I would strongly suggest you take children with you if you are moving country.

Within two weeks of landing in Christchurch we met someone whose house we are living in until we can move into our rented property and we’ve spent Easter Sunday with a couple from Britain who have the same aged children.  Both of these families we met in parks.

Children give you the time and inspiration to approach potential friends.  I also think people with children are generally assumed to be “okay” – how reliable that theory is will be discovered!