NZ - A Bit Further Than Middle Earth
For years, New Zealand has traded on our success with the Lord of the Rings and then The Hobbit movie franchises, in many ways, because what we had to offer in terms of scenery and landscapes was depicted (fairly accurately) in those films. Okay, we don’t have hobbits or dragons, but there was a certain romanticism behind a far away land, with snow covered mountains, dense, rich forests and unchartered landscapes. Ironically however our location is quite a few leagues away from “Middle Earth” and the matter of geography can be a pretty important part of a potential migrants decision to move.
Our location on this planet is not just a matter of physical distance, but being so far away from everywhere, can be felt socially, economically and logistically as well. We are not just removed from the big global events, we are often at the very end of the line when it comes to global supply chains. The recent fuel disruptions have brought that into the homes of most New Zealanders. Talking about petrol prices has become a national past-time, quite literally overnight.
What begins as conflict, political tension or some other supply-side disruption on one side of the world does not stay there for long. It moves through shipping routes, squeezes supply, and eventually (having travelled quite far) lands here, quite literally, at the pump. And yet, at the same time, that very distance that creates the economic problem is part of the story for many migrants.
For potential applicants, our remoteness has always carried a certain appeal. It is often seen as a form of insulation, a step back from the noise, the pace, and increasingly, the unpredictability of larger, more central economies. Many of my clients regularly talk about New Zealand not just as a destination, but as a way to reposition themselves - away from that chaos. New Zealand is a country that offers space, stability, and a sense of being slightly removed from whatever is unfolding elsewhere and at the moment things seem to be unfolding everywhere.
The Drawbacks of Distance
New Zealand is a long way from almost everything that matters economically. Goods take longer to arrive as they have further to go, and as a result they can cost more to move and import, and when global systems tighten based on any number of possible reasons, we feel it in very tangible ways. Fuel prices rise quickly, and from there it flows into almost every part of daily life - something we are experiencing right now.
Transport costs increase, businesses pass those costs on to consumers, and households absorb the rest. It also disrupts other aspects of daily life, including people’s ability to get around, take kids to school, commute to work and so on. So far, we are managing the fuel shocks well and I certainly don’t think we are at panic stage yet (although our mainstream media would have you believe otherwise), but these issues remind us all of how much of an impact our geographic location can have.
Too Far Away
Being so far from everything can be a drawback, and has impacts on how we live and function as a society - felt particularly when it comes to cost of living.
For migrants, this is often one of the first real shocks they discover as they settle in to their new life, and adjust to the way things work here.
The move to New Zealand is not just a change in location, it is a shift in cost structures. Everyday expenses can in some cases feel disproportionately high, and that can be confronting if expectations have been set by larger, more centrally located economies. Admittedly these current disruptions to fuel supplies are impacting on everyone, including nations that produce the oil that we consume, so no one is completely immune. However, while costs are high everywhere, these issues tend to send spikes in our direction, more quickly and they can be felt more sharply.
There is also the personal distance to consider, which for most migrants is really important. Family, support networks are often on the other side of the world and while we have amazing communication tools now, allowing us to keep in touch in so many simple and cost-effective ways, nothing replaces that in-person connection. New migrants can often feel isolated, alone and simply too far away from those support networks they used to rely on.
When the world is running smoothly (or rather more smoothly), all of these challenges can feel like a disadvantage that is hard to justify. This of course depends on where you are coming from and for some, no matter how challenging the distance might feel, New Zealand is still the better choice.
Geographic Comfort
However global instability, complexity and what can right now be called chaos, has a way of changing how migrants (and also locals) perceive our distance from anywhere near the middle of the earth. When supply chains do become strained and geopolitical tensions rise, and eventually conflict ensues, being closer to the centre of these things is not always a benefit.
Being deeply embedded in global systems, or part of that political chaos, can mean you experience disruption faster and more intensely. New Zealand’s position, while far from perfect, can offer a different kind of exposure and for some a far more comfortable place to be. We have seen this more recently with interest from countries like the US and the UK increasing - traditionally these countries have shown interest in NZ whenever global events escalate, but rarely take action - that is changing.
The Safety of Distance
Being at the end of the earth, can offer people a sense of safety and perhaps comfort - choosing to view global events, rather than being in the middle of them.
New Zealand is not immune to global events. Far from it. The fuel situation proves that clearly - just ask anyone driving to and from work every day (who has not yet taken the plunge to buy an EV). However the impact of these very complicated situations, is often less immediate, less volatile, and sometimes more manageable.
There is a degree of separation between us and all that is swirling around us, that allows for adjustment, even if it does not mean the underlying issues disappear. For many potential migrants, that separation from global chaos is becoming a much more important part of the appeal.
It is not about escaping the world or removing yourself from all that is happening in it, but it is about engaging with it from a slightly different vantage point. One that offers stability in some areas, even if it might come at a cost in others.
In reality migrating to somewhere like New Zealand, given our distance from everyone and everything is all about trade-offs. You sacrifice on the one hand, to gain on the other. That compromise is all part of the decision making process, although for some migrants, it can be a far easier decision to make, than for others.
The Journey Past Middle Earth
If you are considering a move here, it does pay to consider how our distance from everyone and everything else might impact on you - although it doesn’t need to define that move. We live in a world, where the only thing stopping us from connecting to anyone is time-zones. I speak to clients at all times of the day and night - yesterday I had a really interesting conversation with someone in the US, heading to the petrol station to buy some very expensive diesel - it was like he was just down the road.
New Zealand’s location does have an impact on how expensive it is to live, but those issues are felt everywhere (even in the US if you are buying diesel). Despite costs of living increasing, we make it work and these things are also cyclical. It is important for any migrant to work out what their life, financially, may look like here, but that involves looking at what you can earn first, before working out what everything will cost.
Despite all of these issues, moving to New Zealand, for many, is a choice worth making. Our ability to stand at (almost) the bottom of the earth and view events from afar, makes for quite an attractive proposition. Does that mean we are shielded from those events - not at all, and we still feel it, in perhaps slightly different ways.
For those seriously considering the move, understanding these issues is all part of the process and it is also why we discuss these details with clients, when they first engage with us. Determining your eligibility for a visa is just one aspect of a successful move. We take the time to understand why people are moving, what they might need to deal with when they arrive and to ensure that they understand the challenges that a move might present.
To find out more or to start your journey, contact the team today.
Until next week!
