<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/28/beautiful-isolated-and-expensive-us-expats-on-life-in-new-zealand>
"Californian Larry Keim has learned a thing or two in his 20 years living in
New Zealand: good dill pickles are hard to come by, understanding kiwi slang
will get you far, and if you think you’re going to get rich, forget it, “that
ain’t gonna happen”.
“But [New Zealand] is rich in so many other things that, at the end of the day,
matter more.”
For Americans looking to escape political division in the US or simply wishing
for a slower pace of life, New Zealand is often considered an enticing
alternative.
Political crises and administration changes in the US regularly ignite waves of
American interest in New Zealand – visits to immigration websites skyrocket,
property searches soar and online forums fill up with urgent questions about
what life is like in the island nation. Billionaires have also looked to use
New Zealand as a “bolthole” far away from the threat of societal turmoil.
Most recently, the relaxing of rules for New Zealand’s so-called “golden visas”
to attract wealthy investors has seen a surge in applications from the US,
including plenty – according to immigration consultants – driven by a desire to
escape president Donald Trump’s administration.
So what advice would recent US migrants offer to their compatriots? Some themes
emerged: relish the free healthcare, embrace the work culture and natural
beauty but brace for high living costs and feelings of isolation."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
