American married to a Kiwi. I've got a Kiwi Terminology Quiz that I'm happy to send over, if you want. Budgie Smugglers, Jandals, Togs... and that's just the beach section.
Be prepared, Americans talk way too much for most Kiwis. The kiwi accent can be monotone/robotic, so you might be getting a compliment, but not realize it is one. Yeah naw and naw yeah don't always mean what you think. My family and Kiwi mates don't like how hyperbolic Americans are... if you say something is awesome, it better be literally awe inspiring. You'll learn not to exaggerate too much. Don't boast on your resumes, like we have to do in the States, or you could be looked over.
If you use the ratio of housing expenses to income, Nurses are not paid well in the big cities. My friend was making about that, as a nurse, and until she got married to my husband's best friend, who's a farmer; she was in her 30s and still living with parents.
If you use over the counter medications like melatonin, cough drops, vitamins, ibuprofen, bring it yourself. Healthcare might be inexpensive, but the cost of stuff you'd find on the shelves at a CVS are RIDICULOUSLY priced, compared to the USA. Do not bring any cough syrup. Pack ibuprofen... get costco sized ibuprofen to bring with you. Trust me. It's called Nurofen and it's so so freaking expensive.
Be prepared to have yourself and your stuff thoroughly searched, inspected, and sprayed. Your cat will be quarantined for a few weeks (on your dime) to make sure it's safe. NZ takes their environment and ecosystem VERY seriously and you WILL be fined if you don't declare every single food/seed/dirt/drink/fur/weapon you have. If you get an apple on the plane, dispose of it before you get to customs or you WILL be fined. If you're bringing any shoes, camping equipment, hiking gear, etc., make sure it's clean and free of dirt/mud. Your stuff will be secretly sprayed with an insecticide. It's normal, safe, and happens to everyone.
Be prepared to learn to garden in whatever space you have. Stacking pots that can be indoors or out on a patio, are your friends. The costs of food and produce are an EXTREME culture shock to Americans. A basket full of food at Aldi might reach $150. That same basket in NZ is gonna be about $500. Learn to take kitchen scraps and grow food from it. You can't have seeds from other countries imported, so you get creative.
It's a beautiful place, the people are kind, and the weather is pretty mild. It's home, but the financial aspects are still jarring. Be prepared... the minimum wage is higher, but so is the cost of almost everything else.
Edit: only small farming communities will be upset by LGBTQ people. There's so many queer people here, and it's a very accepting country... the first to give women the right to vote.
My dog has one on her collar. She got lost once, after chasing a squirrel, so it was a no brainer. The cool thing is that you can make it go off, by pressing a button, and train the dog to come to you when it chirps. I hope I never need to use it in an emergency, but it's good to know I'm prepared.