I am a born and bred Capetonian and I too left about 10 years ago. I remember saying years ago that I would never leave South Africa. I had friends go to Australia and Canada while I was at primary school during the 70's and high school during the 80's. I only ever heard of people going to New Zealand about 11 years ago when my cousin left. Today there are thousands of South Africans in New Zealand.

At that time I had absolutely no intentions of leaving South Africa. I absolutely loved the place and still do to this day. If I look back and ask myself why exactly I left? I have to be very honest with you and say it was because of boredom and a serious lack of travel. Bored with my job and the day to day drone life can have at times.

My intention was to come and live here for a couple of years and then move on. With a daughter at primary school and trying to get ahead in life it's not quite that easy to just pack up and go back home or to another country a second time without any regard for your child's schooling stability and putting down some roots somewhere.

If you are thinking of immigrating consider your child's age and schooling and try and make the move before they go to primary school or at the latest a couple of years into primary school as the younger the child the easier they adapt. Or after primary before they go to intermediate or high school. Just a point to consider.

I won't go into all the reasons why South Africans immigrate all over the world, we have been doing it for decades during the old dispensation and now sadly during the new South Africa too. I think this topic has run it's course and if you want to go then go if you want to stay then stay. One thing I profusely dislike and it happens a lot by South Africans overseas is, a large portion, not everyone, feels that they have to run there home country down in an attempt to justify their reasons for leaving.

When asked why you've left South Africa, think about your response and what negative perceptions you are painting. After all, there are people back home working very hard to project a positive perception. I won't say anymore on the topic as I know it is a very debatable one.

South Africans in New Zealand please take this poll as a matter of interest for us living here and any future immigrants. I will in time be adding more content and hopefully have a nice amount of resources and opinions available.