The Oldest Man Moving To New Zealand

A recent news story of a man aged 102 who is moving to New Zealand to live out the twilight of his years.

Recently Britain saw its oldest migrant set sail from the shores of blighty, moving to a new life in New Zealand. His main reason for moving was because England was too crowded and the wide open spaces in New Zealand appealed to him. Eric King Turner at the ripe old age of 102 is moving with his wife Doris on an unforgettable journey that will enrich his life. Setting out from Southampton on a twelve thousand mile cruise to his new country of residence this adventure would almost equal his time in the Second World War as a dental surgeon on the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable.

Mr King Turner was extremely excited on his departure, saying that moving to New Zealand was a new adventure. His advice to others who may be contemplating moving was to grasp the chance and do it straight away. His zest for life is enviable, but this enthusiasm should enable him to fit in perfectly into the Kiwi way of life. His main concern is that he didn't want to be 105 still thinking about moving; certainly the phrase 'carpe diem' applies to this adventurous and energetic man, 102 years young.

When asked about his moving plans Mr King Turner said that the way of life in New Zealand was much the same as in Britain. The main attractions for him were the reduced levels of crowding and the better weather, something most Britons would sympathise with I am sure.

Mr King Turner may well have a point about Britain being to crowded, the office of National Statistics have recently released figures that show England to be the most overcrowded nation in Europe, overtaking Belgium and France. Seemingly he may be old but his savvy with population trends has not faded.

On leaving his home nation for his new life in New Zealand he said despite moving he was still an 'Englishman through and through' and he would still miss things in his home nation such as his friends. It is doubtful the Kiwis will see a large influx of OAPs invading their shores however, Mr King Turner would not have normally been viable for emigration but his wife was born in New Zealand and hence his application was successful. It took a total of five months for the pair to fill out the relevant forms and all that was left to do was get on with the process of moving. He still however had to undergo proof of his good health before his application would be accepted.

In the process of application for the eventual moving date he did not have to give his age, he just had to show that he would have the financial means to support his new life. The happy couple have only been married for twelve years after they met in New Zealand whilst Mr King Turner was on holiday. Strangely they already had the same surname, Doris being of the New Zealand King Turners. On meeting they decided on moving to England to get married but have had a change of heart.

This heart warming story is only a small part of the large number of people moving to New Zealand. With many trades and professions in high demand, a wide variety of people are deciding to make the move. I for one can not blame them, with better weather, the glorious scenery and the unique way of life it can be considered a smart move. With fantastic opportunities awaiting migrants it is certain that many will follow Mr King Turner's enterprising lead.

About the author: Migration expert Thomas Pretty recounts the exploits of Britain's oldest migrant moving to New Zealand and how his move is only a small part of the larger emigration picture.