“The best things about New Zealand have been the ones we didn’t expect!” Ben and Susan Redwood moved to New Zealand last year, after deciding to leave the UK recession behind. “We knew about the beautiful scenery and the mix of European and Maori cultures, partly from our own travels in the early 90’s. But we’ve been blown away by the community spirit that we’ve encountered here and by how good the schools have been for Gen and Chris.”

“We had been warned that Kiwis could be stand-offish, but we certainly haven’t found that”, says Ben. “We’ve had lots of support from our neighbours and others in the area. The kids have also found it easier than they’d expected to settle in and make friends. Their core subjects are very similar to those back in England, plus they get to learn a little Maori and different history”.

“We all appreciate that there are lots of family-focused events and fun things to do. Sue even comes along to the rugby as the atmosphere is much more friendly than the average English football match”.

The Redwoods initially delayed their emigration because of the slow property market in the UK, however they received helpful advice from their Four Corners consultant regarding comparable houses in New Zealand. “We could see that we would still get excellent value for money because of the relatively low house prices in New Zealand, as well as the wider choice of “character” properties. We love our classic Kiwi ‘villa’, which combines charm with modern facilities inside.”

The family is looking forward to spending their next summer holidays exploring the fjords and lakes of Southland. “We have already visited most parts of the North Island, but there is so much more to discover now that we’ve become real Kiwis.”