!
I'll have an upcoming video comparing both countries, stay tuned! Parts of Canada don't even get snow in winter so it's really dependent on where you want to live and where you are coming from.
It's not really critical. I mean, you state the obvious. It's just that we tend to forget that nz is the last stop before you leave the galaxy. We are on the rim down here and just 2 islands, 3 to 4 hours flight from any major human hub. My nephew did a stint down Antarctica for 3 months as a transport driver. There's not much to do down there except eat, drink and bleep lmao
The fact that I have to scrape the barrel for reasons I wouldn't move here means it can be a pretty amazing place for most! It would take a LOT of horrible things in one's native country to want to permanently relocate I think. Antarctica, wow!! Must have been a very unique experience and a bit boring lol
@@brittanymorgan09 You're fine, some of us kiwi's can be mental. The rest are chill, i mean. It's not like we can drive out of the country whenever we want but you can drive anywhere within 10 hours in each island. Say you're on the beach down Papamoa and decide to drive to New Plymouth. 2 seas in 1 day, not a problem or in less time and go to Raglan. South island might take a bit more time but it's doable. Here's a fb link to my nephews vids when he was down Antarctica, i think that's where he caught the mountain climbing bug because he ended up tramping up to base camp 1 on Everest. Most of the vids and pixes don't have descriptions but you can tell he's up in the mountains in Nepal. He's now a banana weekend surfer and bike rider. Very proud of that guy. Hopefully YT allows the link. facebook.com/100043044450110/videos/125080378936777
Hi Brittany, I have been watching your videos from NZ since some time and I find them refreshing and spot on! Thank you for that. I hope you can recover from the attack, and I wish you strength. I agree fully with the points that you raised! My girlfriend and I moved to NZ a few months ago to work in healthcare from Western Europe. We have resident visas and so on and even then we would not live here long term due to the abysmal state of healthcare and the comparatively low number of subsidized drugs. Pertaining to access to healthcare, here it’s just so much worse compared to where we come from, even with the best visas you can get. NZ is also too car centric for us, we often don’t feel safe as pedestrians walking around. Driving is indeed rough but still comparable to where we come from. I don’t think NZ is attractive enough for the profiles the government wishes to recruit, or at least it isn’t anymore.. I hope the new government does something on all the above otherwise I think this country will just spiral downwards. Too much reliance on agriculture and farming and to little investments on tech and services imho. I sometimes hear NZerz comparing NZ to countries like Switzerland and Singapore.. no way unfortunately. NZ should be compared to low first tier countries or second tier countries. Really beautiful thou
You are both amazing people for working in the healthcare industry so THANK YOU for all the amazing work you do!! I know it is really tough in NZ for sure. I also hope the new government does something drastic to improve healthcare. It's such a huge thing for a country to keep and care for it's citizens. I also find NZ a ways behind Canada and other countries when it comes to tech...everyone here is still obsessed with FaceBook for some reason?? It is still a stunning country with friendly folks and a laid back life so I see the appeal. I guess it really depends on where you come from and if you're leaving a country worse off, NZ is a paradise.
You forgot, besides not being a whiner and the need to shut once mouth, unless you do it, you will lose every friend you got. I went through horrible narcissistic abuse, and the pastors from the house church we attended, were really bad. I lost all friends, people are closed up and uptide here, so one doesn't make easy new friends. In New Zealand we have many gangs, and many people are disappearing here. I feel very unsafe here too, and i walked through Manhattan
You had me - up to the time you said that we 'want to be more socialist' - thats maybe an wee bit of an issue. There's a difference between being socialist and having a social contract for 'things'. Yes, 'whingeing' is an issue - or was - and as a 65 year old, there once was a code of being the 'tough nut' and holding things in. Not so much today - and I now ponder why you have the 'younger' population having this issue - whereas we see on social media, the exact opposite. MAYBE, there's a ground swell against the over sharing of 'feelings' on the numerous platforms that some younger people are going against it, just for their own mental well being. Now, me being 65 - and not sharing....just saying, I'll tell a fence post what I'm feeling, so maybe I'm the exception...oh well. PS - I liked your '5 reasons for not living in NZ' - people that were born here know too well those pressures. PPS - If I move countries - it would be to Canada first. I think many share a similar 'personality' plus a relationship with their bigger neighbour.
I definitely see you're point on this. I'm not a big drinker - maybe 1-2 beers per month since I have a bad allergy to alcohol. I've listened to podcasts about alcohol and the horrible things it does to our bodies and brains and am honestly more on the side of sobriety but alas, it is something that will never leave our society. I think for people who abuse alcohol or turn to it for relief need more mental health resources and support. My point with the craft breweries is that they are typically local. Local owners buying local ingredients from farmers and creating jobs in their community. I also find craft breweries become hubs of the communities they are in where people can gather and connect. This is something our world desperately needs. The giant conglomerates care nothing about local folks or bringing people together. They answer to their shareholders in whatever other country they are based in and we are all just numbers to them. The reason people buy and support them is because they are half the price of the small breweries simply because they can afford it. I think you'll find most craft beer drinkers don't drink craft to "get drunk and messed up" but because they enjoy the experience and the stories behind the beer. Alcohol tax should be a bracket system where you are charged based on volume so that these little breweries can survive and not get swallowed up by these huge parent companies.
When we were there, my wife visited someone in the ICU in a public hospital. She was shocked at the level of care there. She said it was like a hospital in the 1950s in the USA.
Brittany, every single country that you would migrate to, no matter where in the world you go, every single country has it's pros and cons, and this is your opinion with the experience you have and know in Aotearoa, and by all means you are in your own rights to your thoughts and opinions of our country, bottom line, what ever you think is probs about what every single Kiwi thinks, it's the same thing but when kiwis hear it, they become deaf, and blind, such is our ignorance, I hope you find the country that makes you happy, all the best.
New Zealand is definitely NOT a safe country, and unfortunately we don’t have enough police. Totally agree with your points you have raised, especially the point that you have to have $$$$ to enjoy this country, the average kiwi barely gets by.
It's horrible that you were attacked - I often worry about getting attacked when I move to Canada because I'm too unworldly (I've never had that happen to me in my 46 years). I hate to say it, but you could be right about the America thing... Please don't make that video about reasons not to live in Canada - I don't want to be put off, lol! Kidding - always appreciate a new view on things - that's how we learn! ❤ I know 'traditional' travel destinations are hard from here but one thing I will miss so much with travel from here are the pacific island holidays that almost feel like you're traveling domestically - usually within 3-4hrs of Auckland. I'll miss Vanuatu. 😓 It's ironic; I'll be so clise to the US, but I've never wanted to visit there (and still don't). Maybe Kiwis are so anti-US because we see what they're doing to the world and want no part in it (no excuses for treating anyone like that, though!). I think it's interesting that the US seem to be backing Israel, where NZ is much more concerned about the carnage to the Palestinians. We have some very basic differences in the history we are taught 😢
@@carlystevenson950 Canada is STILL backing Israel too, it makes me sick honestly. I've lost so much respect for "westernized" countries over the last few months. Yuck.
45 yo male here. If you crued in the 80s you were regarded as a wimp. 99s it made you a target. Physical discipline at school was also used. Cane and strap. I didnt cry at mothers funeral neither did my brother. That was a private thing at sisters house and she gave me space along with the wife. Just how it is.
That's very unfortunate. I hope you get to a place where you can openly express emotions and accept yourself. Mental health is a real thing and I fear for the young people growing up in homes that still push this mindset.
@brittanymorgan09 well if you handle it you generally cane out somewhat well adjusted. But there was a lot of other stuff going on as well and it seems generational. I suspect it's a hold over from Colonial days due to isolation and British stiff upper lip mixed with Maori warrior culture.
@@roryhebberd9766 I agree, I think it's getting better with the younger generations. I'm a bit shocked at times of how in tune with the world and mature gen-Z can be. They're learning from all of our mistakes 😂
Ur first point about the healthcare in NZ. I think your eligible for government funded healthcare only if ur a citizen or permanent resident. Visa holders are req to have a private health cover. Which kinda makes sense since the public system is funded by the taxpayers. On the other hand I do understand your frustration. Have you been to Australia? If you havent I hope you do. It would be fun to get your take on the home of the flat white. :)
Yeah, I've heard it's a lot better if you have better access on the right visa or residency. It is frustrating to work & pay taxes like everyone else and not get the same treatment though. It's more the lack of walk in clinics that frustrates me but now that I know about the private sector at least I can pay to be seen quickly.
Won't live in New Zealand so where would she prefer to live. No place is perfect. In deciding where to live what are your objectives and priorities? What are the trade-offs you are prepared to make?
Canada. It's my home, where my friends and family are and my home country. No place is perfect, that is exactly the point of this video. I am sacrificing better weather and a more balanced lifestyle in NZ for a higher wage, Canadian retirement plans that I've paid into for years and to be close to my family/friends. It was an easy choice after moving to NZ for a year.
@@brittanymorgan09 Thank you. My daughter and her family are moving from Boston to Auckland next month. The problems you highlighted regarding healthcare is interesting. Since my daughter is a doctor hopefully she and her family will find it easier to get healthcare in NZ. She is going to NZ because it recognizes a US medical degree and she got an offer from a hospital in Auckland. Her husband is an academic and also has a job offer from a university in Auckland. One of the reasons she is moving to NZ is for the education of her 6 year old son. My daughter and her husband are Singaporeans with a US Green Card. Their son is a US citizen. I have been to Auckland and Christchurch and lived for a year in Australia. New Zealand is a nice place. I do not like living in big cities. My son is an engineer living in Sydney. He became an Australian citizen last year. Thanks again. Cheers.
Our health care has sunk to 3rd world level , in my opinion, in the last de ades. It's totally different from my childhood. People shoot over to Australia for some essential operations etc, if they get messed up here medically. We have the stiff upper lip attitude from our English ancestors. We are a young country. We had to be self sufficient because there were no other options and I guess it's hard to let that go.
Permanent residents or visa 2 or more years have full access to Healthcare. Your paying unsubsidized doctor's fee. If you are here full-time it won't be an issue. Post pandemic we have a staff shortages, a worldwide issue,but the media over states the issues. NZ is swamped with overseas Healthcare workers. Especially Americans, who are relieved how safe they are. Yes driving on our open roads give me the sh*ts. Although most Americans say we are so considerate. New Zealand is still safer in the aggregate. It's sad you got attacked. Rapes and murders are still a thing in New Zealand.
I am glad to here residents get better healthcare but it is still a deterrent for any immigrants wanting to make NZ their permanent home. They may have to wait years and years before getting proper healthcare. I believe you have to be here for a minimum of 2 years to qualify (unless you're on a fast track to residency). Of course, like anything else, it depends on the situation you are coming from. USA has a shit healthcare system so NZ is probably an upgrade. Canada's isn't perfect but it's better in my opinion so it's a downside for me. I realize that the risk of being attacked exists in every country. Rapes/murders/etc happen in Canada and everywhere else. Doesn't mean I feel safe here, regardless of the attack, I didn't feel safe here before that. The amount of side-eyeing I get is creepy.
Everything is relative...tons of countries that are MUCH worse off than NZ but Canada isn't one of them from my perspective. Moving to a worse off country just to make NZ look good LOL. Thank for the comment and support 😀
How to achieve success: - pay doctors, teachers, police less - make one ethnic group of citizens privileged - ignore juvenile delinquency - wait for success
We are kiwis living in the south island & we love the United States, their culture and people. American influence runs through NZ culture. Perhaps you're just being paranoid.
there you are , getting defensive. understand the problem and remedy it. not6hing paranoid at all there . i dont know why im bothering to do this. im glad kiwis didnt want to join oz.
I think it's so sad that we (as a country), are terrible at taking criticism - how are we meant to improve if we don't acknowledge what we're doing wrong 😓
So true! And it's completely normal to have problems, every single country on this planet does! It's impossible to get better if you just shove everything negative down for sure!
@brittanymorgan09 I have also just become aware of a gang culture in Nelson - I didn't know (I've been there 4 times on holiday, and loved it, but holidays aren't the same. When I mentioned to my colleague about loving Nelson, and always having wanted to live there, she was shocked, because apparently it's known as not being safe! I think we're just a bit sheltered here in Dunedin - we're a weird bunch, but we're pretty safe (I'm comfortable with my 17-yr-old daughter working as waitstaff at night and taking the bus home late).
Looks like we're going to be based in Ontario now when I move - do you know what sort of reputation it has (probably will be living in a small village)?
@@trudimclaren4301 I didn't know that about Nelson! I've seen biker gangs around here though hmm. Also, I love Dunedin and it's cute quirkiness ❤️❤️
As for Ontario well, it's a massive province. Do you know where abouts? I grew up in Ottawa and hated it (mostly the summer heat & humidity) but Ontario is quite beautiful in spots.
@@brittanymorgan09 we'd be looking at as close to the border with Quebec as possible (Alex has a friend who lives in a little town in Ontario, and it's lovely there). Alex has a well paying job just out of where he currently lives in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, so it needs to be as close as we can be, but there are a *lot* of extra hoops to jump through if you're moving to Quebec. Also, we can afford to buy a house with what I get from mine when I (officially) split from my ex-husband. I want our own place so much ❤️
@@trudimclaren4301 I'm not too familiar with the areas of Ontario that are closer to Montréal but lived in Ottawa for over 20 years and it's a really lovely city. Looks like a lot of cute small towns around there though!! I wish I could help further!
My wife and I left New Zealand in July/August 2023 to try it out in Brisbane. We were struggling to save for a house deposit with our income being absorbed by rent and food, however covid was the nail in the coffin for us, we gave up our desire to own a home in New Zealand faced with higher loans and repayments, not to mention longer saving period for deposit requirements. To be frank, so far we have found we are saving more and at a faster rate, it might be a combination of higher wages and a lower cost of living. We actually feel confident for the first time in many years about achieving our savings goals.
That's unfortunate that you had to leave but I totally understand. We just stayed in an old heritage home Airbnb for 1 night (3 bed, 1 bath) in Hokitika that's listed for $400,000. Unbelievably expensive in my opinion and it gets no better near city centres. Brisbane sounds amazing, I'm glad you've improved your situation!
As a New Zealander, this video is spot on!
Cheers! I'm glad these points resonated with you. There are still lots of people here willing to talk about the issues and that's a breath of fresh air honestly!
@@brittanymorgan09 it was actually quite scary learning to drive with all the bad driving and road rage. My first time driving through a roundabout by myself this guy road-raged at me 😱 , Christchurch drivers for ya! I would like our roads to be less stressful too !
Is that why it's so many young people that are taken their lives because they down play their feelings or suppress it?
@@francineharris9473 I bet you one day the truth will come out. That it is actually putting babies and young children in "day care" that is causing the mental health crisis. Most babies today are abandoned by their mother. No wonder they grow up depressed 😔
@@KellyMonk156 I agree and that's all by design as well, for the New World Order, but you must have discernment to see it. It was told by one of them as well
I lived in NZ for 18 years. Both your videos are spot on. You dare not point out any negatives about NZ or you get hate for it, which is weird because all countries have pro's and con's. I can't understand the aggression from Kiwi's when the obvious down sides are brought up 🤷 I'm also not a fan of the tall poppy syndrome. We have found people have an issue when they see others "making it". The safety side has definitely gone backwards quite quickly too. It wasn't this bad when we first moved here but now it is awful. Kids get attacked on trains and all police do is send warning to colleges, but they won't actually be proactive in catching the attackers. We've also found it quite xenophobic. It's not uncommon to hear the hate towards immigrants from Kiwi's. My elderly father was on a train speaking Greek to my mum on the phone and a Kiwi boomer confronted him and told him to go back to where he came from. My day was 90 years old for goodness sakes, it's a real bully mentality.
Wow that is so horrible, I'm sorry to hear your father had that experience. I wish NZ was more open to talking about these issues. It seems so hostile to me here sometimes and I try not to speak so people don't know I'm not from here to avoid judgement. It's very, very sad.
I appreciate you bringing this up, and I'm sorry to hear you had to deal with that circumstance and that, unexpectedly, your request weren't granted on time or no follow up at all.
Lived in Canada and as a Scandinavian it was the worst ever. If its worse in Newzealand .. It's not a pluss. But I have no idea about the facts there. I think you need to understand, that being from another country with higer standard of living than Canada has. Putting yourself in that situation , you as a Canadian Will as a foreiners perspektive say that both the health sektor and your banking system has low standard. And being a forener and not Canadian in Canada. It is complicated to understand the low level heathcare situaton for foreiners in Canada. Something you as a Canadian Will not exoeriance. Then again it is about higher standards in Canada compared to Scandinavia. Yes, I have lived in Canada. But it is a pluss to have these discussions about living in different countries 😍
Hehe sorry for my autocorrect that is not English autocorrect ;)
I am a New Zealander living in Australia, I did my working holiday in Canada 🇨🇦.
You outlined all the reasons I live in Australia.
You were spot on your observations.
Australia is expensive, it took me a long time to find a nonprofit to work for that up held there values they promoted.
Melbourne is friendly.
Sydney has too many psychopaths.
Canberra is very insular.
Brisbane is sweaty af.
Adelaide don’t know.’
Perth, the world’s, most isolated city, they can’t merge in traffic.
Australia has a rental crisis.
And lastly the NZ road toll used to be worse, much worse. Spot on with not dealing with problems, Australians are better with that.
Greetings Brittany. I am so sorry to hear about your recent very scary situation that happened to you while going for a walk. Hope you will recover soon from this ordeal. Many Thanks for keeping the balanced & unbiased opinions. I really like your balanced approach on your video's. Please stay safe and stay aware....!!!!
Thank you for the kind words! Yes, it was a very scary and confusing situation and I avoid the area now but each day it gets a bit better and I'm gaining my trust in strangers back ☺
Good on you being upfront. New Zealanders overall are lovely people but can be too defensive.
Thank you 😊
I moved to New Zealand from South America and I love it. Never would back to South America. I did spent some time and Canada and was okay. and I noticed a few things in Canada: Mental health issues,controversial abortions laws, Gambling addiction, family violence, poverty, prostitution discrimination etc... Wasn't too bad to live but does has a lot of issues and I couldn't live there either. I guess everywhere in the World has issues. New Zealand for me is safe, if you compared to South America, is very safe. Have been for 16 years and never saw a robbery or a crime in my town. New Zealand doesn't have much poverty, mostly people has a car and money for food and bills, they have the Dole, the help when someone doesn't have a job, and is about $300 per week per person in the family. The hospital is free and dentist until you are 18 years old. Has great free schools and universities and parks and a lot of stuff. The Country is clean you don't see much rubbish around, people are polite, the food is good, the scenery is amazing, I cant really find any significant thing to put me off. Has a lot of emigrants I reckon 1/3 of the population is just a good place to raise kids.
Thanks for your thoughts! I never said NZ isn't safe, just that I personally feel more unsafe here than other countries I've been to. I have a whole video about the positives of living here and safety is a huge one. Overall, it's a very safe country indeed. Canada is a massive country and each area is very, very different. Toronto vs Calgary vs Vancouver vs Ottawa and so on and so on. Crime rates, homelessness etc is definitely an issue. Poverty, violence, crime, etc exist everywhere.
There are lots of bonuses to living here but I prefer Canada ☺️
@@Humorlicious___ you are 100%right Canada have lots of issues and it’s not safe too. Well everyone has own experiences.
@@tehzeebkhan7283 Both Canada and NZ are safe countries, there are dozens of countries that are way worse. I live in Québec City and I feel safer here than I ever felt anywhere else.
As a Kiwi the best way to describe New Zealand is under resourced, Health, Policing, pretty much anything Government run. On the positive side the sceneries great
thankyou for your honesty. We are so stuck up about our country we have many problems B e safe
Thank you! I think it's important we're able to talk about the issues which will help solve them.
All your points are valid New Zealand is not perfect by any means
It's still wonderful but has a lot to work on! Thank you for the comment 🙂
@@jillspence7227 wow you seem like a very happy, well adjusted person. I hope you get the help you need, sending you love and support 💞
Fair points. I think the driving situation is different because kiwi's are used to driving on narrow windy roads so if the speed limit is 100 kmph you can bet that most are doing at least that.
Sure but if everything is flying around in your car when you're going around a corner at 100km and you're squealing your tires....something ain't right haha. It's more the impatience and dangerous overtaking that bothers me. We speed in Canada, especially on highways (like 130km is normal on a 110km limit road). Also why do so many people here drive slow then speed up so much when a passing lane opens up??? Drives me insane lol. I pass people here a lot but I only do it safely.
@@brittanymorgan09 Some of them are just jerks but passing lanes are often on straighter sections because those parts of the road are easier to have double lanes on so the slower drivers feel more confident to speed up. Which is also why you get frustrated drivers who then become impatient. One of the better ideas on the roads was the introduction several years back of signs advising how far away the next passing lane would be which cuts down on the number of people trying to pass on more windy sections.
Given that South Islanders often treated people from the North Island as unwanted guests only a generation or so ago I wouldn't take people glaring at you over your accent to heart.
@@damionkeeling3103 Good to know, thanks for the info!
Need for Traffic rules to be regulated more by police.
Very comprehensive and good. The only comment I have is for the wingeing ( winge ) or complaining you mentioned. This is likely a cultural stoicism of suck it Up. As an American of Irish descent my family of origin always used this term when I was little and pouting : "Stop your wingeing" so def. seems cultural. Along these lines, I have read how for example Ex pats move to Costa Rica or some other Caribbean place and expect -- demand -- that the sense of efficiency and time be the same as they are used to. Obviously it Doesn't work like that -- we are different culturally and we can certainly note the issue and even complain about it as long as we also realize with respect ( and I sense that you do ) that this may the country's tradition -- it's not our way but it is their way, and is not " wrong ". Glad I watched. The negatives you mentioned would be problems for me as well.
Thank you for watching & for the taking the time to leave a great comment! I agree, it could be a cultural thing. With NZ's suicide rates though, mental health absolutely needs to be a focus for this country going forward regardless of "stoicism" or how it's always been. The time thing you mention about Caribbean is funny because it can definitely be like that here too! People like to take their time here where North American it's so demanding.
I went to NZ in 2013 on a working holiday visa for a year.
I understand all of the points you make. I loved my stay there but there were some things I hated. I hated the lack of insulation and central heating like you mentioned in part 1. I also was in some sketchy situations where I did not feel safe as a woman walking around alone. I disliked the prices of fresh vegetables in the winter, I can't imagine how families there try to eat healthy in winter times. The reckless driving was also a thing back then and the high alcohol and beer prices. Don't get me wrong I made amazing memories there but there are a few things that are going really wrong but nobody seems to notice nor try to change them
Sound like you were a paranoid person before you came here and brought trauma with you especially if you came from dangerous countries like Canada and US.
Totally agree, it's an amazing and beautiful country but not without it's issues. We're finally in a place now that's insulated and it's made a world of difference, haven't used the heat pumps in months! Grocery prices are now quite affordable and that has helped tremendously. I'm really looking forward to the summer/fall when all the yummy stuff is in season. I wish NZ was more walkable and less car-centric. That's definitely one of the reasons I love Welly so much.
@@jillspence7227 it has nothing to do with entitlement. Take it as food for thought. You don't have to change anything, but it's also not cool to disregard problems that are getting talked about when you are clearly one of the people who would profit from a change for the better. Every country and society in generel has to stive for better I think. That's the way to evolve. In my job I do exactly that. So no, this is not a mean or entitled comment on a situation, it's a "hey maybe it bothers you as well and maybe people can work for a better world when they want to see change in those aspects"
My parents have traveled to many countries and said it's pretty much the same issues wherever you go (talking first world western countries here).
I think NZ is trying to get better. Mental health is talked about so much more openly and we know this is an issue with young men. There's still so much more to be done, but I think it's really changing.
Overall I'm really proud to be a Kiwi and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
Makes sense! New Zealand is still an amazing country and place to call home. I think most of us are a little biased on preferring the country we were born & raised in which totally makes sense. We've all got big issues to tackle in every country & I'm hoping things improve here and in Canada in the years to come.
I like these kinda videos, they do make me feel better about South Africa, with all its horrors.
Thanks for your inputs. Stay safe. Stay well
I'm sorry Brittany to hear about the unpleasant confrontation wt huligan. I'm glad you're okay. 🙏
You're absolutely entitled to your opinion about NZ, and it's unfortunate that some people can't respect that. What's wrong with us humans that we do not have capacity to listen to each other.🥺
It's disheartening how we struggle to have meaningful, respectful conversations and instead resort to judgment and attacks because we do not think and feel the same. How radiculus it is. It's a concern for the world's direction. 🥺
I've heard positive experiences from permanent residents in NZ re: helth service, so maybe the health situation differs for visitors. Your resourcefulness in finding a solution to find the way to see the doctor is commendable.👍👏
All the best, and thanks for sharing your perspective on NZ. Lots of love💖💖
Thank you so much for the support 🥰🥰. I do hope the healthcare situation improves here, there's lots of talks on the government investing in it. Only time will tell I suppose! I hope NZ adopts a more open attitude with talking about issues and mental health too. That will make a world of difference for peace and happiness in the country.
Hi Morgan! Fellow Calgarian here! I just started my working holiday visa for New Zealand. Your content has been really helpful, thanks a lot! If accepted, I’ll be in New Zealand within the next 2-3 months, I’m really excited. Keep up the great videos. 👍👌
Thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying my videos. Best of luck with the application and start of your journey!!
All countries have positives & negatives especially when relocating from another location. Some are obvious and other reasons are unique to individuals or groups. Calm down folks, she's just sharing her experience
Thank you for the kind words & support. I agree, it's all about perspective and no country is perfect!
I agree with most of your points, I just think it needs to be known that a lot of the problems with costs is due to covid recovery and the recent climate related hurricanes and flooding.
Before covid, you could get those $99NZ flights to Australia or $150NZ to Fiji, return to South East Asia for $700NZ and $899NZ return to Los Angeles, but because of the pandemic many of the flight routes haven't been re-established, but prices are coming down.
Also with the floods and cyclones it has made it one of the most expensive winters in New Zealand. For example, usually when things like Kumara are in season you would be able to get it at like $2.99 a KG, but now it is 13.99 because most of this season's harvest was damaged. It is the same with other vegetables and fruits. Two major food producing regions were hit and because we normally don't need to import these items because we have an abundance, we now have shortages and then also add the 70000 egg laying hens were set ablaze adding to egg shortages too.
But I get your point, New Zealand has always been a little more expensive than other places when it comes to food, but currently it is ludicrous because of these factors. You are definitely here the worst time.
It is same with the Craft Breweries, some of them started just before Covid lockdowns and now in a time with record costs including the price of hops and the shortages of malting barley from the Ukraine and the expendable income available after these factors and raised loaning interest rates to create a mini-recession to cut inflation.
You are definitely here at the worst time, but I agree, New Zealand is not a budget destination and never has been, even when prices were lower, a lot of people come here expecting it to be like South East Asia and for their money to be worth more, but just because you get double the amount of the NZ dollar for your dollar, doesn't mean prices are the same, a breakfast in the USA is would be around $10+ and in NZ it would be around $20+ for the equivalent.
One thing I think you might be confusing and might need to look in on is Tall Poppy Syndrome and the Kiwi "She'll be right" attitude because I feel these are very different from having a "whinge" or "whinging" about something because a whinge is usually a general complaint or reckon, and we are masters a good whinge, we will whinge about anything, and we even whinge about whinging.
Whereas the "She'll be right" attitude is more do with emotions and masculinity for example:
John: "I really feel like my life is falling apart, and I can't deal with it"
Peter: "She'll be right, mate"
END OF CONVERSATION
Do kiwis whinge though? I’m Canadian with a kiwi partner and all I’ve ever heard from him is that Canadians are the whinge masters 😅
Thank you for the fantastic comment and write up! I've noticed prices have come way down recently for groceries though petrol/electricity/flights are all still quite pricey. I would book with Jetstar for flights if they operated in Nelson as they have great deals. I'm waiting and praying for seat sales to go to Aussie!! LOL. We applied for visas before COVID and the timing just didn't work out so I guess we are paying for it now with how expensive it has been. It's still been absolutely worth the cost though.
Yeah, I wasn't too sure what "whinge" meant but I've heard of Tall Poppy Syndrome and the "She'll Be Right" attitude and It all plays into the "shut up and be happy" thing. I feel young men here have it the hardest and I hope it improves.
True but the prices were high by international standards before covid, let alone the hurricane last year. Banning battery hens has doubled the price of eggs which hasn't helped and there is something amiss with the roads. I don't know if it's extra trucks or inferior materials but they're getting potholes like never seen before which damages vehicles, slows traffic and requires extra time to fix.
@@damionkeeling3103 sorry Damon, I totally disagree, it is well documented through all media how much prices have risen from 2019-2023 and it was a transition away from battery hens, which they had 10 years of transition which they did nothing towards until it became illegal and billions of roading cost have been allocated to things like SH1 Kaikoura Earthquake and the complete wash out of other roads including Milford Sound road that had to be completely rebuilt, its not about inferior materials it is about allocation of funding to more important projects like completely having to rebuild huge roads and make them both earthquake and flooding resistant.
We had the blocking of the Suez Canal, the Ukraine war, which to this day is affecting world wheat prices and this issue is not unique to NZ, every country is going through cost of living crisis for the same reasons.
@@damionkeeling3103 and we usually have been a bit more expensive than other countries because we are a small Island nation in the middle of nowhere so we never have the supply chains of North America or Europe or the cheap Labour of Asia etc. But these prices were worse because of these factors.
Hi Brittany, interesting to hear your views. I agree with some and on the driving side of things no one in my experience beats Canadian drivers in terms of how courteous they are! One positive about NZ which is *unique* to all of the middle to upper income OECD countries is that NZ has no capital gains tax. This makes a huge difference for anyone aspiring to FIRE or run a business. We moved back to NZ 20 years ago now to lower salaries than offshore in part for this reason - you get to a point where the capital gains >> the lower incomes.
Wow that's really interesting, I didn't know that about capital gains! Definitely a bonus to living here. Thanks for watching & commenting!
It's refreshing to hear the criticism. So many foreigners or locals living in NZ and who post videos are so afraid of posting criticism ironically due to the backlash from NZ people who want to be thought of as always being "so kind". People need to be aware of the society they are coming into both the good and the bad.
NZ'r here, and you are 100% correct on all points.
Thanks for your honest opinion! Sounds a lot like the UK to be honest, especially the health care issue. Even as a born and bred UK citizen I struggle to get a GP appointment these days and youre easily waiting 6+ hours in A&E 😔 guess I’ll feel at home in NZ! Haha
Oof that's terrible! Well I hope both NZ & UK get the healthcare improvements they desperately need. It's a huge factor in a happy & healthy life.
You'll miss the winters but the lower North Island is quite well known for it's cold damp winters even if it doesn't get cold enough to burst pipes. I recall a German couple telling me the coldest they've ever been was winter in Palmerston North due to the damp chill rather than actual temperature.
as a non resident you can enrol at any clinic as a casual, it just means you will pay a non-funded price, i.e. $100 ish for a 15min consult. Whoever you called mislead you, or it might be they didn't have the capacity.
@@krisby1 good to know! Thanks is for the info
Just returned to NZ after a long time away and I agree, Heathcare is a shocker!!
I'm getting the vibe now that it's very region and "status" dependant. I didn't know privatized healthcare existed here so I guess if you have money, you get the privilege of better care. I hope it improves in the public sector so everyone can have access to proper care!
@brittanymorgan09 I'm actually a new zealand citizen, and can't register at any doctors as I'm not a full time resident, every doctor I've called has been flat out rude about it and very dismissive.
I'm ashamed of being a kiwi, I can only imagine how you get treated as a non passport holder
@@a_latzz2993 oof that's brutal, so sorry to hear you are being treated that way! Well I can say I was treated decently once I paid haha 😂
@brittanymorgan09 true! Money talks I guess 🤷🏼♂️
Great video Brittany I'm happy that you made this video. From someone that live in the US it seems that New Zealand has a strong American influence even though most Kiwi's don't personally care for American ideology, I can see the same mentality with the "Whinging" and even the health care system, and lack of caring when it comes to dealing with potential violent criminals. The main culprit I see that will make New Zealand almost identical to the USA in a short amount of time is the ideology of catering to the wealthy while ignoring those in poverty, I know right now that New Zealand is a million times better than the US, but it definitely seems to be heading down the same path, almost as if there's some shadowy force behind both countries. I hope Aotearoa can rediscover it's own true identity and focus on making live amazing for all Kiwis so that it can be a shining example of what a nation should be like, instead of following the US down into the abyss.
I see a lot of American influences here, it's kind of crazy! US sport team merch everywhere and even massive gun stores...weird lol. I hope NZ goes down a more European path than American but only time will tell. It will be interesting to see what the new NZ government does and changes over the next few years.
@@brittanymorgan09 Yeah I realized that I have a few Kiwi friends and it seemed like they all really looked up to the US until they came here and visited for a while then 2 of them moved to Australia instead lol I think for most people that grew up in NZ they long for more action and excitement etc. and to them maybe the US looks like a fun action movie, but the quality of life here absolutely sucks so I hope NZ steers away from US culture because it will make their paradise seem like hell after a while.
Hey Brittany, kind of a funny story. I've lived in Calgary my whole life and came across your videos right when you moved to NZ. It's gotten so expensive here especially the last year or so and I find the quality of life has really declined for a lot of people. I started looking into moving and being a big lord of the rings fan I've always had a secret love for NZ and that's how I came across your videos. It's been pretty cool seeing your point of view of all the ups and downs as I feel I can relate pretty well as a Calgarian. You also make a lot of great points that I wouldn't have even considered or really known until I would have gone through them like yourself. Finally decided to leave a comment and just wanted to say thanks for the great videos!
Welcome fellow Calgarian!! Yes I've heard the cost of living and such has really gotten out of hand in Calgary. I own a property in Victoria Park so I've been keeping a close eye on the market. I'm a bit concerned about moving back but at least wages are generally higher and fuel is muuuuuch less expensive.
I'm originally from Ottawa and I think if I had moved directly to NZ from there, I wouldn't have ever returned to Canada. I just happened to fall madly in love with Calgary and the mountains and I consider it my home now. There's a lot of upsides to living in NZ and the cost of some things here has gone down (like groceries) but it's still hard to get ahead. Ontario is similar in that way I think.
Thank you for the comment ☺️☺️
No overtime/penalty rates is insane! Drives me up the wall (6 months here from Aus) probably go back soon. And casual contacts with a 1 month notice is WILD. NZ is rough.
I agree with you. I came to NZ on a working holiday visa, too. And guess what, two weeks ago, i was attacked by a man just right at the sky city in Auckland, and someone smashed my car widow yesterday in Christchurch 😅. And the price of vegetables is skyrocketing in the winter!
And I didn't have anything in my car, but someone just want to smash it😂
Oh my gosh! I am so sorry that all happened to you 😔 that is very scary. I hope you are okay! Sending you love & peace here going forward ❤
@@jillspence7227 you are right, I have now lived in the country and town for some months, Blenheim, Tauranga, te puke, they're way more better than Auckland and Christchurch
Thank you so much for your nice talk on New Zealand.I am very interested in exploring the North Island in terms of their natural plants and trees.It seems fascinating as a really volcanic Island.Thank you so much for your input,Brittany Morgan.All the best🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Thank you for the kind comment! 😊❤️
That's good you made a video. No country is perfect. Sad to hear that you had a bad experience. What I have learnt from life is to focus on the positive. Learn and stay away from the negative experience. Agree on Salary, Expensive craft beer, Healthcare, there are not many high paying jobs as US, AU, Europe or Canada. I don't care about the politician and politics. They can't improve anyone situation we need to take the responsibility to improve and protect ourselves.
People born in developing countries will have a different perspective as compared to being born in Developed countries.
I hope you enjoy the best and keep posting amazing videos and sharing your thoughts.
Thank you for your comment! I do try and focus on the positive but it's important to be realistic about expectations too. It's all about perspective like you said, it's depends where you come from. For me, I prefer living in Canada though my time in NZ has been incredible overall and I've made a lifetime of memories I will cherish forever!
Always love these videos as I can kind of compare notes from my experience living here for the past four years. Also it initiated an hour long (plus) debate with my kiwi partner 😂 we mostly agreed but on some points we’re agreeing to disagree.. he thinks that the kiwi attitude overall is stoicism and I agree with you completely that there’s a lot of work that needs to happen regarding people feeling comfortable opening up about their feelings, ESPECIALLY men. The ‘She’ll be right’ attitude has gone too far that it seems like every issue big or small can just be magically dissolved with those words.
I understand the frustration with healthcare here because I remember the few times I went to see a doctor and the bill was over $100. It’s taken the four years of being here and finally being a PR to feel better about it but even still, doctor’s visits aren’t free. I find the wait times here to be a lot better and overall the care I’ve received to be better, too.
Very sorry to hear that you were attacked. That’s awful and just made worse that the police didn’t take it seriously… seems even ´she’ll be right ‘ is their MO unfortunately. How are you feeling now living in Nelson? Does it feel safe there? I’ve been in Chch this entire time and haven’t had any trouble- and I walk pretty much everywhere I go. Growing up in Winnipeg I honestly feel as if anywhere is safer… I have feared for my life in downtown Wpg on multiple occasions. Lived in Victoria, BC for many years too and it was better but many homeless people who were wild cards and on drugs. Just had to be careful and cross streets when my gut said it was a good idea. Feeling so much safer in Christchurch!
Ahhh stoicism...well I can see that side of it I suppose. People do seem to open up as you get to know them but it's really unlikely they will complain and raise legitimate issues. You can still be a positive, upbeat person and speak about problems in a mature and confident manner. Toxic positivity is a real thing!! I realize now that I should have mentioned "She'll Be Right" specifically in this video instead of whinging. Ah well. Definitely the point I was trying to make though!
Nelson has been interesting. I've had more negative interactions with people here than anywhere I've lived prior. A lot of entitled, old, rich white people. Everyone is quite friendly but there's an air of "I'm better than you" lol. Not a ton of diversity here so maybe the "lower class" are quite marginalized and ignored. I think the hospital here needs a lot of work and support. I used to walk through a sketchy area here to get to work and was always checking over my shoulder (in broad daylight). I maybe need to walk around with a giant Canada flag LOL.
So you're a resident here but still pay for doctor's visits?? I didn't know that was a thing. Prescriptions are free though, is that right?
@@brittanymorgan09
Oh true, I could see Nelson being like that. The rich, entitled and stuffy vibes. When we went there we spent a lot of time at the Free House Pub and really loved it there! Really beautiful city too, sounds like if you avoid certain areas (sketchy and wherever the boomers are?) then you’ve got it made :)
You do have to pay for doctors visits on PR or as a citizen, $50/visit. I don’t know about prescriptions, I know my partner gets his couple for free or subsidised where it’s ridiculously cheap like $5.
lol @ wearing the Canadian flag around. I feel like trying that now just to see how it goes. I’ve only once felt discriminated against for being perceived as American but thinking I could’ve avoided the awkwardness by just wearing a flag instead haha.. genius!
@@carlystevenson950 We just went to the Free House last night with some new friends and absolutely loved it!!! Such a gem in Nelson, the vibe was amazing. Definitely felt like the "cool place to be" lol.
Good to know about doc visits, I figured they would be free with PR hmm.
We do have walking clinics, and yes we also have to pay the same amount. Sometimes we have to wait hours to be seen.
Hello, thank you for creating these detailed videos! I’m fascinated in theory with NZ as well, so it’s good to know the downsides. I live in the US and the healthcare system here is the stuff of horror movies 😆
Health care where I am in the states is fabulous, with abundant access and I have great Insurance -- There are places of course in the US where I'm sure it sucks but I didn't want others to think as a whole health care is poor all across America. There are states you couldn't pay me to visit in the US ---
You should also mention high cost of petrol to travel ....But as a New Zealander i agree with all you saying ,This country started down hill from 2017 to present under the last government (labour) wasted soooooo much money on .....Nothing ....
Good videos. I’d agree with you on driving. NZ drivers on average are up there with Brazilians in terms of risk taking. It’s one of the weirdest things about the country.
I grew up in Auckland. I agree with everything you said in the previous video as well as this one. I moved to Melbourne 16 years back for a better life, but unfortunately, I cannot say any different. I have experienced domestic violence in both countries. As I'm writing this, I'm actually stuck with my abusive parents due to being jobless and pregnant at the same time. The police never did anything about it. Both nations have really poor law system. The police don't help when it comes to abuse or harassment. I have experienced racism and bullying in both countries. In both countries I have mostly dealt with cold, unemotional men and friends who were too narcissistic for me to handle. I really hate the sound of Harley Davidson lol there's too many here! Roads here also have too many accidents, and guess what? They have made highways narrower since the pandemic so they can easily fine people by creating confusing roads with loads of secret cameras! So, after 25 long years (that's literally most of my life) I'm just gonna return back to my home country, even though I never really grew up there. At least I won't have to deal with racism, abuse and unnecessary fines. I belong to a south Asian country, so life will be much cheaper, and there will be people around to help me if I'm ever in need of help. There are drug addicts everywhere in Melbourne too! I have been harassed by drug addicts many times. I'm glad you pointed out this matter because it's getting ridiculously common in these nations! Due to poverty men are becoming drug addicts and they do nothing about it. After experiencing a similar incident like you, I stopped going for walks in parks during the day in my area. This world has become a very sad place 😔
I'm so sorry about your situation, I truly hope things improve for you. That's a lot of weight and responsibility on your shoulders. I hope you find a good group of supportive people to help with the baby and everything. It's a very negative and tough world out there but there's good people still.
Sending you love and all the positive thoughts ❤❤
I agree with the driving, 100%. Thats why we dont really go out of the city that much because of this reason, their driving attitude, its a bit dangerous. Thanks for pointing out!!
Hey @Brittany love your videos!
Planning to move abroad this year. Since you literally have lived in both places of my option, you would be the best person to answer this question. I have severe arachnophobia, which place will I least find spiders Calgary or South Island, NZ???
Great question!! I'd say they're very similar actually. I've seen a few spiders in each spot and they're typically small and harmless. More spiders in humid places and both Calgary and the south island are pretty dry so you really don't get them inside much unless you're in a basement.
Traveling from NZ to anywhere is an enormously expensive experience. For all the reasons you gave, but you missed 1, lack of airline competition. Since the NZ borders opened in August last year. There has been a slow return to pre-pandemic airline competition. Next year that should change as more and more airlines start offering services to NZ again. It will still be expensive, but at least you'll have options. One of those options of cause should be using a VPN to book cheaper flights using seasonal discounts on foreign websites.
Driving on Kiwi 🥝 roads, you really do need to have a lot of confidence as they are not particularly good and maintaining them has been a local hot button topic for a long time. Which is why regional passenger rail has emerged as an alternative. But will not happen with the new incoming government.
So get ready for a tonne of road works and associated road diversions over the next few years.
As for wages and salaries. You are absolutely right. New Zealanders have been moving across the tasman to Australia in droves for better money 💲 and cheaper shopping at Aldi, Costco and Ikea. Maybe even a cheaper litre of petrol too. There have been moves to rectify this over the past 10 years, but pay parrady with Australia won't happen anyone soon.
Thank you for your insight! The airline issue is one I haven't even thought about but you're right. AirNZ has the monopoly and it's pretty dang expensive. I try and fly Jetstar when possible but they don't operate in Nelson (where we live now) and it's really frustrating. I hope that changes soon.
Roads works here....oh man. Why are they 30km zones and not 50km?? Construction zones in Canada are usually 50km, sometimes 80km if it's on a busy highway but they're like always 30kms here. I guess road work is a common trope everywhere though, we complain about it in Canada constantly lol.
I'm very curious was Aussie is like and how it compares to NZ. Hoping to get across the pond in the next few months to check it out. I saw online petrol is over one dollar cheaper per lite (in Sydney) so that's nice.
Go to Sydney then take a budget airline like Scoot or Jetstar.
Health care gets better on a resident visa, and also all prescriptions are “free” for residents. They expect anyone on a temporary visa to have health insurance. What walk-in clinic are you going to in Calgary that only takes 15? The one on 17th ave had a two hour wait last time I was in there 😂.
I also found kiwis pretty racist towards Americans in general, even if it was a bit passive. I would often try to subtly point out I was Canadian and get treated better.
The salary, dollar value, and cost of living in NZ is painful, no question about it, and as you have found out the contracts are written pretty loose.
I get the frustration, I went through a lot of the same things, and then moving back to Calgary a lot of things I forgot about here have frustrated the heck out of me as well. 😢
Gday Abraham, I will bring to your attention that a person can't be racist to Americans as that is a Nationality, You could be prejudiced to North Americans. Important difference. 🙂
I'm really glad to hear the healthcare situation is better for residents! Tough waiting period for some immigrants though. I have full health insurance but it doesn't cover anything non-emergency like antibiotics/mental health/birth control etc. Is it not difficult to get in with a new GP though? The person I talked to at the clinic did not know I was a non-resident, said I could become a new patient but also said they wait time to see the GP was 4+ weeks. Maybe it was just their office.
I've been going to the clinic on Edmonton Trail down the street from Deluxe Diner for many years and they're suuuuper efficient lol. They have some bad Google reviews but my doc there is awesome.
I'm not exactly looking forward to dealing with crap back in Calgary (gun violence seems out of control??) like high rent, freezing winters and dangerous transit situations but I just love that city so much. There's a lot to be improved in Canada too, I'll have to make a video about that once we are back and settled in.
@@brittanymorgan09 at least we have the Ship and Anchor 😂. Thanks for the tip on the clinic, I’ll try them out!
@@haydengoodall6767 otherwise known as xenophobia.
I lived in NZ for 10 years on both lower wages and middle income. If you have good wage then NZ is A sweet place to live. What you have said is all true. I now live in Canada and i am better off than when I was in NZ but I still miss the place and my friends there. It's an awesome place to live for people who love the outdoors and the ocean dont mind the cold like rural living and can be independent. The people, both pakeha and Maori are great. Super kind and generous and very funny.
1. Canada also has a Dr shortage where many people don't have a family physician and need to go to Emergency at a hospital which also takes hours. It's actually a national crisis.
2. Wages are less especially compared to a higher cost of living. Good career Jobs also lack pension plans and extended health and dental benefits.
3. Kiwi culture has lots of male toxicity in rural communities and Maori communities. Harden up.
4. Kiwis are terrible drivers and roads are dangerous.
5. Kiwis binge drink they get smashed often.
6. It's typically very Christian and very conservative.
7. There's a meth problem and cannabis is illegal.
8. Housing is crazy expensive.
9. The NZD keeps you from leaving.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! I agree, there's tons of positives about living here and for a lot of folks, they outweigh the negatives. If we didn't have strong ties in Canada with family & friends I think we'd really consider being here long term and making it work. The lifestyle/chill vibe is far superior here! I do miss Canada though and look forward to return. I'm curious how I'll find it after a year in NZ, it might be a culture shock 😂
@@brittanymorgan09
Both Canada and NZ are amongst the top countries in the world to live. I am very privileged to be a Citizen of both countries. The negatives are mere first world problems like expensive craft beer. How spoiled are we. Calgary does have a ton of excellent craft breweries though. I think you're going to miss nz if not for the adventure but dont confuse tourism with immigration. Visiting a country is a rosey experience and different than living in a place long term. Hopefully you can pick up on that adventure spirit when you get home. Road trip!
LOL 😂 I do have to agree with the NZ dollar keeps you from leaving. I feel bloody stuck here, would love to return to Canada, but the housing crises there it be almost impossible
Your first video was also 100% spot on ❤
Alcohol tax is simply based on how much alcohol you brew. That means you pay for alcohol quantity, doesn't mean the boutique breweries are paying more than their share, but the paperwork and admin will cost more because it isn't spread over greater volume.
The boutique breweries may be brewing higher alcoholic content beer, because they are usually better, that could make a difference.
I'd just add living here on a visa vs as a permanent resident is very different, just like in any country, permanent residents have better access to medical etc just like anywhere, so keep that in mind when deciding to live someone permanently. And that's coming from someone who has lived overseas on a visa and then got permanent residency, the difference was dramatic.
If NZ was closer to the rest of the world I would be a lot happier here, the distance is the biggest issue I think... but I just earn too much here to give it up...
Well I'm really glad to hear you're having an amazing experience here! On healthcare, that's a bit sad to hear residents get treated better but I can't say for sure it's also like that in Canada. The path to residency in NZ is very long and expensive unless you're in the medical field or on some fast track to residency via your skills. It could be years of poor healthcare before getting the "right" to be treated like a human...not good. I think for anyone leaving their home country, the reasons must be quite compelling or it's just not worth the hassle.
@@brittanymorgan09 exactly, I agree think long and hard before leaving your home land, maybe there's somewhere in your homeland that would suit you better. Moving countries is so much harder than people can imagine unless you've done it. I was treated like a second rate citizen in Canada until I became a permanent resident, I was too scared to go to the hospital when I was on a work visa because of the bill I would get, and it took 4 years to become a permanent resident, it was stressful, expensive and in the end not worth it. I requalified in my profession, also stressful and expensive and couldn't get a job doing what I do as they had enough of their own very good graduates. It's tough being foreign. I say to everyone, travel but really think hard about moving. I LOVED Canada but it just didn't work out for me no matter how hard I tried, similar to your experience here although I gave it 9,5 years in Canada... it would have been so different if I had been raised and educated there. In the end it was my homeland that gave me the break I needed, no matter how much I'd rather be back overseas.
@@alexandramcpherson4189 fantastic points, I completely agree with you. I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience in Canada. Canada has a LOT of downsides and I can see why people wouldn't want to go through the effort to settle there (or anywhere that isn't homeland like you said).
Immigrating is a much bigger hassle than I ever imagined and we're just on a Working Holiday LOL. The complexity of the real thing would just be too much. It would have to get extremely bad in Canada for me to do it but it's an option I guess! Now I have a much better idea of what would be involved.
exactly and it's all experience, that we wouldn't swap for anything, we grow and learn. The thing about Canada is it's so big and diverse there has to be somewhere there that's perfect, it's also so close to the rest of the world... I would still chose it over NZ!!!! the grass is always greener though eh@@brittanymorgan09
Hi Brittany! Which island would you recommend, South or North? Thank you!
If you can only go to one, I'd say south but there's a lot to see on the north island too! We haven't travelled the north island as much as the south but are looking forward to doing that in the future.
Hi Brittany!
I'm a Brazilian living in Manitoba, Canada.
I'm finishing my journey to get my license as a Dentist here in Canada and I got to know that New Zealand accepts the canadian equivalency process to have my diploma recognized. After knowing that, my wife, who is a bank manager, got very excited to move to New Zealand as she hates cold. However, our 2-years-old son is a mild case of autism and I'm super afraid of Kiwi's health system (even though Manitoban one hasn't been good as well).
Have you heard anything about market for dentist in NZ? I know they only have one dental school in the whole country.
Thank you for sharing your experience!!
Hello! I haven't heard anything about the dental system here though I may need to figure out soon for some routine checkups. There is private health care here too so you can pay to "skip the line" so to speak. A lot of locals here have commented on this video saying healthcare is much better for residents though!
If your spouse hates the cold then she probably won't like NZ weather. I haven't been to Canada but I'm guessing NZ is the same if not colder than Canada?
@@Toucan432 Canada is much, much colder than NZ in winter. -25, -30 Celsius in Canada vs maybe -5 in NZ.
@@brittanymorgan09 Holy kinas that's cold, my bad. If it gets below 10 Celsius. I'm putting on layers plus my puffer jacket. Maybe I'm just thin skinned lol....
It is damp, wet cold weather all winter long, houses have poor insulation, bad education system, lots of drug addicts, etc. I want my family out of NZ.
Im a canadian living in the US, havent had any healthcare for many years
Yikes, I would be terrified to have to deal with the US healthcare system. Possibly the worst system in the developed world.
.,,.,.I'm so sorry to hear you were assaulted 😭🌺 very sorry
Your so right. But every country has its negatives.
thanks for the heads up
Where should I move to in Canada? I’m looking to move to another country.
@@speaklife7119 depends on what you value! Canada has a wide range of cities and towns all in different price ranges. The weather can vary quite widely across the country too. I prefer big cities like Vancouver, Montreal or Calgary. Some may like smaller cities like Kelowna in BC or Guelph in Ontario. Eastern Canada is also very lovely and a slower pace of life.
Just this week at the bus stand in Central Auckland, someone from the back started telling us "you fucking foreigners". It was really scary because no one else present reacted to him. He was a middle-old aged white tall man. My partner and I have just arrived this month. I wish I had watched your video before 😅
As an American, you're really making New Zealand sound awesome. The idea that people can see a doctor, without paying hundreds per month for insurance, only to pay hundreds or thousands if you actually use it.
Nz certainly needs more regulations around the number of cars they have let into the country over the last 10years and number of cars per household. Definitely need better public transport system and to be hard on crime.
I appreciate the lack of overtime rates, however, it is possibly offset by the fact that canadians only get 1 week annual leave a year, atleast that is what a colleague in the UK told me years ago. We were at the BBC and had 5 weeks leave, he missed Canada, but loved holidays too much to go back.
@@krisby1 we get a minimum 2 weeks per year (not including statutory holiday/sick pay) but it really does suck. I miss that 4 week minimum in NZ!
NZ has deteriorated quite rapidly over the past 10 years. It's the worst it has been in my life here. Crime, health care, housing affordability, political division etc.
I love my country, but man do we have some work to do.
As for driving, in my experience a lot of the worst incidents I've encountered were tourists. They cant handle the single lane highways (which are more challenging than most western countries) and do stupid things. A young American woman almost put me and my daughter in a head on collision near arthurs pass a few years ago, it was crazy, in that case she tried to pass on a blind corner. Locals that travel these highways frequently know the road like the back of their hand, so get frustrated when tourists are hitting the brakes on every corner (tourists are either going too slow or way to fast for the road and just assume no one is coming the other way because some roads seem "empty")
Nz highways do require a more agressive, alert driving style due to hills, winding roads, alpine passes etc, but the downside of that is that some locals drive far too aggressively ALL the time, so your observation is atleast partially correct on that front.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! The more I stick to driving on standard "city" roads, the less craziness I've seen LOL. But yeah, too many locals (usually young folks) ripping around corners in residential areas going 80km. I'm sure tourists can be brutal too but I've found they usually just drive slow. Glad to hear that nothing happened with your incident in Arthurs Pass. Very scary and I hope that driver learned something from it!!
NZ is still such an incredible place and definitely one of the top countries to call home. But there's lots to work on like you said and the same is true for my home country of Canada. I'm glad people are more willing to chat about it!
Growing up in NZ in the 80s was awesome...90s too... but its lost it way
You have to wonder if the culture of not being able to express negative emotions in a healthy way doesn't also contribute to the road rage problem.
100%!! We joke about this a lot with locals LOL. I've never seen so much road rage/screaming from a car anywhere in my life.
I'm hoping they'll start to understand vloggers like you and take action.
Thank you ❤️
I'm living in NZ for just over 3 months but compare to where I come from, i feel driving here is a lot safer 😂 I'm not being unpatient but i find some drivers drive really slow unnecessarily. Different people drive at their own pace. If you think someone is following you very closely, best is pull over to let them pass when its safe to do so. You'll never know whats their reason to drive faster. May be they are in their emergency situation. I have been in this before. So do not assume bad drivers when they are trying to over take you. May be you're really driving slow or they're in a situation.
Sorry for the unpleasant encounter. You know, ppl really makes the difference to a place. Safety and security is something especially women valued alot.
Absolutely! Luckily I haven't experienced anything like that since but have seen so many biker gang members in our area lately. It's an uneasy feeling for sure.
Good on ya Brittany
Great country …. But expensive ‼️
I agree with you NZ is a very difficult place to live in unless you have considerable wealth. As a NZ born person in would not return and find that the society is stifled.
YT comments = silly comments. They're a bit of a cesspit. All the best... Clark
Indeed. Bigots are no longer afraid to spew garbage and hate online thanks to the world we all now live in. It's a shame, but if the trolls come out it means what I'm saying is important to share. Thanks for the comment and support 😀
You're beautiful and do a great job with your videos. (Adding this true statement to balance out the rude keyboard warriors!)
Thank you so so much!! The kind words mean a lot to me and go a long way to balance out the hate.
Any country in the world you can list multiple reasons for not living in that country. However agree with your comments Kiwi drivers are cramp and l have lived here for 50 years
Love your honest opinions and sharing your experience! Ever consider moving to Australia?
Could give you a mile long list of reasons not to live there 😉
We have definitely thought about it! I looked into extending our travels and doing Aussie for a year but we've decided we are ready to go back to Canada. We will be travelling Australia though, lots I want to see there!!
Moved to NZ about a year ago. Compared to living in South Africa, this is better on so many levels for my family and my children's future. If you really want to compare, make sure you can compare to a better and a worse place and then draw your conclusion. People tend to only compare between 2 things. There is a saying, there is your version, my version and the truth.
This isn't a comparison video ☺️ it's a list of reasons why I PERSONALLY wouldn't immigrate to NZ. Thanks for watching and for the comment.
Great sharing...
Spot on!
Hi, Buddy! Everything is relative...everything. Perhaps an Aussie or a Kiwi may experience the same thing back home in Canuckistan. Often one bad experience can wreck one's perception of a place, people or culture. I know of people who've had horrible experiences in Canada first blush and it tarnished their perception of Canada the Good.
But I hear what you are saying. I'm a soft socialist at best. Yeah, our healthcare ain't perfect but we do have it. My ex-wife was an impatient driver and got the tickets to prove it! LOL.
I believe you said you two are in Nelson? Other YTers say it's the best city in all of NZ or Wellington. It looks incredible there. Hope to make it there to do the Tasman Trail.
Cheers!
Everything is definitely relative, all depends where you come from and what experiences you have to build on! All countries have their positives and negatives for sure.
Nelson is a fantastic place to live for sure, I'd pick Wellington over it any day but that's because I am a city slicker haha! I hope you get to do the Tasman Trail, sounds fantastic!
Believe it or not, I stayed in Marda Loop for a stretch! That's where all the hipsters are at eating avocado toast!@@brittanymorgan09
@@williamclarke2020 very cool! Marda Loop is certainly "hip" LOL! They have a great craft brewery there 🍻
how about Canada? could you compare NZ to CA pls.
for example cold weather of Canada worths the more money you would make?
I'll have an upcoming video comparing both countries, stay tuned! Parts of Canada don't even get snow in winter so it's really dependent on where you want to live and where you are coming from.
It's not really critical. I mean, you state the obvious. It's just that we tend to forget that nz is the last stop before you leave the galaxy. We are on the rim down here and just 2 islands, 3 to 4 hours flight from any major human hub. My nephew did a stint down Antarctica for 3 months as a transport driver. There's not much to do down there except eat, drink and bleep lmao
The fact that I have to scrape the barrel for reasons I wouldn't move here means it can be a pretty amazing place for most! It would take a LOT of horrible things in one's native country to want to permanently relocate I think.
Antarctica, wow!! Must have been a very unique experience and a bit boring lol
@@brittanymorgan09 You're fine, some of us kiwi's can be mental. The rest are chill, i mean. It's not like we can drive out of the country whenever we want but you can drive anywhere within 10 hours in each island. Say you're on the beach down Papamoa and decide to drive to New Plymouth. 2 seas in 1 day, not a problem or in less time and go to Raglan. South island might take a bit more time but it's doable.
Here's a fb link to my nephews vids when he was down Antarctica, i think that's where he caught the mountain climbing bug because he ended up tramping up to base camp 1 on Everest. Most of the vids and pixes don't have descriptions but you can tell he's up in the mountains in Nepal. He's now a banana weekend surfer and bike rider. Very proud of that guy. Hopefully YT allows the link. facebook.com/100043044450110/videos/125080378936777
Hi Brittany, I have been watching your videos from NZ since some time and I find them refreshing and spot on! Thank you for that. I hope you can recover from the attack, and I wish you strength. I agree fully with the points that you raised! My girlfriend and I moved to NZ a few months ago to work in healthcare from Western Europe. We have resident visas and so on and even then we would not live here long term due to the abysmal state of healthcare and the comparatively low number of subsidized drugs. Pertaining to access to healthcare, here it’s just so much worse compared to where we come from, even with the best visas you can get. NZ is also too car centric for us, we often don’t feel safe as pedestrians walking around. Driving is indeed rough but still comparable to where we come from. I don’t think NZ is attractive enough for the profiles the government wishes to recruit, or at least it isn’t anymore.. I hope the new government does something on all the above otherwise I think this country will just spiral downwards. Too much reliance on agriculture and farming and to little investments on tech and services imho. I sometimes hear NZerz comparing NZ to countries like Switzerland and Singapore.. no way unfortunately. NZ should be compared to low first tier countries or second tier countries. Really beautiful thou
You are both amazing people for working in the healthcare industry so THANK YOU for all the amazing work you do!! I know it is really tough in NZ for sure. I also hope the new government does something drastic to improve healthcare. It's such a huge thing for a country to keep and care for it's citizens. I also find NZ a ways behind Canada and other countries when it comes to tech...everyone here is still obsessed with FaceBook for some reason?? It is still a stunning country with friendly folks and a laid back life so I see the appeal. I guess it really depends on where you come from and if you're leaving a country worse off, NZ is a paradise.
You forgot, besides not being a whiner and the need to shut once mouth, unless you do it, you will lose every friend you got. I went through horrible narcissistic abuse, and the pastors from the house church we attended, were really bad. I lost all friends, people are closed up and uptide here, so one doesn't make easy new friends.
In New Zealand we have many gangs, and many people are disappearing here. I feel very unsafe here too, and i walked through Manhattan
I’m a government worker and citizen and I pay $81 to see my GP for 10 minutes. Would love to learn who your online dr contact is
Oh wow, that's quite expensive! I used Practice Plus, they connected me with a doctor remotely, I can't remember her name unfortunately!
You had me - up to the time you said that we 'want to be more socialist' - thats maybe an wee bit of an issue.
There's a difference between being socialist and having a social contract for 'things'.
Yes, 'whingeing' is an issue - or was - and as a 65 year old, there once was a code of being the 'tough nut' and holding things in.
Not so much today - and I now ponder why you have the 'younger' population having this issue - whereas we see on social media, the exact opposite.
MAYBE, there's a ground swell against the over sharing of 'feelings' on the numerous platforms that some younger people are going against it, just for their own mental well being.
Now, me being 65 - and not sharing....just saying, I'll tell a fence post what I'm feeling, so maybe I'm the exception...oh well.
PS - I liked your '5 reasons for not living in NZ' - people that were born here know too well those pressures.
PPS - If I move countries - it would be to Canada first. I think many share a similar 'personality' plus a relationship with their bigger neighbour.
I liked you opened up
Thank you! ❤️
what does 'do no complain' mean? usually that means employers or rulers do not want to take criticism or improve
It means a lot of people from New Zealand will be mad at you if you complain about anything about New Zealand
Most Chinese act in the same way. But I believe it is important to accept constructive criticism.@@brittanymorgan09
Why shouldn't small breweries pay the same level of excise tax? Their product still has the same negative effect, it all adds up.
I definitely see you're point on this. I'm not a big drinker - maybe 1-2 beers per month since I have a bad allergy to alcohol. I've listened to podcasts about alcohol and the horrible things it does to our bodies and brains and am honestly more on the side of sobriety but alas, it is something that will never leave our society. I think for people who abuse alcohol or turn to it for relief need more mental health resources and support.
My point with the craft breweries is that they are typically local. Local owners buying local ingredients from farmers and creating jobs in their community. I also find craft breweries become hubs of the communities they are in where people can gather and connect. This is something our world desperately needs. The giant conglomerates care nothing about local folks or bringing people together. They answer to their shareholders in whatever other country they are based in and we are all just numbers to them. The reason people buy and support them is because they are half the price of the small breweries simply because they can afford it. I think you'll find most craft beer drinkers don't drink craft to "get drunk and messed up" but because they enjoy the experience and the stories behind the beer. Alcohol tax should be a bracket system where you are charged based on volume so that these little breweries can survive and not get swallowed up by these huge parent companies.
Where do you see yourself settling long term?
Back home in Canada! It's tough to immigrate to a new country for a lot of people. I miss that "home" feeling I get with friends and family.
When we were there, my wife visited someone in the ICU in a public hospital. She was shocked at the level of care there. She said it was like a hospital in the 1950s in the USA.
Wow that's insane! 😨
Brittany, every single country that you would migrate to, no matter where in the world you go, every single country has it's pros and cons, and this is your opinion with the experience you have and know in Aotearoa, and by all means you are in your own rights to your thoughts and opinions of our country, bottom line, what ever you think is probs about what every single Kiwi thinks, it's the same thing but when kiwis hear it, they become deaf, and blind, such is our ignorance, I hope you find the country that makes you happy, all the best.
Correct, no country is perfect! I'm looking forward to returning to Canada despite its challenges. Most people will be patriots of their home country.
Thank you for sharing. I’m American and now know not to move there.
Every 1 is entitled to there own opinions we as kiwis should be humble by now we tend to be easily offended like loosing in rugby
New Zealand is definitely NOT a safe country, and unfortunately we don’t have enough police. Totally agree with your points you have raised, especially the point that you have to have $$$$ to enjoy this country, the average kiwi barely gets by.
Why is there a tax on a beer at all?...no tax on a pie, why beer? (outside of GST I mean)
It's horrible that you were attacked - I often worry about getting attacked when I move to Canada because I'm too unworldly (I've never had that happen to me in my 46 years). I hate to say it, but you could be right about the America thing...
Please don't make that video about reasons not to live in Canada - I don't want to be put off, lol! Kidding - always appreciate a new view on things - that's how we learn! ❤ I know 'traditional' travel destinations are hard from here but one thing I will miss so much with travel from here are the pacific island holidays that almost feel like you're traveling domestically - usually within 3-4hrs of Auckland. I'll miss Vanuatu. 😓 It's ironic; I'll be so clise to the US, but I've never wanted to visit there (and still don't). Maybe Kiwis are so anti-US because we see what they're doing to the world and want no part in it (no excuses for treating anyone like that, though!). I think it's interesting that the US seem to be backing Israel, where NZ is much more concerned about the carnage to the Palestinians. We have some very basic differences in the history we are taught 😢
Much more concerned yet NZ still doesn’t officially recognise Palestine. Pretty bad look.
@carlystevenson950 worse look if we were funding Israel, as the US is
@@carlystevenson950 Canada is STILL backing Israel too, it makes me sick honestly. I've lost so much respect for "westernized" countries over the last few months. Yuck.
Very naughty stop making us Kiwis think 😊 but very correct beautiful lady
45 yo male here. If you crued in the 80s you were regarded as a wimp.
99s it made you a target.
Physical discipline at school was also used. Cane and strap.
I didnt cry at mothers funeral neither did my brother. That was a private thing at sisters house and she gave me space along with the wife.
Just how it is.
That's very unfortunate. I hope you get to a place where you can openly express emotions and accept yourself. Mental health is a real thing and I fear for the young people growing up in homes that still push this mindset.
@brittanymorgan09 well if you handle it you generally cane out somewhat well adjusted.
But there was a lot of other stuff going on as well and it seems generational. I suspect it's a hold over from Colonial days due to isolation and British stiff upper lip mixed with Maori warrior culture.
@@roryhebberd9766 I agree, I think it's getting better with the younger generations. I'm a bit shocked at times of how in tune with the world and mature gen-Z can be. They're learning from all of our mistakes 😂
@brittanymorgan09 better and worse in some ways.
Ur first point about the healthcare in NZ. I think your eligible for government funded healthcare only if ur a citizen or permanent resident. Visa holders are req to have a private health cover. Which kinda makes sense since the public system is funded by the taxpayers. On the other hand I do understand your frustration. Have you been to Australia? If you havent I hope you do. It would be fun to get your take on the home of the flat white. :)
Yeah, I've heard it's a lot better if you have better access on the right visa or residency. It is frustrating to work & pay taxes like everyone else and not get the same treatment though. It's more the lack of walk in clinics that frustrates me but now that I know about the private sector at least I can pay to be seen quickly.
Won't live in New Zealand so where would she prefer to live. No place is perfect. In deciding where to live what are your objectives and priorities? What are the trade-offs you are prepared to make?
Canada. It's my home, where my friends and family are and my home country. No place is perfect, that is exactly the point of this video. I am sacrificing better weather and a more balanced lifestyle in NZ for a higher wage, Canadian retirement plans that I've paid into for years and to be close to my family/friends. It was an easy choice after moving to NZ for a year.
@@brittanymorgan09 Thank you. My daughter and her family are moving from Boston to Auckland next month. The problems you highlighted regarding healthcare is interesting. Since my daughter is a doctor hopefully she and her family will find it easier to get healthcare in NZ. She is going to NZ because it recognizes a US medical degree and she got an offer from a hospital in Auckland. Her husband is an academic and also has a job offer from a university in Auckland. One of the reasons she is moving to NZ is for the education of her 6 year old son. My daughter and her husband are Singaporeans with a US Green Card. Their son is a US citizen. I have been to Auckland and Christchurch and lived for a year in Australia. New Zealand is a nice place. I do not like living in big cities. My son is an engineer living in Sydney. He became an Australian citizen last year. Thanks again. Cheers.
Our health care has sunk to 3rd world level , in my opinion, in the last de ades. It's totally different from my childhood. People shoot over to Australia for some essential operations etc, if they get messed up here medically. We have the stiff upper lip attitude from our English ancestors. We are a young country. We had to be self sufficient because there were no other options and I guess it's hard to let that go.
Permanent residents or visa 2 or more years have full access to Healthcare. Your paying unsubsidized doctor's fee. If you are here full-time it won't be an issue.
Post pandemic we have a staff shortages, a worldwide issue,but the media over states the issues. NZ is swamped with overseas Healthcare workers. Especially Americans, who are relieved how safe they are.
Yes driving on our open roads give me the sh*ts. Although most Americans say we are so considerate.
New Zealand is still safer in the aggregate. It's sad you got attacked. Rapes and murders are still a thing in New Zealand.
I am glad to here residents get better healthcare but it is still a deterrent for any immigrants wanting to make NZ their permanent home. They may have to wait years and years before getting proper healthcare. I believe you have to be here for a minimum of 2 years to qualify (unless you're on a fast track to residency). Of course, like anything else, it depends on the situation you are coming from. USA has a shit healthcare system so NZ is probably an upgrade. Canada's isn't perfect but it's better in my opinion so it's a downside for me.
I realize that the risk of being attacked exists in every country. Rapes/murders/etc happen in Canada and everywhere else. Doesn't mean I feel safe here, regardless of the attack, I didn't feel safe here before that. The amount of side-eyeing I get is creepy.
Come live in South Africa for 9 months. Then you will go back running. LOL, However, great insights. Great Vids
Everything is relative...tons of countries that are MUCH worse off than NZ but Canada isn't one of them from my perspective. Moving to a worse off country just to make NZ look good LOL. Thank for the comment and support 😀
How to achieve success:
- pay doctors, teachers, police less
- make one ethnic group of citizens privileged
- ignore juvenile delinquency
- wait for success
Nice but some can be superficial
We are kiwis living in the south island & we love the United States, their culture and people. American influence runs through NZ culture. Perhaps you're just being paranoid.
there you are , getting defensive. understand the problem and remedy it. not6hing paranoid at all there . i dont know why im bothering to do this. im glad kiwis didnt want to join oz.