Financial Planning for expats and migrants to New Zealand

How to get loans, credit ratings, and mortgages are common questions for expats relocating to New Zealand. Then there’s the added complication that most newcomers aren’t eligible to buy their own homes until they receive residency. So we’ve asked Financial Advisor Neville Modlin, who moved to NZ himself from South Africa 17 years ago, to share his personal learnings and advice on financial planning for expats.

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The New Normal Shipping And What It Means For Your Big Move

As the freight industry has been significantly impacted by the pandemic, for many expats moving to New Zealand the cost of shipping and the lasting delays are a continuous headache as they are trying to bring along their personal effects.

To help us understand the ongoing situation, we have asked the experts from NZ Vanlines to bring us up to date. Import Sales Manager Matthew Woodley explains what is happening, the reasons for increased costs and timeframes, as well as an outlook over the next 12 months.

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Toss or Take? Prepare for the big move

Relocating to New Zealand is a great chance to clear out your possessions and discard or rehome what is no longer needed. Many of our clients are also finding that bringing everything they own is simply not an option due to the escalating shipping costs and significant delays caused by COVID-related supply chain disruption. Deciding where to start can be daunting, so, we have asked Tracy Kelly, Mobile Relocation’ Advisor in Queenstown and also Co-Founder at Good Edit, for some hands-on tips and tricks on how to prioritise and stay organised to bring just what you need and nothing more.

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How Kiwis get extra holidays each year

New Zealand’s work life-balance is a big attraction for many expats and returning Kiwis relocating to Aotearoa. Public holidays occur throughout the year so there are lots of long weekends to play with.

In this blog we outline the stories behind our public holidays, and tips on how canny Kiwis strategically combine public holidays and a few days leave to gain extra weeks holiday time each year.

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Insider Travel Tips for your Summer Holidays

Lonely beaches, lush rolling hills, geothermal wonderland, sand dunes, glaciers, fiordlands or majestic mountain ranges - Aotearoa is an exciting place to travel, no matter if you are a returning Kiwi or calling New Zealand home after relocating here.

Everybody is getting excited about the upcoming summer holidays, preparing to explore beyond their own backyard.

The Mobile team across the country has gathered their personal highlights and insider tips to inspire you wherever your summer journey might take you.

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Another Summer without Family

The festive season has arrived and with borders being closed for 20 months now, expats in New Zealand and Kiwis living offshore will be facing another summer far away from loved ones.

On top of not being able to physically spend the holidays with family, New Zealand’s unique time zone further disrupts attempts to synchronise celebrations.

To help address these issues, Mobile Relocation recently collaborated with author and Distance Family Expert Helen Ellis.

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5 Best Books for expats relocating to New Zealand

Reading up before you move to a new country is a must for any planner.

Novels written by local authors help you get under the skin of your new home, opening your eyes to the culture and customs. Non-fiction drawing on research and the experience of others helps guide you through the process of relocation, resettlement and re-establishment in your new home.

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How to move your finances from the US to New Zealand

If you’re a Kiwi who’s worked in the US, or an American citizen relocating to New Zealand, you’ll have some finances to move here along with your shipping container. On the surface it might seem as simple as closing your accounts and starting to pay New Zealand tax. In reality, tax, regulatory and administrative requirements are complex, and potentially costly, if you get it wrong.

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Kiwis in London - Going Home Webinar

Kiwis wanting to return home from the UK have shared their main concerns ranging from finding work and finances to settling in and relocating with family.

Mobile Relocation has teamed up with experts from Kiwis in London, Pension Transfers, World Travellers Motueka, Home Recruitment, the Practical Psychologist and ReachNZ Immigration for an informative webinar hosted by Halo Financial to ensure people get accurate and authoritative advice on the many complexities of relocating to NZ.

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How to transfer money to NZ

Whether you’re sending your life savings to New Zealand, or just enough money for rental deposit, no expat or returning Kiwi wants to spend more on currency transfers than is absolutely necessary. It’s a complex process and there are many ways to do it - cost, risk and ease all come into the decision process.

So we’ve asked Geraldine Collett, from international currency transfer specialists, Halo Financial, to explain the ins and outs in our latest Mobile Expert Interview.

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How COVID has challenged expat wellbeing - Mobile Expert Interview with Sonia Jaeger

COVID has been tough on expats and returning Kiwis moving to New Zealand. Many are separated from friends and family and unsure when in-person meetings will be possible again. Others have found WFH and lockdowns even harder without the support of well established local friendships and networks.

Expat Mental Health Specialist, Dr Sonia Jaeger sheds light on how COVID has challenged expat wellbeing and what you can do about it, in our latest Mobile Relocation Expert Interview.

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