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Living overseas

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Original poster

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

999 replies

AngryBeaver · 16/01/2011 20:57

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

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Original poster
AngryBeaver · 04/07/2011 07:43

Well I think there's a big difference between 15 and 16 allthough it doesn't sound it. I do think 15 is far too young to drive

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Original poster
AngryBeaver · 05/07/2011 21:56

ok.It's not looking good for us and nz. Dh is looking for other ways to get in.He is asking me to consider going to Oz first,as a way in to nz.I'm not keen.Does anyone know anyone who has used this as a way in?
There's lots of reasons why I don't want to do it.
I don't want to disrupt the kids anymore than we absoloutely have to.Especially dd who is in school and very sensitive.
Also (and I know this may sound petty but it is NOT) I am TERRIFIED of snakes and spiders.
I really want nz,but it doesn't seem to want us at the moment

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WhatSheSaid · 05/07/2011 22:21

As far as I know Oz is harder to get into than NZ. I don't know all the ins and outs of it but I have heard of people doing it the other way round - getting NZ residency/citizenship in order to get in to Australia but I've never heard of anyone doing it that way round.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 05/07/2011 22:34

Really? I had heard it was pretty easy to get into Oz and then on to Nz.
I think one of us is going to have to do a Masters then

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ScroobiousPip · 06/07/2011 10:13

So sorry Angry. Going to Oz and then moving to NZ seems pretty extreme, even if it does work out points-wise. Any chance you'd reconsider a work permit instead?

thelittlestkiwi · 06/07/2011 10:25

One international move is pretty tough. Not sure I could manage another- not to mention the cost. Shipping Oz to NZ is pretty expensive I think.

Another option is for your DH to head over first and try to get a job. I would not fancy this approach myself. not only would it be tough on you looking after the kids but there is something about the shared experience that is important.

Highlander · 06/07/2011 12:56

getting NZ residency is often seen as the 'back door' into Australia.

Sibble · 06/07/2011 19:39

Agree never heard of anybody using Oz (which is notoriously hard to get into) as a gateway to NZ. Usually the other way round. Part of the reason your permanent residency permit is for 2 years at the end of which it becomes 'properly permanent'. If during those 2 years you are out of NZ for long periods without good reason I don't think you get the final permanent residency stamp. Also there are calls from some quarters to extend the period to 5 years to stop people moving to Oz as soon as they get a NZ passport.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 06/07/2011 21:45

I think dh was thinking it would be easier to get into Oz because his company have an offce in Sydney and he thinks he could be transferred.
I really don't fancy Oz, however and we both decided today that it's not where we want to be.

thanks scroobious, we did reconsider the visa issue,but the only way he can get a work visa is to get a job offer...so round and round we go Sad

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Original poster
AngryBeaver · 08/07/2011 17:59

Dh got an email this morning from the PA of a company saying,
Dear Mr.Beaver, Mr Boss man has asked me to contact you to say that he would like to talk to you regarding employment, when you are in NZ.
Or something along those lines.The gist was, we'd give you a job if you lived here...aaaaaarggh.We need the feckin' job, before we can get there!!!

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Highlander · 09/07/2011 08:26

Dear Mr Boss Man,

Due to business commitments, I am unlikely to be in NZ over the next few months. However, I would be very keen to discuss future opportunities over Skype. Please contact me to arrange a mutually convenient time.

Hugs Hun,
Mr AngryBeaver

Grin

Here's hoping for you .......

thelittlestkiwi · 09/07/2011 08:37

You've got nothing to lose at this stage. I'd try and organise a chat on Skype and be armed with what you need to visa wise to relocate and how long it would take.

Be very enthusiastic about how much you love NZ (kiwis are very proud of their little country) and how keen you are to move.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 09/07/2011 11:20

Right, he's going to to that.Thanks for the advice.

kiwi, I see why you say we have nothing to lose...but, actually,the business that he is in is all so closely linked that all the big players already know of dh,so if he pisses one off they will all know about it!!
He is already getting paranoid that they think he is some wonderkid over in NZ and when he (eventually) gets there he'll be a let down!
But,yes I defo think you are both right when it comes to the following up that email with skype idea

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Highlander · 11/07/2011 12:24

Took the kids to have our medicals this morning. What a farkin nightmare; they were so bloody badly behaved Sad

I know you'll probably laugh reading this, but I was soooo embarrassed, I just wanted to die.

DH, of course, will get to go on his own.......

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 11/07/2011 22:32

Ah,kids. They're great at showing you up aren't they? How old are they?
A lady in the pharmacy was admiring my ds1,3, (he is distinctly cherubic in appearance) he then went "aaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh" in a screechy-screamy fashion,very loudly and for no reason,whilst wearing one of these Grin.His sister,5, then descended into hysterical laughter.
Lady then smiled at me sypathetically and walked off.
Blush The shame

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Original poster
AngryBeaver · 14/07/2011 07:56

Now no reply from Boss Man.Hmm
Inthe meantime,anyone know what Titirangi is like?

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thelittlestkiwi · 15/07/2011 12:00

I like Titirangi- it's got a reputation for being a bit hippy. It's cheaper than other areas and has a rainforest feel which I love. But I have heard it can be quite wet and houses damp. It's part of Auckland wild West which has a very different feel. I like it, but suspect it wouldn't be for everyone. You would likely need to drive most place though and the roads are pretty windy/scary/bloody terrifying.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 15/07/2011 13:52

Thanks kiwi Grin

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thelittlestkiwi · 15/07/2011 21:56

Don't discount it! I really like it out there- you need to go visit and see if it feels like your sort of place. We seriously considered it but it was too far from OH's work.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 16/07/2011 07:18

Being a bit of an under-confident driver,the part about the 'bloody terrifying' roads put me off a bit!
Also,I really am sick of rain and general sogginess.(battered it down here yesterday and it's set to be a horrible rainy, grey day)Obviously,I understand that it rains in NZ,but I would prefer to pick somewhere to settle that has less rain,as opposed to more...iyswim?
The Titirangi school looks great with all The Bush as it's backdrop,though Smile

How is the weather over there now,just out of interest? Is it cold?
As you know it's (what we laughingly call)Summer here. One or two days of really glorious sunshine that makes you feel life aint so bad,then a week of shitty old UK weather..boooo!

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shelscrape · 16/07/2011 08:21

cold and wet in the North too today Angry. Been making mincemeat today, house smells all fab and Christmassy. DS is keen to have a Christmas lunch during the school holidays.

Where ever you go in NZ you will get rain .... that song four seasons in one day - written by Kiwis. Rain is a fact of life here as much as it is in the UK.

Sibble · 16/07/2011 08:36

lol all this talk about weather. Am in UK at the moment, 2 days ago was in Kathmandu T-shirt, winter cardigan and trousers same clothes I wore the the airport and was wearing in NZ winter (sister was out in strappy T-shirt and shorts). Yesterday glorious sunshine so sunblock and strappy t-SHIRT. Today it's raining - oh the English summer. One thing I will say about NZ weather is at least when summer arrives it's usually warm even if it does rain - English weather - who knows!!

Highlander · 16/07/2011 09:12

sibble - have you been here during the 10C temp differential between days? Wierd!

thelittlestkiwi · 16/07/2011 09:52

I think it has rained every day here for weeks. It's made me appreciate how much outdoor time I normally get with DD. We've been spending a lot of time at Mitre 10 Mega (B and Q equivalent) as they have an indoor playground. Also I currently have leaky roof so every time it rains I worry!

How long till summer?

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 16/07/2011 20:43

Wow, that sounds like a lot of rain!dh was saying he'd heard it was a really wet winter you are having.
So, when wikipedia says NZ's climate is subtropical,they lied...???

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