Another 'should we move to NZ thread...any advice welcomed'

[whoodoo]

I know its been done recently but was wondering if you could help me with a should we go to NZ decision (FYI - kids aged 4, 2 and 9 months).

Lots of background to this decision so will try to consendse:

-DH and I have long term love affair of the country and have NZ friends out there - been about 3 times in the last 10 years and DH returning in June on cheap Quantas deal for a week to get a tattoo (mad I know but serves to demonstrates his love for the place plus the fact that every am the first thing he does each morning is check the NZ weather and the Matarangi Beach webcam).

-DH can get transfer with his company and we gave the decision to emigrate serious consideration 2 years ago after DS2 born. Job offered at the time to DH wasn't right though and we thought we wanted Wellington and job offer came through for Auckland instead. Threw us a bit at last minute and I got cold feet. We had a commitment of a flat, I wanted another baby in future, my job was offering good money (even if I hated it), got a bit worried about if NZ schooling good enough, was it wrong to get off the UK hamster wheel? - would we ever get back on it, etc.

-DS3 now arrived and find ourselves reconsidering again. We have sold and move out of flat into rented flat this week and will have some money in bank. Plan was to look for a house in the city (V. expensive Scottish city) and mortgage ourselves to the hilt thus well and truly tying us into the jobs we both don't really like for next 10 years at least. I wanted to retrain but with current childcare financial commitments and changes in government this looks unlikely in the next 5 years at least.

-Over last couple of years we've been looking more at the North Shore as a place to live. Life in the UK fine but not really great. When not working (I work 4 days and DH FT with long hours) we spend the weekends walking round parks, coffee shops and soft play centres with the kids cos the weather so cold and the 2nd floor flat been so restrictive. I'm back to work soon and not really relishing the trudgery of it and we don't have family nearby to help with the kids. I would want to work in NZ though.

I'm aware that NZ can be expensive with crap heating and can be isolated as a county but we are looking for more if a balanced family life with some outside space and heat for the kids. I suppose I just want some advice from those who have made the move and how you are really finding life over the pond.

Sorry for the ramble BTW..... I could go on but I think I'll stop just now.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm looking forward to Waitangi. I'll probably cry if anyone does a Haka as it always makes me very sentimental. I'm hoping we can leave DD with my IL's and do some trips etc. She's 19 months so we've been pretty restricted.

Will defo feed the eels though.

Has anyone tried this service that imports IKEA to NZ on demand? www.myflatpack.co.nz/MYFLATPACK/Welcome_to_MYFLATPACK.html

I agree that NZ being expensive tends to be rather over-emphasised. There are certainly some things that are expensive - books are the most obvious example - but once you know where to look the prices for most things are not that bad and some things are very cheap! Personally I think the big difference is that there are fewer large scale chain stores with a range of cheaper stuff which gives the impression that it is all more expensive.

Out of interest OP why were you originally looking at Wellington and what has changed your mind?

My very first memory is of Ngawha Springs, Kaikohe. I remember being 2 or possibly 3 and washing off in the cold water with my older sister after being in the hot springs.

Thanks for bringing that back, it made me smile

hi whoodoo, i am from the north shore, and would be happy to answer any specific area questions that you have or may have in the future

Buzzybee- all I knew of Auckland was downtown which didn't grab me but had visited welly a couple of times and really liked the compactness. Heard a lot of positives since about family life in north shore which has changed my view.

Whiteflame- any advice on which areas are best for schooling would be invaluable - state/ free schools as opposed to private

most of the north shore is great for schools - especially free ones

there are some private primary-aged schools, and i think the fees are lower than the UK. the main, long-standing one is kristin school (kindergaten-18 yrs). there is also pinehill school, which is newer and i think has a lot of international, shorter-term pupils. both of those are in the albany (north of north shore) region, in fairly expensive housing areas. i think there is also a religious one called westminster christian school in the albany region. there may be others, but i haven't noticed them

the non-private (state) schools are generally very, very good on the shore, and i wouldn't hesitate to use them. there are lots of primary schools, i could give you some names if you had any idea which region of the shore you were interested in? they're usually called pretty obvious things, like 'browns bay primary school' in browns bay. most will have websites if you would like to browse.

the system in NZ is generally to start school on your 5th birthday (the actual day, not the term you turn 5!), stay in primary school until Yr6, intermediate school Y7-8, high school (also called college) y9-13. there has been a bit of a difference in albany in recent years, with the opening of some new senior schools in albany (a fast growing area), i think albany junior high is y7-10, and the senior high is y11-13. The year groups are far more flexible here too, and you can usually easily be in the year above/below your 'proper' age group.

sorry just remembered the private school is called pinehurst school (in the pinehill area!) not pinehill. there is also a pinehill school but that is a state school.

Thanks whiteflame. R there any sort of league tables ( very British if me I know) that I could access through a council website? We're not sure where to think about living in the north shore. We need somewhere which will be commutable into central Auckland with some community about - toddler groups, library, parks , coffee shops, some shops etc. Which are the sorts of areas in north shore for this?

league tables are only about to be introduced in NZ, so ne help to you there. But ERO (Education REview Office) - sort of like ofsted inspection reports for schoolw will be available on line www.ero.govt.nz

shelscrape, hope your packing is going well.
I meant to say, Whangarei has a fab library, there is a joining fee (about $30 I think) but well worth it. You can borrow children's board games as well as books, jigsaws etc and they have a lovely children's area.

Sorry to interupt again OP.

Hi there Whoodoo - I moved to NZ last Nov with my kiwi hubbie and DS1 (now 2.6).

My advise to you would be to do it, but I don't mean it a 'do it, it's amazing, etc' kinda of way. I mean you have a wonderful oppurtunity to live your dream, do it!

After 13 months, I now know that NZ is not for me long term, but I don't regret coming here at all. It is a wonderful country. Luckily DH agrees with me, he no longer considers NZ 'home', but we needed to make the move to know that IYKWIM.

I would suggest that you come, but leave your options open so that you can go back to the UK if you want to. We have rented out our London flat for example rather than selling it.

Ironically furniture wise, even though I'm suggesting you keep your options open for returning, I would say bring everything (except white goods). Having been used to UK and European stuff, I have found the choice, style and price here to be severly lacking. I would say exactly the same about clothes. And get a kindle or Ipad for books, you'll recoup the cost PDQ compared to buying new books here. (eg: Latest Jamie Oliver for DH for Xmas cost me about 35 pounds).

HTH

The other caveat I would mention is not to underestimate the accomodation issue. I thought we had been unlucky with our rental being cold and damp, but it seems to be fairly normal. I have never been colder than I have here, not because the temperatures get that low (esp compared to the UK) but because the inside of our rented house feels like the same as outside due to pretty much no insulation and no heating. Coupled with the damp, it meant that Winter was pretty miserable.

A much wittier and accurate description can be found here: emigratetonewzealand.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/thats-cold-exploding-the-myth-about-sub-tropical-new-zealand/

That said, the thermal fashion is better than anything I've seen before and they are well priced. .

Ironically I have been complaining about the heat over the last few days. However it is 30 degrees with 50% humidity and I am due to give birth in five days time! Hence the middle of the night postings...

Let us know what you decide!

For books use www.bookdepository.co.uk/

UK prices and delivery is free.

Whoodoo re areas on the North Shore - I have never lived there but have several friends who do...pretty much all the areas are nice. The only one I have heard negative things about is Beachhaven, I don't think it's really rough or anything, just rundown and not as nice as other areas.

Devonport is one the most expensive areas as it's a 10 min ferry ride from the city centre. All the areas in the east are more expensive as they are nearer the beaches but I think as you get further north they reduce in price as the commute to the city is longer. The Whangaparoa peninsula at the top is very nice, has a ferry to the city from it's eastern point but I think the ferry takes about 45 mins.

All the eastern beaches are lovely, the only area I know well is Browns Bay, which has a big British (and South African) population, even has an English food shop if you find you miss Jaffa Cakes and other such things you can't get here. I also have friends in Glenfield and where they live is nice and green, though they are more inland.

If you want to be near a library here is a list of where they are on teh SHore www.shorelibraries.govt.nz/Visit-Us-%281%29.aspx (map at bottom of the page too) which may help.

Really there are few bad areas on the SHore. Depends on your budget etc, also where you will be working

Does NZ have NHS or do you need private health cover?

I am just back from 4 weeks holidays in NZ, and I would love the opportunity to move there.
After touring we spent 10 days on a farm - it was great.

Don't think i will ever be able to move there as i dont think either me or DH have the right sort of skills.

Tennis fan- you'd be surprised how broad the skills shortage in NZ is. If you are really keen it'd be worth having a look at the lists on the immigration website.

NZ has a national health service but you pay to see your GP- I pay $60 but suspect I have picked the most expensive GP in Auckland. I had DD1 here and the service was great. I spent 5 days in a private room (with the most amazing view of Auckland Harbour). The room was clean and the midwives mostly helpful apart from one. DD has just been diagnosed with a urinary obstruction and needs an op. So far we have not had to wait very long between appointments/tests and they re arranged one appointment which I suspect would have been harder under the NHS.

EMM- where about's are you? I agree, it's important not to underestimate the housing issue. I was very miserable in our first rental which was dubbed 'the coldest house in the world'.

I also think there is a lot of pressure related to 'migration'. I don't see anything as permanent. I like it here for now but if we go back to the UK I won't see it as a failure. We're taking the opportunity to see this part of the world and I've learn't a lot.

i agree that there are few bad areas of the shore. i have also heard some slightly negative things about beachhaven, birkdale, and some areas of glenfield. they are just a bit more run-down though, certainly not horrible!

i would echo what WhatSheSaid says - generally the further north/more inland you go, the less expensive (with the exception of albany). the most expensive are takapuna/devonport. some of the more northerly places are still fine to commute to the city centre, there is a busway that goes directly into town (although driving in on the motorway is a nightmare on weekday mornings, and the bus is fairly expensive).

As thelittlestkiwi said, health system free but you pay to see dr, mine is 17 dollars a visit so it can vary a lot (my last GP was 55 bucks). Children under 6 are free at my drs though lots charge 5 bucks or therabouts for kids. Some people have health insurance as waiting lists for some things can be long - though I have no experience of waiting lists here so don't know which ones are long.

I had both dds here and found the maternity services excellent. You have the same midwife for all your antenatal care, during the birth and for your postnatal visits - great continuity of care. Soem people I know have paid for private obstetricians for their antenatal and birth care, I'm not really sure why as I found the public system great.

I pay $17 a visit to see the doctor, and a bit less to see the nurse. You have to wait several days for a doctor's appointments but can see the nurse anytime. I have just paid $150 to have a mole removed by my GP.

When DS3 broke his leg it was all coverd by Accident Insurance, (ACC) which is some sort of system set up, I did not buy in to it, you get it automatically. I did have to pay a deposit to borrow crutches for ds2 when he hurt his leg but we got the money back.

If we need to see someone out of office hours we have about a 30 min drive and the charge is higher. If we need to go to hospital it is a 50 min drive, a bit of a pain when ds3 was going every week.

Some prescriptions are very cheap, I think DH paid about $3 for his blood pressure tablets, but some cream I need for my skin (nothing life threatening) was not subsidised and I paid about $30.

I am about to see the physio for my dodgy knee and that will cost $30. There was no waiting time for this- well in theory anyway, but my appt today has been postponed as she was having x rays for a broken foot!

Ambulances are run by St Johns. You can pay oer ride or we have a family subscrption of about $50 a year which entitles us to up to 6 journeies - only for emergency use though.

We were screened very carefully for our health before we came. DS1 has a genertic bone disorder and we had to get loads of info from his consultants before we were accepted.

I have yet to see a kiwi docotr, one English and one Danish here plus a European nurse.

We do sound an unhealthy lot - but this is the first docs appt I have had in a year apart. I have seen the nurse with ds3 when he stuck wool up his nose. Apart from chicken pox and a broken leg (at the same time) he has been fine.

Blimely that was a bit of a (badly spelt) essay. Sorry.

I paid for a private Dr for a variety of reasons and am so glad I did. We didn't have PR when we came so I wasn't entitled to medical care. I got pregnant much quicker than expected and we suddenly had a panic and applied. We knew it was likely to come through quickly and I was covered under the reciprocal agreement with the UK for the birth anyway. But the midwife service at Auckland hospital gave me a really hard time about it. I was also terrified about the whole birth thing.

So we paid for a maternity package which cost £1800 all in. It turned out that DD was breech and I needed a C section. It may have been diagnosed anyway but I was scanned at every appointment so had time to get used to the idea. I'm so grateful it was diagnosed as DD had her legs in opposite directions and the Dr said she would never have come out naturally. So I was spared a very long labour and ECS.

I really like that we had the option to 'top up' the medical care but I still gave birth at a public hospital as I believe these have better facilities overall.

I need to find a new GP though.

Why did they give you a hard time about having a private dr? Lots of people do - like I said, I know quite a few people who have. Bit unprofessional of them...

Sorry- that was a bit confusing. I couldn't find a midwife so signed up with the Auckland hospital service where you are supposed to see the same midwife before and after, and deliver with whoever is on shift.

They gave me a hard time about not having a 2 year visa or permanent residence so not being entitled to medical care. The midwife I saw told me we would have to pay for all my care and a bed fee to deliver in the hospital which was incorrect - I'd read the relevant guidelines. But the last thing you want to do when you are terrified is have an argument with someone who is giving you medical care. She'd already had a tantrum in front of me about having to see me!

Our PR came through two months before DD was born so it was all a non issue really. I suspect I just got a crap midwife. The ones who worked while I was in Auckland Hospital were mostly great.

Sorry this is a bit off topic.