A British family spent £20,000 relocating to the other side of the globe, but insist it was "worth it" as their new surroundings evoke memories of how the UK felt "in the 90s". Sean Purdy, 36, and his wife Tania, 40, initially embarked on a nine-month South American adventure last year alongside their children Atticus, eight, and Aurelia, seven.
Although Tania – a teacher – provided online tuition and Sean continued his freelance marketing work while travelling, their funds gradually depleted, prompting them to head back 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 return to British soil. The role was hers within a week, and the family listed their property, which had been let for £1,500 monthly while they were away, for sale.
However, after failing to shift it, even through auction, they were forced to secure a £15,000 loan and obtained an additional £5,000 through family support to finance their international relocation. In September 2026, they departed for Katikati, Bay of Plenty, settling into a three-bedroom rental annexe situated on private land.
Feeling of community
Sean has abandoned his marketing career in favour of manual labour to help balance the books while climbing the professional ladder, and Tania now teaches at a secondary school. While Sean acknowledges "never say never", they've relocated with plans to remain in New Zealand permanently and are embracing the "community feel" of their adopted home.
Sean, who is from Nether Heage in Derbyshire, explained: "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."
Moving costs
Making the transition required the family to spend between £15,000 and £20,000, including £3,000 for straight-to-residence visas.
Sean detailed: "Health checks for a family of four and health tests cost £800," adding: "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."
Nevertheless, Sean insisted the relocation was "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."
Adjusting to life Down Under
Adjusting to life Down Under, Sean remarked that the warmth and openness of locals had particularly struck him.
"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 explained. "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 kids in
Young Atticus and Aurelia have now registered at a nearby school where they'll be following the New Zealand educational programme.
"They joined the school, which is like a Montessori equivalent that you'd have to pay for in the UK," Sean explained. "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."
While they'd attempted home and world-schooling during their travels, Sean conceded that juggling their own careers alongside teaching duties meant lessons "fell by the wayside".
"I think in England they might be behind a month or two," he acknowledged. "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
Looking ahead, Sean revealed their two-year ambition involves securing a mortgage and purchasing their 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 explained.
"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's annual salary stands at $75,000 NZD (£31,942.50), while wife Tania is estimated to earn $100,000 NZD (£42,590) per year and benefits from a slightly shorter working day than back in the UK.
"We have moved with the intention of staying here for the rest of our lives," he stated. "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.
The family's monthly costs: UK – Mortgage: £900, Council tax: £250, Electricity: £200, Broadband: £30, Food: £400-£600, Total: £1,780-£1,800. New Zealand – Rent: £1,200, Council tax: £0 (they do not have to pay it), Electricity: £150-£200, Broadband: £40, Food: £388, Total: £1,778-£1,828.
