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

I pay $3.20 for 2 litres of milk, which I think is more expensive than the UK. That's a cheaper brand - some are more expensive.

I don't know about the "kids and music"etc thing as mine are pre-schoolers but all the music videos/TV programmes etc are exactly the same as you would see in the UK/USA so I imagine the pressures are pretty similar. A firend of mine was telling me yesterday her 5 year old is coming home from school wanting to listen to Rihanna all the time and saying stuff like "I can't have a biscuit, I'll get fat" . I hate all that shit.

Btw are those of you plannigg to move out here keeping an eye on the exchange rate? It's appalling at the moment - about 53p to a dollar. When I got here it was 28p . Not that I had any money to bring over, but still.

Dont talk to me about the exchange rate!! Credit card bill just came in from dh trip to Nz. One massive fuck off tattoo and an additional flight (booked without checking quantas t&cs around refunds and travel insurance policy) in order to avoid some Chilean ash = £1100. That's not to mention the original flight there and then the additional flights and hotel to accommodate the fact the tattoo studio relocated to Auckland from chch after the earthquake. I feel .

Yes TV is similar but I do think it makes a big difference whether the "TV culture" is reinforced at school by the kids there making a big deal out of it IYSWIM. My DD1 (9) appears to have none of that sort of pressure at all and all the kids at her school seem relatively unaffected, not that dis-similar to when I was at school IMO. Yes they know who the pop stars are and they like watching "NZ's Next Top Model" (yes we have here!) but that doesn't mean they want to be exactly like them. I suppose it depends on how many other role models are influential in their lives and then thay can pick and choose a bit more? My DD has always played in mixed groups of boys and girls which I think is great. DD2 (3.5) is only interested in Dora and tigers at the moment!

Exchange rate not good is it? Boo!.. to your bills lolly,especially with dc 4 on the way.
buzzybee.Yes, that is more what I meant. Obviously, I know you'll get all the music vids and popular shows that we get here and in US.It's the culture I was wondering about. It seems to be being reinforced a lot here as in US Beauty Pagents culture. Even though dd has just started school,you are aware of it in the girls age 7/8 and upwards.Going to school in short skirts and ugg boots,hair all backcombed and in daft (too old) up-do and massive burberry type handbags instead of school bags!
I just want my dd to be a little girl,not a mini grown up.
Yes, it also comes down to parental guidance and influence,but enevitably, peer groups will win out

It has taken me a week to read to the end of this thread! Wanting to join as DH finally agreed to start out paperwork for applying for a visa. I have been trying to convince him for the last five years. I printed all the info off a few years ago but will have to go back and re asses the situation. I think we may sail through on points due to skills/careers (I am a midwife and he is an IT manager), however have been wondering whether to find a job first (midwifery jobs are frequently advertised in the uk) and get the employer to sort out the visas etc or start the visa process myself. Has anyone any experience of this?

Sorry curlywurly..don't know much about that. Nice to know you'll be sailing through on points though!

Sorry AB, that was very tactless of me, I was trying to say clarify what type of entry requirements we would be meeting . Your journey looks to have been very unsettling so far, how are things looking at the moment?

I haven't spoken to my parents or ILs yet, we mentioned it a while ago and they were all horrified, however I am at the point where I feel the move will be an excellent lifestyle move for my children and if we don't go I will regret it forever.

Oh, I was only teasing...(ish)
I don't resent anyone getting there,I just wish we could bloody join them. It's such a humungous decision,and when you've made it,you just want to go and start your new life, don't you?
Are you close to your family? We are very close to my side and they are devestated,but I could have told the ILS I was popping to the shops

Nz call supposed to be arranged for tonight. Will they, won't they call? Dh is losing patience with the whole lack of clarity as to whether they'll have a job for him. Was offered a job in Hamilton a couple of months back but we said no. I need to work and there was zero on Seek for me there. Ho hum ... If the phone doesn't ring in the next hour , we're no closer. If it does, they probably won't have any news

Good luck,lollystix..hope the phone rings with a job offer! x

Did they call lollystix? Fingers crossed.

Don't keep us in suspense!

Sorry ladies- been working. Right - they called so that's a result. No definite vacancies but potentially thinking of making perfect one for dh based in north shore which would be amazing. Director has to do round of appraisals with current staff to work out what moves he's making. This all sounds good BUT here's the catch. Not sure if u remember but I got sick 10 weeks ago and was hospitalised for observation for 2 days- no meds or intervention given. Rare condition which left me 3 weeks off work- was lucky as very mild case of the syndrome. It was a one off and consultants said I shouldn't have another incidence of it. However director (not knowing details of it) has suggested that what with pregnancy I could struggle with medical and that they may want to see me after the baby to see how I am in the light of having this one off illness- never straightforward is it? Does anyone have any experience of this. It was guillain barre syndrome that I got. As I say had 3 weeks off including hospitalisation but and been back at work including overtime, pregs with 3 toddlers and not one day off since. What are my chances. My mum got pancreatitis during her application process and still got it as spouse applicant aged 60??

Sorry - just looked at all the dreadful predictive texts in there - u get the picture though. We have to wait 2 more weeks anyway for job options.

It doesn't sound to me like that would be a show stopper but could delay things a little. I guess the baby would need a medical anyway though. What's your next step?

I just got our electricity bill - $315. And we've gone through $200 of gas this month too. So we are spending about $500 a month on power and heat. I guess this will only be for about 2 months and our normal bill will be about $200 a month. We are high users though.

I keep wondering how this compares to the UK. I seem to remember our gas bill being about 250 pounds for three months. And everyone says things have gone up. Anyone in the UK any insights?

Wowsers! Thelittlestkiwi that power bill seems very high. I thought ours was bad at $240 last month. We don't have gas so just power. I have a 2 and 3 year old so we are at home everyday. We do have a pellet fire so would be a few bags of pellets on top of that. My sister uses more than us as she has a bigger house and a dance studio (ballet teacher) and hers was under $300 last month. We are with powershop which is a new online company. You should change to them!!
Not sure about the medical. DH got his easily as he has never been ill but they do seem quite thorough. Get as much information as you can from your GP and hospital doctors.

lollystix I'm afraid I don't know about the medical either, is it something that is likely to recur?

littlestkiwi I was going to suggest you look at other power companies to see if it would be any cheaper, there's that website they keep advertising on TV with the "How much could you save" tagline - www.whatsmynumber.org.nz/. Our last two months power bills have been about $250 (no wood fire and no gas) and I have been more relaxed about having the heaters on than I was last winter.

Sorry lollystix I just read that the illness is something that is unlikely to recur - should read posts properly

Not read the whole thread but thought I would throw in my 2 cents' worth!

-NZ drivers are TERRIBLE. Tailgating is considered perfectly acceptable
-the houses are poorly insulated and thus freezing in winter
-It is not a crime-free paradise! There are plenty of very dodgy places.
-you will be a long, long way from home.

With regard to the stats mentioned above. Maori and Pacific Islanders are very highly over-represented in the undesirable categories such as unemployment, child abuse etc. I am very sorry to say that child abuse is utterly shocking in the Maori community. In the Polynesian community there are a lot of problems with violence and crime. The gap between rich and poor is widening and a lot of our social problems are getting worse.

So that's the bad news.

There is also plenty of good news.

-There are still decent state schools. I found this not to be the case in many areas of the UK.
-The summers are actually hot!
-you can get decent coffee
-the beaches are amazing.

I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world. BUT like London, Sydney, New York or probably just about anywhere, you need money to have a decent lifestyle.

Don't know anything about mediacals,sorry lolly..hopefully this won't hold you up.fingers crossed.
IwouldNot Thanks for the honesty.It's good to get a reality check every now and then.I am trying to stay realistic.
I spoke to someone who went travelling there,yesterday.She gave the old line "It's beautiful, but I couldn't live there" (she has just emmigrated to majorca)
I wish I could visit first,without having to choose whether to move my life there having never seen or experienced the place!
I feel we can't stay here now though.
The guy that was supposed to be interviewing dh in mid July, is not replying to emails..so that is a bit gutting.
Also the guy that asked his PA to contact dh "when he was in NZ" has not reponded either.Frustrating,to say the very least

Any news from anyoune,lolly? did they ring?
I think DH is losing hope.He's just told me there's a job going in Malta!
Nooo,I don't want Malta,I want NZ!
This isn't chuffin' fair

Many NZ towns are small. Google earth them if you are unsure.

Thanks maree1..I will

Okay, I need help. I have just found out i am 6 weeks preg.Totally unplanned.Dh has taken it really badly and left the house to clear his head.He says we are now stuck in this country and our dreams are in the pan.
He reckons there's no way we can move to nz now.
I supposse,in my confused (and quite distressed) state,what I am asking is if anyone has still done it.
LOLLY I know you are pregnant and still going and that your dh had a wobble.How did it resolve itself?
what kind of help is there for immigrants to nz as far as child benefit/tax credit etc.
I want to be able to offer a ray of hope to dh

Congratulations on the pg! Hope your dh comes round soon.

Have a look here www.ird.govt.nz/wff-tax-credits/ for info on Working for Families, which are tax credits for people with kids.

I just had a quick look, for a family with 4 kids on, say 70K a year, you would receive $215 a week from this. There's a table you can download with all the figures for different salaries/different amounts of kids.

I think you get this as soon as you are a resident - willing to be corrrected on this by someone who knows more though.