Ever find yourself scrolling through photos of your own life, looking at your lovely home, your happy kids, your good job, and the beautiful place you live… and still feel this nagging, pulling sensation that you want to leave and move to New Zealand?
What’s wrong with me? You ask. Why can’t I JUST be happy like everyone else?
On our latest NZ Ahead podcast episode, we dove into a topic that is so, so common, yet it leaves so many people feeling isolated and confused: the guilt of wanting to leave a life that, by all accounts, is pretty fantastic.
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This episode was inspired by a recent one-on-one coaching call with a lovely member of our private NZ Ahead community, Jeff, who hired us to talk about how to relocate to New Zealand
Jeff lives in a stunning mountaintop ski resort in Colorado. He’s got a great job, a beautiful house, and a wonderful relationship. His view is literally picture-perfect.
And yet, he told us, he can’t shake the feeling. He still wants to move to New Zealand.
His biggest fear? That this feeling made him weird, ungrateful, or somehow broken.
Sound familiar? If it does, let us be the first to say: You are not weird. You are not alone. This feeling is more common than you think.
Long to Move to New Zealand? It’s the Call of the Other Side
As Brian so perfectly put it, living in a beautiful place but wanting to leave is like seeing tall, majestic mountains and desperately wanting to know what’s on the other side.
That’s not ingratitude. That’s adventure.
That’s curiosity.
It’s a fundamental part of who you are—the part that makes you a pioneer, an explorer, someone who isn’t satisfied with just the status quo, even a very comfortable one.
It’s not just you! Our Story of Moving to New Zealand
We know this feeling intimately. Before we moved to New Zealand 16 years ago, we lived in the historic, world-heritage city of Bath, England.
We had a gorgeous 1920s villa in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with four acres of woodland. Our family was close by.
On paper, it was idyllic.
Everyone told us how lucky we were.
But on the inside? We were screaming, “I just want to go.”
We’d literally just finished renovating… we felt guilty and confused, wondering what was wrong with us. (And yes, for the record, that house has tripled in value since we sold it. Don’t get us started! 😅)
But that feeling, that quiet (or not-so-quiet) voice that whispers “there’s more out there for you”—that’s your New Zealand Calling.
And you can try to ignore it, but it won’t go away. It only gets louder.
Why Listening to That Call is the Opposite of Selfish
The best advice we could give our coaching client, and the advice we give to you, is this: attending to this need is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.
Choosing to follow your heart and explore that calling isn’t a rejection of the good things you have. It’s an affirmation of your own spirit.
It’s you saying, “I hear you, and I’m going to see what you’re all about.”
Ignoring that call might seem like the safer, more sensible option, but it often leads to a life of “what if?”
We truly believe you only get one life, so why wouldn’t you go where your heart is pulling you?
Sixteen years later, we can say with absolute certainty: moving to New Zealand was the best decision we ever made.
We found a work-life balance we never knew existed. It was 100% the right move for us. It wasn’t about the money or the status; it was about answering that call and finding a life that truly fits.
You Don’t Have to Figure Moving to NZ Out Alone
If this post has resonated with you—if you’ve ever looked out your window at a perfectly lovely view and felt a pull for something different—we want you to know that there is a whole community of people who get it.
The journey to New Zealand can feel overwhelming, especially when the people around you don’t understand why you’d ever want to leave. That’s exactly why we built the NZ Ahead community—a supportive, private space where everyone is on the same path, at different stages, ready to cheer each other on.
We offer live Zooms, resources, and yes, private one-on-one coaching sessions with us, because sometimes you just need to talk to people who have done it and can offer real reassurance.
Here’s how you can learn more and join us:
👉 If you’re new to NZ Ahead and curious about life in New Zealand, start with our free 5-day video series. We’ll send you a personal, 3-minute video each day showcasing what life is really like here. On day 5, you’ll get all the details on how to join our full community.
Get your free videos here: www.nzahead.com/free
👉 If you’re already a member of our fabulous NZ Ahead community and want a one-on-one coaching call with Liz and Brian, send us a direct message on Slack or email Liz directly at li*@*****ad.com to chat more about one-on-one coaching or anything else you need.
Don’t do this alone.
Surround yourself with people who won’t say, “Why would you leave?!” but instead will say, “We understand, and we’ve got your back.”
Kia kaha! Stay strong, stay true, and please…listen to your calling.
Do you love New Zealand?
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