You must log in or register to comment.
Trumpeter is currently researching what independent nation to rename yo NUSA…NewUSA.
congrats.
Good luck man!
As someone that left the US a decade and a half ago, here’s some things to go ahead and start getting answers to so you don’t have to figure it out when the time comes:
- Figure out how to get a bank account (hopefully you’ve already worked this one out before arriving)
- Where to buy toiletries and medicine. Specifically deodorant. The UK is mostly spray deodorant where as I’m a stick deodorant person. At one point I was just bringing 4 sticks of deodorant back with me after every trip home. I’m not sure which way NZ leans but it was definitely something I hadn’t considered before
- Where to buy socks and underwear you’re comfortable with
- Figure out how the health service/insurance works. Go ahead and book dentist and doctors appointments 6 months in advance if possible so you get in the habit.
- Figure out how paying taxes works
- If you’re a US citizen, remember you’re still required to file taxes with the IRS every year.
- Learn how to make friends. I still haven’t figured this one out. Let me know if you do.
The deodorant availability trauma is real and brings untold migrant suffering every year.
- Call or go to a Kiwibank, ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac bank branch in any mall in which ever city you land at (probably Auckland but could be Christchurch)
- Supermarket for toiletries. Pharmacy for medicine. Some larger supermarkets have pharmacies in them. Supermarkets are Pac’n’Save, New World, Woolworths, Freash Choice, 4Square. Pharmacies are Unichem, Chemist’s Warehouse, Random mum and pop one off pharmacy
- Both types of deoderant (stick or spray) are readily available. Lynx is typically known as Axe in other parts of the world.
- The Warehouse or Kmart for cheap socks and undies. Farmers for midrange stuff. Boutique stores for high range
- Public health care for emergancy and accute need. GPs are roughly $35 to $70 for a checkup or general appointment
- get an IRD number from the IRD, work out your tax code (its probably ‘M’) then tax is mostly automatically deducted and paid by your employeer
- really!? Sounds like a double tax whamy… Ouch
- join clubs, hiking club, cricket club, soccer club, rugby club. Pubs and drinking are popular too. Most pubs run a quiz once a week ask the announcer about joining a random team
Excellent list, I hope OP see’s it!
Also, I should have added a caveat to that last bullet: learn how to make friends without becoming an alcoholic. Meetup.com is usually the answer for finding readily available like minded people interested in the same physical activity as you, but meeting a whole bunch of new people at once can be overwhelming.
Hope your life goes well in New Zealand. Leaving on the cusp of a new hope is an odd choice.
I get you’re trolling but it’s not funny anymore. It was barely funny in 2016 but with looming environmental collapse and the rise of a fascism. Just read the room, please.
I wish there was a way to down-vote this comment so much that your global internet privileges are revoked. Describe any one of Trump’s executive orders that instills hope in anyone?
The only good thing may be the lift on psychedelics that RFK announced, but that’s not worth the rest of the shit the Trump administration wants to do
Here’s a few Trump’s executive orders that make me hopeful for the future of the USA
- Removing DEI from the government (the modern version people ok being racist) https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/client-alerts/20250122-president-trumps-second-term--anti-dei-executive-orders & https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/keeping-americans-safe-in-aviation/
- Unleashing American Energy: (https://www.hklaw.com/en/general-pages/trumps-2025-executive-orders-chart)
Also, DOGE is doing good for the people, very happy with the waste & people over 150 years old being cut in Social Security.
How does one move to New Zealand?
Asking for a friend.
Step one have money.
I moved to NZ with a backpack and 2000 dollars in my name. Seven years now, I have been permanent resident for a while
Wrong. You don’t need money if you’re attractive because someone else with money will give you theirs.
so …
Step one: Have money.
Wrong.
Step 1: be attractive.
so …
Step one: Have money.
I wonder how long it’s gonna take ‘em…
One can be attractive enough to fuck their way onto the island… That doesn’t require money to be hot
I am a little lost, are you talking about e.g. plastic surgery?
-
Move to Australia.
-
Miss.
How did you know they were a “Miss”?
Lucky guess that hit the target.
Because they found themselves in Australia, as opposed to New Zealand. They missed NZ by about 4k km.
And don’t call me Shirley.
Surely you can’t be serious.
So 4 megameters?
Or 0,4 gigameters
Can you convert that to quectometers, please?
Usually NZ has less restrictive visa requirements, and is often called “Australia’s back door” due to Au/Nz free travel agreements.
We treat NZ like another state so this isn’t all that far from the truth.
-
Hell I’m not asking for a friend, I’m asking for myself… seriously… how?
If you’re serious then here you go
Take a look at the skills shortages list as well, because if you can get a job in something on that list, you’ll have a much easier time. We desperately need Healthcare workers
You will be welcome here for the most part, but I have started noticing some things that are starting to annoy me, and I know I’m not alone, so fair warning:
Please remember why you’re coming here. Nothing annoys me more than Americans who move here and then never shut up about how things were better back home. We have no 2a, our stores are small, and we don’t tip. I consider those to be GOOD things. Also, even our right wing party (National) would be considered center left over there. (Sadly that seems to be changing)
If you’re just looking for what America was 15 years ago, Australia is what you’re looking for. That’s not a joke either, I mean that very seriously, Australia is a better fit. It’s the USA of the southern hemisphere (sorry Aussies, but tell me I’m wrong)
It’s a process, but it can be done! Good luck!
No 2a, our stores are small and we don’t tip.
Next you’ll tell me that the government expects me to take time off from work to care for my health and family. And that having a personal car is expensive and unnecessary.
Well having a personal car is expensive…but well not exactly unnecessary. Wellington and Auckland have reasonable public transport. Bike lanes are not a thing really.
So close.
Meh. I joke. Not like I can exactly legally or morally move me and my son there without my ex in tow.
Small store, no tips, be quiet? Sounds like heaven.
deleted by creator
it’s “govt.nz” so new zealand is the actual top level domain, and govt is their subdomain they use for government agencies, apparently.
How about engineers in NZ?
I guess it depends on the kind of engineering you’re talking about, but for the most part, yes. Tier 1 straight to residency
Engineer ? Believe it or not, straight to
jailresidencySo residency immediately with a job offer? Woah
We have no 2a, our stores are small, and we don’t tip.
These are the only examples you can come up with as to why Americans might “never shut up” about it being “better back home?” I’m having a hard time taking that seriously.
I consider those to be GOOD things.
Well yeah, so would roughly 90% of all Americans. Well maybe the small stores thing from a convenience standpoint I guess?
What I’m saying is I’d like you to elaborate, this can’t be the whole story (signed, someone who has seriously given thought to moving to NZ). :)
Ha ha ha, I chose those specific examples because of a specific person. I had to work with that person for 6 months and it it felt like all they wanted to talk about was how you can’t get good pizza (you can) or how the shelves are always empty (they’re not) or how the water here tastes weird. (I mean, maybe. That’s subjective) By the end I just wanted to scream at them. We had a very heated debate about tipping culture one day at lunch. They didn’t understand that “I used to work in hospitality, and I wouldn’t have survived without tips” is not an argument in favour of tipping culture.
I realise I’ve generalized here, and it’s not fair to judge everyone by one irritating example. Sorry about that
Also anecdotal: I met an American in France one time. We were both travelling, so there were plenty of other things to talk about, but somehow he got onto the subject of how much he loves the 2nd amendment within 5 minutes of meeting him, max. I have no idea how he steered the convo there, it was like a magic trick. Blew my mind.
I think you’re equating Lemmy with America. You vastly overestimate how many people share that viewpoint.
Although you may not recieve as warm a welcome in Aus at the moment.
A LOT of Australians are mad at Americans for their political culture right now. We have transphobes and bigots here too and theres a lot of Australian bigots who are feeling very bold. Also theres a feeling from the more left leaning people that if we dont have enough resources and room for people fleeing ethnic cleansing, wars and famine we dont have the room for people who didnt like how their democratic election went. Also our cost of living isnt going down either…
Not saying you will get a hostile reaction, or even a negative one… just temper your expectations.
Don’t forget, Murdoch is Australian. So can’t blame Americans alone for all this mess.
FYI there’s a typo in here which had me reading it like “people-freeing ethnic cleansing”, which sounds evil as hell and not at all what you meant
Thanks for that, fixed.
It wasn’t a democratic election. The republicans succeeding in the 2000 coup is what got this ball rolling. They filled up the judiciary with compromised judges, bought out elections, used the tech bros to manipulate everyone. And structurally it’s not remotely a democracy, see the electoral college.
People fleeing have good reason to. I would if I could.
Drive on the left with right-drive cars is a big one.
Possibly stupid question but what do you mean by “we have no 2a”?
Edit: 2nd amendment, thanks!
2nd amendment AKA bubba with a larger arsenal than an army arms room.
Second Amendment (guns), I guess
No 2nd Amendment, I.e. guns are strictly controlled and not just anyone can own one
Wife and I looked into moving to Australia after we visited Sydney. I work in IT so not a problem for me to find a new job and my wife is in healthcare. She is a respiratory therapist which is in high demand but looks like your end of the world does nursing with a speciality in respiratory therapy.
Couldn’t figure out how that would translate but damn are we ready to jump over the bigger pond.
I wish I could tell you you’re wrong, but… :(
And if Dutton gets elected this year it will get soooo much worse. Hey, New Zealand is a beautiful place! Maybe I’ll move there too!
removed by mod
(sorry Aussies, but tell me I’m wrong)
You’re wrong
An excellent point, and well made. But have you considered this?
I mean, you asked us to tell you that you’re wrong
I generally don’t agree that we’re culturally much like the US, but between AUKUS and Pine Gap, we’re definitely beholden to them
My take: Aussies are Americans with British humour.
…and really shitty Internet access.
Isn’t American Internet also known to be pretty bad already? At least in many places?
I haven’t had issues getting 200mb + in like 10 years. It’s pretty common to find decent priced gigabit as well. I’m sure it’s kinda shitty in rural areas but it’s not nearly as bad as it used to be.
A lot of America is empty so this highly depends on what you mean
In the city the internet is great
I grew up in the armpit of SW Oklahoma. My parents’ Internet was 256 kbps in 2009. Today, they get a blazing 20 Mbps and it goes down all the time. My brother signed up for a satellite internet company that’s a bit more reliable and gives him something like 50 Mbps, but iirc, his data cap is something like 250 GB and then it’s overage charges. And I think he pays $120 a month for that plan.
My wife and I live in the Oklahona City area and get 250 Mbps, and only because that’s all we need. We were running 500 for a while, but we almost never needed that much. We have a 1 TB data cap and pay $50 a month.
We’re going to upgrade to fiber in the next few years. A local company is in our area and offers symmetrical 1 Gbps internet for like $80 a month. But there are upfront costs associated with getting it set up in the house that I don’t want to swing yet. But I’m thinking more about it lately because I’d love to self host something like Nextcloud and get off of Google Drive.
Anyway, yeah, internet in cities is mostly pretty good. Once you’re out in the sticks, well, good luck.
Like in the burbs of Tulsa and we get 1gig but its super expensive and I hate it. Cox is the only choice. I would love to get out of this state at least if I can’t get out of the country.
It really depends. I know of little towns in rural Idaho that have gigabit fibre to the house simply because the local phone company submitted the request for a federal grant. The money has been there since Obama, but utils need to ask for it, and certain local populations would rather starve than take any sort of handout from the federal government.
Oh my gosh, former Oklahomie for a while here! Can. Confirm.
I once lived in the Northeast by Tahlequah, and the options were dial-up, satellite (with that awful data cap and terrible pings), or a couple guys running an ISP that involved pointing a receiver at a radio tower but download speeds were restricted to like 40kbps.
For games I already had, SOME multiplayer was possible, and web browsing was mostly fine.
Example of DL speeds though: Metro 2033 said it would take like 3 or 4 solid days so my long distance GF (now wife!) literally just sent game files to me on a USB drive through the mail. LOL
Sadly they closed up shop, though.
But somehow, when I lived with my grandma who lived in a place called “Hennepin”, they got blessed with DSL. Made zero sense but I didn’t complain! Even though I had to put a second router in bridge/repeater mode so it’d reach me at the trailer I lived in like 20 yards away from the house! (Trailer didn’t even have plumbing. Winter was “fun.” LOL)
Absolutely wild how cut-off a lot of the country is.
The big stinky desert city I’m in now has its problems, and Cox charges out the nose, but at least we get unlimited fiber out of it.
Starlink might have been great for those folks if it wasn’t headed by such stupid evil…
You’re right. Have always considered Australia the US and NZ Canada.
Americans fit in well in Australia so long as they’re friendly and check their ego at the door. Australian culture is a big moosh of many cultures but tends to cringe at American culture. You kind of have to be more about yourself rather than be all about being an American, then you will fit in.
Take me with you
Congrats on having a backbone. Hope you enjoy the vast experiences in your new life!
Having a backbone would be to stick around and fight this shit; not flee.
That’s a bit harsh. Like my old man always said, “you gotta know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em; know when to walk away and know when to run.”
That song is about a gambler’s desire for selfish self-preservation, not “having a backbone”
It might be, but if you think about it, it also applies to life in general, which has a lot in common with gambling. Sometimes you have to take risks, sometimes the risks are stupid…
You’re kidding me! Now I need to go and read the lyrics.
Your dad was Don Schlitz? Or was he Kenny Rogers?
Actually, my dad hated that song. It was my mom who was whistling it all over the house.
It’s not. Granted, I 100% respect and understand someone’s decision to leave the USA at this time, but there’s very little that’s courageous about putting yourself into a better situation. It’s the next option up from rolling over and dying.
Yeah, walking away from every person you’ve ever known and every support system you’ve ever had in hopes of a better future with no real promises to fall back on if it doesn’t work out isn’t courageous at all.
I’d call courageous moving into a red state… and then everything you said above still applies. I moved from a red state to a blue state in October. Everything you said applies to me, but I can assure you that my decision was not one that was “courageous.” It’s self preservation.
Self preservation can take courage.
You’re being nitpicky for no reason. Something can be courageous without being the most courageous thing anyone has ever done.
I didn’t expect such a backlash from a dumb comment which was only intended to reference The Gambler.
If the US had an actual democracy and ability to fight back, you’d be right. But we don’t, so you aren’t.
You can’t expect people to take up arms and go kill cops and politicians, even if that’s what’s needed. That is a hell of a lot to ask of someone. Why aren’t you doing that right now? Are you scared?
Yeah, them and everyone else is too.
deleted by creator
Although I personally did begin educating myself and training with a rifle about 2 years ago; it’s not the correct tool for the job at this time.
Right now is a time to come together and organize. Earlier today on a different thread I posted up the .pdf of the memo from OPM that directed federal agencies to send out that fascist email that went out yesterday/ the day before, and within it, there’s a copy of the standard format email template that’s going to be used to fire a bunch of federal employees within the next couple of days.
I moved from FL to Colorado to organize around more people like myself; I am fighting right now but it’s not with a rifle.
People have been fighting for like 8 years now.
Its over, sometimes it best to just walk away.
Neither is easy.
Congratulations
Did you get a job before moving? Just curious about the logistics of a visa
Good choice
Great choice and good luck!
Hope down under treats you better
good luck on your journey.
Ahhh, the privileged leaving behind the many to suffer that want to leave but can’t.
Don’t say that on Lemmy. It’s full of the privileged pretending to be the meek, and they dont like to be called out.
do you blame them? should they stay until everyone that wants to leave can too?
a lot of people fled nazi germany before they started killing people too….
and, you can leave too… just maybe not with much money….if i had a trans kid, i’d take them to any country that wasn’t trying to kill them…
Sorry to say for you and me, but suffering under fascism doesn’t solve anything. If we don’t defect or rebel, we’ll just end up in mass graves.
Purity tests like this aren’t helping.
Sorry for everything you had to leave behind. Good luck in your new life
