Do you need a professional overseas moving company to help with your removals to Wellington? You're in the right place! 1st Move International are a regulated and trusted removals company with over 25 years of experience in the industry.
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Around 5,000 British expats live in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. Sharing a similar culture and language to the UK, Wellington offers a better work-life balance, higher quality of life and a warmer climate than Brits are used to.
When you use 1st Move International, you can make the most of Fast Track customs clearance, your own move manager, and our expert knowledge of the industry. Simply fill out our quick and easy form to get a free and accurate quote for your move to Wellington.
FREE QuoteIt'll cost £1,462 for your international removal costs from the UK to Wellington via shared container. For a 20ft container, larger move, costs start from £4,387. Use these costs as a guideline for your move, but your total costs will depend on the size and destination of your removals.
| Move Size | Shipping Method | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Move | Shared Container | From £1,462 |
| Medium Move (3-bed house) | 20ft Container | From £4,387 |
| Large Move (4-5 bed house) | 40ft Container | From £7,896 |
Prices shown are port to port freight costs and do not include UK collection or packing costs.
For a precise cost for your removals to Wellington, request a quick free quote, or give us a call on 0117 9828 123.
We go above and beyond to guarantee a faster, safer, and smarter move.
Your personal belongings will be shipped via sea freight for your move to Wellington. Choose between the option of either shipping via a Shared Container or Full Container.
Shared Container Shipping is ideal for small moves, especially if you’re moving the contents of a 2-3 bedroom property. Your items will be in a container with other customers’ items, so you pay for the space you use and not the whole container. We operate a weekly shipping service where we ship your items alongside commercial goods.
Choose this type of shipping if you want sole use of a 20ft or 40ft shipping container. Only your items will be inside the container, minimising any handling of them. Full Container Shipping is best suited for those moving the contents of a 3+ bedroom home.
Our shrink-fast packing method is unique, ensuring the safety of your items. It means we have the lowest insurance claims record in the sector.
Benefit from the extras that come with using 1st Move International for your move to Wellington.
Find out what our Wellington movers have to say about our service.
R Bidgood
Leamington Spa to Wellington, New ZealandThis company was excellent. The communication was top notch, the chap who turned up to pack our things was professional and very efficient. The cargo turned up very well packed with everything in order.
T Mitchell
London to Wellington, New ZealandPrompt, friendly service. Good communication at every step of the process.
Our shipping service to Wellington takes 59 days. This is the port-to-port transit times, not factoring in the time for packing, customs or further delivery in Wellington.
Furniture shipping costs for a small shipment to Wellington start from £1,462. For a larger shipment of furniture, it’ll cost £4,387 on average. The size of move and destination will be factors in your total costs.
Get a tailored free quote for your international removals to Wellington. You can also call us on +44 117 9828 123 or .
September to November forms Springtime in Wellington, which is often voted the best time to move. The pleasant weather combined with fewer tourists provides an ideal time to settle in. If you’re moving for a job, research the best time for opportunities in your sector. The best time to move to Wellington will depend on your preferences and circumstances.
You don’t need a visa if you only plan on living in Wellington for 6 months or less. To work and live in the city for longer than this, you’ll need a visa. The most popular type of visas are; Working Holiday Visa, Essential Skills Work Visa, Partner and Children Visa, Fee-Paying Student Visa and Investment Visa.
We will need the following documents to ship your items to Wellington:
Your documents can be securely uploaded through our document transfer page.
Read our detailed customs guide for New Zealand to find out more.
Our container tracking tool lets you live track your shipment as soon as it has left the UK port. You'll get a tracking number so you can follow its movements 24/7.
Yes, we can ship your car to Wellington via our company Autoshippers. They can ship vehicles either by specialist Ro Ro (Roll on Roll off) services from Southampton or inside a container. You will need to get permission and Vehicle Import Approval so we can do this.
Wellington is a safe city with a family friendly, community feel. With a growing economy, stunning natural beauty and a relaxed way of living, many British expats are attracted to Wellingtons offerings. Wellington has a temperate maritime climate which offers less harsh winters than in the UK.
The suburb of Brooklyn is a good location for families, offering great schools and public transport links. If you’re after an affordable area to live, check out Newtown and Johnsonville for excellent amenities and a community feel. Mount Victoria in Central Wellington offers stunning views and green spaces.
In 2024, the cost of living in Wellington is 30% lower than in the UK (London). Grocery prices are higher in Wellington and the salary is lower than in the UK, but the more affordable property prices make up for this. Wellington is more expensive to live in than Auckland and Christchurch.
Below we compare the cost of living in Wellington with the UK by looking at London prices.
| Item | Wellington | UK (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $2,506.90 (£1,156.84) | £2,170.83 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $12,736.67 (£5,877.50) | £13,403.96 |
| Monthly salary after tax | $4,471.67 (£2,063.51) | £3,732 |
| 3 course meal for 2 people, mid-range restaurant | $140 (£64.60) | £80 |
| 1 litre of milk | $2.97 (£1.37) | £1.33 |
| 1kg chicken fillets | $18.24 (£8.42) | £7.41 |
| Monthly travel pass | $206.80 (£95.43) | £200 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 85m2 apartment | $290.82 (£134.20) | £281.33 |
| Monthly gym membership | $66.72 (£30.79) | £45.33 |
| Monthly private preschool | $1,291.67 (£596.06) | £1,815.85 |
Data taken from Numbeo.
Property listings in Wellington have shot up by 50% in 2024, showing good signs of growth in the market. There is a demand for rental properties which has meant prices have gone up. It’s 46.7% cheaper to buy property in Wellington than the UK and 47.9% more affordable to rent.
| Item | Wellington | UK (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $2,506.90 (£1,156.84) | £2,170.83 |
| Monthly rent for 1-bedroom apartment outside of centre | $1,605.64 (£834.11) | £1,630.26 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $2,233.24 (£1,030.56) | £13,403.96 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment outside of city centre | $11,125.62 (£5,134.07) | £7,956.99 |
Data taken from Numbeo.
School terms in Wellington differ from the UK, with there being 4 terms instead of 3 in Wellington. The Wellington education system also places importance on critical thinking and problem-solving as essential skills. The compulsory school age begins at 6 and ends at 16, but it’s common for children to attend a pre and post-school education.
There have been recent redundancies made in the public sector due to cost-cutting actions by the government. Roles in IT are in high demand in Wellington, notably Developer and Project Manager vacancies. The healthcare, engineering and finance sectors are other popular industries in the area.
Discover our full door-to-door removals services to New Zealand with unbeatable packing and fast weekly shipping.
We cover all the legalities of shipping household goods from the UK to New Zealand.
Whether you're looking for basic moving tips, city info, or full visa and immigration guides we've got you covered.
Get the latest information on UK to New Zealand container shipping costs and American container ports.
We post up-to-date sailing schedule information and as part of our weekly shipping promise we'll tell you in advance what ship we can get your personal effects on.
We ship cars too. Get more information on our car shipping service.
Your life, carefully wrapped, beautifully packed, and protected for the journey ahead.
We are extremely proud of our unique packing process. We are the only international removals company in the UK that uses this tried and tested method to ship your treasured personal possessions overseas.
Visit our Facebook page to find a snapshot of each shipment captured as the final pallet is wrapped.
