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??

I agree with you my furniture isn't that great but we can't afford new furniture on top of everything else!! If we do bring our TV's and get Sky I am assuming we can watch all channels thru Sky. The costs really are adding up now. I have contacted some rental agencies for properties in August but feel you really do have to see them first. Our fridge/freezer is huge and all singing all dancing but I am now thinking would it fit in a NZ house? is
it worth paying to take the thing or should we leave it!!! The house will be packed up 20.7 and we don't arrive until 18.8 so shouldn't have to wait to long for bits to arrive. Starting to feel a bit knackered from all the bits and pieces of crap which seem to weigh us down.

I really wouldn't bother with the TVs - the cost of shipping them and the hassle of getting them to work is probably more than the cost of buying a new one. The American fridge freezer I would definitely leave behind/sell - you would be very unlikely to find a rental property with a space big enough to fit it into (in the kitchen, anyway) - much better to buy one when you get here. Not impossible to find rentals with whiteware - our last one had fridge/freezer, microwave, washing machine and dryer (although this was a bit unusual - if they come with whiteware, usually means fridge freezer and washing machine, sometimes dishwasher).

Try www.bondandbond.co.nz or www.noelleeming.co.nz for an idea of prices for TVs and appliances... You'll find that internet shopping over there isn't as advanced as here, but will give you some idea of what you can expect to pay (would recommend a top loading Fisher and Paykel intuitive washing machine if you need to buy one - much faster and better than the front loading ones, and most houses have separate laundry rooms, so plenty of room for a top loader).

HTH

nicki we are going to ship our stuff home using this company you may well have tons more stuff than this but if you decide to leave some furniture at home, fridge freezer, save £3000 shipping and you should be able to buy a fair bit for approx $7-8000NZ.
Agree with Kiwifruit you may find a place with a big enough space but it is unlikely, same with whitewear, we are currently renting out our place in Takapuna and it comes with no whiteware and definately doesn't have enough room for a big fridge/freezer.

This is great, I think we will use them to send some stuff over now for when we arrive. Still having a problem with the visas. With regard to healthcare, we have been offered Southern Cross at reduced contributions and Sevenaway at $5.50 a week, what to people normally have? We have been looking at Takapuna and contacting estate agents and looking to rent within in a 5 mile radius so this has broadened our options and may reduce costs, just need the bloody visas now!!!!!

nicki 5 miles is a long way in Auckland terms. Are you going to be getting two cars? If not you probably will want to be living somewhere relatively close to your dh's office preferrably on the 'Rangitoto side of the motorway' if you are describing areas to a real estate agent, for example, Takapuna, Bayswater, Milford, Forest Hill and maybe up to Castor Bay. These areas tend to be slightly better for schooling. I would also try to avoid anything on a main road unless they are set way back from the road. Good luck for the visas/packing.

For Health Insurance dh and I had Southern Cross but they have lots of policies, we had the hospital/specialist cover which covers 100% of private hospital and specialist but no doctors/surgery. There is another which covers everything including dentistry/eyes but was quite a lot more and as we didn't go to the doctor that often and don't wear glasses, don't have problem teeth we didn't feel that one was right for us. Growing up our family had one which pays 75% (I think) of doctors, pharmacy, hospital, specialist and was a similar price to the 100% hospital/specialist one.
It is definately worth getting something but choosing your plan will come down to what your family needs.

We can only afford 1 car, Richard is of the opinion he will be cycling to work every day!! If we had no health insurance how much is it to see a doctor, or go to an emergency room? I just found a 4 bed house in birkenhead for $570 per week with access to the beach, how does that sound? Is it a good area?

birkenhead is one of those areas that is mixed in that some streets will be good/others not so great and to be honest I don't think the beaches over there are anything special but that is a personal opinion. It also wouldn't be a great ride for you dh to bike to work.
Dr's appointments are about $50 although I paid $80 to go to an A&E on a public holiday at Christmas. Children are subsidised I'm not sure what age until but we paid $10 for our dd to see the dr while in NZ.

Thanks the beach looked so so on the pictures but house looked good. I am off up to London on Thursday to get Charlie (youngest - 4yrs) and my passports they need to run for the length of the temp visa which is 2yrs (if we ever get it!!). We seem to be stuck in limbo at the moment, but have decided even if this doesn't happen Rich will apply for other jobs in Auckland and we are a lot more savvy about the visa process it will happen eventually.

NickiW - would definitely recommend the sevenaway, it's well worth it. It was originally started for Post Office workers, which in those days included Telecom, and as EDS has the Telecom contract and took on a lot of Telecom staff, EDS staff are also eligible. It is a good back up to other insurance, but worth getting even if you don't get other health insurance, as there are some handy medical benefits on there (I got a cheaper Southern Cross policy, then used sevenaway to prop it up - it has optometry benefits, physio, podiatry, osteo from memory, and an obstettic benefit from memory if you're thinking about going down that path ). Better still though, they have a large number of holiday cottages around the country (often in popular beach areas), like fully furnished self catering units, that sevenaway members can rent for $99/week. You have to go in a ballot for school holiday periods, but families have preference at these times. They're well worth it.

RE Southern Cross, I would take a look at the policies on offer in conjunction with the sevenaway, and decide what will give you the best value for money. Policies with GP cover are more expensive, but worth it if you go to the GP a lot (think there is some GP cover on sevenaway too, but not sure. Also think there's prescription cover to a certain level as well) - I don't, so didn't bother with that level. Hospital only cover means that you won't have to go on the public waiting list for non urgent surgery, which is a good thing! Also, I think the insurance with Southern X from EDS includes pre-existing conditions, which means you can claim for treatment for these on the insurance (usually very hard to get and very expensive if you organise your own medical insurance). Think you have 3 months after you join EDS to join up with Southern Cross (but check that) and get the pre-existing conditions cover, so I would take a look at the policies on offer before deciding.

HTH!

My advice is get the full coverage (supercare)including GP, you are used to going to the doctors for free, and you may find like I did that you get sick in the first year because the bugs are all new to you. Children are only free or heavily subsidised until 6 years old, but even that doesn't cover everything. You will also get your prescriptions paid for, and enough money for a basic dental check up once a year and an eyetest.

IME 80% coverage plans (where you pay 20%) are only good for the insurer. Because I have never known anyone ever claim - they just sit on the public waiting list because the thought of paying 20% and their premiums is too awful. So they are paying for private healthcare that they never ever access.

Bit of a nightmare at the passport office, one line of charlies form was incomplete, therefore have to go again on tuesday, we are rapidly running out of time!!!!!

HI NickiW - how are all the plans going? Hope you managed to get Charlie's passport sorted out!

We had an excellent day yesterday, Richard got 3 new passports and then went to the NZ high commission, everything on visa front is good and we should have them by the end of the week!!!! So we are trying to book flights, we are also sending some boxes of warm clothes, work gear and basic survival stuff by seven seas and generally getting a move on!!!

That's great news - sounds like you're getting very sorted. What did you end up deciding to do with things like TVs and fridges?

The aussies who are going to rent our house wanted the fridge so it will stay which is great, TV's we have space in container so are going to try it, if they don't work we will dump them there. We have different flights on hold now, going via Bangkok, we will get an internal flight to Koh Samui for 3 wks and then on to Auckland, I'm glad I sound organised, don't feel it!!!

Thailand - fabulous . We had 2 weeks in Koh Phanang on the way over to the UK, and it was bliss. Unfortunately when we go back this time, will have an 8 week old baby in tow, so lounging on beaches probably not practical!

FYI - did you know that if you fly via the States you get 2 x 32kg bags per person baggage allowance, as opposed to the pitiful 23kg via Asia?

Yes I was aware, we cannot get flights with air NZ. We could have 2wks ago, but were reluctant to book flights without visas. What was your accomodation in Koh Phangang and costs?

We got the visas!!!!!!!

yay - it is all on. Any other questions just let us know.

Hi NickiW - we stayed her e

They have different types of bungalows - some much nicer than others. We had a low- mid range one with air con and hot water, which was about NZ$35/night for 2. Personally I would splash out for the most expensive ones, which also have air con and hot water, but are also newer, and closer to the beach. Not sure how much they were, but in pounds they would be next to nothing.

Thanks for that Kiwi, we have booked flights via LA now. It was really hard to get 4 seats, busy time of year I guess, just down to the nitty gritty now!!

Is it worth bringing my sons grey school trousers/shorts and white polo shirts over, just in case?

for school uniforms?

For the amount of room they'll take up in the box probably isn't worth not taking them although I doubt you'll need them as a uniform you will be able to use them for something.

Well 2 wks until the container arrives, just crossing the T's and dotting the i's now, we have been looking at rental properties in Albany and Browns Bay. Our NZ bank account is set up and has funds in, couple of boxes sent over via Sevenseas (not that impressed with them though!!). We are taking an RV around Calafornia for a break before arriving in Auckland on 17th August and then I guess the madness will start again!! If you can think of anything I may have missed please let me know, but thanks for all your help.