Family moved across the world and new home 'is like the UK in the 90s'

Family moved across the world and new home 'is like the UK in the 90s' They said it hadn't been easy, but it had paid off A Brit family forked out £20,000 to move across the world, but say it was "worth it" as their new home reminds them of how the UK was "in the 90s". Sean Purdy, 36, and wife Tania, 40, first upped sticks and travelled South America for nine months last year with kids Atticus, eight and Aurelia, seven. Despite Tania – a teacher – tutoring online and Sean working as a freelance marketer while on the move, their savings dwindled and they made the decision to return to the UK in May 2026. While travelling, Tania had applied to teaching roles in New Zealand and secured an interview the day after they landed back in the UK. She was offered the role just a week later and the family put their home, which they had rented out for £1,500 per month during their time travelling, up on the market. But after struggling to get it to sell, even at auction, they had to take out a £15,000 loan and secured a further £5,000 with the help of family to make their move across the world possible. In September 2026, they flew out to settle in Katikati, Bay of Plenty, in a three-bed rental annexe home on someone else's land. Community feel Sean has left his marketing job behind in favour of a labouring job to help make ends meet while he works his way up the career ladder and Tania teaches at a secondary school. While Sean says "never say never", they have moved with the intention of staying in New Zealand for the rest of their lives and are loving the "community feel" of their new home. Sean, originally from Nether Heage, Derbyshire, said: "Things happened quickly. The day after we landed Tania had her interview and then a week later she was offered the job. "We sat on it for 10 days, but we realised it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We decided to make it happen. "It was a process of finding money from a combination of loans and help from the family. Initially, the reason we wanted to move out of the UK was the cost of living, but in New Zealand it's pretty much on par with back home. "For us, it's the work-life balance. We still work in New Zealand, but everything is a bit more slow-paced and not so much like the nine-to-five rat race the UK seems to have. "One thing the UK lacked was culture and connectivity with big friend groups and here there is more being outside, communities and fewer screens. There's a freedom and connection." Costs to move The family had to fork out an estimated £15,000 to £20,000 to make the move, with straight-to-residence visas costing £3,000. "Health checks for a family of four and health tests cost £800," Sean said. "A police check for me and Tania was £300. Flights were £3,000 and a bunch of other bits and bobs. Then there were the unexpected things like finding a rental and buying a car." Despite the initial costs, Sean saidthe move was "100% worth it". "I think we knew the first year or two might be harder as we're starting from scratch in a new country and wages might be lower and finding out costs, and making things cheaper. Obviously for me I don't have a job in marketing, but I've done it just to get by. "We can walk to the beach or get mountain bikes and go to the mountain – it's a five-minute drive. In general there's a good beach an hour's drive away, max, in New Zealand. "We've got that outdoors lifestyle, which is the big benefit and just the community element. The trade-off at the moment is the first one to two years costs will be harder and things will be harder as we're in a completely new country. "It's still a trade-off of having an outdoors lifestyle, community and a bit more freedom. That's the trade-off we're happy with." Settling into their new home, Sean said one of the things he had noticed was the friendliness of people. "It reminds me of how the UK was in the 90s, or the very rural countryside where people just seem to want to help out complete strangers," he said. "It threw us off a bit as our experience in the UK, people are helpful, but you are more into yourself and what you need to do. "The Kiwis seem to be more out of themselves and happy to help random strangers on a whim. My wife and her new school, for example. "I have never been invited to anything school-wise in the UK and three days in they invited me and the two kids to a greeting called mihi whakatau. We were full-on greeted and sang and got a hongi – where you put your head on their nose and do a deep breath, a traditional Māori greeting." Children settling in Children Atticus and Aurelia have enrolled at a local school and will be learning the New Zealand curriculum. "They joined the school, which is like a Montessori equivalent that you'd have to pay for in the UK," Sean said. "In the UK it's normal, whereas here there is an outdoor forest play area and it's super chilled. "Some of the classrooms are joined together and going barefoot is encouraged. They're settling in and it matches our kids and the way how they are." Despite trying their best to home-and-world-school their children while travelling, Sean admitted balancing their own jobs too meant teaching "fell by the wayside". "I think in England they might be behind a month or two," he said. "In New Zealand kids can start school later and the curriculum seems different to the UK and they seem to be either on par or ahead. "We've always tried to keep up with English and maths. The realisation from travelling is we are not super parents and couldn't do everything despite what our best intentions were." Long-term, Sean said their two-year plan was to have a mortgage and own their own bit of land. "It does also depend on when we sell the house, as that will release a good chunk of equity to be put down as a deposit," he said. "We'll get a year under our belt, get a good credit history and get a mortgage. "I have started in a labouring role and have documented it on Instagram and have talked to a few other expats, as it seemed like I wasn't getting anywhere with marketing – a skill I've done for eight years. It's like when you first come out of school and a place wants experience for a job you haven't got yet. "I've talked to expats, people who were managers or doctors who took a big step down and took entry level roles and worked up from scratch. Over here they put more importance on the Kiwi experience." Sean will still earn $75,000 NZD (£31,942.50) annually and wife Tania is estimated to earn $100,000 NZD (£42,590) per year and has a slightly shorter working day than back in the UK. "We have moved with the intention of staying here for the rest of our lives," he said. "In some ways, the younger Kiwis end up leaving as they say there is not much to do. Who knows, when the kids are older they might leave and potentially we might leave with them." You can follow the Purdy family on TikTok @travelventurefour and Instagram @travelventurefour888. The family's monthly costs UK Mortgage: £900 Council tax: £250 Electricity: £200 Broadband: £30 Food: £400-£600 Total: £1,780-£1,800 New Zealand Rent: £1,200 Council tax: £0 - they do not have to pay it Electricity: £150-£200 Broadband: £40 Food: £388 Total: £1,778-£1,828 [Image text:] AONA 64 RANC