Very thought provoking.
I can't answer the first bit because I'm not in NZ yet, so I'll just peer forward a bit and say that I would hope to go out and meet kiwis on their own terms. I don't want to stomp around all over their ground and leave my footprints over everything, but just to quietly integrate and blend in so they hardly notice I'm there. I won't be contributing much to the work force, as we'll be retired by then, but I would hope to give friendship and laughter and whatever else I find NZ wants from me. In return I would like to regain some of the positivity and zest for life that's a bit lacking here at the moment. Not very exciting, but I'll enjoy the experience, I'm sure.
Hope you can find what you're looking for Burgundy and you'll eventually come to the decision that you have indeed made the right choice in going to NZ. And, yes, I'm pretty sure you'll miss central heating unless you're up with Glenda in the far north. There are houses available with some forms of heating so it's just a case of hunting around to find one. Heat pumps are pretty good and reasonable to run if used properly. Wood burners can be efficient but involve a bit or work and may only heat part of the house unless there's a heat transfer system installed.