From the USA to a new life in NZ

Why you chose NZ

We had never been to New Zealand before, so it was a huge leap for us. My wife and I are pretty adventurous, and we thought it would be a fantastic place to raise our family. We

were ready for a change of pace and wanted somewhere with a great environment for our kids. When I heard that New Zealand was in need of engineers, I reached out to a recruiter. I didn’t expect to be making the move just five months later, but here we are!

Most challenging part

The hardest part has been being away from family. They’re all so happy for us and can’t wait to visit, but it’s tough not seeing them as much. New Zealand is quite isolated, but we

stay in touch with regular video calls, which helps a lot.

Easiest part

We’ve been surprised at how easy it was to adjust to living in New Zealand. The boys settled in well at school, and my wife just started working as a Montessori teacher. Plus, there’s so much to explore here, which has made the transition smoother.

First impressions of NZ

The scenery is stunning, and the people are relaxed and easy to get along with. The politics are pretty tame, the food is good, and the cost of living is about the same as in Austin, so it

hasn’t been a big financial adjustment.

18 months in, what you’re enjoying

We love being just 10 minutes from the beach and usually having it all to ourselves. We’ve enjoyed kayaking, fishing, and road-tripping through most of the South Island. I really

enjoy my work—it’s challenging, but I’m gaining great experience. As a stormwater engineer, I’ve found that flooding is a significant issue in New Zealand, and it’s become more prominent in recent years.

Any surprises

How quickly it has felt like home. I keep waiting for a big bout of homesickness, but it hasn’t hit yet.

The part Peak played

Peak matched me with a position that was a great fit for my skills and experience. They were very helpful throughout the interview process and with any questions about visas and

the move to New Zealand.

Advice to others considering NZ

Do some research on where you’d like to live. There’s city life if you want that, but also smaller, relaxing towns like ours, which are great for raising a family. Create a checklist for an international move—there’s a lot to take care of, but once we got here, it was surprisingly easy.