A COUPLE spent £30k moving 11,500 miles from the UK to a rural New Zealand village they’d never visited before to give their kids “a better future” – but say it was “worth it” for £2 pints alone.
Ed Porter, 35, and his wife, Kim, 34, were living in Henley-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire, when they booked a in a cabin in early 2024 and marvelled at the £1,200 price tag.
Ed and Kim began considering what their children’s financial futures would look like while on a family ‘staycation’ in Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, costing over £1k
Ed Porter’s wife, Kim, with kids Elijah and Willow in the UK
They live an ‘idyllic’ life in a five-bed beachfront home – just £1,600 a month to rent
They began questioning how much more would be for their children, Elijah, 12, and Willow, seven, when they were adults and building their own lives.
The parents opted for a move to for an idyllic rural life, better financial prospects and a more secure future for Elijah and Willow.
They made the £30k move to Warkworth, in North Island, in June after a year of planning – and now Ed and Kim say they could never see themselves returning to the UK.
They live an “idyllic” life in a five-bed beachfront home – just £1,600 a month to – and say the same in the UK would be upwards of £2 million to buy.
Their new home is enabling them to “live their dream” – while building a .
Ed and Kim said they love the “positive” community feel, the welcoming and respectful attitudes of their Kiwi neighbours, the stunning weather and beautiful surroundings.
While they admit they “miss a shop”, their new lifestyle ticks every box – and New Zealand even has an “alive and kicking pub culture” which can rival the UK’s – with premium costing less than £3.
Ed, who works in real estate, said: “We started thinking about the future of our children in terms of having their own independence with in the future.
“We initially considered a move to the States but that has its fair share of problems too, and we settled on here.
“The move was very nerve wracking and an emotional rollercoaster – but we love it.
“We’re blown away by how welcoming everyone has been, and we can already see ourselves growing old here.
“You’re never more than ten minutes from one of the – which have crystal clear turquoise seas and white sands.
“Plus pints are £2 something and the the pies alone are worth moving for.
“It’s a slice of paradise.”
Ed and Kim began considering what their children’s financial futures would look like around 18 months ago while on a family ‘staycation’ in , Sherwood Forest, , costing over £1k.
In the same time, Ed and Kim’s independent coffee business was struggling – so they began considering an international move that would benefit the family financially as well as give them a different lifestyle.
After settling on New Zealand they put the plans in motion – applying for £600-a-head visas, £195-a-head medical checks and £100-a-head document certifications.
They also selected a rental home and rented a £12.5k shipping container to transport all their and possessions on an 11,500 mile journey to their new home.
How easy is it to move abroad?
Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here's what you need to do at home before moving:
- Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
- Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
- Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
- If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre .
- You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service .
- If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre .
- If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools.
After closing down their coffee business both Ed and Kim began to build new careers – Ed in real estate and Kim in a self-taught website development and data entry role.
After spending a month living in an empty home after their possessions were taken away for , the nervous and excited family boarded their £830-a-head on June 26 and said goodbye to Henley-on-Thames for good.
Ed said: “We didn’t even go for a trip there to visit before we moved.
“We just had a gut feeling it was where we needed to be.
“The first two weeks were a roller coaster – we kept thinking one day how amazing it was, and the next we’d be questioning if we made the right decision.
“But once the kids came home from their first day at and told us they loved it, we finally gave a sigh of relief.”
They are now settled in their beautiful – and affordable – five-bed rental home on the beachfront with plans to buy land in the future.
Ed described the “welcoming, helpful and kind” community – and the “positive” attitudes the New Zealanders have.
They are now settled in their beautiful – and affordable – five-bed rental home on the beachfront with plans to buy land in the future
He said: “The kids walk themselves down the lane, and get the bus to school and back.
“Other British expats here have compared it to England in the 1970s.
“The kids cycle home and throw their bikes down without locking them up, doors are left on the latch, share food – people have time for each other.
“It’s just this amazing rural community.”
Ed said the family were surprised by some aspects of New Zealand life – including the Kiwis’ “dark humour” and love of , even in supermarkets.
He loves how present Te reo Māori (the native language) still is – including on road signs – and has found himself invited to a traditional dinner with some of the locals.
Pub culture is very present in New Zealand too, and Ed’s local community all head out for pizza and beers together.
He said the most expensive pint at his local costs “£2-something” – a third of what Ed paid in Henley-on-Thames.
Ed said: “Everyone loves a drink here and it wasn’t hard to find a decent either.”
Although he admits they do find English supermarkets superior – as they miss “a good Tesco shop”.
The family are on the hunt for a smallholding – a building surrounded by land – where they plan to build two additional houses for Elijah and Willow.
He added: “I can’t see us coming back – we can see ourselves growing old here.
“If our kids want to travel, back to the UK or or America, they can do – and they’ll have this safe HQ back in New Zealand.
“We’re not rich, we just had a dream and we did it.
“It took us 12 months – nothing happens overnight.
“But we paid around £30k – less than some people pay for a car – to buy a decent future for our children.”
The dad does admit they do find English supermarkets superior – as they miss ‘a good Tesco shop’ 
