Soft Landing NZ

By Brett Corlett | Soft Landing Podcast – Episode 3

Welcome to the Soft Landing Blog

Over 100,000 people immigrate to New Zealand every year. Each person leaves behind everything familiar to start fresh facing new systems, cultures, and uncertainties. Some struggle to adapt, and others thrive. What makes the difference? One word: GRIT.

In this post (based on Episode 3 of the Soft Landing podcast), I share the chaos of our first week in New Zealand. If you’re in the middle of your own move or about to take the leap, this one’s for you.

The Arrival: A Rocky Start

We landed in Auckland in the early hours of a Friday morning after 30+ hours of travel. Exhausted but motivated, I chose to skip sleep and went straight to the bank to activate the bank account I had opened while still in South Africa.

✅ Tip: If you open a NZ bank account from overseas, you still need to visit a local branch in person to activate it.

Accommodation Meltdown

Originally, we had arranged a rental from abroad and even had a family lined up to welcome us. But just an hour before we boarded the plane, we got the news our rental had flooded and was no longer habitable.

We had to extend our hotel stay, look for an Airbnb, and re-enter the competitive Auckland rental market with no local history.

How We Found a Rental in 5 Days

Despite the stress, we secured a viewing by the weekend and got approved fast. But we needed to pay a new bond and 2 weeks rent upfront while still waiting for a refund from the flooded rental. That’s where our emergency budget came to the rescue.

✅ Tip: Have at least 6–8 weeks of rental funds as a backup, even if you’ve already paid another bond.

Fridge, Bed, and… Blow-Up Mattress?

We moved into an Airbnb for five nights while waiting for our new rental to become available. During this time, we had to: buy essentials, coordinate deliveries, and try to keep the kids calm (and healthy).

Because we only had one bed delivered in time, I slept on an air mattress. Thankfully, we had packed one in our luggage!

Sick Kids and Starting Work

If there’s ever a time to test your resilience, it’s this. Within the first week, our entire family got sick. I had to show up for my first day of work while sweating through a fever, and my wife had to manage two ill kids while unpacking and setting up a new home.

Learning the Bus System the Hard Way

With only one car, I needed to use Auckland’s public transport. The system works well, but at the time you needed a prepaid AT HOP card. I didn’t have one, so I relied on the kindness of strangers to get to the office.

✅ Tip: You can now use a credit/debit card on most Auckland buses, no need for a separate HOP card.

First Grocery Run: Brand Confusion & Celiac Struggles

My wife did the first shop while I was working and it was harder than expected. Brands were unfamiliar, labels were confusing, and finding gluten-free products for my celiac disease took a lot of trial and error.

✅ Tip: Use online grocery delivery when you first arrive, it saves time, helps with budgeting, and reduces overwhelm.

Welcome to New Zealand… Here’s a Cyclone

Just as we were settling into our rental, Cyclone Gabrielle hit. I had to work from home on boxes and bags because we had no desk or chairs yet. It was chaos, but we survived.

Final Thoughts: GRIT is Everything

Our first week in New Zealand was the toughest of our lives. But we got through it by having a plan, a buffer budget, and most importantly, GRIT.

If you’re preparing to immigrate, expect the unexpected. But know this: if we made it through, you can too.

🎧 Listen to Episode 3 – “You’re Going to Need GRIT”

➡️ Link: Soft Landing Podcast

📢 Stay Connected

I’d love your help.
The Inner Circle App is coming soon — a free space for migrants to connect, learn, and belong in New Zealand. We’d love your input! Help us shape it so it truly supports your needs.

https://forms.gle/FuTEd7cMwv7jzSK56

Follow my Soft Landing podcast and subscribe to my YouTube channel @softlandingnz for real stories, walkthroughs, and practical tips for newcomers to New Zealand. 
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