Family leaves UK for New Zealand, says it's 'like Britain in the 90s'

A British family spent £20,000 relocating to the other side of the world, but insist it was "worth it" as their new home evokes memories of how the UK was "in the 90s". Sean Purdy, 36, and wife Tania, 40, initially left Britain to explore South America for nine months last year with children Atticus, eight, and Aurelia, seven.

Despite Tania – a teacher – providing online tuition and Sean working as a freelance marketer while travelling, their savings depleted and they decided to return to the UK in May 2026. During their travels, Tania had submitted applications for teaching positions in New Zealand and landed an interview the day following their arrival back in the UK. She received the job offer just a week afterwards and the family listed their home, which they had let out for £1,500 per month while away, for sale.

Relocation and costs

However, after finding it difficult to sell, even through auction, they were forced to take out a £15,000 loan and obtained an additional £5,000 with assistance from family to enable their move halfway across the globe. In September 2026, they departed for Katikati, Bay of Plenty, settling into a three-bedroom rental annexe property on private land.

Sean has abandoned his marketing career in favour of manual labour work to help cover costs while he progresses up the career ladder and Tania teaches at a secondary school. While Sean says "never say never", they have relocated with the aim of remaining in New Zealand permanently and are embracing the "community feel" of their new surroundings.

Sean, originally from Nether Heage, Derbyshire, said: "Things happened quickly. The day after we landed Tania had her interview and then a week later she was offered the job.

"We sat on it for 10 days, but we realised it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We decided to make it happen.

"It was a process of finding money from a combination of loans and help from the family. Initially, the reason we wanted to move out of the UK was the cost of living, but in New Zealand it's pretty much on par with back home.

"For us, it's the work-life balance. We still work in New Zealand, but everything is a bit more slow-paced and not so much like the nine-to-five rat race the UK seems to have.

"One thing the UK lacked was culture and connectivity with big friend groups and here there is more being outside, communities and fewer screens. There's a freedom and connection."

Costs to move

The family was required to stump up an estimated £15,000 to £20,000 to complete the relocation, with straight-to-residence visas alone setting them back £3,000.

"Health checks for a family of four and health tests cost £800," Sean said. "A police check for me and Tania was £300. Flights were £3,000 and a bunch of other bits and bobs. Then there were the unexpected things like finding a rental and buying a car."

Despite the considerable upfront expenditure, Sean described the move as "100% worth it".

"I think we knew the first year or two might be harder as we're starting from scratch in a new country and wages might be lower and finding out costs, and making things cheaper. Obviously for me I don't have a job in marketing, but I've done it just to get by.

"We can walk to the beach or get mountain bikes and go to the mountain – it's a five-minute drive. In general there's a good beach an hour's drive away, max, in New Zealand.

"We've got that outdoors lifestyle, which is the big benefit and just the community element. The trade-off at the moment is the first one to two years costs will be harder and things will be harder as we're in a completely new country.

"It's still a trade-off of having an outdoors lifestyle, community and a bit more freedom. That's the trade-off we're happy with."

Having settled into their new surroundings, Sean remarked that one aspect which had particularly struck him was how welcoming locals were.

"It reminds me of how the UK was in the 90s, or the very rural countryside where people just seem to want to help out complete strangers," he said. "It threw us off a bit as our experience in the UK, people are helpful, but you are more into yourself and what you need to do.

"The Kiwis seem to be more out of themselves and happy to help random strangers on a whim. My wife and her new school, for example.

"I have never been invited to anything school-wise in the UK and three days in they invited me and the two kids to a greeting called mihi whakatau. We were full-on greeted and sang and got a hongi – where you put your head on their nose and do a deep breath, a traditional Māori greeting."

Settling into school life

Children Atticus and Aurelia have enrolled at a local school where they will be following the New Zealand curriculum.

"They joined the school, which is like a Montessori equivalent that you'd have to pay for in the UK," Sean said. "In the UK it's normal, whereas here there is an outdoor forest play area and it's super chilled.

"Some of the classrooms are joined together and going barefoot is encouraged. They're settling in and it matches our kids and the way how they are."

Despite making every effort to home-and-world-school their children throughout their travels, Sean admitted that juggling their own careers meant teaching "fell by the wayside".

"I think in England they might be behind a month or two," he said. "In New Zealand kids can start school later and the curriculum seems different to the UK and they seem to be either on par or ahead.

"We've always tried to keep up with English and maths. The realisation from travelling is we are not super parents and couldn't do everything despite what our best intentions were."

Looking ahead, Sean revealed that their two-year goal was to secure a mortgage and own their very own plot of land.

"It does also depend on when we sell the house, as that will release a good chunk of equity to be put down as a deposit," he said. "We'll get a year under our belt, get a good credit history and get a mortgage.

"I have started in a labouring role and have documented it on Instagram and have talked to a few other expats, as it seemed like I wasn't getting anywhere with marketing – a skill I've done for eight years. It's like when you first come out of school and a place wants experience for a job you haven't got yet.

"I've talked to expats, people who were managers or doctors who took a big step down and took entry level roles and worked up from scratch. Over here they put more importance on the Kiwi experience."

Sean will still earn $75,000 NZD (£31,942.50) annually while his wife Tania is estimated to bring in $100,000 NZD (£42,590) per year, and also benefits from a slightly shorter working day compared to the UK.

"We have moved with the intention of staying here for the rest of our lives," he said. "In some ways, the younger Kiwis end up leaving as they say there is not much to do. Who knows, when the kids are older they might leave and potentially we might leave with them."

You can follow the Purdy family on TikTok @travelventurefour and Instagram @travelventurefour888.