A selection of posting from threads on various expat forums in which people talk about how moving to New Zealand has been like economic suicide for them:

This wasn’t supposed to happen
“NZ is NOT a bed of roses and nice scenery doesnt pay the bills. There are lots of lovely places in NZ but at the moment i cant afford the petrol to go and see them. You WILL earn a LOT LESS down here and the cost of living is equal if not higher than that of the uk.”

“Coming to New Zealand has been economic suicide for us. I have asked before, but still don’t understand how Kiwi’s manage to run the toys you see on the beach and on the roads.I simply don’t understand how they do it on the average NZ income.”