When your child needs hospital care, nothing else matters. In this episode, I share our family’s personal experience at Starship Hospital in Auckland, one of New Zealand’s leading children’s hospitals.

From the emotional toll to the incredible support from staff, I open up about what it’s really like when your child needs urgent care in a new country. I also talk about how New Zealand’s children’s hospital system works, what immigrant families should expect, and how you can prepare if you ever face this situation.

Whether you’re already in New Zealand or planning your move, this is an honest look at a side of life many don’t think about — but every parent should know.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Our daughter’s Starship Hospital story

• How children’s hospitals work in New Zealand

• The challenges (and relief) of getting care as a parent

• What immigrant families should expect if their child needs medical attention

✨ If you’re immigrating to New Zealand, or already settling here, I hope this episode gives you reassurance and practical insight.

Stay Connected Follow my Soft Landing podcast and subscribe to my YouTube channel @softlandingnz for real stories, walkthroughs, and practical tips for newcomers to New Zealand. 📍 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

📄 Description: “If you’re starting a new life in New Zealand, you might face an unexpected challenge, immigration grief and in this video I share my experience and tips.”

We talk about the waves of loss, the identity shifts, and the moments of doubt that can catch you by surprise, even when moving to a place you love. You’ll hear practical ways to navigate these feelings, find your footing, and start truly making New Zealand your home.

Whether you’ve just arrived or have been here for years, this conversation will help you feel seen, understood, and supported.

Listen now and discover you’re not alone in this journey.

Stay Connected Follow my Soft Landing podcast and subscribe to my YouTube channel @softlandingnz for real stories, walkthroughs, and practical tips for newcomers to New Zealand.📍 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

New Zealand's national suicide prevention training: https://www.lifekeepers.nz/need-to-talk

From ACC to KiwiSaver — The Financial Safety Nets Every Immigrant Should Know About

Moving to New Zealand means starting fresh and that includes understanding how to protect your health, income, and future in a new system. In this episode of Soft Landing, I take you through the key financial safety nets and insurance options that help provide stability and peace of mind once you've started to settle in.

Whether you're a few months into your immigration journey or already working and building your life here, this episode will give you the practical knowledge to make smarter decisions for yourself and your family.

I cover:

• 🛟 ACC: What it does and doesn’t cover

• 🏥 Public vs. Private Health Insurance: Is Southern Cross worth it?

• 💸 Income Protection & Trauma Cover: Why it matters and how to get it

• 🔐 Life Insurance & Redundancy Cover: Who needs it and when

• 💰 KiwiSaver: What it is, how it works, and when you can use it

• 📈 Other Investments: Building a safety net for the future

I’m not a financial advisor, and this episode isn’t financial advice it’s just my real-life experience, the lessons I've learned, and the systems I now use to protect my family here in Aotearoa.

If you're working toward financial stability, planning your future, or just wondering what these terms mean in the New Zealand context, this episode is for you.

Stay Connected Follow my Soft Landing podcast and subscribe to my YouTube channel @softlandingnz for real stories, walkthroughs, and practical tips for newcomers to New Zealand. 📍 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

In this powerful episode of Soft Landing, I interview Andre Cronje, a South African immigrant who arrived in New Zealand with just $3,000, two suitcases, and no job and went on to become a general manager at a leading defense company within four years.

Andre shares his step-by-step journey: from door-to-door sales to senior leadership, using smart CV strategies, skill stacking, and understanding the hidden rules of New Zealand’s job market. Whether you’re applying from overseas or already in NZ and struggling to land that first interview, this conversation is packed with practical advice and hard-earned wisdom.

What you'll learn:

• How to tailor your CV to pass NZ recruitment filters

• Why culture fit often matters more than qualifications

• The real reason cover letters and one-page CVs matter

• What "skill stacking" is and how it can transform your job prospects

• How to adapt your communication style for Kiwi workplaces

This is a must-listen for new immigrants and job seekers alike. Subscribe and share it with anyone trying to land that all-important first job in New Zealand.

Stay Connected

Follow my Soft Landing podcast and subscribe to my YouTube channel @softlandingnz for real stories, walkthroughs, and practical tips for newcomers to New Zealand.

📍 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

In this honest episode of Soft Landing, I break down the current state of the New Zealand job market and why so many people, especially migrants, are finding it incredibly hard to land interviews and secure work.

We talk about:

• Why unemployment has risen from 3% to 5%

• The impact of the recent recession and economic slowdown

• Why employers are hesitant to hire offshore

• What this means for migrants, job seekers, and families already in NZ

It's not all doom and gloom, there is hope. I share some real talk, context, and perspective to help you better understand what’s happening on the ground and what you can focus on while things shift.

Whether you're still overseas or already here trying to find your feet, this episode is for you.

Stay Connected

Follow my Soft Landing podcast and subscribe to my YouTube channel @softlandingnz for real stories, walkthroughs, and practical tips for newcomers to New Zealand.

📍 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

In this episode, I share how I hit a turning point after our first year in New Zealand, when survival mode started to fade and bigger questions began to surface:

👉 Why am I here? 👉 What is my purpose? 👉 How do I design a life that feels intentional, not just busy?

I walk you through:

• My honest struggles post-immigration 

• The exact questions I asked myself to become more self-aware

• How I defined my personal purpose and mission

• A powerful tool called the Wheel of Life to plan goals across all areas of your life

• My step-by-step process to get the noise out of my head and into an actionable life plan

💡 Whether you're new to New Zealand or simply feeling stuck in the "what now?" stage of life, this episode will give you the clarity and structure to reconnect with your why — and start building a life you love.

📝 Download the FREE workbook to guide your own purpose and goal-setting journey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe97JQPnNitrYJ8vYWBDBmUDI_fnP9FaC24hDtsz8efDEUdTw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=112837948330544769666 

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major platforms.

🟣 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/soft-landing/id1805477245

🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5t3FeTxjNup90JfemCzkH0?si=0IsIieMqTfGB2-vGfv1uVg

🔴 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@softlandingnz 

Soft Landing NZ—Making New Zealand Home.

SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

📩 Share this with someone who needs clarity, direction, or encouragement today.

🎙️ Episode 13: The DUI That Almost Cost Him New Zealand

Description: What happens when one bad decision behind the wheel puts your entire future in New Zealand at risk? In this deeply personal episode of Soft Landing, I sit down with a close friend who shares his raw and honest story of getting caught driving under the influence (DUI) in New Zealand.

He opens up about the moment he was pulled over, the stress of going through the legal system, and how the incident rippled through every part of his life—his visa, job, family, and mental health. It's a cautionary tale that every immigrant, newcomer, and long-term resident needs to hear.

We cover:

• What actually happens when you're charged with a DUI in NZ

• The emotional and legal impact on visa holders

• How it affected his career and personal life

• A powerful message for anyone thinking “it’ll never happen to me”

Whether you’re new to New Zealand or you’ve been here for years, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more.

🟣 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/soft-landing/id1805477245

🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5t3FeTxjNup90JfemCzkH0?si=0IsIieMqTfGB2-vGfv1uVg

🔴 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@softlandingnz 

New Zealand's national suicide prevention training:

https://www.lifekeepers.nz/ 

In this candid episode of Soft Landing NZ, I open up about the first scam that caught me off guard soon after arriving in New Zealand. From a convincing “NZ Post” text demanding I pay a small delivery fee, to the moment I realized I’d been scammed out of $1000, you’ll hear the full story of how I fell victim, what went wrong, and how it felt discovering I’d been duped.

I share 10 practical tips you can use right now to protect yourself and your family (whānau).

https://www.actnowstaysecure.gov.au/cyber-safe-actions 

1. Verify the Sender: Always check the official domain or phone number before replying.

2. Never Tap Unexpected Links: Go directly to the organisation’s website or app instead.

3. Watch for Urgent Threats: Scammers use fear; genuine services don’t demand immediate payment.

4. Inspect URLs Carefully: Hover on desktop or press-and-hold on mobile to preview the real address.

5. Enable 2FA Everywhere: A second factor stops scammers even if they get your password.

6. Use Official Apps: Download NZ Post, AT, and bank apps only from trusted app stores.

7. Block & Report: Forward suspicious texts and report to orginisation they impersonating.

8. Keep Software Updated: Patch operating systems and antivirus to close security holes.

9. Limit Personal Info on Social Media: Scammers often mine your profiles for clues.

10. Educate Your Family: Share these tips with family and friends to build a scam-aware community.

🔗 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, and take control of your online safety in New Zealand. 📺 YouTube Channel: @softlandingnz 🎙️ Soft Landing NZ—Making New Zealand Home.

In this special episode, I sit down with my wife to talk through one of the most important parts of relocating as a family—getting your kids enrolled in school in New Zealand.

We share our real experience, what caught us off guard, and what we wish we had known before arriving/enrolling the kids. From understanding school zones and year levels, to navigating enrolment paperwork.

💬 In this episode, we cover:

• Public vs semi private schools in NZ

• The importance of school zoning

• How the school levels work (starting age)

• Uniforms, stationery, and school donations

• Managing the communication from schools

• What’s different from the education system back home (SA)

• What we feel is important to consider/keep in mind

If you're a parent preparing to move or recently arrived in New Zealand, this episode will help you feel more informed, more confident, and better prepared when it comes to choosing and enrolling your children in school.

NZ Ministry of Education website has a lot of resources for you to research

YouTube Channel:    / @softlandingnz   

Full Tutroial on how much is costs to live in New Zealand - https://bit.ly/45C3eSL 

In this episode, I share the emotional side of immigrating to New Zealand, the part we don’t always talk about. Yes, I love this beautiful country and all it offers. But starting over in a new country, far from family, familiar places, and support systems, can be incredibly hard.

From unexpected loneliness to the quiet pressure of "making it work," this episode is for anyone who has ever smiled on the outside while struggling on the inside.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed, uncertain, or even just exhausted while settling in to your new country, you’re not alone and you’re not doing it wrong.

1. “It’s okay to grieve what you left behind.” Give yourself space to miss the familiar—this is part of adjusting, not weakness.

2. “You don’t need to have it all figured out yet.” You just need the next step. Focus on progress, not perfection.

3. “Feeling lonely doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice.” Loneliness is a phase, not a verdict. Community will come, keep showing up.

4. “You belong here, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.” You don’t have to ‘earn’ your place. You’re allowed to take up space and feel at home.

5. “Asking for help is a strength.” Don’t suffer in silence, even if you just speak about your challenges, it helps.

🧡 You’re not alone. And you’re doing better than you think.

YouTube Channel:    / @softlandingnz   

Full Tutroial on how much is costs to live in New Zealand - https://bit.ly/45C3eSL