Unable to change realms, keep getting put into australia. How to fix?

In desperate need of some help.. Im trying to change realms from Aus to NZ - I select NZ when i log in, my hideout is in NZ, but whenever I go into a map it puts me in Australia and I lag like crazy. Does anyone know if i can force a realm swap somehow? Aus realms are currently extremely unstable and im losing so many maps due to server lag.

Same issue, big thread here https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3647163