where's best to live in nz,and what do we need to know?

[AngryBeaver]

My dh has been on at me for a year to move from the uk.He wanted Quebec,which looked gorgeous and romantic,but i wasn't sold on the winters and coudn't leave my mum.
He recentley said he wanted to move to NZ and i thought ,yeah if it's warm and a better life than here,let's do it.
So we've got fuck all money and 3 kids under 4.5 ...but we want to do it.
I don't know what's changed in me for me to agree ,but I hear th schools and hospitals are fab,and just want the best life for my lovely children.
I'm worrying though because I've read the houses are crap and cold.
We want sun,space and not too expensive (don't we all!)
We thought Tauranga,but that seems quite busy and we've read about boy racers.
We don't want Wellington as we've heard it's windy and weather not great.
Does anyone know about Nelson?Heard it's nice weather,but what's the reality?
We are going to put the house on the market this week,I am shitting myself,but I feel it's now or never.
Any help or advice,gratefully recieved

Whew! That's a bit extreme, NL.

OP, I don't think you're out of your mind at all. You can't get any idea of what a country is like to live and work in by visiting it. If it's not for you or the move doesn't work out, at least you had the balls to give it a go.

I don't think it's selfish to want your mother to come too although if you have a lot of other family back in the UK she wouldn't qualify for residency - but she could spend 6 months of the year in each country. Permanent summer :)

WRT broadband - think we pay around $38 a month for combined broadband & phone. It's capped at a level higher than we ever use and as fast as any other home broadband I've had.

angrybeaver repeat after me...
I will not visit the expatexposed website
I will not visit the expatexposed website
I will not visit the expatexposed website....
Seriously, most of the people on there have a serious axe to grind, you will not get a balanced view of NZ reading the stuff on that site.

Do have a look on the emigrate.co.nz site or britishexpats.com where there is a good NZ forum. The latter one in particular because it does highlight some of the pitfalls of living in NZ. You do need to be realistic, I think people on here are highlighting all the pitfalls BUT I guess you will only really know trying it yourself.

I am probably totally generalising here but the people that seem really happy are the the types of people that would make a go of it anywhere iyswim? I have far more time for people that don't try to run down a country for their immigration journey not working, just be honest and say it wasn't for you....I personally don't feel the need to run down the UK in order to fuel my desire to return to the UK, I have experienced both and I know for me that NZ is where I belong.

You just need to know that it is not perfect in NZ (pretty close IMHO) but definitely not the perfect paradise that people think it is. Be prepared for total culture shock, we kiwis are unique and we have some quirky ways but overall I think we are very friendly . Every time my dad comes over I die of embarrassment as he proceeds to talk to everyone about anything that catches his interest i.e bus drivers etc.

With regards to being British, I don't think you will have any problems. There is sometimes an assumption that poms are all cashed up (which they were historically) but with the exchange rate not so good it may not be as relevant now.

Keep us updated - I am glued to this thread!

Haha kiwifarfromhome my dad also made 'friends' on the tubes/ trains etc when they visited me in the UK. He even borrowed someones mobile to let me know he was held up as his had gone flat. They must have thought he was a loon!

wow,northernlurker,that post seemed a little harsh!!
Out of my mind? Maybe! Willing to have an adventure and give it a go? Yup,I'm thinking so!
I don't think I'm selfish re my mum,either..I can't live my live for mum,but I think it's only normal - as we're incredibly close- to wish that she'd come too.
Also, I don't expect her to come,as you said...I'd really like her to come, I'd actually love it if she wanted to come...but, I don't expect her to do anything. Why would I pressure her to come if she's going to resent me for it and be miserable there?
Plus,I'm aware that she could develop a debilitating illness,but it's unlikely...she's fitter than me! (she goes to the gym at least 4 times a week for step aerobics etc)
Anyway,it would be nice to have an emergency fund,and we may well have one sorted before we go...so that's that.
Think I have covered all your points!

Thanks techno

kiwi.. i actually think it was the britishexpats forum i was on,,,but now i am desperate to look on expatexposed,dammit!!!!..

I'll probably get on dead well with your dads..I like a good chat with random people I've just met too!! Had a good one this morning with a lady in a cake shop about Disney princessses!
We sent off our Expression Of Interest,and should hear back on Tue.
Mum came to look after the kids this am while I go to work,and looked like she'd been up all night,,,I said she looked a bit grumpy and she said "i'm hardly likely to be euphoric am I ?' . Poor mum

Hi

Just to add my 2c worth again

I have no problem with boy racers drink driving is (I guess) a big problem lots of rural drinking and bad roads, the roadside is littered with crosses I know not all are drunk.
However driving is seriously bad we were nearly run off the road by a massive lorry whilst driving around still having palpitations about it and the nutters driving at 100 literally 6 inches from my bumper (OK it's 100k not miles but still) someone mashed our car in a car park (whilst I was sitting in it!) so at least they couldn't deny it they did try though
Drugs will depend on area

Just before we came we lived very short term in a basement flat and the broadband was a bad as you imagine I wanted to throw the computer on the floor every night here it's the same (and we're reasonabally elevated) however my UK dongle (£15) used to drop all credit after 1 month so that's a plus. However my 2 degree phone seems to drop it's credit.

IMHO and IMHE the health service is not better I think whoever said it was is just out of date re the UK I'm sure I've posted about my recent experience with stitches as just one example, you need to remember you'll be paying around $30 every time you take an over 6 to the Docs (I believe vacs are free but some GPs do try to charge)

re the Brit thing I hear more Brits here than in my part of S London!

Seriously though this is all so dependant on where you are, where I am the sections are tiny (mind you same for my family in Nelson) and there are very few school pools (that is unusual for NZ though) I like this thread since it reminds me that it is all so personal and so different IYSWIM

I suspect the universals are that

the driving is bad
you are more likely to live in a lower quality home here
it is more expensive (although I've long thought that we don't pay the price we should for things in the UK)
you have to pay for Docs visits (not under 6)
some groups have big drug probs

you are more likely to have a bigger garden (outside of some town homes)
the meat is good and cheap
milk products good (except cheese)
produce is seasonal
your 'average' school is probably better than an 'average' UK city school (I know nothing about very rural schools)
property is cheap (compared to London! )

what do others think?

(oh I didn't go to Tauranga sorry is it still on the cards?

PS I think your Mum has been reading this thread

not1not2..jesus,that has scared the wits outa me!roadside littered with crosses???
I'm quite a nervy driver anyway,and could never drive in Spain because they drive so crazy.I would totally freak if someone was driving at high speeds on my arse. Wonder why they do that? How does it get to be a national thing???
Yes,Tauranga is where he'll be looking for work and I think I like the look of Omokoroa to live? Dh has a big meeting at work to see about a transfer/promotion over there..it would change everything.He'd be on a pretty good wage here that would translate I think at around $100,000..would we be able to live comfortably on just that wage do you think?
He would have to work nights though I think which would not be ideal.It may not happen at all and we'd just have to struggle on a lower wage. Fingers crossed though.

I don't know if mum has read this thread ,but we had a row last night.She was really out of order imo.Saying things like "You do realise you may never see db and dn again?" (due to expensive flights) and "The more this sinks in you know you've really hurt us with this.We can't believe you're doing this to us"

I can't beleive she's being like this. Whern we first decided,dh said "mil isn't going to be pleased,she'll ask you not to go"
I said "oh,she'd never do that,she'll be upset,but supportive"...how wrong was I?!

it's very sad but they are in the UK too
(just realised that I used an extremely poor choice of words there which I would like to totally apologise for)

I think it's a combo of macho, drink, drugs, rural life and habit the Police were out in force though over Christmas

I am still having flashbacks to it though I really thought we were going to get run off the road, had my tyre blown or an animal run out or the lorry I was overtaking veered or anything we would all have been under his truck

I have heard nice stuff about Tauranga

Your Mum is just hurt though she'll get over it but she is being a teeny bit unreasonable in showing it!

100K is a lot more than the NZ mean/average/whatever I've seen that at 1K a week gross and 24k a year which is tiny property does look expensive up there though! Interest rates are about 6.5% for a residential mortgage (absolute best we found was 5.5%) I guess it depends on your definition of comfortably and what you like doing
I hate working nights but lots of people do perm nights if you can do long hours and therefore fewer nights you can get a lot of time 'off' work
Funnily ehough I was thinking just the other day I wonder what AB will say when she arrives could suddenly see you coming on and posting about the cost of peaches or loving the weather etc etc
hope dh meeting went well

OP, you may want to reconsider Wellington.

Check out the photos on this article, then imagine 35000 people dressed up like that parading the city streets in the sunshine.

I took the DCs downtown after school yesterday to watch - DD2 was beside herself "Mermaids! Fairies! Barbies! Teletubbies!"

not1not2...Didn't understand your apology.am i being thick?!
It must have been terrifying for you,i have had a few arse hol.es tailgaiting,but mothing like that..think id still be shaking.especially knowing the stats for drink/bad driving ...but yes,there are idiots everywhere,aren't there?
mum came round and apologised yesterday,so we hada big cuddle and chat,she seems more acceptant now

Dh hasn't had meeting yet,likely to be in a few weeks.I'm panicking we won't get through the E.O.I bit,we'll find out wed/thurs. we're 15 points shy of automatic enrty..if only one of us had done a masters!

...ps..how much are peaches???

thanks for the link zacharyquack,have had a busy few days and just got round to looking at it.Welly does look like a fun city.I also had a look on the downtown tauranga page and it was nothing like i expected..in a good way.It looks modern and bustling.I thought it would be sleepy and quiet.
I need to go!!

Angrybeaver we have just been driving around looking at properties this weekend and went to an open home. We are looking for a 10acre (4hect) property and our budget is $350,000- $400,000. There's lots about in Canterbury but for that price they need a bit of work but we can't wait!! It's stunning here you will love it. (36 degrees in the shade yesterday)

ha ha yesterday was apparently supposed to be the hottest day of the Summer in NZ

not in Wellington it dribbled and pissed down most of the day then the house shook all night in the wind

pissing down again now

haha, I'm in Wellington too and, yes, it's still peeing it down!

AngryBeaver - not sure if you have seen this thread on Gransnet about adult children emigrating overseas. Lots of different perspectives - might be useful for your mum if she needs support.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gransnet/1026530-My-son-s-emigrating-with-his-wife-and-our

oooh febes that sounds amazing!!Where abouts is Cantebury?10 acres,wouldn't that be incredible? I think our budget will be around $300-350.. possibly more by the time we buy.we've decided to rent first.Im really excited and just want to go NOW!But we're right at the start..booooo!we find out wed/thurs if we get through the selection part of it (we're 15 points shy of automatic selection)if not we're in the pool for 6 months.
Can I ask if all you expats had enough points?

We have decided if we don't get through one of us will do a Masters.

Erm,Im not loving the sound of the windy welly weather!I may as well stay here as it's pissing down and the electricity meter door won't stay closed and keeps banging against the side of the house in the wild wind!!

Thanks for the link scroobiouspip,I'll have a look when a get some time.I think I did see it a few weeks ago,but just had a quick scan

Yes, I did. But I came out on a working holiday visa first and got a job, which gave me extra points. Worth checking the shortages lists though, as there are some unexpected jobs on it.

Canterbury is the area round Christchurch, South Island.

thanks,Scroobious.I had googled it and it looks lovely,as do many places in nz. We're pretty set on the areas around Tauranga though I think.

I would want a job offer before we went over,so the working holiday visa wouldn't work for us.I cant drag 3 small children to the other side of the worls unless there's a job and financial stability waiting there!

I'm so very . I'm from NZ and have just been home for a month and would LOVE to move back. Unfortunately there isn't alot in the way of work for us in our industry.

If you're looking at Tauranga and want some land, try around Ngongotaha/Hamurana (v.v. beautiful, pristine springs amongst a redwood forest here). On SH36, my family tells me it's only about 1/2hr to Tauranga, and may be a bit cheaper for a lifestyle block around there. Also only 15-20mins into Rotorua.

This house + land for example is halfway between the two. Not sure how much land this translates into in acres though.

BigChiefOrganiser...wow,that's a big garden innit?!Somewhere like that would be lovely,would need more bedrooms though.
thanks for the info,im going to have a search around those areas..(and practise the pronunciation!)

we didn't get selected ...was suprised at how gutted i was.
Think we're going to try for a work visa instead. Dh has applied for quite a few jobs..we'll see what happens

Sorry to hear that Angry. Can you go in teh pool again for next time? Do you have to pay every time you do that? I did my residency before they brought in the Expression of Interest so I can't really remember how it all works now.

You're in the pool for 6 months.They make a selection from the pool every 2 weeks.Everyone with 140 points is automatically accepted.Then it's people with a job offer etc

I think it's gonna have to be a job offer. I really want to start making arrangements to go!

And if your DH gets a job offer confirmed in writing you get extra points which might get you in for residency too. If your circumstances change after your initial EOI just get in touch with NZI and tell them - thye are very very helpful people. E-mails get answered very quickly.

Don't give up after the first selection!

Have you seen this page?

formshelp.immigration.govt.nz/SkilledMigrant/ExpressionOfInterest/historyofselectionpoints/2011eoi.htm

We won't,but were really hoping to be picked.It seems unlikeley now.Dh has read that page,thanks for that.
Did you emmigrate over there,or a you and NZ'er? Sorry, I cant remember and the thread is too long to trawl..just wondered if you had enough points.i tdidn't thnk 15 points would make thst much differece,but apparantly so