Relocation in New Zealand: Why I moved to ... Whanganui from Christchurch

Fin Ocheduszko-Brown exploring the Whanganui countryside (known as the parapara).

In this series, the Herald speaks to people who moved to a different part of New Zealand to find out why they relocated and what they love about their new home.

We know Kiwis are crossing the ditch (48,000 in the year ending June 2025), but they’re also moving down the road and around the bend.

The latest Census statistics show that one in 10 people lived in a different New Zealand region in 2023 from where they lived in 2018.

For one young Cantabrian, it was the promise of a great job opportunity and the appeal of a smaller-city lifestyle that made him take a leap of faith.

A ‘hectic’ two-week turnaround

In November 2024, Fin Ocheduszko-Brown moved to Whanganui from Christchurch.

Fresh out of university and eager for a job in journalism, the 22-year-old started applying for reporting roles across the country.

“Once the call came through from the Whanganui Chronicle that the job was mine if I wanted it, I snapped up the opportunity.”

While he “probably would’ve stayed in Christchurch if a job had come up straight away”, Ocheduszko-Brown wanted to start up his career as soon as possible, and, “to put it plainly, [I] didn’t care where that took me”.

Besides the job opportunity, Ocheduszko-Brown also wanted to challenge himself.

“To move cities, let alone islands, was a big move for me, but I had always wanted to give the smaller-city lifestyle a try.”

Whanganui's Drews Ave has a lot of artistic charm, says Fin Ocheduszko-Brown.

Moving across the Cook Strait wasn’t a drawn-out process. After accepting the role, he had two weeks to resign from part-time work, book a ferry, find a temporary home in Whanganui and finish his last two weeks of assignments.

“It was pretty hectic, and I had to go gung-ho. I remember handing in my last assignment on the Friday and by Monday I was sitting at my desk in Whanganui as a full-time multimedia journalist.”

Ocheduszko-Brown’s parents and girlfriend helped him move up and then made their own way back a day later.

‘The tall poppy syndrome isn’t as strong’

He quickly found things to love about Whanganui and its surrounding areas.

“As a South Island man, I think the entire West Coast of the North Island is a bit underrated,” he says.

“My favourite thing about Whanganui is its heritage buildings and art scene. Drews Ave is particularly stunning, with the perfect mix of street art, cool shops, beautiful pastel-coloured buildings and greenery. It gets a plus-one for consisting of the old Chronicle building too.”

The Saturday Whanganui River Market is also “the perfect start to a weekend”, and Lake Virginia and Tarapuruhi Bushy Park sanctuary are also great spots that Ocheduszko-Brown enjoys.

Now, about 18 months after the move, he says the work-life balance, sense of community and feeling of belonging are three big things that are better in Whanganui compared to his hometown.

“I feel like in Christchurch, lots of jobs are competitive and require maximum effort, which can be said for any job anywhere, but Whanganui does it well. The fact that most jobs are probably 10 minutes maximum from people’s homes helps with this too.

“In Christchurch, if you work in the city and live in an outer suburb such as Sumner, New Brighton or Halswell, you have that added 45-minute drive home in some cases, which takes away your evening to do other things.”

Street art in the Whanganui CBD.

The sense of community the city fosters almost feels the same as just one big suburb in Christchurch, he says.

“Everyone is there to help each other. As a journalist, I witness it first-hand with the likes of Givealittle pages set up for people struggling, and support for athletes, businesspeople. The tall poppy syndrome is not as strong here.

“In a big city like Christchurch, you can sometimes feel like a cog in the machine; it can be tough to feel like enough when there are so many people in the place you live. With Whanganui, there is a sense of belonging that may be hard to find, particularly with the likes of similarly populated small cities or big towns.”

No city is ever perfect, and Ocheduszko-Brown says he hears from community members about the challenges Whanganui faces.

“I’ve heard a few parents and kids complain about the lack of activities to do,” he says.

“For kids, I think making use of free activities only lasts a certain time. In terms of activities to pay for, the places that come to my head are the arcade and cinema. While the arcade has a bowling alley and mini golf, I think Whanganui could benefit from stand-alone facilities.”

Traffic, cost of living and gas

Rush hour in Whanganui lasts only a matter of minutes, Ocheduszko-Brown says.

“It makes me laugh when my friends in Whanganui complain about it taking them eight or nine minutes to get from their work. The traffic is so close to non-existent here that I automatically assume there is an accident up ahead if there are more than five cars in front of me moving slowly.”

Ocheduszko-Brown says he can get three to four weeks out of a full tank of fuel.

Fin Ocheduszko-Brown with his parents after playing for Steelform Whanganui heartland side.

While he is flatting with three other young professionals, he’s noticed the Whanganui housing market is a lot cheaper than in Christchurch.

“Housing and living weren’t a driving force for me moving to Whanganui, but I could absolutely understand if it is for other people. I’m a sucker for a Victorian-style house, and Whanganui is full of them.

“My flat, given the neighbourhood it is in and the size of it, would easily be worth around $1 million if it were in Christchurch, but it is only worth $600,000.”

‘People know people’

While general lifestyle changes have been minimal for Ocheduszko-Brown, it has been an adjustment living away from his family and friends.

“I do miss my family and friends from time to time. Only recently has my girlfriend moved up to start working here, which has been exciting. Prior to that, it has been 18 months of living two lives in a way which has its ups and downs.”

But he says there is never more than five weeks where someone comes for a weekend to visit or he visits Christchurch.

“I certainly miss my parents’ dog the most as he can’t register a Facetime call like everyone else, so I try to feed my love of dogs in various ways in Whanganui.”

Fin Ocheduszko-Brown is loving his new hometown.

He says “people know people in Whanganui”, which has its pros and cons.

“I think fostering connections as a 23-year-old in Whanganui has its challenges. It doesn’t help that outside of work, I am a bit of an introvert, and it took a lot of pushing from my family and partner to really get ‘out there’.”

But once you find a person or two, he says the circle grows and grows, and you eventually have a whole heap of friends and associates to connect with. All-in-all, he loves what the city has to offer.

“It was a decision that was made on somewhat of a whim, but I know I have developed as a person and as a journalist. I would absolutely recommend moving to Whanganui.

“I think it has the potential to be an even more attractive place for young people and families to move to in the future, with ample opportunity for people and families to grow here and make it their forever home.”