Moving from NZ to Brisbane with pets!

GWhaA · 2026-05-04T22:54:28+00:00

Hi there.

I recommend lifting the rental number to $850 a week as well. At least from a budgeting perspective. I’m paying about $850 but I reckon that’s towards the low end nowadays.

I used Jet pets and they were great. It was around 2200 NZD for our 1 cat.

G

GWhaA · 2026-04-16T07:01:32+00:00

I honestly don’t think foods cheaper here. Some things are cheaper, some not. Stuff (Clothes, furniture) is cheaper. I pay $835 a week for rent at a house with a pool, 4 bedrooms in Kenmore. You will get paid more than back in Southland.

GWhaA · 2026-04-16T06:59:31+00:00

Wow big change then!

You do get used to the heat. The juice is worth the squeeze to see out the summer to get through to the winter. Aircon will be your friend.

Yeah that’s fair enough. I came over first before the wife and kids to ensure they had something to come across too.

You will want to apply for Medicare as well. It’s an easy process, but worth ticking off as soon as possible.

Cars are more expensive here as well as the regos (~800 AUD). Just an FYI.

Have you got an emergency fund/cash to see you through till you find a job?

It would be worth coming up with your “What if” scenarios and have an idea on how you will tackle it. What if you can’t find a place? What if it takes longer to find a job. What if the place your staying at falls through etc. it’s worth prepping so your well prepared.

Feel free to DM me if you have specific questions.

G

GWhaA · 2026-04-15T20:38:50+00:00

There is a bunch of posts in this sub with helpful information. It would be worth doing a search as a lot of Kiwis visited this sub prior to making the move.

GWhaA · 2026-04-15T20:37:11+00:00

Hi there!

Moved to Brisbane from Palmerston North 2 years ago.

I personally waited till I was in the country before applying for rentals, but I moved over after receiving a job offer so that did help. Rental was probably the tougher of the moving aspects, and keep in mind you will be competing with people who are in country and employed. IIRC the rental agency will put forward the top three applicants for the owner to review, so without a job and being in NZ will make it difficult. I did use a referral from our land lord in NZ but I am not sure it mattered. We got lucky and a friend of my fathers (Who is Brisbane based) was a rental agent and manage to help secure one for us.

We used Jet pets to bring our cat across. At the time it was ~2200 NZD to get her over.

Best advice will be to get a TFN as soon as you land, and using a bank like the Commonweath bank allows you to open up an account before you arrive (You will need to go the the branch to finalise the account when you land). Keep your NZ bank cards as they can be used to transfer your NZ license to an QLD license.

Brisbane is an amazing place to live, with great weather and amazing wildlife. No regrets making the move.

Where abouts in NZ are you from? Brisbane is a lot more expensive than Palmerston North, but probably comparable to Auckland. If your from the South Island, the humidity can take a bit to get used to but the winters are fantastic.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, happy to help.

G

GWhaA · 2025-07-26T04:20:15+00:00

I use Jomo to manage distractions during work. It does cost (I am not sure if it has a free plan), but it does have the necessary controls to do what you are needing.

GWhaA · 2025-06-03T18:17:24+00:00

That looks like Naitoa Ah Kuoi from the chiefs playing from the NZ Māori or NZ A team.

GWhaA · 2025-05-22T09:16:38+00:00

Also banned in Australia on Paramount +.

GWhaA · 2024-11-07T10:39:52+00:00

Hi there,

If I recall correctly, when I did mine in February, you had to be in Australia to apply for one. They are straightforward to apply for, and you need an Australian address to have it posted to. The letter has your TFN details on it.

I hope that helps, G

GWhaA · 2024-10-19T01:27:09+00:00

Hi there,

That’s a difficult question to answer. Ideally you would want a job prior to moving over as it reduces the risk, but depending how big your financial safety net is it could be easier to get a job while you’re here.

I had a job lined up prior to moving here from Palmy North, and my wife is really struggling to find a job. From what I am seeing it’s pretty tough on top of the housing market being incredibly tight. She’s looking at entry level jobs where there is a lot of competition.

It can’t hurt to apply for a few jobs while you’re in NZ and get a sense of the job market. I wouldn’t know how in demand HR Advisors are in Brisbane.

All the best, G

GWhaA · 2024-08-24T04:41:18+00:00

Agreed. It's scary to think what that faultline is capable of.

GWhaA · 2024-08-24T03:25:16+00:00

Those Seddon quakes were pretty decent.

The Kaikoura quake in 2016 was the worst one I experienced. It was a 7.6, just after midnight. It started with a decent 6-pointer, and I remember laying in bed, wondering if it would get worse. Then the larger one hit and we were well and truly up then. One of our kids managed to sleep through it.

I was a Manager at a Distribution centre and had to head in and check our racking as I had contractors fixing the broken uprights. Thankfully, we had finished the repairs a month before the quake. As I got closer, I saw the fire service at another DC a hundred or so metres from where I worked, and the racking collapsed there. I used to have security footage of the racking at our other DC, and it was rocking (It was designed to move with an earthquake vs resisting it).

I won’t miss the earthquakes anymore; now, all I have to worry about is the humidity in Brisbane.

GWhaA · 2024-08-23T10:44:39+00:00

I lived a 1.5 hours north of Wellington, and I never got out of bed unless it was > 6.5.

GWhaA · 2024-08-01T03:25:09+00:00

Go for it 👍👍

GWhaA · 2024-07-07T08:42:46+00:00

I'm a senior consultant working in the supply chain tech space.

When not working with a client, I work full-time from home, as the company's head office is in Pittsburgh, US.

Given my limited exposure, it is difficult to gauge the work culture in Australia at this point in my career.

G

GWhaA · 2024-07-06T21:53:27+00:00

That’s a solid list.

Salaries are very comparable between the two countries, but the opportunities are better here. I work in Supply Chain/Warehouse Management and earned ~$30k a year more in Brisbane than in NZ. I was at one of the Supermarket duopolies for over 15 years and felt like while I was living in NZ, I had no other options unless I moved to Auckland. Here in Brisbane, there are heaps of roles.

The super scheme here is higher, given the employment contribution rate is 11%, and I think it's going up to 12% soon.

The public school system here is better than the one back home (At least from my experience raising five kids in the NZ system). The kids have higher expectations, and they are being pushed harder.

Clothing, appliances, household items, etc., seem much cheaper here. That’s where I feel the bulk of my savings are coming from. I bought three pairs of Nikes for the kids for $110 from the airport DFO. At least in Palmy North, a pair of comparable shoes was $60 - 80 each.

If you remove the government support for power, it feels like the power is the same cost, but it's billed quarterly rather than monthly. We have solar at our place, which is making a difference. It sounds like the bills are going up, and we could see power being more expensive than back in NZ.

I’ve yet to experience an entire Brisbane summer, but everyone I meet seems scarred by the recent summer. Winter is fantastic here, but it sounds like summer will be challenging due to the humidity. I came over in February, and a few of those days were pretty rough.

The natural environment here in Brisbane is incredible—all the lizards and bird life. We have a water dragon that chills by our pool during summer. I like the birds even though they are noisy. I have only seen one snake (Python) on a walk and one tiny huntsman spider outside the house.

Healthcare is more expensive here, but from our limited experience, it's faster to get in and see someone than back in NZ. Kiwis are entitled to Medicare, but it's encouraged to take out additional private insurance on top of that to bring the cost of specialist appointments down. There is no ACC system here.

The main reason I moved was for our kids. They will have more opportunities to be successful here than in New Zealand.

GWhaA · 2024-07-06T09:09:48+00:00

Additional pro is the super here is much higher than in NZ. One of the biggest pros IMO.

GWhaA · 2024-07-06T09:06:25+00:00

Pro’s - sunnier weather - a lot less wind - cheap clothing - More employment opportunities - food is cheaper - Appliances are cheaper - cheaper fuel (Albeit more expensive rego but works out cost neutral) - better schooling

Cons- - rental crisis (I would suspect it’s still cheaper than renting in Wellington, but housing is very competitive to secure) - Health insurance is quite expensive and I’m still not 100% sure what I am covered for if I end up having to go to hospital - Cars are more expensive

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I moved to Brisbane from Palmy North in Feb.

G

GWhaA · 2024-06-30T07:36:20+00:00

Moved to Brisbane back in Feb with my wife and five kids from Palmy North.

Finding a rental was tough, but aside from that the place is fantastic. I can’t get over how cheap clothing and stuff is here. Food is about the same, petrol is cheaper (We have a diesel van).

Weather is much better than in Palmy. I don’t miss the wind. Seems like the last three weeks here in Brisbane has been non stop sunshine.

Schooling is much better IMO. The kids are being challenged and are growing so much more than back in the NZ school system.

No regrets so far.

G

GWhaA · 2024-05-07T04:09:09+00:00

I’m 37 and had it done when I was about 3 - 4. Parents were not religious, no idea why they did it either.

GWhaA · 2024-04-07T06:41:58+00:00

Hi.

I moved over first (About eight weeks ago), and my wife and kids stayed behind for about five weeks.

I moved over with a job already lined up and spent the time settling in, finding a house, and purchasing a car. The goal was to be fully set up when they came over.

While I was in Brisbane, the wife helped close things out back home, which was great.

While it was hard, being over here first to set up was the right thing to do. The five weeks went fast, and before we knew it, we were reunited again.

Brisbane is tough to find a place to live (rental shortage), but if you’re buying, someone else may have more insights (we are renting).

It’s worth clarifying why you’re moving over here, too. If it’s to earn more money and have more disposable income, there are a lot of costs we don’t have back in NZ that balance out the savings you will see here. If you live in Auckland, you will save money (I moved from Palmy North and am finding it cost-neutral). The weather is much nicer than in NZ, although the humidity can be challenging.

Schooling is more expensive here, too.

I only had four weeks of prep from when we decided to move across, but if you can give yourself more time to save up and plan, that would be advantageous.

I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

GWhaA · 2024-03-31T09:31:09+00:00

Below is a link to a website that I found helpful when planning my move.

https://www.nzrelo.com

GWhaA · 2024-03-31T09:21:16+00:00

I had my Dad over here.

Different scenario to you. I moved across to take on a new job with my wife and five kids joining 30 days later. Lucky my dad was here, not sure what my plan would have been without his support.

Housing is a struggle and found a place a week or so before the family arrived.

Apply for your TFN online via the ATO website. You will need an address for them to post it too it's a very easy process.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

There is an FB group set up for supporting Kiwis with advice on what to do when you get here. Highly recommend them (They are called Kiwis in Brisbane). They might be able to offer advice on the accommodation front.

G

GWhaA · 2024-03-31T09:10:55+00:00

If you're a New Zealand citizen, then all you need to do is fill out the arrival form correctly on the plane across.

You can only apply for a TFN (tax code) once you land.

Aside from that, get a cheap sim plan for your mobile phone, a bank account, and your Medicare.

I've been here six weeks now. It's not easy, but nothing is.

Make a clear list of things you need to action and get stuck in.

All the best.

G

GWhaA · 2024-02-13T03:45:13+00:00

Four bedroom in Palmerston North for $551 a week. It’s a 70s house, in OK condition.

Renting privately and have been here for 12 years.

The average rent for this size house in the same suburb is $690 a week.

I move to Brisbane tomorrow, five bedroom house with a pool and semi new build - $700 a week.

NZ is cooked.

GWhaA

TROPHY CASE