We have now been here for 12 months having visited the country many times for a holiday. As we are retired we find that our pension goes further than in UK. Motoring is cheaper. The standard of the road system is appalling.
The speed limit is 60mph every where. The police hide and book you as a matter of revenue gathering.Also the issue of parking is very underhand the wardens are afraid to face you so you get the ticket by post. The standard of driving is quite bad by uk standards. Everything you buy has Tax at 12.5%. The crime rate here in Auckland is just as bad as the UK. We have had our car broken into, and our house burgled $4500 (?1500) goods stolen. We had insurance. The police gave us a crime number as in the UK , nobody apprended.
The health system is nowhere as comprehensive as the NHS in UK a doctors visit costs $45 upfront.( ?16.) All prescriptions are charged at cost minus a small government subsidy. Wages are below the UK level.
Proportionally as many freeloading on state handouts as up there in UK. Although the authorities deny it the level of race prejudice is about the same as up there.
The weather is better and most things English are available in the shops. The TV programmes are not too bad but you need sky if you want a good selection. Englsh news is available twice a day on sky news and BBC World is also available. It is not a bad place but could do better.
A good comparison is The Republic of Ireland before it joined the EEC.