In March 2024, Vita Molyneux made a life-altering choice. She packed her bags, said goodbye to New Zealand's famous landscapes and relaxed pace, and boarded a plane bound for London with no job lined up and a heart full of trepidation.
Now, over a year later, the travel reporter confidently calls it the best decision she has ever made. Yet, she remains perpetually surprised by the reaction she gets from British people when she reveals her origins.
The Question Every Brit Asks
The most common reaction Vita receives is sheer disbelief. Upon learning she is from Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand), locals invariably pose the same question: "Why on earth did you leave New Zealand for this?". She estimates she's been asked this a hundred times.
Her initial flippant response of "Why not?" has evolved into a more considered reflection on the powerful drivers behind her move. While New Zealand holds a romanticised, idyllic reputation globally, Vita's reality was different, prompting a search for change.
Seeking Anonymity and Opportunity
Vita cites three core reasons for her relocation. First was a desire for the anonymity that a mega-city provides. New Zealand, with a population of just 5.4 million, operates on a principle of "two degrees of separation." In contrast, London alone is home to around nine million people.
"In New Zealand, no matter where you go or what you do, someone you know is bound to hear about it," she explains. The close-knit community, while wonderful, felt restrictive. London offered a chance to be just another face in the crowd.
The second reason was professional. When Vita left, New Zealand's media industry was contracting, with outlets closing and career prospects looking precarious. The UK, and London in particular, presented a far broader spectrum of opportunities across nearly all sectors, often with better remuneration and an improved quality of life as a result.
Escaping 'Shockingly Bad' Housing and Exploring the World
The third major factor was the standard of housing. As a lifelong renter in New Zealand, Vita grew weary of properties that were expensive yet often cold, damp, and mould-ridden. Central heating was a rarity and double-glazed windows were something she'd never encountered, with her homes regularly making her ill during wet winters.
Finally, like many Antipodean expats, she was drawn by the UK's proximity to Europe. "Living in the UK puts Europe at your fingertips," she states. While she passionately believes New Zealand is the most beautiful country in the world, its remote location makes international travel costly and exhausting. Since moving to London, she has visited Greece, Spain, Portugal, New Orleans, and Austria all within a single year.
Vita Molyneux concludes that while New Zealand will always be a spiritual home she longs to return to, she feels incredibly fortunate to also call England home. Her journey underscores that the search for career growth, personal freedom, and new experiences often leads people far from their picturesque roots.
