When thinking of New Zealand, we will forgive you for jumping to the conclusion that we are just off the coast of Australia – or worse yet, that we are one in the same. New Zealand, or Aotearoa as we call it, is located some 1,500 kilometres east of Australia. It is said that we were fished up from the depths of the Tasman by Maui himself.

But despite the many legends surrounding the birth of our breathtaking country, what we get asked most often is, “What’s it like to live in New Zealand?”

Well, all I can tell you is that Aotearoa isn’t a place you can read about. It is a place you need to feel for yourself.

You can’t read on a blog about the crisp, fresh air drifting through your open windows at night or the smell of the tarseal heating up in summer as you drive through the Tangarakau Gorge. You can’t read about the burn you feel on the souls of your feet as you run through the black sands of Piha Beach. You can’t hear the sounds of the ice cream man coming from five streets away or the elated squeals of the local kids chasing after him. You can’t taste the decadence that is Hokey Pokey ice cream with a flake bar and you can’t read about the absolute despair felt when your dad eats the last pineapple lump from the pack.

Whatever time of the year it is, Aotearoa has something spectacular to do, something to challenge you and something to take your breath away. Living here is like living in a dream.

CQ

Aotearoa, is a place you need to feel! Whether you are skiing through the Remarkables. Reeling in a 5kg Snapper off your kayak in the Waitamata Harbour or boogie boarding down the sand dunes in Managwhai. Aotearoa is that feeling of pure bliss. That feeling of peace. The feeling of happiness.

Living in Aotearoa, it is easy to forget that the rest of the world exists at all. There is always something magical to do right on your doorstep. Aotearoa has something for everyone. Whether you are a socialite looking for late nights, night clubs and great cocktails, or a simple country hand looking to be at the head of a herd of cattle in the fresh morning air. Aotearoa has it all.

New Zealand Country Road

Growing up here has given me a sense of the important things in life. I have stood amongst the dark paddocks at night on my uncle’s farm and tried to count the stars in the Milky Way. I have swam in snow-fed rivers carving their way down from the mountains and through the back paddocks of the farms in New Plymouth, and I have marveled at the rolling waves and stunning black sandy beaches of the west coast. But most of all, the reason I love living in Aotearoa is the people.

Kiwis have a very unique attitude towards one another. If you need a helping hand there are always plenty of people ready to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. Strangers treat each other like neighbours. Neighbours treat one another like friends. Friends treat one another like family, and family sticks together always.

Here in Aotearoa we have a saying, “He aha te mea nui o te ao? He Tangata, He Tanagata, He Tangata.”

It translates to “What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people!”

We believe that we are the nurturers of the next generation and therefore it is our responsibility to treat every child as our own and every person we meet as family. After all, it takes a community to raise a child.

New Zealand Mountains

Living in Aotearoa means only two degrees of separation. So everyone knows everyone somehow. This makes for a safe and wonderful environment to raise a family in. It means that everywhere you go in this small country feels like home and, best of all, it means someone you know owns an awesome patch of beach to pitch a tent on all summer long.

Living in Aotearoa in summer means hot beaches, rugby, BBQ’s and jandals. Living in Aotearoa in winter means crisp frosty mornings, fresh snow, Mum’s roast lamb and ugg boots. Whatever time of the year it is, Aotearoa has something spectacular to do, something to challenge you and something to take your breath away. Living here is like living in a dream. It is a place I never want to leave and it is the very place I want to stay and raise my own family in.  Aotearoa is my home.

So I hear you ask, what is it like to live in New Zealand? Well, come on down. I’ll put the kettle on. You can find out for yourself.

Nau mai ki Zealand hou – Welcome to New Zealand.

For more on Oceania, check out Perth, Australia.