From South Africa to New Zealand with Abré Van Wyk (KarooKiwi) -Ep 49

In this episode, I speak with Abré Van Wyk the host of the KarooKiwi podcast about his personal story of moving from South Africa to Hamilton, New Zealand.He highlights the immigration process, community integration, and the realities of living abroad. We explore his insights on setting up a business, cultural differences, and maintaining connections with South Africa. We discuss building community and networks in New Zealand and the inspiration behind the Karookiwi podcast.He shares some sound advice for anyone considering emigration.Abré gives us a bit of insight into the cost of living in New Zealand versus South Africa and Australia.He also stresses how important it is to maintain mental health and faith while abroad.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Abré’s story and podcast04:10 - Deciding to move to New Zealand after visiting family07:12 - The role of family and community in expatriation08:36 - Origins and goals of the KarooKiwi podcast10:03 - Guests and topics featured on KarooKiwi podcast16:39 - Comparing New Zealand and Australia for emigrants17:40 - Meeting South Africans and social integration18:45 - Local social customs and community life20:13 - Challenges of household help and day-to-day living22:08 - Travel and flight times back to South Africa23:26 - Reflections on the past year and lessons learned25:24 - Healthcare in New Zealand: access and costs29:14 - Tax residency and maintaining South African links32:16 - What Aubrey would ship from South Africa today33:42 - Local faith communities and church life in New Zealand37:23 - Closing remarks and future collaborationsThe KarooKiwi website is www.karookiwi.com. Abré is also active on LinkedIn and other social media. Contact Abré at [email protected] your digital home with fellow Relocated South Africans around the world. Visit https://therelocatedsouthafrican.com and connect with Jan at [email protected]