Three things that surprised me about life in New Zealand

Arriving to Papamoa, New Zealand

Two years ago, my family and I packed up our lives in Hungary and moved to New Zealand. My husband, George, landed a job as a product designer, and with my background in user experience research, I was hopeful for new opportunities. We had our two little boys, aged four and one. It was a big move for us, exciting, nerve-wracking, and full of unknowns.

Looking back, three things surprised me the most about life here.

1. Community is everything

In Hungary, I spent the first year at home with my older son. My parents lived in Romania and visited often, but most days, I felt lonely as a new mom—full of doubts, just waiting for my husband to come home so I could finally talk to an adult. Here in New Zealand, I discovered Playcentre, a unique place where both kids and parents find a strong sense of community. It became a lifeline. My children picked up the language effortlessly, and I found support, sharing tea and conversations with other parents. One day, during one of those casual kitchen chats, a mum mentioned Open Polytechnic. Curious, I asked her to send me more details, and now, here I am, studying a course I love.

We arrived in New Zealand on the same day a massive Cyclone Gabrielle hit. It was the biggest storm the country had seen in years. Some people lost their homes, yet what struck me the most was how quickly the community stepped up. There were donation drives, support groups, and people helping each other without hesitation.

But the real power of community hit me when I lost my mother. We had just returned from Europe, heartbroken and exhausted, and I found six messages on my phone. Different people, some I had only met once, had left meals at my doorstep. I don’t know any other country where people care this much.

2. You Are truly part of nature here

Walking barefoot in the city? Unthinkable in Europe. Here, it’s completely normal. Camping on the beach? In Romania, setting up a tent in the mountains comes with the risk of encountering bears. Here, there’s nothing to fear.

Setting up our tent, Ohope, New Zealand

On the other hand, one afternoon, I took a nap and was suddenly woken up by a tsunami alert on my phone. Thankfully, nothing happened, but in that moment, I realised something simple: we are part of nature. It can be calm and welcoming, but also unpredictable. The only thing we can do is respect it. 

3. Passion and profession can be close

In Hungary, most people have a job to earn a living and a hobby to recharge. If you’re a hairdresser, for example, you can barely make enough to survive. Many people work just to pay the bills, with no room to follow their passion.

New Zealand is different. Here, I’ve met so many people who do what they love for a living. My friend Laura is a hairdresser, and she absolutely loves her job. There’s a natural balance between passion and profession—something I had never really seen before.

This mindset starts in school. Education in Hungary is serious, competitive, and exhausting. Kids have daily homework from the age of six, and learning is all about memorising the “right” answer from a textbook. Here, school is fun. Kids play. They explore. They learn beyond textbooks—culture, science, creativity. Teachers focus on making learning engaging, not stressful. And somehow, it works. Based on PISA tests, where they assesses 15-year-old students worldwide on science, reading, and math, New Zealand students rank 12th globally.

Looking back

Moving across the world with two young kids was one of the biggest changes of my life. But New Zealand has given us something we never expected: a deep sense of belonging. The people, the connection to nature, and the way life here blends passion with purpose have changed the way I see the world.

And for that, I’ll always be grateful.