The Ups and Downs of Life in Aotearoa

The high cost of living in New Zealand makes moving here very challenging, greatly worsened due to enormous international school fees. Additionally, Victoria University does not offer family housing, so renting is the only option for those with spouses and/or children. Be aware that renting costs are laughably high. In the one year I've lived here the country has fallen into a recession as kiwis are moving out of the country in record numbers to flee from the unprecedented inflation as a result of a failing government. Unfortunately, the job market is hyper-competitive in NZ (100+ applicants for even entry-level openings) and so no jobs are willing to wait upwards of six weeks to sponsor an overseas employee when there are dozens of domestic applicants at hand as well. Even the domestic population struggles to find employment. Couple all of this with living costs so high that buying groceries feels like a gut punch and it is clear why emigration numbers eclipse those of immigration.

As far as university, the continued ramifications and magnification of colonization has led to an in-class separation of western worldviews and Māori worldviews, with emphasis placed on indigenous thought. While this is both progressive and respectful to said indigenous culture, it does make the curriculum very much applicable only to those planning to settle in NZ and not people who plan to move internationally (at least within the scope of a Bachelor of Health). Essentially, "western" ideas such as science-based medicines and nutrition are only brushed upon in favor of generalized holistic worldviews (which is not incorrect at all, but also not concise in the curriculum). In practice, this leads to a greatly reduced syllabus reflective of applicable health knowledge and understanding that is more universally used among westernized countries. There is nothing inherently wrong with this mode of teaching, but it does leave those with intention for life overseas post-school without the same tools for success.

Also, the curriculum at Victoria is HEAVILY based on reading articles that lecturers find to further their own opinions of subjects and then writing essay after essay with the expectation that the student agrees with everything being taught absolutely. As an example, I am in a course at present that has disallowed me from using a source in my essay as it would disprove the theory that is being taught (as stated directly to me by my lecturer). If you come from a British influenced school system this should feel right at home as essay-based assignments are commonplace, but for others that don't enjoy most every assignment being yet another essay the curriculum gets stale quickly and, personally, lessens my retention of the broader subject being taught. Most course curriculums are more like random ideas patched together, with each week feeling disconnected and unrelated to anything else taught prior, but with the constant reminder of the next upcoming essay.

The social scene in Wellington is tricky. The majority of kiwis create their friend circles in high school and have no interest in getting to know people after that time. Most gregarious people that you'll meet at Victoria, or Wellington as a whole, that are interested in getting to know you are also immigrants. Kiwis tend to be very standoffish and reserved. Expect to feel iced out by the locals, but the immigrant population is still so high (roughly 25%) that finding meaningful relationships is relatively easy.

Upsides of Wellington /NZ include the level of safety throughout (one of the top five safest countries in the world according to World Population Review), the absolute beauty of the landscape, and the lack of snow. Crime is very minimal across the country, so those that prioritize this above all have found somewhere for them. Keep in mind that gangs still exist here, though, and drug abuse is fairly rampant. Also, there are no threatening predators in NZ so wondering into the bush is typically very safe, although several outdoor deaths occur yearly do to tumbles and carelessness. The natural beauty is alluring and safer than most anywhere in the world. Lastly, the temperature never drops low enough to snow. That being said, Wellington is considered the windiest city on the planet and most rental houses are incredibly old and so do not have double-pane windows nor insulation. Non-residents cannot lawfully purchase real estate. It gets very cold inside accommodations about half the year and the vast majority of NZ homes don't have central heating. Auckland is very cozy year-round though.

Overall, Aotearoa New Zealand is a fine place to take an extended vacation to (not short vacations though as the government has set a $100 incoming fee just to step foot in the country), but I would not advise moving here for long stretches of time. The sheer beauty of the countryside is reason enough to experience places such as Milford Sound, Waitomo Caves, or Hobbiton, but your money will dry up fast and the government is not concerned about the wellbeing of the immigrant populace. This word of warning is especially true for those interested in higher education here. The institutions are not capable of accommodating families and the curriculum largely favors servicing people who have no aspirations to leave the country post-grad while simultaneously feeling directionless. The disparity between domestic vs. non-domestic student fees is staggering and income is scarce. Until the economy stabilizes this country should not be a top contender for immigration.