ABOUT
Effy is originally from Essex in England. She finished university in 2015 (where she studied Business Management) and worked in London for a year before deciding to go travelling!
Moving to Tauranga
When and why did you move to Tauranga?
I kept feeling the nudge to go and knew there was more to life than working and climbing the corporate ladder. I travelled around Asia and Australia before moving to New Zealand in 2018. My partner and I lived in Queenstown and Wellington (which are both AMAZING) before moving to Tauranga in December 2022 to be closer to my partner’s family (who are also English!). I worked a few different temporary and permanent jobs that I found through recruitment agencies. In 2022 I trained to become a Holistic Health & Life Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and I now work mostly online supporting women to improve their physical health, shift their mindset to enjoy their life more and create a life they LOVE!
How did you get set up? (phone plan, bank ..)
We arranged an appointment with Vodafone and with ANZ bank as soon as we arrived in New Zealand to get a sim and a bank card. Friends that had arrived before us secured us a private room at a hostel, but you can book most accomodation online. When we moved to Tauranga we
decided to try out house and pet sitting through the kiwi house sitters website and we have been doing it ever since! We provide animal, house and plant care in exchange for free accommodation. We’ve stayed in some beautiful houses and locations and looked after some very entertaining animals!
What surprised you about life there?
We LOVE the beach and activities that happen around Tauranga. There is a good spiritual community with lots of wellness activities for the mind, body and soul such as breathwork, cacao ceremonies, ecstatic dance, yoga, surfing and climbing.
What specifically is Tauranga famous for?
The beaches, surfing and the walk up Mount Maunganui with beautiful views! It has the largest shipping port in the country and people regularly visit here on cruises.
Living in Tauranga
Drop the knowledge here What apps and websites do you find useful in your daily life in Tauranga?
-First table: book the first table in a restaurant and receive 50% off your food!
-Kiwi house sitters for finding house and pet sitting opportunities
-Conscious Tauranga Facebook page for conscious events in the area
-Kiwi house sitters for finding house and pet sitting opportunities
-Conscious Tauranga Facebook page for conscious events in the area
What are your favorite places in Tauranga?
– Mount Maunganui beaches, one side is calm where you can paddle board and the other side has amazing waves!
– Mount Maunganui hill walk, it’s only about half an hour to the top with beautiful views!
– House of Yoga for amazing classes and teachers
– The Little Big Markets with food, clothes, crystals, art and so much more!
– Mount Maunganui hill walk, it’s only about half an hour to the top with beautiful views!
– House of Yoga for amazing classes and teachers
– The Little Big Markets with food, clothes, crystals, art and so much more!
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Tauranga?
As we house sit our expenses are significantly reduced, I spend around $80 per week on food, $50 per week on petrol and $50 per week on an activity or eating out. I am quite minimalistic but if you are looking to rent and engage in activities then you might want to have $700-1000 NZD per week. It’s hard to say as it really depends on what each individual person needs and enjoys.
What's on your list of favorite restaurants and cafés in Tauranga?
– Falafel Metro
– Gratitude cafe for vegetarian brunch and cabinet food
– Umami Fusion Kitchen
– Viet Lane Thai
– Gratitude cafe for vegetarian brunch and cabinet food
– Umami Fusion Kitchen
– Viet Lane Thai
Final Thoughts
Do you feel safe as a woman living in Tauranga?
Yes I feel extremely safe in New Zealand!
What do you know about music from Tauranga?
There are often music festivals in Tauranga / Mount Maunganui such as Bay Dreams and One Love. You can find live music and smaller gigs in pubs and bars.
What are some disadvantages to living in Tauranga?
It’s so lovely to live here but the public transport isn’t amazing so we find ourselves driving quite a lot which can be more expensive.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people?
I made like-minded friends quite easily by going to events that interested me and reaching out to friends of friends online. I do have many expat friends but a few kiwis too!
What are your plans for the future?
I’m working to empower more women to follow what lights them up, to remove any rules they feel they “should” follow and to create the life they truly desire! I believe obstacles and physical symptoms appear when we are out of alignment and they are opportunities to learn more about ourselves. When we are connected to our desires and when we love and believe in ourselves there is a beautiful ripple effect in our lives and in the world!
Thank you so much Effy for sharing this amazing experience with us! I will definitely go back to this if I visit New Zealand to check out your recommendations!
Instagram: empoweredwitheffy
Email: hello@empoweredwitheffy.com
Website: www.empoweredwitheffy.com
Instagram: empoweredwitheffy
Email: hello@empoweredwitheffy.com
Website: www.empoweredwitheffy.com
