Hi there.
I have decided to go and live in NZ. I have been in Australia 15 years now, became a citizen in the process. Love this country however I need a change badly and I just love kiwis, and mountain hiking.  I am also planning to start my  official transition.
I have chosen the south island as I have some family (brother of my late step dad), they live in kaikourra. I for myself have rule out both kaikoura and christchurch as to where I will live due to the recent earth shaking events. I am thinking of Nelson, as I keep hearing great things about the place. I know it would be easier in a big town but I prefer smaller ones as long as it is not a 'bogan' hole (bogan=redneck)...
For example I would never transition where I now live, in cairns far north qld. This is something I dislike in Australia, how backward some regioinal areas can be If I was to stay in australia I see my only options being the big cities where I now I will be mostly accepted but where cost of living would be very high....
So my questions are
1) Do you beleive Nelson to be a good place for my goals?
2) As an australian citizen will transitioning be harder ? My understanding is I will be a PR on arrival and I should get the same treatment as kiwis (unlike the way kiwis are treated in australia)
3) Are NZ and Australia on par with each other regarding costs of transitioning? If australia is much easier, cheaper that will maybe make me change my mind regarding leaving Oz.

Take care
Alexis

We do have a couple of Kiwi gals here, I am a Kiwi but have lived here in Adelaide for 30 years. I have a friend who lives in Nelson who I will be seeing next month and she loves the place.... as a Kiwi just arrived here in Australia you have a 2 year wait for any benefits...I suspect NZ is the same for Aussies....you have to change your name here and not in NZ...I have had to make my name change in NZ and then get everyone to accept that document here in Aust. The Kiwi change of name is simple procedure.

Apart from that I will leave it to my Kiwi Sisters to give you the low down

Liz

thanks for the info I am not planning to change my name as I have a name that can be used for both sexes. Down the track I will be looking to change my sex though. I think it might be even more complicated for me as I was born a french citizen and only acquired my aussie citizenship when I was 25yo...
I was under the impression that kiwis in australia had a lot more restrictions than aussies in NZ. Might give a call to the NZ consulate and find out. Last time I went to NZ I was stamped "permanent resident" in my passport on arrival. Not sure if that means I will be treated as any other permanent resident who actually paid and went through all the migration process....
When you say 'any benefits' do you mean centrelink or medicare or both? I will be working full time and I am not looking to get on benefits(or whatever centrelink is called in NZ). I just need affordable health care and I do not want to wait 2 years

yep Medicare is really the problem...I don't know what the rules are but it would be well worth your time asking...I would be surprised if the requirements were not the same for both countries...

Liz