Hi Chipvan, good luck with your decision, it certainly is a tough one. For myself, we moved to NZ in 2006 for the adventure and the 'just couldn't resist' challenge. I loved NZ, and enjoyed my job which I had been recruited for in UK and which offered me and my partner permanent NZ residency, and thus eventual citizenship. My partner did not enjoy his job in NZ, and was on a paltry wage also. In 2013, we decided to move to Brisbane, whilst still retaining our home in NZ (we had managed to sell up in UK). For me, it has not been a good move... I hate my job here although am in the same line of work (although I do earn more). My partner now loves his job, and also earns more. I loved the draw of the weather, however in all honesty despite how much I hate to say so, it gets taken for granted after a while, and that' s after 15 months! One thing that I never knew, and that maybe would've changed my mind about going originally, is how hard it is to go back. I really hate my job here and so wish that I'd never left NZ, but it's nigh on impossible to get something to return. I have looked at going back to the UK also because I have not setted, but it is impossible to get something from here job wise to which to return. That's the thing - it's just so hard to go back. For me, I have elderly parents and siblings/nieces/nephews etc. My parents are too old to travel here so I make a point of a trip every 12 months. Can you afford to do that with the children or will family come out? I know that a lot of ex pats that I meet haven't been home in years, but if you are close to family you have to take this extra financial pressure into consideration. As an NZ citizen I don't get the same benefits as an Oz citizen, and although that doesn't really make any difference to me maybe it does psychologically so take that into consideration also visa wise. As well, if you are looking at moving forever, to put proper roots down to feel like you truly belong you can't beat buying your own home. That is something that made a huge difference to my settling in NZ, and probably a massive factor in my feeling unsettled here as I can't afford to do it here. I find house prices very expensive, although at 45 don't really want to put anything extra on a mortgage, you are probably younger and in a better position to. It's a bloody big bastard move, and even more so with children. I know families with kids that'd said it's the best thing ever for their kids, and I do think that kids have more freedom here for sure - lots more sports, of course outdoors stuff is so much easier. The family and friends is a biggie though. It's such a touch decision. Where do you live in the UK too? If you live in a nice area, you've gotta really think about whether it's worth it. I lived in a built up area on the outskirts of Manchester. I can't believe how much I loved our rural village in NZ, having never lived like that anywhere before. Where I rent in Brisbane there are very high house prices with no land - just like UK. I will be doing a set time here and returning to NZ, unfortunately I cannot make it work for me here financially to buy a house and therefore truly settle and feel like I am at home. I have been in Oz for 15 months now and feel no better settled really. The city of Brisbane is done very beautifully but for me I have just never felt a sense of belonging. It is hard to be somewhere where you are instantly recognisable as an outsider by your accent. I don't truly know how you can evaluate the decision, at the end of it you will just have to go by your heart and be prepared to live with it and most importantly be reconciled with it. Good luck. I know 'you'll always think' is a biggie, and I don't fundamentally regret that decision, but you have to realise it's not that easy always just to go back.
