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

Wow AB you are finally going! I still can't believe you are emigrating to a country you have never even visited. I have relatives in NZ and have had a lovely holiday with them, great country to visit. But to up-sticks away from family and friends when you've never visited the place where you are planning to make a life ........ you are braver than me. Best of luck and bon-voyage.

Just out of curiosity do you have a fall-back plan?

Sounds like it will be fine then. I told him it would!
It says do not attend if you are ill, but seriously, we have 3 young children. So, at this time of year that would be an impossible ask!

Singing,you've just unnerved me slightly! We don't have an actual back up plan. But, we are renting our house until the market picks up,so if it all goes Pete Tong in NZ,we could come back. Dh wouldn't be able to get his job back though,so we'd have to move to London. Which I'm not doing. So,we have to love it in NZ.

I'm sure we got our blood test results. So if any of them are wildly off you can re do the bloods later.

Hope the medicals went OK, AB.

The big question now is will you make it out here before your thread reaches 1001 posts? [hwink]

haven't left for Manchester for medicals yet. Just been to see my Gran and told her. That was a bit emotional.

So what's your timeframe for moving over justabout? Before or after Christmas?

It is hard. But good news for you re house!
I've had my big brother on the phone crying...so difficult.
Medicals went fine, just got to wait for the blood tests. Hopefully will all be ok.
My dd is counting the sleeps until Granny gets home. She is going to find it so tough when she realises it's going to be a lot longer than 3 weeks the next time

Good luck with the medicals Angry. Sure it will all be fine. When are you off?

Singing- sorry but I have to say your comments were a bit unhelpful? Does anyone have a watertight back up plan in life whether emigrating or not?

Best foot forward Angry - it's a fab country and the people are lovely. Very jealous if you

Oops - of not if - helping you make it to 1000 posts

Ooops, my apologies to those I've upset it was unintentional I promise. I'll butt out. [hsmile]

Thanks lolly
Justabout...wow! That must feel weird,having an actual date? You'll be there in time for xmas. I wonder if it will feel like xmas when it's hot!That'll be a first for me! Where abouts are you headed?

Sorry, Justabobut...I am abit confused. Do you mean you had a 2 day turnaround with your visa?

Thought you might like this:

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10762178

It was 24C in Auckland yesterday.

Oh, that sounds promising LittleStKiwi. Very sick of the rain this week.

I see JustAbout, that's great for you. I couldn't believe all the info they needed to prove dh and I were 'together', I said we may as well send them a bedroom photo that would answer all their questions! Pretty thorough aren't they?!

Thanks kiwi, dh reads the daily herald every night so he'd told me,but is nice to hear again! Especially when I had to get the de-icer out yesterday before I could start the car! eeeyw.
The only prob is,Im really struggling to get any summer clothes/shoes for dd. Just want some decent white sandals,but because we're nearly in winter,it's virtually impossible. I have been looking for about 2 hours with no joy!
Ds 1 is ok for stuff,maybe just needs a couple of pairs of shorts. The baby will need same. But its easy for boys! Girls? Gah!

Have you got any outlet shops near you? Shoes are expensive here so I get mine sent by DD granny who lives near a clarks outlet. Crocs are very popular with little ones.

NZ has a policy of recognising partnership, not marriage which I think is rather enlightened. Bedroom photo's (even dated ones) would not be enough! We had to prove we were financially entangled- joint bank statements etc.