By Phoebe Jobling,Robert Harries,SWNSAmyReast Amy Reast

Copyright walesonline

A couple who relocated to New Zealand seeking a ‘better future’ for their youngsters insist they’ll never come back to Britain. Ed Porter, 35, and his partner Kim, 34, were residing in Henley-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire, when they arranged a family holiday in a New Zealand cabin during 2024, and were shocked by the £1,200 cost. This prompted them to consider how much more expensive British life might become for their offspring, Elijah, 12, and Willow, seven, particularly when it came to purchasing property. The couple then decided to move the household to a secluded New Zealand village for an idyllic countryside existence, enhanced financial prospects and greater stability for Elijah and Willow, reports the Manchester Evening News . They finalised the £30,000 move to Warkworth on North Island during June after 12 months of planning – and now Ed and Kim insist they cannot imagine ever returning to Britain. The household now enjoys an “idyllic” existence in a five-bedroom coastal property costing £1,600 monthly to rent – claiming a comparable home in Britain would cost approximately £2 million to purchase. Their fresh residence enables them to “live their dream”, whilst simultaneously building a brighter future for their youngsters. Ed and Kim expressed their love for the “positive” community spirit, the welcoming and considerate character of their New Zealand neighbours, the wonderful climate and stunning landscape. Whilst they admit they “miss a Tesco shop”, the pair insist New Zealand even features a ‘thriving pub scene’ that rivals Britain’s – with excellent pints costing less than £3. “We started thinking about the future of our children in terms of having their own independence with buying properties in the future,” Ed, who works in property, explained. “We initially considered a move to the States but that has its fair share of problems too, and we settled on here. The move was very nerve wracking and an emotional rollercoaster – but we love it. “We’re blown away by how welcoming everyone has been, and we can already see ourselves growing old here. You’re never more than ten minutes from one of the beaches – which have crystal clear turquoise seas and white sands. Plus pints are £2 something and the the pies alone are worth moving for. It’s a slice of paradise.” Prior to departing the UK, Ed and Kim’s independent coffee shop was facing challenges. They concluded that investigating an international move could improve the family’s financial situation whilst offering them a different lifestyle. After deciding on New Zealand, they began the process – filing applications for £600-per-person visas, £195-per-person medical examinations and £100-per-person document verifications. They also arranged a rental property and paid £12,500 for a shipping container to carry all their possessions and furniture across an 11,500-mile voyage to their new home. After closing their coffee shop, Ed and Kim both began building new careers – Ed moved into property development whilst Kim taught herself website design and data entry. The family spent a month in an empty house after their belongings were collected for shipping, before the excited but nervous family took their £830-per-person flight on June 26, leaving Henley-on-Thames for good. “We didn’t even go for a trip there to visit before we moved. We just had a gut feeling it was where we needed to be,” Ed said. “The first two weeks were a roller coaster – we kept thinking one day how amazing it was, and the next we’d be questioning if we made the right decision. But once the kids came home from their first day at school and told us they loved it, we finally gave a sigh of relief.” Ed commended the “welcoming, helpful and kind” local residents – alongside the “positive” attitude that New Zealanders have. “The kids walk themselves down the lane, and get the bus to school and back,” Ed said. “Other British expats here have compared it to England in the 1970s. “The kids cycle home and throw their bikes down without locking them up, doors are left on the latch, neighbours share food – people have time for each other. It’s just this amazing rural community.” Ed revealed the family were surprised by certain elements of New Zealand life – including the locals’ “dark humour” and habit of strolling about without shoes, even in shops. The pub scene thrives in New Zealand as well, with Ed’s neighbourhood community gathering regularly for pizza and drinks. He noted that the priciest pint at his local establishment costs “£2-something” – roughly one-third of what Ed spent in Henley-on-Thames. “Everyone loves a drink here and it wasn’t hard to find a decent English cider either,” Ed said. The pair reside in a five-bedroom rental home with sea views, though they harbour ambitions to buy land eventually. The family are hunting for a smallholding – a property with surrounding land – where they intend to build two extra homes for Elijah and Willow. “I can’t see us coming back – we can see ourselves growing old here,” Ed said. “If our kids want to travel, back to the UK or Europe or America, they can do – and they’ll have this safe HQ back in New Zealand. “We’re not wealthy, we just had a dream and we did it. It took us 12 months – nothing happens overnight. But we paid around £30k – less than some people pay for a car – to buy a decent future for our children.”