Is the Grass Really Greener Elsewhere? A Candid Look at Life in New Zealand

I’ve lived in New Zealand since the late 1980s (aside from the four years Arno and I spent in Melbourne, Australia). This country has been, and always will be, home. I’m deeply grateful for the life and opportunities that being a citizen of New Zealand has given me. Living here is a privilege I don’t take for granted, and one I know many people around the world could only dream of.

New Zealand: A Sinking Ship?

As we begin another year, I can’t help but notice the familiar headlines and social media posts about droves of New Zealanders “jumping ship”, moving across the Tasman or further afield in search of a better life. With elections looming, I suspect the doom-and-gloom narrative will only intensify.

Through my travels across both Western and non-Western countries, I’ve seen the full spectrum of socio-economic inequality and environmental challenges. By comparison, New Zealand is, in my experience, an imperfect kind of utopia. Yet it’s one we often overlook amid daily complaints about rising living costs, a sluggish economy, and perceived decline.

Many of the issues we face here are the same challenges being experienced across the world. Yet they’re frequently framed as if they’re uniquely “New Zealand problems”.

New Zealand Isn’t Right or Wrong for Everyone

Running a business in the immigration advisory industry gives us a unique perspective. We’re immersed in the conversations around people leaving New Zealand, and those arriving in search of a better life. We understand both sides of the coin. We see why some choose to go, and why others choose to stay.

So, is life in New Zealand really that hard?
Is it truly that difficult to “get ahead”?

The honest answer is: it depends.

It depends on what your version of “getting ahead” looks like.
It depends on what you value most in your lifestyle, career, or business.
It depends on the industry you work in.
And to a large extent, it depends on your personal mindset, attitude, and drive.

There’s no single right answer, because success and fulfilment are deeply personal.

The Realities of Living in New Zealand

Yes, New Zealand can be expensive, but often not as expensive as people expect. It’s relative to where and how you live.

Yes, the property market is tough, especially for first-home buyers. But let’s be honest, where isn’t it tough? Major cities across the world are facing the same issue. Sydney, anyone?

Yes, rent is high, and rental standards aren’t always great. But I think back to the two-year-old house Arno and I rented in Geelong, Victoria, for AUD$550 per week, leaky roof and all.

Yes, travelling to and from New Zealand is expensive. That’s the reality of living so far from the rest of the world, and for many people, that isolation is actually a drawcard.

Yes, life here can be simpler, quieter, and slower. And for many of us who choose to live here, that’s exactly what we love about it.

Yes, our healthcare system is under pressure due to skills shortages, much like many countries around the globe.

The truth is, New Zealand won’t tick every box for everyone. It’s a young country with a population of five million, punching above its weight, but still a long way from economic parity with Australia.

A (Somewhat) Controversial Perspective

Over the years, we’ve helped countless individuals move to New Zealand. Many came from countries where government corruption is common, social welfare is minimal, job markets are fiercely competitive, and wages are extremely low. For many of these people, the only real way to “get ahead” was to leave their home country.

Since settling in New Zealand, many of these clients have gone on to build successful businesses or move into senior roles, not because opportunities magically appeared, but because they worked hard, took risks, and didn’t take anything for granted.

They didn’t blame the government for their circumstances.
They didn’t feel entitled to success.
They took action.

We’ve worked with clients from Sri Lanka who arrived as professional bakers on work visas. After gaining residence, they started their own business, including a commercial cleaning company. Today, they’re self-employed, manage a team, and own property.

Another client from Nepal arrived as a professional chef. After becoming a resident, he launched his own catering business and now also teaches cooking classes around New Zealand.

And it’s not just migrants achieving success.

Countless Kiwis who were born and raised here, and who chose to stay, are running small and medium-sized businesses, building careers, and contributing to the country’s growth instead of heading overseas.

They’ve made a real go of it.

I often look at these examples (just a handful among many) and ask myself: what are they doing differently?

Yes, government policies, economic conditions, and infrastructure shape opportunities. But in a country like New Zealand, where corruption is low, systems generally work, and people live in relative peace and safety, personal accountability plays a far bigger role in success than we often acknowledge.

Living here certainly has its downsides. But at what point do we stop blaming the economy or the government, and start taking responsibility for our own progress and happiness?

A Double-Edged Sword

There’s an irony in how often people complain about New Zealand lacking opportunities or a better standard of living.

Because when we step back, we realise:

To grow New Zealand, we need skilled people.
We need people paying taxes, starting businesses, and driving innovation.
We need talent to build infrastructure, strengthen industries, and grow the economy.

Yet both Kiwis and migrants continue to leave, taking their skills, experience, and potential with them to contribute to other countries instead.

This creates a cycle of skills shortages that slows economic growth and limits the very opportunities people say they’re searching for.

So the question becomes:

Is the grass really greener on the other side, or is it greener where you choose to water it?

Final Musings

Alas, New Zealand isn’t perfect. No country is. It has its unique challenges, frustrations, and shortcomings, just like everywhere else in the world. But it’s far from the hopeless picture often painted in hyperbolic headlines and online commentary.

For some, New Zealand won’t be the right fit, and that’s okay. But for those who choose to stay, or those considering making it home, it remains a country filled with opportunity, natural beauty, stability, and the chance to build a fulfilling life.

Success here isn’t handed out on a silver platter. It’s shaped by choices, effort, resilience, and perspective.

Before buying into the constant negativity, or before packing up and leaving, it’s worth pausing to reflect on what you’re really seeking. Sometimes the opportunity you’re looking for isn’t in another country, but right where you already are.