System Update

22/02/2026

The first quarter of 2024 nearly broke us. We were just over a year into life in New Zealand. In my mind, year two was meant to feel steadier. More stable. Like we were finally heading in the right…

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I’ve been sharing our story in phases. Not the polished version.Not the highlight reel.The real one. And if I’m honest, the first quarter of 2024 nearly …

21/02/2026

18/02/2026

💰 Investing as an Immigrant in New Zealand
One of the biggest questions I get asked is: “When should we start investing — and how does it even work in NZ?”

In today’s episode of our Migration & Money series, we unpack the investment side of the journey.
Because once you’ve:
Sorted your visa
Found work
Settled into a rental or bought a home

The next step is often… “How do we build wealth in this country?”
We talk about:
• When it makes sense to start investing
• KiwiSaver vs other options
• Common mistakes immigrants make
• How to think long-term in a new country

This is about building stability and freedom — not chasing quick wins.

If you’re serious about making New Zealand home, this conversation matters.

🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/BiJ2suefpyk?si=AImcCknuJFiteVHx

And if you want more practical guidance, community, and support:

👉 Join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle (Phase 1):
https://soft-landing-nz-inner-circle.circle.so/join?invitation_token=b52169333348318f4a7aae840151d25b63bf4452-673b663e-1c18-47a2-86dd-1563b14a921c

👉 Help us understand where you’re at in your journey so we can support you better:
https://forms.gle/qbbvMZW3ESvGFpEQ9

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

17/02/2026

It Was Never a Snap Decision

Immigration wasn’t a snap decision for us.

South Africa had — and still has — our hearts. It’s home. It’s family. It’s history. It’s everything familiar.

But as much as we loved where we were, we couldn’t ignore the direction things were heading. We started asking the harder questions:

What does the future look like for our kids?
Are we reacting out of fear — or acting for opportunity?

For us, it was about opportunity.

Not running away.
Not panic.
Not politics.

Opportunity.

England Was First, New Zealand wasn’t even the original plan.

We explored moving to England first. We did the research. We started planning. We were building momentum.

And then life threw something at us that stopped everything.

I was diagnosed with cancer.

When that happens, immigration plans suddenly don’t matter. Survival matters. Family matters. Health matters.

So we paused it all.

Restarting… Then Another Curveball

Eventually, after treatment and recovery, we began to restart the conversation.

We felt ready again. We were gaining traction. Exploring options. Talking through timelines.

And then we found out we were expecting our second child.

In the middle of a global pandemic.

Because of course we were.

It wasn’t the smooth, perfectly timed journey we imagined. It felt like every time we took two steps forward, something pushed us sideways.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

Life rarely gives you the “perfect window.”

Why New Zealand?

Somewhere along that unpredictable road, New Zealand moved from “interesting option” to “this feels right.”

It aligned with what we wanted:

Safety
Space
Opportunity
A different pace
A future we could see for our kids

It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t instant. It wasn’t glamorous.

But it was intentional. If You’re Still Deciding

If you’re in Phase 1 of your journey — still researching, still weighing things up, still wondering if it’s worth it — I want you to know:

It’s okay if it’s not clear yet.
It’s okay if it takes years.
It’s okay if life interrupts your plans.

Immigration isn’t a straight line.

Sometimes it’s pause.
Restart.
Rethink.
Redirect.

For us, all those twists led us here.

And this is where our new chapter began.

Making New Zealand home wasn’t a snap decision.

It was a deliberate one.

— Brett
Making New Zealand Home Together

Looking for support and a community in New Zealand?

Join our Soft Landing Inner Circle Community App.

Login to Soft Landing NZ Inner Circle community via email or SSO today.

16/02/2026

Thinking seriously about moving to New Zealand? If you're ready to make it home, we’ve built a private Inner Circle community just for you. Inside, you’ll find expert guidance every step of the way, immigration support, financial advice, MatchFamilies for forming connections, coaching and counselling as well as practical tools to help you settle. It’s all in one place, support in your pocket when you need it most. If you’re genuinely preparing for this move, this is where your journey gets the support it deserves.

Ready to join us? Let’s make New Zealand home, together.

Sign up HERE - https://soft-landing-nz-inner-circle.circle.so/checkout/soft-landing-nz-membership-plan-arrive-thrive-phase2

Not quite ready to commit to the paid community yet? No worries! There’s a free portion of the app as well. You can sign up for the free space, explore some resources, and see if this is the right fit for you.

We’re here to support your journey at whatever stage you’re at!

Free Access HERE - https://soft-landing-nz-inner-circle.circle.so/join?invitation_token=7faccef2d343142fc888bc9098dcd2fe4316123b-f48cfd76-b195-4189-ba0e-fd2b83da1b57

12/02/2026

January and February were like a whole year crammed into two months! Job hunting, my daughter's kindy struggles, son's birthday... and then packing and house-hunting on top of it all? It felt like a deck of cards collapsing. Anyone else ever been there? What did you do?

11/02/2026

We were assured adopting my nephew would be simple and quick! HA! Turns out, life had other plans. Juggling a new job, a memorial, finding a new place, and THEN navigating the adoption process? It was a wild ride! But hey, at least it's a good story now, right?

10/02/2026

We're diving headfirst into adopting my nephew, all while juggling paperwork and the reality of my sister-in-law's illness. Talk about a plot twist! Oranga Tamariki (NZ's children's ministry) became our new best friend as we prepped for the adoption rollercoaster. Turns out, legally adopting him was the only way to get him here on our visas.

09/02/2026

So, picture this: We're diving headfirst into adopting my nephew, all while juggling paperwork and the reality of my sister-in-law's illness. Oranga Tamariki (NZ's children's ministry) became our new best friend as we prepped for the adoption rollercoaster. Turns out, legally adopting him was the only way to get him here on our visas. Get ready for the emotional ride!