More people are making the move north without giving up their jobs. Remote work has made it possible to keep a city salary while living somewhere with more space, less traffic and a beach down the road. We asked Renata & Rory — a local couple who made the move from Tauranga — how it came together for them, what they built, and what life looks like now that their commute takes 30 seconds.

 

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 Which came first for you — wanting to live somewhere like this, or the chance to work remotely?

Wanting a quieter, simpler life was the dream. We wanted some land where we could build a small house and enjoy a slower pace of life. Making the transition to working remotely was part of what made that possible, and it was something that really appealed to both of us.

What had to fall into place to make it real?

The first step was getting our employers on board with us working remotely, which was actually a fairly easy conversation a couple of years after Covid. From there, it was all about finding the right area and eventually the right piece of land, while also selling our house in Tauranga. We then secured a rental nearby while our new home was being built. It was a lot of big life changes, but it all happened surprisingly quickly and relatively smoothly.

What made you choose this region specifically?

The weather and the beaches!

Tell me about your average weekday morning now versus your old one?

I used to get up much earlier to get ready for work, pack a lunch, and sit in rush-hour traffic. I always felt like I was racing the clock. Now my commute is about 30 seconds, which gives me a much slower, more peaceful start to the day.

Did the two of you adapt at the same pace, or did one of you take longer to settle?

I immediately loved working from home and have never looked back. Rory sometimes misses the banter and camaraderie of being in an office, but he travels back to Tauranga every few months to work in person, which has ended up being a great balance for him.

What drew you to the piece of land you chose — and how did working from home shape what you decided to build on it?

The established native bush and stream were huge drawcards for us. It also struck the perfect balance between rural living, which Rory was keen on, and still being close to basic amenities, which was important to me.

Originally, we planned to build a separate office pod once the house was finished, but we realised we didn’t actually need one. We installed a wall bed in the spare bedroom so I could use it as an office, while Rory set himself up in the garage. It has worked surprisingly well and saved us the cost of building an extra space.

One thing we did invest in was a solar system with battery backup. The power goes out more often than we expected up here, so knowing we can stay online and keep working without interruption has been well worth it.

How do you both work from home without driving each other crazy?

By having Rory work in the garage! Seriously though, when we first moved here and were living in a rental, our desks were only a few metres apart, and that was a little too close for comfort. Having some separation now gives us both the space we need and it’s made working from home together really enjoyable.

What surprised you — something you didn’t expect to love, or something harder than you’d planned for?

I didn’t realise just how much simpler life would feel up here. Having fewer options for things like shopping, dining out, and entertainment can sometimes feel limiting, but more often than not it helps us appreciate the simple things and avoid decision fatigue.

Now when we visit bigger cities, everything feels exciting and novel. We love making the most of it while we’re there, but after a few days we’re always ready to come back home to our little slice of paradise.