A great place to raise a family
Louisa Gaimster loves that NZ allows you to reinvent yourself.
What’s your name and where are you from?
Louisa Gaimster, originally from Wolverhampton, UK. I now live with my family in Palmerston North.
What inspired your move, and how long have you been here?
We came here in April 2006, for my 40th birthday. It was a holiday but also a ‘‘look, see’’ visit.
By November 2006, we’d sold up in the UK and moved to Wellington.
I thought New Zealand would be a good place to bring up our two boys, then aged 7 and 9, and it has been. We’ve been in Palmy nearly five years now.
What do you do here?
I’ve worked mostly as a nurse, but I’ve tried my hand at a few other things, too. You can do that here – reinvent yourself, or realise your aspirations.
What surprised you most when you arrived?
How good Kiwis are at making their own entertainment. You can be anywhere and find a club, or a hobby group, or someone putting on a show in a hall.
What are the greatest advantages to living here?
Being able to enjoy such a variety of natural beauty. You’re never far from a clean, secluded beach, a river, a walking track, snow-capped mountains, or incredible country views. Disadvantages? Not having a solid countdown to midnight on New Year’s Eve!
How expensive do you find it compared to back home?
Housing was cheaper when we first arrived, but prices have risen sharply. I’ve been back to the UK recently and thought clothes cost about the same.
Food here is more expensive but you can get quality produce, making the taste worth the price.
What do you do in your spare time?
I walk our two dogs, and sing in a choir. I also do a lot of voluntary work. This, to me, is the quintessential New Zealand, what makes it quietly tick along.
There are some incredible people out there, giving their time for others. Without them, this country would grind to a halt.
What are your favourite NZ foods?
I love summer fruits, lamb and, now I know how to make it, I’ve developed a fondness for feijoa jam.
How do you get around?
Mostly in my little Japanese import, though we use public transport.
My husband flies a lot domestically with his job, because of the sheer distance across the islands.
How do you find the shopping?
Not as much choice as I’m used to, so that concentrates your spending decisions.
But there are lots of lovely one-off shops that sell unusual clothes or gifts, set up by some enterprising sorts, usually in the middle of nowhere.
Favourite after-dark activity?
Dinner and a bottle of wine. Even in Palmerston North, there are plenty of good places to eat, to suit your taste and budget.
What are the top three things you recommend for visitors?
In the North Island, Lake Taupo, or the South Island, Queenstown, because they’re all-year-round places to visit, and I love the views of the mountains.
Wellington always lives up to its ‘‘coolest little capital’’ moniker and, if you can take the heat, the Far North for its beautiful beaches and fantastic coastline.
Besides family and friends, what do you miss most about home?
This is my home now, so I don’t really miss much. I chose to live here and you can always find alternatives.
How easy is it for you to go home?
It’s expensive for all four of us so we have only been twice as a family. And no matter how often you do it, that second 12-hour flight is a killer. Stopovers are the way to go now.
If you could change one thing about New Zealand, what would it be?
It’s not for me to say, as I am just a custodian. However, I would like to see everyone living in a warm, dry home.