Expect far greater difficulty in entering NZ, OP. The emergence of new cases this week has many Kiwis criticizing how the government allowed family and even citizen entry earlier. After the re-emergence of the virus now it's likely that even a citizen like your DH would have to jump through even more hoops to re-enter, and who knows if you as a foreign born spouse would ever get in. (Source--friends in NZ.) Unfortunately the window for moving there may be shut to you now. I would still want to go, in your shoes--they still will handle outbreaks better than we do here.

Anonymous wrote:One of my friends is a medical researcher who is a U.S. citizen but in demand enough to open doors. She is moving with her family to Germany this month and plans to stay for a year. They all have to get tested and quarantine for a few weeks - no big deal.

She lost her parent to Covid-19 and decided to leave the country, taking her substantial abilities with her. I will miss her.

This is a trickle now, but all kinds of scientists are thinking about leaving, especially foreign citizens.

Don’t think America’s science and tech advantage can’t be ruined.
Germany was a science powerhouse before WWII, and even in the 30s huge numbers of smart people left.
That’s what eliminated German as the language of science. English stepped up to fill the role.

Yes I would do it.
Worth it for the experience abroad and relative normalcy.
As for being behind, plenty of tutors are working online now. Just make sure they get ~2 hours in a day on math and another core subject. Reading lots of books in everything else (science, history).

I would personally go with them if at all possible.

No way I’d send my kids to a new country and a new school without me for a year. If your husband can afford to retire you should be able to take a leave of absence from your job. Sounds like a great plan IF you were going too. Otherwise, nope.

Schools in Auckland are closed today due to community transmission.

This article illustrates the problem that non-NZ spouses are having joining their family.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12353632

How is your husband able to retire but you can’t afford to be with yours kids for a year?
Do your kids like this idea?
I might do it but I wouldn’t assume you can see your family when you want, especially with how difficult things might get here politically .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate to say this, and confer with your DH for his opinion, but I would be concerned about how your kids would be treated in school with American accents. The vitriol I'm reading against returning ex-pat NZers, let alone those who don't sound like NZers, is alarming.

Where are you reading this? Kiwis are generally kind and understanding people. They don't judge Americans for our idiot politicians, and know that their government requires a quarantine.

But it certainly could happen. I'd have a bailout plan.

Here's an article about NZ expats

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/08/covid-19-new-zealand-expats-forced-to-seek-mental-health-support-after-quarantine-fees-introduced.html

Anonymous wrote:I would move myself and my whole family to NZ permanently if I could. Why not OP?

Again....OP is not talking about moving "herself and her whole family." Her husband would move there with the children and she would stay in the US for her job. She thinks she would visit them next Christmas, which some here are warning is not necessarily going to happen easily, if at all.

OP, please update. What are you and DH thinking of doing?

I would do it if I could!