Auckland City of New Zealand – 7 Myths About Living in The City of Sails

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Auckland city of New Zealand?

For many people planning a move, it’s traffic, expensive housing, a concrete jungle, and unfriendly people. We hear it all the time in our NZ Ahead community. “Probably anywhere but Auckland.”

But is any of that actually true? Moving to Auckland NZ is a big decision, and getting the facts right matters.

Today, you will hear from Nicki, a member of our NZ Ahead community , who moved to the city of Auckland with her young family from the UK in 2022.

Nikki shares on-the-ground insights into what it is like to live in Auckland and also shares a few myths that could quite easily scare someone away who’s considering living in Auckland.

So, grab a cuppa, settle in, and get ready for a real look into life in Auckland, New Zealand (from someone who really knows!)

 

Read the full, raw transcript below to follow their journey! You can also watch the video version of this podcast over on our NZ Ahead YouTube Channel.

 

 

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Living in Auckland New Zealand might be very different from what you’ve heard online.

If you’re coming from overseas, understanding the New Zealand skilled migration visa is your first step.

For those over 55, our guide on how to immigrate to NZ over 55 covers age waiver options.

And if you’re wondering is-new-zealand-a-nice-place-to-live, Nikki’s story will give you the honest answer.

Americans-living-in-new-zealand often share similar experiences, though Nikki’s journey started in the UK.

Before you arrive, familiarise yourself with auckland-international-airport-new-zealand-entry-questions to make your landing smooth.

For those with the means, the golden-visa-new-zealand offers an alternative pathway.

And if you’re traveling with a partner, our new-zealand-partner-visa guide has you covered.

 

 

Meet Nikki: A Proud Aucklander

 

Nikki moved to Auckland from Manchester, UK, in 2022 with her husband and two young daughters.

She had never visited New Zealand before. Four years later, she calls herself a proud Aucklander.

In this episode, she busts seven common myths about Auckland city of New Zealand.

From the cost of living in Auckland to crime, from public transport to people—this is the real story.

If you’re wondering is Auckland expensive, Nikki has the honest answers you need.

Whether you’re researching Auckland New Zealand cost of living or just curious about daily life, this post will help.

For Americans considering the move, moving-from-united-states-to-new-zealand offers a similar perspective.

And if you’re coming from France, our moving-from-france-to-new-zealand guide covers that journey too.

 

Nikki’s Story: From Manchester, UK to Auckland City, New Zealand

 

Liz: Nikki, welcome back to the NZ Ahead podcast. I am absolutely thrilled to have you return as a guest.

Nikki: I’m so happy to be on again, Liz. We’ve been talking about doing this for a while, so it’s great to finally get to do it.

Liz: Today’s topic, I cannot wait. We’re going to be talking about the misconceptions about Auckland city of New Zealand.

What better person to talk about that than you, because you live in Auckland?

Nikki: I moved with my husband Ollie and our two daughters, who were eight and five at the time, from Manchester in the UK.

We moved straight to Auckland. Auckland is the only place we’ve lived in New Zealand.

We’re coming up to four years this year. We’d planned to move to New Zealand for a very long time.

We had to put it on hold over COVID. But as soon as we were able to after COVID, we made the move.

We just love it here. We’re happy to be here still every single day.

It’s coming up to four years, and it still feels just exciting every day.

For anyone who has experienced a nz-visa-denied situation, Nikki’s perseverance is inspiring.

 

 

Myth #1: Auckland Is Too Busy

 

Liz: Number one thing we hear about Auckland city of New Zealand is, “I wouldn’t live there because it is so busy.”

What have you got to say?

Nikki: That was probably the one I heard most. Auckland is a city.

There are between 1.5 and 1.8 million people in the greater Auckland area.

When you consider New Zealand’s population sits at about 5 million, that is a significant chunk of people.

 

It’s Relative to Where You’re From

 

It would be wrong to say it isn’t busy, because in many ways it is. But it’s so relative to where you’re from.

I’m from Manchester, which has a very similar population size. Manchester is just over a thousand square kilometers.

London is about 1,500 square kilometers. Auckland is 4 and a half thousand square kilometers as a region.

Yes, it has a lot of people, but it is spread over a wide distance. That busyness is very easy to escape.

 

 

You Can Escape the Hustle

 

If you’re in the city centre, it feels buzzy. There’s lots of people coming and going.

But it takes so little to get away from the busyness. I wasn’t quite prepared for that.

Auckland has 1,800 kilometers of coastline. It’s a city, and it has that city buzz.

But it’s not an unmanageable busyness.

 

 

What About the Traffic?

 

Liz: What about the traffic? People say you sit for hours in traffic in Auckland.

Nikki: There is definitely a rush hour. It’s earlier than the UK, I would say.

If you’re not on the motorway by 7 a.m., you’re really going to start hitting the traffic.

But again, in Manchester, my commute was 7 kilometers and it took me 50 minutes to an hour.

I never sit in that level of traffic here. It is bad in hot spots.

You would avoid them at peak times if you possibly can. But my personal experience is no.

Partly that’s because I get the bus. There are certain things you can do to get around the traffic.

I was prepared for the traffic to be significantly worse than it actually was.

This is a common fear when moving-from-america-to-new-zealand as well, but most find it manageable.

 

 

 

Myth #2: The Weather Is the Same as the UK

 

 

Liz: Another thing people say is, “Oh, the weather’s the same as the UK.”

“Don’t think you’re going to a tropical paradise.” Is the weather the same as the UK in Auckland?

Nikki: I’m from Manchester, which for British people is like the Pacific Northwest of the US.

It rains a lot and it’s not always the warmest. Again, it’s relative. We just love the weather in Auckland.

If you’re wondering is-new-zealand-a-nice-place-to-live, the weather alone is a huge factor.

 

 

NZ Summer and Not Summer

 

I say Auckland doesn’t have four seasons. The weather in Auckland can be really changeable.

But for me, Auckland has summer and not summer. It doesn’t have winter.

December to May is late teens, but normally 20, mid-20s, especially in that lovely summer period.

Outside of that, in what would be classed as the winter months, you’re talking about 15 degrees, 16 degrees.

Some winter days are even 18 degrees in Auckland. Compared to Manchester, that is not winter.

That would actually be a reasonable summer’s day on some occasions.

 

No More Winter Blues

 

Liz: Do you miss the seasons?

Nikki: No. We go outside every day. We were back in the UK for Christmas this year.

It was so nice to see everyone. But that being confined inside, that creeping claustrophobia was hard.

You start to feel really hemmed in. I don’t think that’s good for your mental health.

When you’ve grown up in it, you just take it as normal because everyone’s the same.

Now that I’ve moved away, I understand why British people are obsessed with the weather.

This is why many people ask why-people-leave-new-zealand? Usually, it’s not the weather.

 

 

Myth #3: You Need to Be a Millionaire to Live in Auckland

 

Liz: This is probably the biggest one. “You can only live in Auckland if you’re a millionaire.”

“How do you find the cost of living in Auckland as a family of four?”

Nikki: We honestly find it very comparable to where we were in Manchester.

Again, it’s relative to where you come from. We were quite scared of that before we came.

It was one of the main reasons we looked away from Auckland originally.

We heard that you really need this amount of money to live well.

 

 

 

Housing Isn’t the Most Expensive in NZ

 

There are certain things that cost more in Auckland. Housing is one of them.

But people are often surprised to hear that Auckland from a housing perspective isn’t even the most expensive place in New Zealand.

The average house cost in Auckland is actually $200 a week lower than central Tauranga.

Liz: Is that right? I never would have guessed that.

Nikki: Yes. There are some really good value areas of Auckland. There are little pockets of them everywhere.

 

 

What Does a Three-Bedroom Home in Auckland Actually Cost?

 

Some places where the three-bed average will push into the $800s. Ponsonby pushes into the $900s.

But there are places where you can get a three-bed place for $700 a week.

The average for a three-bed across all of Auckland is about $735 a week as we record.

In US dollars, that’s about $430. In pounds, it’s about £325 a week.

I don’t think that’s hugely different than what most people from cities would be moving from.

If you have the means, the golden-visa-new-zealand offers another pathway entirely.

 

 

The London Comparison

 

Liz: My daughter is looking to rent a room in London at the moment.

They’re charging £1,200 a month for a room in a house.

When you say you can get a three-bedroom house for a similar price, that puts it into perspective.

Nikki: Exactly. There are compromises. If you want a really modern house, you’re accepting less outside space.

If you want a school zone, maybe you’re not getting your perfect house without increasing the budget.

But to say that is Auckland expensive compared to other cities is not true.

Understanding the downside-of-moving-to-new-zealand means being honest about housing costs.

 

The Coffee and Petrol Test in New Zealand

 

Liz: The cost of coffee is about $5.50 or $6 here. That’s like £2.70 at the moment, isn’t it?

Nikki: Yes. Or about $3.50 in US. That’s not a huge amount for a major city.

Even petrol is about £1.10 per litre at the moment, which is way cheaper than it was in the UK.

There are things that are expensive, but you don’t pay for parking everywhere like you do in UK cities.

There’s so much to do that’s free that your cost of living from that aspect is so much lower.

For those over 55, our guide on how-to-immigrate-to-nz-over-55 covers age-related financial planning.

 

 

The Hidden Cost: Schools

 

 

One thing we weren’t prepared for was how expensive schools are.

New Zealand schools have something called the voluntary contribution.

That’s not something you’d be used to from the UK.

Uniforms can be quite expensive. There’s not really the wide availability of supermarket uniforms here.

Then my kids are into their extracurriculars. By the time we’ve paid out for all those things, plus stationary and equipment, it adds up.

When you’ve got multiple kids, it’s a real shock. I worked out how much it actually totalled to.

When researching Auckland New Zealand cost of living, don’t forget to factor in school expenses.

Also check our parent-visa-new-zealand guide if you’re bringing extended family.

 

 

 

Myth #4: Crime Is Out of Control in Auckland

 

 

Liz: This is a bit of a dodgy one. People will say crime in Auckland is terrible.

How have you found it?

Nikki: This is the one that’s going to be most relative to where you’ve come from.

If you’re from a small town, your perception of crime in a city is wildly different than someone from London or New York.

Where in the world you come from is different as well. There are a lot of South Africans here.

Even the usa-marine-moves-to-new-zealand stories highlight how safe NZ feels compared to other places.

 

 

The Internet Skews Negative

 

When I was about to move over, I was obsessive about research. I wanted to dig into everything.

As part of that, you go on sites that give you people’s opinions and stories.

The internet always skews negative. The people who are happily living don’t go on Reddit and talk about how crime-free Auckland is.

What I would really urge people to do is look at the data.

 

 

Crime Varies by Suburb

 

Crime does vary from suburb to suburb. But you will hear blanket statements about whole areas of Auckland that cover hundreds of square kilometres.

When you actually look at it relative to other global cities, it’s very average for most places.

There’s an amazing website for New Zealand crime stats where you can compare suburb to suburb.

If you’ve had a nz-visa-denied experience, it’s often unrelated to safety concerns.

 

Nikki’s Personal Experience

 

My experience has been that we haven’t come across anything where we’ve ever felt unsafe.

We feel very safe as we walk around Auckland. We feel safe at night. We feel safe in our house.

When I look at the crime stats, that’s backed up. It isn’t any different than Manchester.

Liz: Do you feel safe dropping your kids at school and leaving them there?

Nikki: Yeah. New Zealand school is so different than UK school.

I worked in education in the UK. The multiple layers to even gain entry into the building in the UK is so much higher.

New Zealand schools are very welcoming. Our kids love going to school.

They skip off to school here. That’s the only metric I can really base it on.

Before you arrive, familiarise yourself with auckland-international-airport-new-zealand-entry-questions to know what to expect.

 

 

Myth #5: Auckland Is Just a City

 

 

Liz: People say on Reddit, “Auckland is just a city.” What’s your thoughts on that?

Nikki: I see this quite a lot on travel forums. When people come to New Zealand, they have that cinematic vision of the Southern Alps.

And who wouldn’t? It’s absolutely stunning. People almost skip through Auckland.

If you spend just a couple of hours in Auckland, you can’t get a sense of what it’s actually like as a place to live.

This is why many travellers prefer Hobbit-tours-in-New-Zealand over spending time in the city.

 

Where Aucklanders Actually Live

 

The city centre is quite small for an international city of this size.

Most Aucklanders might go into the city for work, but that’s not where their lives are carried out.

That is something I hadn’t really appreciated. There is just so much to do here from a natural beauty point of view.

Deciding between new-zealand-south-island-or-north-island? Auckland gives you access to both.

 

53 Volcanoes and 200 Islands

 

Auckland has 53 volcanoes. Ollie and the kids are planning to walk up every single one they still can.

They’ve got a little map and they plot one each time they walk up it.

Auckland has this huge amount of coastline. It has something like 200 islands.

Some are nature reserves with no predators, just bird and wildlife.

If you prefer exploring by road, our campervan-in-new-zealand guide is perfect for you.

 

 

Stunning Walks on Your Doorstep

 

There’s one particular walk on the west coast with black volcanic sand where the waves roll in. It’s stunning.

One walk I love is called the Mercer Bay Loop. You feel like you’re on the edge of the world.

There’s so much more to Auckland than that central city area.

 

 

The City Centre Has Its Charm Too

 

Personally, I love the city too. It’s got rooftop bars where Ollie and I go for a special night out.

Looking out over the Waitematā Harbour and the harbour bridge, you can sit by the water.

One particular area of the viaduct always feels like Spain when we go there for dinner.

But there’s so much more to dig into. The Hunua Ranges, the Waitākere Ranges, north to Matakana.

And the peninsulas out there with white sand that feel like the Caribbean.

Auckland isn’t just a city, but it does take a bit of time to dig into it.

Liz: Ollie and I have a phrase we say to each other: “Just another average Auckland view.”

It’s hard to drive anywhere around Auckland where within five or 10 minutes you don’t look and think, “Oh my goodness, this is incredible.”

For more inspiration, our cities-in-new-zealand guide compares urban life across the country.

 

 

Myth #6: Public Transport Is Rubbish

 

Liz: Another thing people say is that the public transport in Auckland is a bit rubbish.

You take the bus everywhere. Let’s talk about it.

Nikki: Public transport in Auckland gets a really bad rap. That’s one of the things I’d heard.

If you need temporary accommodation while you find your feet, trusted-house-sitters is a great option.

 

 

It’s Higgledy-Piggledy

 

What I find about public transport is it’s a bit higgledy-piggledy. That’s where the bad rap comes from.

It’s not like London where you hop on the tube and it covers pretty much the whole city.

You have to piece it together. There are three main forms of public transport in Auckland: ferries, buses, and trains.

Depending on where you are in the city depends on what type of access you will have.

For short-term needs, car-rentals-in-nz can bridge the gap while you learn the system.

 

 

Different Areas, Different Options

 

Where I am on the North Shore, there aren’t any trains at all. It’s all buses.

If you go more central, slightly out to the west, south, and slightly out to the east, that’s much better serviced by trains.

My personal experience of living on the Shore and using public transport is fantastic.

 

 

The Northern Expressway in Auckland New Zealand

 

 

The bus comes past us once every 15 minutes. It takes us out to what’s called the Northern Expressway.

They built a few years ago and lanes that are only for buses.

I sit on the expressway bus past all the people in their cars queuing all the way for the bridge.

We just literally move the whole way. I’m doing 50 to 80 km an hour the whole way.

 

The Cost and Time Comparison

 

I mentioned my commute time in Manchester. I now do a bus commute that takes me 35 minutes to do nearly 20 km.

That’s including a changeover. It costs $6.50, which is just under £3 and probably about $3.80 US.

That’s so cheap, isn’t it?

Liz: When you were in Manchester, you were going 7 km and it was taking you almost an hour.

Nikki: Yes. The public transport, once you’ve learned the Auckland language, you learn how to get out to the airport on public transport.

 

 

Not Perfect, But Getting Better

 

You learn how to link up from the bus to the ferry to the train. There’s an extra layer of complexity.

They’re also always expanding it. There’s just about to be the City Rail Link opened, hopefully later this year.

I’m not saying it’s perfect and without issues. But generally, when you learn how to piece the three types of transport together, it becomes much better.

And actually very cheap, I think, compared to what you would pay in other places.

Liz: When you use public transport, you feel a little bit high up, don’t you?

Like you’re doing good for the planet.

Nikki: Exactly. You can get that warm glow and just pat yourself on the back.

Public transport needs to be cheaper and faster than using cars to encourage people to use it.

My experience is that it is way cheaper and way faster than it would be for me to drive into the city.

I’ve had to drive in a couple of times. I don’t want to do that. I want to sit on the bus and read a book.

This is a common topic in mistakes-in-new-zealand discussions—underestimating public transport options.

 

 

Myth #7: Aucklanders Aren’t Friendly

 

Liz: The last one. We hear it a lot. “Kiwis are friendly, except in Auckland.”

There’s even that saying: “Just another Aucklander.”

What are people like in Auckland city of New Zealand?

Nikki: I’m proudly adopting my Jaffa badge. Thank you very much.

This is a great moving-to-new-zealand-reminder that friendliness is everywhere, including the big city.

 

Everyone in Auckland Is from Somewhere

 

People sometimes say, “Auckland’s not the real New Zealand,” or “You won’t see the real side of Kiwis.”

One of the boards you have in your group is Kiwi Kindness, where people post about random acts of kindness.

I was worried that you wouldn’t get that in Auckland. Our experience could not be further from that.

From day one, the people in Auckland are incredibly friendly.

There’s a phrase that says, “Everyone in Auckland is from somewhere.”

For those coming with a partner, our new-zealand-partner-visa guide explains how to bring your family.

 

Migrants Supporting Migrants

 

What I found is that not only are Aucklanders actually friendly, but people who’ve moved here understand what you’ve gone through.

That’s such a huge amount of support. If you’ve got a hospital appointment or work and you can’t pick your kids up, people will say, “I’ll have them. I’ll pick them up.”

Americans-living-in-new-zealand often comment on how welcoming Kiwis are, even in Auckland.

 

Real-Life Kindness

 

We sit on the beach a lot and people will always stop and chat to us.

One time a guy came over who’d taken a beautiful photo of us under a pōhutukawa tree.

He said, “I’ll send it to you.” Lovely little things like that happen all the time.

Liz: We just had a live Zoom for our community. A pregnant lady was worried she’d have no one to mind her other child.

Someone in the community said, “I live 5 minutes away from you in Auckland. I’ll have her. Just let us know.”

Nikki: I think Auckland does get that reputation of not being like the rest of New Zealand for friendliness.

I just don’t think that could be further from the truth.

 

The Kiwi Nature

 

There are so many people who’ve moved to Auckland, either from somewhere else in New Zealand or from another country.

Everyone understands what it’s like to not have that family support around you.

They will offer to help you if they possibly can, because that’s just the Kiwi nature.

It’s such a part of living here. I never take it for granted.

I love the Kiwi people, and I love Aucklanders. I’m here for the Jafas.

If you’re considering the pros and cons of living in Auckland, Nikki’s experience shows that the pros often outweigh the cons.

For families, Auckland for families is a welcoming and supportive environment.

And compared to the UK, Auckland weather vs UK is a clear win for sunshine lovers.

Anyone who has served in the military might enjoy the usa-marine-moves-to-new-zealand story.

If you’re wondering why-people-leave-new-zealand, it’s rarely because of the people.

 

 

Final Thoughts from Nikki

 

Liz: Can you believe that four years ago you were in Manchester?

Now you and your kids are climbing volcanoes in Auckland city of New Zealand.

Nikki: I haven’t experienced all the different sides of Auckland.

I can’t pretend my experience is going to be everyone’s experience.

People might watch this thinking, “What load of old rubbish is she talking about? Looking through rose-tinted spectacles.”

But genuinely, that’s my life. I wake up every day and think, “I can’t believe I get to live here.”

I just feel so grateful to have been able to do this. Not everyone can do this.

 

 

A Grateful Immigrant

 

New Zealand is an exceptionally welcoming country. I feel very grateful for that as well.

That wouldn’t be your experience as a relocator everywhere.

I love this country. I’m so grateful for what it’s given me.

I get to wake up every day, look out the window, see the volcano, be by the ocean.

What more could I possibly want?

Liz: We are absolutely thrilled to have you in our community, and you’re giving back.

The fact that you’ve started your company, As the Kiwi Flies, helping others—that’s what it’s all about.

 

 

Being the Help You Needed

 

Being the help that you needed at the time.

If we had had someone like you on the other side going, “Look, I’ll go and do the viewings for you.

I’ll tell you where the best schools are. I’ll show you this house and that house.”

I think what you’ve started is an incredibly wonderful gift for people.

Thank you for being in New Zealand and giving back to people who are following behind you.

Nikki: Thanks, Liz. It’s wonderful. I love it.

For anyone planning to returning-to-new-zealand, Nikki’s story is a powerful reminder of why people come back.

 

 

Ready to Experience Auckland City of New Zealand for Yourself?

 

Nikki’s story proves that Auckland city of New Zealand is not the scary, expensive, unfriendly place that the internet sometimes makes it out to be.

Yes, it’s a city. Yes, it has traffic and higher housing costs than some smaller towns.

But it also has volcanoes, beaches, islands, friendly people, and weather that lets you be outside almost every single day.

If you’re wondering whether Auckland could be your new home, take it from a proud Aucklander: the myths are just that.

For a complete Auckland suburbs guide, join our community and connect with locals who can point you to the best neighbourhoods for families.