Liv Dainton, 27, and Cameron Ellenor, also 27, moved from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, to Queenstown, New Zealand, in February 2025. The couple, who had been together for over nine years, made the decision after Ellenor accepted an engineering position in Queenstown.
Dainton transitioned from a 37-hour work week as a financial accountancy recruitment consultant to a role in traffic control in New Zealand. This new position often requires her to start at 4:30 a.m. and work approximately 60 hours per week for less pay than her previous job. Despite the demanding hours and the job's exhausting nature, Dainton stated that her former career was more stressful and that her current role has allowed her to meet more people.
She expressed a strong belief that the move was worthwhile due to New Zealand's perceived safer lifestyle and scenic landscapes, contrasting them with her experiences in the UK. "I feel a lot safer than I did in some parts of the UK," Dainton said. "In New Zealand, you can leave your front doors and cars unlocked. I've done nine house sits and five of them don't even have a front door key."
Before their relocation, Dainton and Ellenor had traveled extensively. However, a two-week trip to New Zealand specifically led them to "fall in love" with the country.
The couple has downsized from their previous three-story, three-bedroom rental home in Northallerton, which cost £750 per month. Their current one-bedroom studio apartment in Queenstown costs $2490.20 NZD (approximately £1,080) per month. Additional monthly expenses include approximately $135 NZD (£60) for electricity and $69 NZD (£30) for Wi-Fi.
Dainton indicated that her earnings are slightly lower than in the UK, resulting in less disposable income. Nevertheless, she stated her contentment with her new home and has no plans to return to the UK.
"I used to be suited and booted and making money and now I'm wearing a high viz jacket," Dainton remarked. "My job is intense and exhausting but it's how I met most of my friends. I wouldn't have made the friends I have now without this job. New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places you can ever go to. The beauty is ridiculously insane with all of the mountains and lakes, you don't get used to it."
Cultural differences noted by Dainton include observing many people walking barefoot and a less prominent pub culture compared to the UK. She also mentioned that outside of Queenstown, nightlife options can be limited, with many establishments on the North Island closing before midnight.
Dainton has been documenting her experiences in New Zealand on TikTok, where her account @livdainton has garnered 26,600 followers and over 1.7 million likes. She advises other UK residents considering a move abroad to remain open-minded and resilient, acknowledging the emotional toll of being far from friends and family and missing significant life events.