New Zealand has retired to Malaysia for hot weather, low cost of living

Ten years ago, Jill Tozer packed his bags, said goodbye to his daughters and moved alone to Penang, a state in northwestern Malaysia.

Former physiotherapist, Tozer was born and grew up in New Zealand. She had lived in Christchurch for years, In a four -bedroom house that she rented. She lived with one of her daughters and her boyfriend. His other daughter was absent from university.

In 2011, an earthquake reduced a large part of the city of Christchurch to the rubble. Tozer’s activities have also been assigned.

“I was at a crossroads in jobs because the earthquakes had somehow finished what I was trying to settle at the time,” said tozer, now 68, business insider.

“I climbed the figures and I thought, I would better stay in New Zealand and pay ridiculous amounts to rent, not be able to get a well-paid job, or come to Malaysia and live placement income? I thought I might be better here,” she said.

The idea of ​​retiring in Malaysia was in his mind for years.

Tozer had been there before visiting her friends, and she wants to come back every time she came back from her trips.

“I would be back in New Zealand thinking:” Oh, Heather and John are always sitting on their porch, having a sunset every night of the year. And I’m inside, huddled next to the fire, freezing, “said Tozer.” And so I thought, yes, I would like to try. “

A windy apartment with sea views

Tozer had moved abroad once before – in Canada – when she had their twenties.

Even so, it was intimidating to start again. This time, it also meant leaving her two adult daughters behind.

“But my eldest daughter said,” Mom, go for three months, and if you don’t like it, get home and look at her as if you were having a good holiday. “And I thought it was a good way to look at it.

“But 10 years later, I’m still there,” she added.

The apartment hunting process was fluid. In a week after his arrival in Malaysia, Tozer found an apartment that meets all his requirements.

“I found an agent, and she spent two days taking me.

After seeing about eight different units, she decided a three -bedroom apartment in Tanjung Tokong, a neighborhood near the capital of Penang, George Town.

It is 1,200 square feet, with a small balcony and two additional rooms so that his daughters or friends can stay when they visit. The rent is 2,000 Malaysian ringgit, around $ 450 per month.

She had the sea view she wanted, and the nearest grocery store is five minutes away.

A slower life, but with “a lot” to do

Tozer is on Malaysia my second house, or MM2H, visa, which was introduced in 2002 to attract foreigners who wish to retire and live in the country.

There were 58,468 MM2H2H passes in the country from December, Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture said, King Sing said in a parliamentary response on February 24.

For Tozer, one of the greatest advantages of life in Malaysia was the climate.

“The main reason I am here is for time. I love never being cold,” said Tozer. “I love being able to leave my doors and my windows open day and night. I love being able to swim at any time.”

She also says that the community has been inclusive and welcoming.

“In New Zealand, as in many Western countries, the elderly are a bit invisible, but here you get more respect. People are actually nice to you, you notice and want to help you,” said Tozer.

The cost of living less help, said tozer. Its monthly subsistence costs, including bills and food, are often less than 4,000 Malaysian ringgit. This does not include extras, such as travel costs if it decides to make a trip somewhere.

“Food for me is very cheap. I don’t eat meat, dairy products, cheese or something like the one that is imported and expensive,” said tozer, adding that she eats three or four times a week.

His life here is also much slower than before, in part because it is completely retired. However, she says that there are “many” things to do that keep her busy.

“Yoga, swimming. Play Mahjong. Play Bridge. There is so much to do,” she said. “It’s so pleasant to be able to meet people without having to worry:” Oh my God, how much will it cost? “”

Even if she didn’t know anyone in Penang when she arrived, it was not difficult to find her community.

She joined Facebook groups Expat and began to attend meetings organized by her colleagues. She is always a friend with some of the people she met during her very first event.

Decide the next step

While MM2H has made Malaysia an attractive place for expatriates, the most recent changes of rules, announced in 2024, included more strict financial requirements.

There are now three different visa categories. Depending on the visa category they apply, candidates must have fixed deposits between $ 150,000 and $ 1 million and also buy property in Malaysia.

Tozer must not renew her visa for a few more years, but says that it will be when she begins to wonder if she wants to return to New Zealand.

“I’m not sure at this stage. In the end, I could need my children closer. It simply depends on what’s going on,” said Tozer.

She said that her time in Malaysia had been achieved and that moving to a new country is not as scary as one might think.

“One of the reasons why I came here, especially in Malaysia, is because it is sure. For a single woman, it is a great consideration,” said Tozer. “There are many places where I would not move for myself, but in Malaysia, no problem.”

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