​Along with millions of people around the world, the team at GBPensions are donning their posh frocks and fancy hats and sitting down on Saturday night (NZ time) to watch the wedding of HRH Prince Henry of Wales to Ms Meghan Markle.
 
And, of course, we all wish Harry and Meghan many years of health and happiness together.
 
At this time, it seems like a good excuse to share a few facts and figures about previous royal weddings.

Buying presents for Brits can be a painful process. We're notoriously non-committal, favouring "Oh, just surprise me!" over any kind of useful comment. Upon opening said surprise, we will likely say, "That's great, thanks" in a somewhat lacklustre tone. Even other Brits aren't sure how to interpret this…

GBPensions would like to try and alleviate some of your Christmas present shopping woes.
 
We've considered predictions for 2017's Christmas bestsellers from some of the UK's major retailers (such as Argos and John Lewis), added a few thoughts of our own, and come up with the following suggestions.
 
Please note: despite our best efforts we cannot guarantee that any of these prezzies will enthral or delight their British recipient. Sorry about that.

In the third of three blogs, British expat Lizzie Brandon talks about her joy at being accepted as an official New Zealander.
 
On 15th August this year, my husband Sean and I took the final steps on our journey to NZ Citizenship. Our Citizenship ceremony at the Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna was a genuinely emotional experience. 

As a Permanent Resident of NZ you already have the right to vote, plus a few other entitlements only reserved for the citizens of some countries. Our MC told us therefore that to apply for Citizenship was a decision lead by the heart rather than the head. I got a bit teary.

Sean and I married in October 2001, and if someone had said to me then that we'd be living anywhere but Bedford, I would've laughed out loud. But life can take strange and unexpected turns…
 
I arrived to start our new life in Auckland on 28th June 2008. The fur family arrived 3 days later and my lovely husband two days after that.

Looking back I still can't believe that we did it - but I'm so glad that we did.

GBPensions are proud to announce our sponsorship of the 2016 Roycroft Vintage Festival, to be held at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park on Sunday March 13th. This year the theme for this prestigious event is the "Best of British".
 
GBPensions' director Tony Chamberlain is enthusiastic about this new partnership. "Most of our team are British ex-pats and, because we focus on UK to NZ pension transfers, the vast majority of our clients are British ex-pats too. Since the 2016 Roycroft Vintage Festival is a genuine celebration of British excellence, innovation and style, we were delighted to be approached as principal sponsors," he says.

The Roycroft Vintage Festival and the Roycroft Trophy are named after AJ (Roy), Ron and Terry Roycroft, in recognition for their outstanding contribution to NZ motorsport. Ron was arguably the best known competitor in New Zealand racing of the post war period, and the trophy was first presented to him after his success at Ryal Bush in Southland in 1956. In fact, the great British driver Stirling Moss once said of Ron, "If that man ever gets a decent car under him, we are all in trouble!"

​Here's proof that Friday the 13th is lucky for some! A charity quiz night raised $3,115 for the Humane Rescue, Rehabilitation and Rehoming Charitable Trust (HURRAH). The fundraiser was organised by GBPensions and BlackCat Consulting and held at the Marist North Harbour Rugby Club.
 
In keeping with the traditions of Friday the 13th, the quiz questions were a celebration of the unlucky, the failures, the cheats, the just plain weird and, of course, the Friday the 13th movie franchise. Some of the teams even dressed as horror icons in honour of the occasion.