Where's Best to Live in NZ and what do we need to know: PART TWO!!!

[AngryBeaver]

Wow,have just gone to post and it wouldn't except it! So have had to start a new thread. Hope everyone finds it ok.I feel a bit like we've all been out for the night and somehow got seperated and no one has their mobile!!
Anyway,this was the question I've had to cut and paste from the old thread:...

Sorry,have had a quick look but can't see...has anyone used emirates?
I think the sky couch thing looks good,but we'd have to buy a couple and that would be pricey.
Dh reckons Emirates are fine,but I don't think he's anticipating how different it's going to be travelling that disatnce with 3 exhausted infants.
He has limited travel experience as it is and the longest he has been on a plane with them is 3 hours. He keeps saying it will be fine,they'll sleep for loads of it...somehow I'm thinking this will not happen!!

You should be able to buy "ham off the bone" (which is what non-processed ham is called here) from decent butchers or delis. I could tell you where to go in Wellington but not Auckland. Is there an equivalent of Moore Wilsons?

I used to use Pams nappies!

If you can buy veges from one of the outdoor trucks that bring loads of fresh stuff in from market gardens they are so much fresher. In Wellington they pop up around the place, not just in Farmers Markets. I go to one in Tawa for example. Supermarket veges are generally not too bad if they have quick turnover though. I've had far worse buying from fruit and vege shops where the stock seems to hang around longer.

Has anyone had to resort to hiding the mountains of chocolate their children received over easter? Part of the problem in this house is that DD2 doesn't like chocolate (hard to believe I know!) so we get quite a bit of surplus. I feel like I've put on 5 pounds in the last week...

Lolly,I had the same the other day was in the big red shed and I let them all have childrens trolleys (which was just silly) and I was shouting instructions to dd at the front then helping the littlest steer with my left hand and pushing the pram with my right. A woman had stopped to let us past and said "Are they all yours?!" And I smiled and said "yes" and she looked faint!
Then I was chatting to a shopkeeper (we were on the street and the bigger ones were circling him on scooters,have found ds1 is better on scooter than buggy board and it saves my shins!) he just looked around him and said "how many children have you got ?!"
Bloody hell,it's not a biggy really is it?! I smile sweetly and tell them I hope to increase my brood asap .
And cooking a ham is the same as cooking a joint of beef ie you chuck it in a roasting pan and whack it in the oven for a few hours! Nothing to it.
Yes,Im sorry,meat counter in supermarket makes me feel queasy! All the edges are discouloured and dried out..meat is supposed to contain moisture!! Eyyw!
Thanks shels and buzzy,I'll have another scout out. The kids are sick of hearing "what do you want on your butties,jam or cheese?!"

I'll confess I've given up and just buy the shaved stuff. I try to look at the ones that have the highest proportion of pork in them - and pay a bit more for it. But then it's mainly for DD's sandwiches and she likes it.

But I must go looking for some decent stuff again sometime - I'm sure there's all sorts of nasty additives in the stuff I get.

Bollocks,just found out that we are to be out of our house in 6 weeks...owners want to move back in. Totally gutted,we really can't afford another move so soon. And what happens re internet connection we have just paid $90 down the drain,I suppose. So stressed

Are you thinking of buying a place at some point AB or will you keep renting for the forseeable?

Sorry AB. That happened to us and it really sucks. What sort of lease do you have? Cos they actually can't just chuck you out. How long have you been there?

www.dbh.govt.nz/tenancy-agreement

Have a look at this. If you are on a fixed term tenancy they cannot give you notice. I found that landlords here don't actually know the law very well/and or try and take the piss.

Moving will cost you and therefore if the landlord wants you move out early I would suggest that they need to negotiate. I would suggest asking them for a few weeks rent free.

AB that sucks. I don't know the law but I do know that the property we are moving into is tenanted. We were told that if we wanted them to move sooner than the tenancy agreement we would have to pay them out. I agree check your agreement and speak to the leasing agent. Moving is not fun - as I sit surrounded by packing boxes and cannot see light at the end of the tunnel. While DH is (guess.....) yesssss blowing leaves into a pile and farting around in the garden where he has been for the past 2 hours. I swear if you hear on the news 'woman kills husband while he is blowing leaves in garden' it will be me....arghhhhh. I think I can claim I was driven to it. He has taken the day off work to help me pack, packed 2 boxes then bug**d off outside.

No we're not on fixed tenancy. And they have to give us 42 days notice...they have done that,so we have to go. There is a real shortage of rentals on our side of Cambridge. We did want to move straight from here into our own (bought) house,but we needed to sell our UK home first,and it's not even on the market yet. We have been worrying about what to do with it re the market and the tenants. If our tenants move out before we sell,we can't affors to pay our mortgage.
But to buy here,we need a $20 deposit...we have erm,$1...do you think they will accept that and a winning smile?? and a flash of my boobs

The deposit - is that 20K for a 10% deposit? Some banks will lend with a 5% deposit. Are you holding off selling your UK property in case you don't stay here long term?

Looks like you will have to get another rental at least for the short term...better get searching on Trade Me...

No, I've just realised, 20K must be for a 5% deposit. You're not going to get a nice house in Cambridge for 200K!

Thb,I'm not sure...I've been busy with the little ones and dh is shouting numbers at me! Nope,no chance of getting a nice house for $200 k ,but the one we are seeing tomorrow is about $300/350,it's not great either but all we could afford

That's an arse. It's such a common situation. I have a pal who was told several times that a property would be available long term and on each occasion given notice after 6 months. Landlords here really do see you as a way to pay their mortgage with very little consideration for you as people IMHO. It pays to check out whether a property is listed for sale when you look at it as a rental as that is quite common too and gives an indication of the long term intentions.

For your rental deposit you can use the scheme where you transfer it from one property to another- so you don't have to pay out a second while waiting for the first to be returned.

Can I join in on the moaning about moving? My DH sounds like yours Sibble except he's spent weeks, WEEKS sorting out the computer to move. And buying a special application to make lists on. And making lists. And then doing NOTHING. I've done the whole bloody lot! We're moving tomorrow - can't wait for it to be over.
And we were on periodic lease too and I'm very pissed off with our landlords. This unnecessary move has cost us loads. Its lovely being a landlord here I think. Good tax breaks. Not much incentive to have your property in excellent shape. Easy money. I know there are some good landlords out there too, but lots who are just in it for the cash and forget they are messing with people's homes.
Poor DS had a friend say to him 'why do you keep moving' (4 rentals in 5 years -all landlords changing their minds) - 'why don't you just buy'. DS said forlornly - 'we don't have enough money'. Crap all round.

Moving is a PITA. Last time we moved, 6 years ago, I decided I never wanted to do it again. And we were moving from a room in a shared house so we didn't even have that much stuff! I'm quite happy to stay in the same house forever just to avoid moving again.

Just moved into our new rental tonight. Landlady in the house up the drive was horrified we had nothing. They turned up in the drive with a double bed and 2 single beds and some bedding. Such kindness. Met another woman at the Zoo today who had heard of me (small world) when I mentioned where we were moving to. Her ds is at the same school and a mum had told her about me and she'd pulled together some old toys and a kids table to give to me next term - i was having such a bad day what with moving out by 9am this morning on my own with all the kids and DS1 being a horror I ended up crying on her - all got ontop of me - all this organising and moving and long long days with the kids.

Moving is crap. I'm still unpacking our 5 bags and briscoes shit (now I understand why it's so cheap) and I'm thinking I could be having to pack it all up again in 6 months - along with our 20 ft container.

AB - I think gin is the way forward right now. But I'm also a great believer in things happening for a reason.

NZ (or at least North Shore Auckland) wins again... I'm having a morning at Westfield today. DH has taken DD1 to the cinema to give me a bit of a break (sleep deprivation & school holidays!) ... and I'm just amazed at the baby facilities. The changing rooms are like a 5 star hotel - and it's so nice to have a comfy feeding space available too - DD2 is so nosy now I tend to end up flashing everyone when I feed in public

The ones in sylvia park are amazing. So our rental is a 30s weatherboard totally decorated around 1978 - all brown. Windows don't shut properly and lots of creepy garage areas underneath. DH off to get sofas today though and found fridge yesterday. Think we just need our stuff. Never thought I'd say it but I really miss it.

lolly do you have dining table and chairs? If not, do you know the trick about buying cheapy plastic outdoor tables and chairs from the Warehouse - use them indoors - then when your containers arrive you just put the cheap set in the garden.

Yes,I can relate to the missing your stuff. I remember saying (probably on here!) I never thought I'd be so glad to see all my old shite!! The fantastic thing about it though, is when you get it,the kids will treat everything as if it's a new toy they've never seen before! They will be ectsatic!! Get the camera ready! There are pics on my fb of the kids wearing fancy dress (so buzzy bees/princessess etc) that they've found in the first box,opening the next box in amazement...it was priceless!

Never mind the kids, I was so excited to see my stuff again I was like a 5 year old

And I haven't quite forgiven MIL & DH for being 'helpful' and unpacking all my yarn and knitting stuff and putting it in the cupboard. I wanted the fun of rediscovering it all