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

Minimum annual leave here is 4 weeks so 20 days. There are 11 public holidays but two of them (Waitangi Day and Anzac Day) don't carry over to another day if they fall on a weekend.

lollystix annual leave in NZ is not great, although it has gone up from 3 weeks to 4! But Kiwis are generally pragmatic and flexible, so I wouldn't expect you to have too much trouble sorting out suitable working arrangements. I'm a Kiwi now living in Europe, but most of my friends back home with kids work part-time and it is very well accepted.

20 is minimum but, again, depends where you work. In Wellington I'd say 25 is the norm. What is perhaps unusual is that most people take the bulk of that from Christmas through to mid or late January in one go. That's the summer holidays here and it's a bit like a national close down.

20 days has been the norm for dh and I. A bit of a shock since I was used to 35 (included long service days). All my contracts have also said 'hours to ensure job is done' i.e. no time back in lieu. Dh works 7.30 to 5.30 (construction) my colleagues work 8-4. I think the flexibility would depend on the type of job you do. I've found everybody to be very flexible but I manage my own workload and as long as the job is done they don't mind when or where I do it. I work school hours in the office 9.15 to 2.15 and do the rest at home. I also don't work school holidays, either work from home or take unpaid leave. Dh can also work from home so when I have to travel he does the school drop off and pick up. I find part time work here very normal which is great for working mums.

ok,another location query..Anyone know what beach haven is like? I 've seen tewo FANTASTIC houses there...we could afford if we sold our place.There must be a reason why! Is it mongrel/black power land or summit?

Don't know Beach Haven well but I believe it has its OK bits and its not-so-OK bits. I have driven through it a couple of times and some of it did look a bit run-down - not terrible but not the nicest bit of the Shore.

bum

Angrybeaver - r u planning on buying out there? I know I'm stating the obvious but exchange rate unfavourable. Dh come back round to our move plans after unexpected 4th pregnancy knocked us off course few weeks ago and we're very much planning on leaving our cash here (were lucky cos have sold in anticipation of the move) and renting out there until we are convinced it's somewhere we want to stay long term and also exchange rate improves somewhat.

Yep, the exchange rate is an issue. We moved our house deposit at about 2.10 where as the rates has historically been between 2.5 and 3. Some of my lucky pals came over at 3! It does make a big difference. I know people who moved from the US to Mexico in the 90's and were completely caught out by a shift in the rate. They came to hate Mexico but could not afford to leave. You can easily lose 25-40% of your money through exchange rate fluctuations.

Yesterday John Key was on the TV saying we were in uncharted territory regarding the exchange rate. As NZ is an exporting country it does have a huge impact on the economy.

But we had an awful time renting and needed to settle. We waited months for the exchange rate to improve and decided it was just time to get on with our lives. But we had been here 2+ years and knew we wanted to stay another 3. Fingers crossed we'll get most of our money out again if/when we leave.

Dh reckons it's not going to get that much better.We;ve just been chatting about this very thing,actually No,Beach haven wasn't on our radar until we saw somepretty stunning 4 bed houses.But,there's always a catch isn't there!
Plus,we're still waiting for the right job offer to come along anyway soit would all hang on the location of that. If it was in the CBD, we liked the look of Torbay or Waiheke Island. Originally though,I fell in love with the idea of him finding wor in Tauranga and us living in Omokoroa in the Bay Of Plenty...
I met an aquaintance today who told me her friend had just returned from the Aukland area.She said she had loved it whilst her kids were young,perfect place for young families etc etc...but had moved back as there was nothing to do for teenagers there.Fought the urge to say, and what the fuck is there here??

When the time comes to transfer money, have a look at the commercial companies like HIFX who exchange at better rates than the bank. Fees are incorporated in rate so no hidden costs. Price you get is what the rate is at the moment you agree the transfer, but you can set a minimum rate as well, so for example if the rate gets to say 2.50 you transfer, but if it stays below, it doesnt transfer. (some companies do this)

Littlestkiwi - can you give any advice on the renting thing if you've had issues. I'm renting in uk now and it does feel weird after being a homeowner for years - it's all a bit temporary for me and I'm frustrated I can't make it my own - feel almost like I'm camping out in a holiday home. Any tips for renting in Nz recommended. We r planning on doing rental till were sure if and where we'll be settling but also can see that we need to get on with living. Ps - any admin issues or rules I should know about for leaving money back in the uk when we're no longer tax payers there?

You might find this thread useful:

www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34231

I would say take your time finding a rental. Take at least two weeks and get a feel for areas- you just can't do that on the internet. But I would defiantly rent before you buy. Be aware of the whole leaky homes saga. Some houses near us have council valuations of 750,000 and have sold recently for 75,000 cos they are leaky.

Look for a well maintained house with windows and doors that fit and preferably some sort of heating. Electric heaters cost a fortune to run!. And look for house that gets the sun as they heat up quickly most days saving you money.

You will not find many furnished rentals which is good in a lot of ways as having your own furniture makes it so much nicer. We had one lovely rental that I would have stayed in if our landlord had not chucked us out. He was a right sod and totally took the piss in the end.

Where are you headed?

We were initially going to Auckland and I was thinking around Cornwall park area as DH job in penrose to start Sept but 4 weeks ago found out I'm having baby boy 4 in October so staying in Edinburgh to have him. Dh told his company and said December so they are getting back on Thursday night with the options from revised timescales - may still be the Auckland role but could be chch. He does recruitment and they have alot of building recruitment work down in chch. We have friends in Amberely which is a positive about chch and I like the city but work for me (finance marketing) would be easier in Auckland. Welly also an option and I like it there too. He was offered big money in Hamilton last week but we said no.
Leaky houses - are they an issue if u rent or just if u buy?

Penrose is quite well connected so you could live in a lot of different areas and still have a commute under 30 mins.

Congrats on the baby. Do you have work permits or residence yet? Moving with a wee one would be tough but I know lots of people who've done it. You can get plugged into things easily via Plunkett who will take you under their wing if you arrive with a small baby. Housing may be tough in CC and they are suggesting there is the chance of another quake in the next 12 months which it is worth knowing about.

Leaky homes are probably only an issue if you buy. They can be unhealthy- with mould etc but you should pick that up on an inspection. I lived on one plaster rental and really liked it. It was very comfortable but did develop cracks while we were there.

I moved to Canada when preggers with DS1. Bit freaky (1st baby) getting used to a new healthcare system but OK. You get loads of help if you're an immigrant.

Moved back to the UK with a toddler. Nightmare. Utter nightmare moving, tying things up o/seas etc.

No work permits yet as still firming up job. His work would sort for us - not sure if under talent or skilled migrant category. The plan is to apply for residency when there after the 2 years if were staying. Will be tough as ds1 will be just 5 so school to be found and nursery for ds2 and ds3. Good school area will be priority for me. We'd initially wanted north shore but dh feels commute too far and I would probs end up in cbd working so kids would be back on north shore when were working and not to sure about that in case of emergencies. So I'm making assumptions here which you may be able to help me with - a) I'll be able to work too as spouse of main visa applicant and b) we won't have protracted delay getting visa for newborn ds 4 who will be about 4-6 weeks. Are we mad? Were without family help in Scotland with 2 jobs and 3 little ones and we cope just fine. Ds4 sent dh wobbly for a bit but were back on course. We have various friends there and my mum who emigrated there a couple of years ago but came back says she'll probs come back if we go as her husband is desperate to get back.

loolystix - I don't know if you would need to come over in Dec - virtually everything closes down over Christmas/New Year/January as it's the summer holidays too and a lot of people take extended leave. You may as well come over Jan really for work purposes (tho you may of course want the time to sort out schools etc - I'm just thinking you will have a slightly older baby and that extra month or whatever to organise moving may be useful, when you have a newborn plus 3 other dcs to organise!)

My dh is in recruitment in Auckland btw (IT recruitment though)

Sorry lollystix, not looly

You will be able to work. The baby will need to have a medical though. I would apply for 2 year work permits at a minimum as then you get free healthcare. But tbh, I would apply for PR straight off. Some people have had problems if they develop a medical condition on work permits and have had to leave. It seems expensive but would save a second set of costs later on. You are unlikely to leave within the 2 year exactly and a second set of visa's would add up.

Have you considered coming before the baby arrives. I had much better medical care here than I would have had in the UK. Standard stay for new mums is 2 nights, I had a C section so was in for 5. I had a private room and it felt just right.

bump.

how is everyone getting on?

DH has turned down the job in Nelson but there may be a job in Auckland. Better, as I have an offer from Auckland. However, my potential boss getting a bit twitchy as DH's job may take at least another 2 weeks to sort out.

Have applied for the PR visa though. The next EOI draw is next Wed.

No news for us yet

We are waiting to hear. Should find out next week. Will faint if answer is yes.

Another night waiting for call from Nz regarding the job. Didn't happen - queens birthday getting in way apparently. Off to bed and dh very frustrated. On happier note I had 20 week scan today and bonus boy is all ok but placenta is at front - should I worry? Esp as ds1 was section? I digress..... Ps littlestkiwi - decided too late to have baby in Nz - staying put till decemberish I think if we can work it with dh's company.