Q&A // 2 years in New Zealand // South Africans // 2024

[@glenmartin7580]

As a born bred Aucklander, I’ve worked with lots of South Africans and they have all been awesome, it is a country I would love to visit, and we don’t have nasty spiders or snakes like Aussie, glad you guys like living here, good luck in the future

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Glen, thank you so much for your kind words about working with South Africans ☺️ We are so grateful to feel so welcomed in your beautiful country 😊 Hope you get to go over to SA one day 😊

[@Hongaars1969]

I nearly overlooked watching this one. Great work, thank you for including my questions. Immigration is expensive and stressful as well as fun. Cheers Zoltan

[@BeingBedingfield]

Thanks so much for watching Zoltan! And thank you for sending us questions, without it we wouldn't have been able to make this video :)

[@ambrosewhite1215]

Dear Bedingfield's I do enjoy your videos. I love the enthusiasm for you new country. I also enjoy the way you show AKL and the rest of the land. You don't gloss over the lows which is a good thing. I look forward to more viewing.. Arohanui. Ambrose

[@BeingBedingfield]

That's so kind of you, Ambrose! Thank you so much :) We love it here in AKL!!

[@Davo-i1s]

As Aussies we lived and worked in South Africa for over 3 years it was split up into 4 periods spread over a 30 year time span - we actually lived in Meerensee. If you like the Ballito, Shaka Rocks, Umhlanga area it looks and feels just like a smaller version of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland I think Durban is around the same latitude so the climate in Kwazulu feels similar. The restaurant strip in Umhlanga reminded me a lot of Noosa. We spent quite a few weekends in the Durban area even attended rugby games at the stadium although I,m wasnt a big rugby union fan (I prefer Rugby League) Durban had that unique atmoshere with all the Braais lining the footpaths and the areas around the outside of the stadium. The first time we lived there Nelson Mandella hadnt been in power long and the Boks won the world cup needless to say the feeling in the whole country was one of sheer elation. Bunny Chow was often on the lunch menu at the plant my South African mates loved it but just the idea of a hollowed out soggy half loaf of bread filled with some curry wasnt that appealing besides it was way too much food for one person to get through. Must admit though I loved the food in South Africa especially the currys. The Spur was a favourite for us as well especially their char grilled steaks and buffalo wings better than similar restaurants here like Hogs Breath we used to make a list of all the Spurs restaurants that we visited on our travels around the country. If I remember they all had US themed names and I think the one in Umhlanga may have been called the Miami Spur.. Steers was another fast food place I remember that did really good takeaway ribs but the quality of the chicken at KFC was disgusting well it was at the one in Meerensee anyhow. Enjoy your life in NZ ists a great country done a number of road trips over there if you ever get too cold drop over to the Sunshine/Gold Coast for a short break it will feel just like being back in Ballito unfortunately without your family.

[@BeingBedingfield]

Aww, absolutely love your comment, thank you so much for sharing. Always so interesting hearing about people’s experiences in SA. Awesome that you were there for the 95 world cup! Still remember it so well 😊 My aunt is on the Sunshine Coast, they loooove it there! I think we’ll have to organise a visit ☀️

[@Davo-i1s]

@@BeingBedingfield you definately should get over there....I still have a South African supporters strip somewhere from that 1995 WC I bought it in Durban at a shopping mall that I think was built in an old railway workshops site.. The jumper is mainly white with the green and gold trimmings and WC advertising on it. I also have a Natal Curry Cup supporters jumper I bought at the store inside the stadium but its from the Curry Cup side not the Sharks. I also bought a knitted woollen pullover that they had on display it had their Curry Cup honours embroided on it I think they won it the previous year.

[@BeingBedingfield]

@ oh my goodness! So cool that you have all that kit!!! I remember before the Sharks became the Sharks, they were referred to as the banana boys 😅

[@Davo-i1s]

@@BeingBedingfield thats interesting never heard them called that I woud have thought sugar cane boys its pretty tropical there so bannana would fit. I remember their star player was a French guy called Thierry Lacroix funny what sticks in your mind after nearlty 30 years. We also went to a Tina Turner concert at Durhans Kings Park Stadium in 1996.

[@philstanton231]

Been here nearly 40 years now - never looked back, in fact, one of best decisions of our lives. Three grandchildren with Kiwi accents, but they just LOVE dried wors and biltong - LOL. Great vlog guys and happy 3rd year adventures.

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Phil, wow that’s a long time! Sounds like you’re really enjoying NZ 😊 Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@celben8464]

Hello from the Midlands in SA. Love and look forward to all your videos although they make us miss NZ so much! We have many precious memories from beautiful NZ. Unfortunately the cost of living is so crazy there though. Enjoy your journey of life in NZ! Love from SA.

[@BeingBedingfield]

Aww, how are things in the Midlands? We lived in Hilton for a few months before we came to NZ. Yeah, high cost of living here, working very carefully with our budget 🙈

[@mathewrichards7309]

I need Panaroties and an ocean basket that's what I miss we moved to a rural town of Oxford outside of Christchurch and we find it way nicer than Auckland we're we lived for 7 years no traffic to drive to Christchurch its peaceful to live on a farm people are far more friendly then Auckland our small town has about 2000 people but takes about 40 minutes to drive to Christchurch and we love the church here in Oxford there are 2 other South African families but we have great kiwi friends as well in the church weather is much colder snows in the small town and was -5 this past winter that's the only aspect of NZ I can't get used to is the cold otherwise we love it here and the community looks out for each other the church gives free food to the community and helps those in need and everyone knows everyone here. It's a dream and we are planning to farm veggies on our land.

[@renatamortazavi2450]

Awesome video, beautiful people! 🤣💖 Your energy is just so contagious, it got me ready for my day! 🥰😘 We love how you answer questions from different parts of the city - it makes the Q&A so incredibly interesting. You guys made such a wise decision moving to this amazing country. For a young family like yours, it's the perfect move. We’re so happy for you! And you know us - if we were younger, we’d move tomorrow! 😘 Enjoy every moment. Lots of love from both of us. 🥰💖

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Renata, thank you for noticing the different locations in the video 😊 Yeah, my parents would move here tomorrow as well if they could 😌

[@thamarvandeelen6261]

Great video guys, so nice to watch! Can't wait to meet again. The thought of it alone brings tears of joy in my eyes ❤

[@BeingBedingfield]

Can’t wait to meet up with you guys here in Auckland 🤗

[@KarenQuinn-x7u]

Hello from Cape Town! Your videos are so informative and joyful to watch. Love them. My daughter emigrated years ago to NZ and we visit as often as we can - beautiful country with beautiful people. ❤

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Karen, thank you for watching all the way in Cape Town 😊 Glad to hear that you’ve been able to visit your daughter! I’m sure you miss her a lot 🥺

[@cmoore7518]

It’s so interesting, I have so many South African friends theyre anything BUT abrupt or rude. I love your videos by the way!

[@BeingBedingfield]

Ah thank you for sharing this! South Africans have asked us about this so many times 🙈

[@SailChaser]

Cool vid!

[@RhedwanRussool]

Thanks for the bloopers reel ,from a balmy Etekweni❤😂🎉

[@BeingBedingfield]

Haha, glad you enjoyed those 😅

[@llewellynlombard7428]

Hi you2, Graig, you made my day. You had me tear up when you mentioned my favorite food, """"GOOD OLD D U R B A N Bunny CHOW. "Wow, don't I miss that here in Thailand? As you know, I am a Durban Beach boy and was a lifesaver at Adington Beach, many years ago. Great video and congratulations on your 2-year stay, may the next many years be filled with much more adventure. Enjoy every moment while you can and don't be stingy about sharing, okay. Love from your friend, Thailand.

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Llewellyn, always good to hear from you! We didn’t know you were a lifesaver at Addington! We (Chantal) used to go to that beach quite often when I was growing up. Are there any Saffa shops in Thailand? Luckily we can get some SA products like bunny chow if the craving really hits 😅

[@sondau12]

Great video, I moved from SA in 1998, went NZ, lived on Waiheke Island all the time I was in NZ (8years). Love The island and loved downtown Auckland. I’m now in England and have been for nearly 20 years, also love it. I wouldn’t want to live in NZ again but for the time I did it was fine.

[@BeingBedingfield]

Thanks for watching! Must’ve been great living on Waiheke, we absolutely love the beaches there 🥰 Glad to hear you’re enjoying living in England though 🤗

[@halgrynshaun]

Good video, miss you guys!

[@BeingBedingfield]

Miss you guys!!!

[@marlenevandermerwe1160]

Ek ook nou 2jr in Auckland dalk duurder maar verlang net na my kleinkind in SA. Deel gerus meer,dankie 😂

[@iamangiemoya5357]

We are from Mexico and love your videos! We got here a year ago!

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Angie, thanks so much for watching 😊 are you in Mexico now?

[@iamangiemoya5357]

We’re in Auckland 🫶🏼

[@BeingBedingfield]

@@iamangiemoya5357 ah ok, got it 😊 I’m sure NZ had been a big change coming from Mexico. Hope you’re enjoying life in Auckland 😁

[@erikswanepoel1014]

Hi julle, love julle vids. Ons nou ook al amper n jaar hier in freaking windy Welly. Moet sê soms is dit maar tuff verlang die family en vriende, en dan kyk mens nuus daar en weet hoekom die keuse gemaak is. As ons AKL toe kom sal ek vir julle tuis gemaakte boerewors bring. Het gedeel met ons kiwi buure en hulle love dit. Dit gesê, voel of hulle meer van SA weet as ons, doen seker huiswerk..😂 Nou toe lekker naweek en gaan maak nog sulke nice vids.

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Erik, dankie vir jou comment 😊 geluk met julle amper ‘n jaar in NZ! Hoop julle geniet Welly 😊 Homemade boerewors klink awesome 🤗 Lekker week vir julle!

[@scottdawson1607]

Have you traveled to any of the Islands yet,Fiji,Samoa,Tonga Cooks etc,or do you plan to? From a 🥝 down in Welly

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Scott, we’d love to eventually visit all the islands. In June we ticked Fiji off our list, here is a link to our Fiji videos 😊 kzbin.info/aero/PLDokcPPUJA1XDDM56XqGnQRaMCB0e9iB3&si=fDv_4hUFfww2doqx

[@tylerwestran3975]

Could you please make a video of a sample NZ budget that is realistic?

[@BeingBedingfield]

Yes, that will be our next video 😇

[@tylerwestran3975]

Do you use public healthcare and is it good?

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Tyler, yes we do. We don’t have much experience with the healthcare system at this stage. We’ve only had a handful of doctor’s visits.

[@ianh101]

Are you loving the rain rain rain. I lived there and bailed as soon as i got my passport.

[@BeingBedingfield]

Lots of rain last year, this year has been very dry 🤷🏻‍♀️ but we’re happy either way 😊

[@matthiasfellner5812]

Do you have permanent residency yet ??

[@BeingBedingfield]

Hi Matthias, we’ll be applying for permanent residency next month 🤗

[@edwardreuben6650]

I am a Maori living in Brisbane since 2004. It is definitely different from New Zealand, but I'm about to apply for citizenship, because I feel like it is home for me now. Hopefully you will feel the same way in time. As for the accent. Sorry you have that thick rich South African accent. It's like South African, Scottish, American, Irish and Australia. Once they speak, you automatically know where they are from. This South African lady I know said her brother in law lives in Auckland. Her family visited him last Christmas or January. She said it was a lot colder there but the sun burnt her within 10 minutes. I asked if her and her husband would move to New Zealand, and she said that she they lived in London for 16 years and was cold there also. She thinks the Queensland weather is similar to the Durban weather. IT's hot. That is what they prefer now. No more cold countries. Sorry for blabbering.

[@glenmartin7580]

To many snakes bro in Aussie and cane toads and spiders

[@BeingBedingfield]

Thanks for your comment :) my aunt and cousins are in Brisbane, they love it and also said the weather is similar to Durban. So we’ll have to go visit them soon 😊 Yeah, the sun is so hectic here! We’ve learnt to take sunscreen everywhere 😅 Glad you found a place to call home 😊 and hopefully you get to visit NZ once in a while!

[@BeingBedingfield]

@@glenmartin7580totally agree 😂

[@fistosravenscroft6651]

I like your channel, watched even before you left, but I for one would move anywhere but NZ, it’s isolated, it’s far, it just does not feel right. As much as you expats earn in pounds and dollars, you forget you still live in those countries, so the money does not go far, you will comeback to SA for 2 weeks and that will be the only time you see the value, over and above moving in 2024 to a western country is just not worth it

[@BeingBedingfield]

Thank you so much for being one of our long time viewers 😁❤️ Haha, believe me, we were well aware about living costs before we came 😭😅

[@TheKenven]

JAPIE,S in New Zealand 🐵🐵

[@murraysmith595]

There's NZ 👍 then there's Auckland 👎 😂😂

[@BeingBedingfield]

Aw no…lol! Seems like people either love Auckland, or they love to hate it 🙈 we obviously love it 😅