Out and About is a column in which we chat with people who are currently living abroad, or who used to live and work there. This week we chat with Clarissa van Emmenes in New Zealand.

1. Where do you live and why there?

We live in Tauranga, a small harbour city on the tropical (yes, you read that correctly) east coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

We moved here in 2016. We both wanted to get experience abroad and spent about a year doing research about several countries before making a decision. New Zealand was on the top of our list and my husband then coincidentally happened to get a job in IT in Tauranga.

2. Was it a big adjustment?

It was an unbelievable adjustment. We went through the typical honeymoon phase where everything was exciting and new, so the reality of moving only hit us after about six months. We went through a constant rollercoaster of emotions before we eventually started seeing New Zealand as “home”. This only happened in 2018 after our first child was born here.

3. Do you still speak Afrikaans?

100%. We speak Afrikaans at home and our circle of friends is Afrikaans-speaking. The children speak English because they learn it at nursery school, but they understand Afrikaans and can speak a few Afrikaans words (with proper Kiwi accents!)

4. There are many South Africans in New Zealand. Do you get together sometimes?

It is unbelievable how many South Africans live here, and it has almost tripled since we got here (specifically in Tauranga). There aren’t a lot of get-togethers, but we do have South African friends who we met here through work.

5. What was the strangest thing to get used to?

The work culture is totally different and it was very difficult to get used to. For us it was also the complete trust people have in others to do the right thing, for instance the “honesty boxes” at the side of the roads with fruit or vegetables. You can take what you need and just leave your $2 or whatever in the box.  

Something else that we found surprising, and what I possibly enjoy the most, is the beautiful scenery. It is unbelievable and difficult to describe in words. You can go surfing or mountain climbing in the morning, do winetasting in the afternoon and then ski in the evening. Here are things we have never experienced or seen before, such as caves with glowworms, the bluest blue, wild waterfalls and geothermal activity.

6. Is it expensive to live there?

Yes. Because of the fact that New Zealand is very remote and have limited manufacturing capacity, most goods have to be imported.   

7. Where in South Africa are you from and why did you decide to move overseas?

We are both from Pretoria and after getting married in 2014, we decided to do research about possibly moving abroad. We didn’t originally plan on emigrating, but in the end we decided to pack up and leave. It was one of the best decisions we ever made, although we really miss our family in South Africa.