I moved my family to New Zealand – our home would cost £2m in the UK | World | News

A couple invested £30,000 relocating 11,500 miles from the UK to a remote New Zealand village they had never previously visited, aiming to provide their children with “a better future” – but insist it was “worth it” simply for the £2 pints. Ed Porter, 35, and his spouse Kim, 34, were residing in Henley-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire, when they reserved a family staycation in a cabin during early 2024 and were astounded by the £1,200 cost.

They started questioning how much more costly life in Britain would become for their children, Elijah, 12, and Willow, seven, once they reached adulthood and established their own households. The couple chose to relocate to New Zealand for an idyllic countryside lifestyle, enhanced financial opportunities and a more stable future for Elijah and Willow.

They completed the £30,000 relocation to Warkworth, on North Island, in June following a year of preparation – and now Ed and Kim declare they could never envisage returning to the UK.

They enjoy an “idyllic” existence in a five-bedroom waterfront property – costing just £1,600 monthly to rent – and maintain the equivalent in the UK would exceed £2million to purchase.

Their new residence is allowing them to “live their dream” – whilst establishing a superior future for their offspring.

Ed and Kim expressed their appreciation for the “positive” community atmosphere, the warm and respectful nature of their Kiwi neighbours, the magnificent weather and breathtaking environment. While they acknowledge they “miss a Tesco shop”, their fresh lifestyle meets every requirement – and New Zealand even boasts an “alive and kicking pub culture” which can compete with the UK’s – with quality pints costing under £3.

Ed, who works in property, said: “We started thinking about the future of our children in terms of having their own independence with buying properties in the future. We initially considered a move to the States but that has its fair share of problems too, and we settled on here.

“The move was very nerve wracking and an emotional rollercoaster – but we love it. We’re blown away by how welcoming everyone has been, and we can already see ourselves growing old here.

“You’re never more than ten minutes from one of the beaches – which have crystal clear turquoise seas and white sands.Plus pints are £2 something and the the pies alone are worth moving for. It’s a slice of paradise.”

Before they made the move, Ed and Kim’s independent coffee enterprise had been encountering difficulties and they started exploring an international relocation that would benefit the family economically as well as provide them with a different way of life.

After deciding on New Zealand they set the plans in motion – applying for £600-per-person visas, £195-per-person medical examinations and £100-per-person document certifications. They also chose a rental property and hired a £12,500 shipping container to transport all their furniture and belongings on an 11,500-mile journey to their new home.

Following the closure of their coffee business, both Ed and Kim started building fresh careers – Ed in property and Kim in a self-taught website development and data entry position.

After spending a month living in an empty house whilst their belongings were shipped overseas, the anxious yet thrilled family boarded their £830-per-person flight on June 26 and bid farewell to Henley-on-Thames forever.

Ed said: “We didn’t even go for a trip there to visit before we moved. We just had a gut feeling it was where we needed to be.

“The first two weeks were a roller coaster – we kept thinking one day how amazing it was, and the next we’d be questioning if we made the right decision. But once the kids came home from their first day at school and told us they loved it, we finally gave a sigh of relief.”

They have now established themselves in their stunning – and reasonably priced v five-bedroom rental property on the seafront with ambitions to purchase more land in the future.

Ed praised the “welcoming, helpful and kind” community – and the “positive” outlook that New Zealanders possess.

“The kids walk themselves down the lane, and get the bus to school and back,” Ed said. “Other British expats here have compared it to England in the 1970s.

“The kids cycle home and throw their bikes down without locking them up, doors are left on the latch, neighbours share food – people have time for each other. It’s just this amazing rural community.”

Ed expressed his surprise at certain aspects of New Zealand life, including the Kiwis’ “dark humour” and their penchant for walking around barefoot, even in supermarkets.

He appreciates the prominence of Te reo Māori (the native language) in everyday life, including on road signs, and has been invited to a traditional dinner with some locals.

Pub culture is also very much alive in New Zealand, with Ed and his local community regularly heading out for pizza and beers together.

He revealed that the most expensive pint at his local pub costs “£2-something”, which is a third of what he used to pay in Henley-on-Thames.

Ed said: “Everyone loves a drink here and it wasn’t hard to find a decent English cider either.”

However, he did admit that they miss “a good Tesco shop”, finding English supermarkets superior.

The family are currently looking for a smallholding – a property surrounded by land – where they plan to build two additional houses for Elijah and Willow.

He added: “I can’t see us coming back – we can see ourselves growing old here. If our kids want to travel, back to the UK or Europe or America, they can do – and they’ll have this safe HQ back in New Zealand.

“We’re not wealthy, we just had a dream and we did it. It took us 12 months – nothing happens overnight. But we paid around £30k – less than some people pay for a car – to buy a decent future for our children.”