It's tough isn't it? It frustrates the hell out of me!
This is such a beautiful place to live and as Johnty says the fun things in life are much cheaper, that has a very strong influence on our wanting to be here. We didn't come because we thought it would be a cheaper lifestyle we came because we thought we would have a better lifestyle. 'Better' as in, more family time, less peer pressure for the kids, less class pressure on all of us, more tolerance and acceptance of individuality, less pressured education for the kids with a wider perspective on ability, more freedom to live our way and not the authorities way.
Surely as the population grows, and I predict it will boom in the next 10 years, wages will have to go up. As more and more well qualified people are attracted here things will have to change, either that or NZ will stand still and be left behind. Has this already happened or are we still in the game? Gary works in an affluent suburb of Hamilton, he sees many stay at home mums whose kids are in the best schools in town, they all drive Mercs and BMWs and do lunch, so someone's doing something right (with regards to salary). In my experience, most families need both parents to work, the kids get themselves to and from school and make their own tea etc. Maybe as McFod says, NZ is becoming like the rest of the world and the day to day living is going on the credit card. The interest rates are so high here that that's just a fools game.
We love it here, we feel at home and let me make it clear that we will stay BUT we realise it will be hard financially. We've never cruised financially, we've always earned and lived and little else, it won't be any different here but somehow it just doesn't seem like a big deal? I wake up every morning, look out at the trees, the horses, the space, the blue sky, Gary next to me and feel truly blessed. I say a huge thank you for being here, for the simple things in life that make it all worthwhile, for the freedom my kids feel here, the freedom we all feel here, for Gary's recognition of his ability to walk his own path. Coming here has made us stronger as a family, changes have occurred in our personal relationships that wouldn't have made it in the UK. New Zealand has set us free, maybe it's not NZ, maybe it's just the change but I have my reasons for thinking otherwise.
Don't assume this is Dawn's little bird singing, deer prancing, flower buds bursting into bloom fairytale, it's not like that at all. It's been a roller-coaster of extreme emotion, I've been on the verge of booking flights home, there have been as many tears as smiles but what's worth having is worth fighting for right?
Let's hope that immi agrees and grants our residency soon eh?
