While many Londoners might lament the daily grind, one new arrival is busy championing her decision to call the capital home. Vita Molyneux, a travel reporter, relocated from New Zealand to London in March 2024, trading pristine landscapes for urban energy—and she insists it was the right move.
Escaping the 'Double-Edged Sword' of a Small Community
Molyneux points to the sheer scale of London as a primary draw. While New Zealand, or Aotearoa, has a landmass similar to Britain's, its population of roughly 5.4 million is dwarfed by London's 9 million residents. She describes a culture in New Zealand where 'two degrees of separation' is a constant reality, creating a tight-knit but sometimes stifling community. "I wanted to experience the anonymity that such a massive city like London provides," she explains, valuing the freedom that comes with urban life.
The Shocking State of Housing: From Damp to Double Glazing
One of the most tangible improvements for Molyneux has been the quality of housing. As a lifelong renter in New Zealand, she grew accustomed to properties that were "cold, damp, and riddled with mould," often making her ill during wet winters. Central heating was non-existent and double-glazed windows were unheard of. In contrast, her London home offers these basics as standard, a simple luxury that significantly boosts her quality of life and leaves her puzzled by local complaints about housing.
Career Doors and a World on Your Doorstep
The professional landscape was another major factor. When Molyneux left, New Zealand's media industry was "on its knees," with closures making her career path precarious. The UK, she found, offered a "much more diverse range of opportunities" across almost every sector, typically with better pay. Furthermore, the geographical shift has been transformative. "New Zealand is at the very bottom of the world," she notes, where international travel is expensive and exhausting. From her new base in London, she has visited Greece, Spain, Portugal, New Orleans, and Austria within a single year.
Molyneux concludes with affection for her homeland but a clear-eyed view of its challenges. She feels New Zealand is often romanticised, obscuring a reality that can be "difficult, expensive and crowded." While she will always return to connect with the whenua (land), she now feels "extremely lucky" to also call England home, viewing her move not just as a change, but as a comprehensive upgrade.
