Auckland NZ - Anyone have tips for moving there?

[nickiw]

DH is having 3rd telephone interview tonight, they seem quite keen and may want us out there in 2 months!! Any tips for good areas to live, schools etc??

Oh poor you. So sorry to hear about your mum, that must be very tough. Why is Robert upset? Is it a nice school, friendly kids etc? I do worry that uprooting dd1 could be very hard for her as she has always found change difficult to cope with and is quite temperemental at the best of times.
I thoroughly enjoy my work at school and would enjoy the study if it wasn't so hard to find any time to get into it. It's a fascinating subject esp. the psychology side. Could you do some work as a classroom assistant even if it's only voluntary. It would get you out of the house and maybe take your mind off other things.

Nickiw ... sorry you are feeling low ...
My mum had major surgery only 4 weeks after we left the UK and it was awful being so far away from her ... so I know sort of how you feel {{{}}}
Am really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow ... are you still on for it?
You can buy Shreddies but you might have to look around for them ... I have found them in Woolworth's and Foodtown before ... they are in a different packet ... yellow with french and english on it (I think it is Canadian packaging)
Unfortunately it is a bit difficult to find nice squash here ... everything is loaded with sugar ... there is a Robinson's equivalent that do a lemon barley water (low in sugar) that is quite nice. Ribena is the full on full of sugar stuff ... no 'toothkind' bottles in NZ I am afraid. I miss the sugar free apple and blackcurrant that you can get in the UK ... what I do now is buy fruit juice and dilute it (Foodtown signature range do a nice carton of apple and blackcurrant juice that I water down for DS. I am a mean mummy and so far DD has never had anything but water )

Barkers do a range (a small range!) of no added sugar no preservative cordials - maybe it's a South Island thing though as they are made in Geraldine.

The blackcurrant one is nice (lol at packaging suggesting honey to sweeten)

It's called something like Barker's berry life - but I can't describe it as they have just changed their packaging.

Honestly you will gradually forget about the stuff you had at home - I always used to get people to get me polo mints and then I just stopped asking.

Will see you tomorrow Ghosty, I was down that way today, near the airport. I had to visit the removals company with my passport, we may get our container by Friday!! I found some raseberry squash, honestly it glowed - disgusting. I am just watering down fruit juice at the moment and the boys are fine with it.

How was Robert today NickiW? Is it just all the change or something specific he is upset about? Will Charlie be at the same school? If so, could you volunteer to help there for a bit - might help. Hope things are better today anyway.

Its 10pm here, weird timeline. I have had a chat with him and it seems to be just a new school and a bit scary. To be honest he was never great at going in to school in the UK, but I do feel I have taken him away from a good group of friends and a solid school foundation. Saying that the school here is very relaxed and he always comes out a lot happier than I remember in the UK. Charlie starts on 21st Sept and it is the same school. They will be able to play together so this should help. I did help out at both their schools in the UK for this very reason but I think I should back off a bit and let him find his own way. Sounds harsh, but he always clung to me at school and never played with anyone when I was around!! I am having a couple of glasses of NZ white wine now!! Our container should be with us on Friday, my own sofa and bed, can't wait!! I am sure when the boys have their toys and familar bits and pieces life will settle down a bit. I heard through an estate agent today about a couple who had spend £7k sending everything over, were here for 2wks and are flying home tomorrow, didn't like it!! I have always said to my husband that it doesn't matter what happens we have to stay for at least 18mths - 2yrs to give it a good try and we are really starting to enjoy our new lifestyle already - positive thinking - until school drop off 8.45am tomorrow!!

Wow a 2-week trial - must have more money than sense!!! Glad you are feeling more positive...what are you enjoying? The Outdoors?

I heard lots of stories about people getting back the UK before their container had got to NZ - that's not even a holiday!

I told myself whatever we would see out the full 4 seasons. 6 years later - still here.

What didn't they like? If we ever get there it will be for ever as we will have burnt our bridges so to speak. We have been doing lots of cost of living vs salary analysis and still think we will be much better off because of reducing a mortgage in NZ with the equity from our UK house. If I uproot my girls and move 12000 miles I will have to see it through!

Bobbybob and ghosty-are you native new zealanders or transplanted Brits? Apologies if it is in the thread somewhere but its getting rather long to trawl through!

Nickiw - there's apparently a British shop in Browns Bay, but can't tell you where exactly. If you don't have any luck finding it, let me know, and will try and get the details. They sell Walkers Crisps and Polo Mints apparently. Also, try expatshopping.com and Smith and Caugheys. DH just suggested Woolworths supermarket in 277 in Newmarket too. Instead of squash, try the Freshup juice concentrate (in small cardboard cartons) - you mix it up with water, so can adjust strength accordingly - comes in a number of flavours - apple and orange (my fav), apple and blackcurrant, apple, apple/mango and orange.

Sorry to hear about your Mum - mine has had some major health problems since I've in the UK, and it's not easy being on the other side of the world. {{{{hugs}}}}

Bobbybob - have you tried Smiths the Grocers in Columbo St in Christchurch? It's an old fashioned grocers, and they have a lot of UK products (think the name and location are correct - can picture the shop very clearly, but it's been a couple of years since I've been there It's down near Valentinos restaurant (if that's still there) and a really great vege restaurant, the name of which escapes me right now... sorry to be so vague!!

bobbybob and I are both transplanted Brits ...
I believe bobbybob's DH is a kiwi. Mine is a born and bred brit with a kiwi passport (MIL is a kiwi).
I have been here 3 and a half years now. I won't move back to the UK ... despite the fact that I miss my family desperately.
I was told by a friend who emigrated from South Africa to the UK that the first 6 months would be fine, then the next 6 to 12 months would be hard.
She was right. We made the decision to make sure we stayed for 2 years before we decided to make a go of it. By the time we had been here a year I was pretty set to stay because I was pg with DD.
I don't understand it when I hear stories of people who leave after a few weeks or months ...
What's not to like? Someone asked me once what it was like living in a foreign country ... LOL ... New Zealand is the LEAST foreign country on the whole planet ... in fact it is almost more English than England!!!! Australia is much more foreign apparently.
You have to give it a good go and if after 2 years you are unhappy then fair enough, go home ...
The thing is to go out and make your life. By the time we had been here a week I had joined a playgroup and found a coffee group. DS and I enrolled in swimming lessons and toddler music. I talked to people, invited them round for coffee, chatted, told them I was new and didn't know anyone ... people were so friendly and amazing. I now have a fantastic circle of friends ....

Thanks for that ghosty. I have moved a lot in my life and although it's never easy I have learned that you have to get out there, get involved and talk to people. I joined the playgroup committee as soon as I moved here and got involved with church activities and would do the same wherever I meant.

Thanks for looking after me today Ghosty! Charlie fell asleep in the car on the way home. Robert was fine after school, his teacher has suggested that someone else take him in! Richard is going to tomorrow, she also said he is fine afterwards. Just to let everyone else know mum has cancer in her spine and is starting radiotherapy today, so I was in a bit of a state when I went to Ghostys. I will hear tomorrow what the specialists say. I had all these questions for you but they flew out of my mind! next time!

oops - should read "wherever I went"
Nickiw - for your mum. Hope the radiotherapy will make her more comfortable.
My dd1 sends a smile to Robert. They are about the same age, Isabella will be 6 in October, and she was v.nervous about starting Year 1 yesterday. Luckily all went well but she feels sorry for Robert. Think my dd2, Suzy, must be about Charlie's age. She was 4 in May and starts 4 plus in a couple of weeks.

nickiw ... it was so lovely to meet you today. I really enjoyed it. Charlie is a gorgeous little man and DD just loved him. She was looking for him when she woke up from her nap (awww, bless!) I hope we managed to take your mind off things a bit ... and really look forward to meeting up soon.
Give us a ring anytime you need to talk and let us know how things are with your mum.

Hugs {{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}

Hi Kiwifruit, I have been to the British Shop in Browns Bay, it's great but quite pricey $14.95 for a small pack of shreddies (£5.00ish). I am watering down fruit juice, I guess it's just getting used to something different. It is like being in the UK but with some nice bits added on. When we went to the museum on saturday I could see the bus stops thru the city were all digital and talking and not vandalised - the little things!

Nickiw - ouch!!! re the shreddies! That is a bit pricey (like paying £3.50 for a packet of toffee pops in the Kiwifruits shop in London, and £1.50 for a can of Watties creamed corn ). {{{hugs}} re your Mum - on the positive (?) side, it is good that they have a diagnosis and can start working on a treatment protocol.

hi - I've been following this thread for info as we're (DH + 9 month DD) thinking of moving to Christchurch - my parents are Kiwis and will be moving back for good next year (they've been following the summer and splitting their year between London & ChCh for ages!). I have citizenship. Have found this very useful on schools etc.
I see you're a flute/piano teacher bobbybob - can I ask you if there's a lot of instrumental teaching about (for clarinet & saxophone)? Also is there much music going on - I know about the ChCh symphony orch as my parents' neighbour is in it, but are there shows, amateur orchestras, wind orchestras or anything similar about? some rellies in ChCh do shows with some group or other but I can't remember the name, I'm hoping I'm still going to be able to do lots of music if not for a living at least for fun! (Can go back into IT if needs be, I understand there's quite a lot of IT stuff round ChCh?)
nickiw, I don't 'know' you but I've been reading this thread, thanks for starting it & I'm so sorry about your mother

So sorry about your mum NickiW, hope the specialists have something positive to say. We are seriously considering emigrating too. There is an exhibition on in London in October arranged by NZ govt and Tauranga Bay economic devt people - seems they want people in that area. No idea what it's like there, but parents have offered to have 3 eldest kids so me and dh can visit NZ to see if we like it!!!! So am thinking January, for my 40th!

Soon we'll be having mumsnet meet ups in NZ that will seriously challenge the UK lot ...
Bring it on girls ... life it good downunder!!!

Redshoes-where can I find info on that exhibition? about your trip to NZ.

I have chosen to work from home as a private teacher - my first year I got 2 pupils for flute - this year I added another 9.

I also teach piano and baby music which takes my total to 27 (or 13 hours a week) I teach piano through a music school (though still working at home and paying them a royalty on each pupil).

The best thing is that I can offset some household expenses against tax (which sort of means some things are 20% cheaper).

Personally I would work in IT and take the odd pupil after work or at the weekend, get the tax benefits and then gradually make the change over.

I sort of did the same, gradually going from being a SAHM to part time work with ds going to preschool for a couple of afternoons.

Because I am an immigrant I have had no luck with schools (you seem to need to know someone), but I have made a nice little business for myself. Ds doesn't start school for another 2.5 years so I can enjoy it for now, and who knows what will happen in the next couple of years.

I have done a wedding, but because of ds I haven't persued any more performance oppotunities.

Have just seen how many instruments you play on the other thread Georginars. After a slow start you could get very busy! it would mean you could spend most of the day with your dd and then hand her over to dad at night (assuming he has a 9.5 type job).

But then IT is very big in ChCh and the lure of the money...

I will never be paying much tax doing what I do, but my hourly rate is good, I can work at home, regular hours, work 13 hours with only 10 hours childcare, have all school holidays off, no parking fees, no petrol...

Well my poor husband took Robert in today and had to carry him in apparently it was awful leaving him. So I will be back on duty tomorrow...
On the bright side an irish couple and their 7yr old son have moved into the house in front of mine. He is starting at Browns Bay tomorrow and may be in Roberts class, he too is missing his mates so they may help each other. No news on mum yet still waiting for the outcome of the meeting with the specialist.