Migrating to a different nation is a life-changing determination that comes with each alternatives and challenges. Whereas some discover a recent begin, others wrestle to slot in. A Reddit consumer not too long ago shared their expertise of residing in New Zealand, revealing why they in the end determined to return to India.
In a prolonged submit, the consumer, who grew up in New Zealand however wasn’t born there, painted a stark image of life within the island nation. They warned potential immigrants that the nation’s geographical isolation leads to excessive prices, restricted enterprise alternatives, and a “small-town” really feel. “It’s a geographically remoted nation, which suggests items are typically dearer because of delivery prices. It additionally means no neighbors — which could really be good for India however makes NZ really feel like a small city the place you’re simply not related to the remainder of the world,” they wrote.
In line with the consumer, New Zealand’s small inhabitants of 5 million makes it an unattractive market for a lot of worldwide companies. “A whole lot of worldwide companies don’t see the purpose in investing in NZ or simply depart. For instance, a few 12 months in the past Nike shut down their NZ on-line retailer — so now you’ll need to ship Nike merchandise from abroad for those who have been shopping for on-line.”
Additionally they described the nation as “extraordinarily boring,” missing the vibrancy and social power of India. “The most important buying malls all shut at 7pm. Most outlets shut at 5-6pm. You stroll by means of the town middle after 8:30pm, and there’s hardly anybody out and about. Persons are all at dwelling as a result of issues are costly. There actually isn’t a lot to do apart from eat and drink.”
Citing a survey during which expats ranked New Zealand because the second-worst nation on the planet to maneuver to, the consumer identified that prime prices make life troublesome. “You are taking a bus/taxi from one metropolis to a different, and that’s nearly all of your disposable earnings for the week gone. So folks all simply find yourself staying dwelling and doing nothing after work.”
Healthcare woes and social challenges
One of many greatest complaints was New Zealand’s healthcare system. The consumer criticized the lengthy wait instances for specialists, the excessive price of personal consultations, and what they noticed as an absence of skilled docs. “My pal needed to see a heart specialist for chest ache. Only for an preliminary session, it price her round Rs 1 lakh.” Additionally they shared an incident the place their father needed to fly again to India to get kidney stones eliminated due to a six-month anticipate surgical procedure in New Zealand.
The submit additionally touched on racial biases in healthcare. “The federal government prioritizes healthcare for indigenous Māori and Pacific Islander populations, which suggests different races are deprioritized over no fault of their very own.”
Past healthcare, the consumer discovered it troublesome to type social connections. “It’s onerous to make pals right here. Persons are pleasant however insular. The tradition right here is that you just make your pals whilst you’re younger — in class or uni — and keep on with them for all times. They don’t like bringing new folks into their circles.”
Discovering a life associate was one other wrestle, particularly for Indian immigrants. “Rightfully or wrongfully, Indians sadly have a detrimental fame in NZ. You’ll be able to go to any NZ subreddit and seek for ‘Indian’ to see the type of feedback that present up. And, in fact, magnificence requirements listed here are Eurocentric.”
‘Not Price It’
Whereas the consumer acknowledged New Zealand’s positives — peaceable environment, excessive minimal wage, and social safety advantages — they felt they weren’t sufficient to justify staying. “Perhaps NZ is nice for those who’re fairly previous and have already lived most of your life. However none of that is well worth the negatives of residing in NZ.”
The submit sparked a debate, with some agreeing whereas others defended the nation. One commenter wrote, “It depends upon the particular person. My brother cherished it — climbing, tenting, and being outside. He’s again in India now and depressing.” One other argued, “OP simply grew up in a typical desi bubble that prevented him from constructing actual social capital. If there’s ever a high-trust society with an egalitarian and equitable tradition, it’s New Zealand.”
The dialogue highlights the deeply private nature of migration — what works for one particular person might not work for one more. For this Redditor, nevertheless, the choice was clear: New Zealand was not dwelling.
