Ian & Sarah Wroe, Oxford

For Ian and Sarah Wroe the driving motivation for moving to New Zealand was adventure, the challenge of immersing themselves in a new country, and fun.

Ian’s job as a senior executive with a big European science and technology company had taken him around the world and he had found that working internationally was more fun, with more opportunity to learn. Sarah, a lawyer, had only worked in the UK and thirsted for the chance to live overseas.

They talked often about the countries they might like to adopt and, when they married in 2003, selected New Zealand for their honeymoon. One look and Sarah decided, “this is the place, let’s go!”

The trail led them to the Opportunities New Zealand Expo in London, and back they went again. And again. It’s a big deal moving half-way around the world to a new land and Ian and Sarah wanted to be as sure as they could that New Zealand would give them what they wanted. The expos were brilliant eye-openers. The first two left them feeling positive about the lifestyle and job opportunities and put Ian in contact with Debbie Graham and Associates. (It was this company that placed Ian in a top corporate job when he arrived in New Zealand two years later.)

But the timing wasn’t right for a move and it wasn’t until the third expo; encouraged by immigration officers that their qualifications and background made them outstanding prospects, the Wroes applied for visas and the project moved from “planning” to “all systems go”.

Sarah and Ian have no regrets about the adventure they’ve embarked on, loving the beaches and the great events and facilities provided for families. It is not always easy making friends in a new land and Ian says there have been times when it has been hard work. Ian and Sarah say that joining a church community was a critical part of their integration into New Zealand, as it helped them to meet people.

“We now have great friends who invite us to their family events as they know we might be missing out on our own family events back home.”