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!!

That's pretty lucky AB, there's 30 or so MNers in the whole of NZ and one of them has a dh who works in property management in the town you're looking at moving to! Must be a good sign :)

It's got to be hasn't it!

Little question for kiwi's ...you know how Lurpack and Anchor are nicest butters in Uk? What's the leading brand over here?Have only managed to get spread so far!

I don't really eat butter so I don't know AB, I buy it for dh though and I just get whatever is on special. He's never complained!

Congrats on your move to NZ, AB. I read part of your original thread a while back but haven't been on here for a while. We are in Rotorua, been here for four months and beginning to feel more settled. It is definitely a bit of a culture shock when you first arrive here. I am still guilty of converting everything to pounds when shopping, although I try really hard not to! To answer your question about butter, I like the Mainland brand (gold wrapper). Not sure if it is the leading brand, but it's nice :)

I just buy what is on offer. They all taste better here. More cream in them I think. Same with the milk.

I'll have a look at the special offers then,cheers.
Thanks cousinit, we plan on making a trip to Rotorua one day. I think it's quite near to here

One of the leading butter brands is called 'Anchor'. They're all pretty good though! Good luck

I only use in cooking so again only buy on special. Same for milk and other staples. Luckily we have alot of storage as I bulk buy anything that's on sale for a good price.

Welcome AB! So glad the flight was OK. The next few days will be exhausting (kids jetlag is just awful) so try and take it easy if you can.

Good advice from others about not comparing to the UK.

Hope you get a car soon - it'll make a big difference if you can get out and about and get to know your corner of Aotearoa.

You probably know this already AB but Anchor is made by Fonterra which is the world's largest global butter company and coincidentally also NZ's largest export company! It's leading brand names are Anchor, Mainland and Tip Top. However I suspect that many "homebrands" like Pams (from "New World" and "Pak 'N Save" supermarkets) are also sourced from Fonterra so it probably doesn't matter all that much which you pick. Personally I like the olive oil based spreads like Olivio but that's personal taste.

And welcome to New Zealand!!

Thanks scroobious! Good to be here Although this initial introduction is proving quite difficult. We are all on top of each other in this crappy motel with 5 open suitcases, a pram, a carseat, 3 kids. the kids are waking up at 3am,we can't find a house,we're stressing about money and biting each others heads off!!So,hmmm! But at least we are here and I know things will get better over the next few months. I'm just worrying about dh starting work on Mon and leaving me!

buzzy thankyou for your clear and detailed answer ...I 'll prepbably go for which ever is on special,but good to know they're all pretty good. We go through loads of butter!

Bank question,we opened accounts with BNZ yesterday and can't believe they charge $10 per month to have the account!

Dasy Im trying to work out if you got my last pm as it's not showing up on the last mail. If you could let me know the number of your friend in Cambridge that would be great. We have seen a house that would be fine,but it's not available until the 16th. So if we could find one before then that would be better. We are wasting nearly $200 per night in motels,which is not ideal!

Well re the bank, if you do want to change banks at any point there are other accounts that don't charge as much/at all. I have an Electronic account with Westpac which is $3.50 a month but free if you don't get statements in the post (you can still access bank statements online). The only thing you pay for is using another bank's ATM. Hth.

Actually bank fees are one thing that have got better here over the years. When I first got here I used to pay a monthly fee AND 40c every time I used EFTPOS. Used to drive me mad. I don't pay any fees now.

Thanks whatshesaid...I'll tell dh when he gets back from stressville!

We bank with Westpas too AB. Ours is an electronic account too, no fees at all as we opted not to have statements. hardly anyone uses cheque books here now and we pay all our bills and rent through our on line account. Very very easy.

Hope you've sorted a car so you can get out and about.

Hi AB - I hope you got my PM last night with the phone numbers. I know it can be a bugger to find good quality rentals.

We also use the electronic only Westpac account which is fine, although a bit of a pain if you need to bank a cheque. And same as most of the others, I just buy whichever butter is on special. Have you noticed that milk is a lot cheaper in corner shops (dairies) or vegie shops? And vegies are cheaper in vegie shops too. And never buy anything full price at Farmers or Briscoes - they'll have a sale within a week. Farmers often have storewide sales on Thursdays leading up to Christmas.

It isn't cheap here and I still moan about clothes & shoe shopping, but bargain hunting does seem to be a national pastime.

Nationwide has free banking on one account though they are linked to Lloyds in some way I think too. you have to pay in something every month but I think it's only 1000k

Right,I think we will change to wespac,then. Although dh thinks it will be a pain in the arse always having to find their atm. Sure it will,be I prefer that than handing over $10 a month for the privilige of banking there

We went to Hamilton Zoo today which was really lovely. We had a great time.
Unfortunately although we've managed to secure a house in Cambridge to live in,we won't be able to get in fro a few weeks,which means more motels

Apart from the fact that it's a complete nightmare,all being on top of each other,it's going to end up costing us about $3000

Westpac should have as many ATMs as all the other banks...they are one of the major banks. Also, I actually rarely use ATMs now - I use EFTPOS for virtually everything (even really small purchases, there's no minimum purchase to use it). You can get cash out at many places with EFTPOS - if you buy something from the supermarket or wherever and use EFTPOS you can ask for cash with it too and they will just add it to the EFTPOS amount.

When do you move into your house?

Firstly congrats on the Cambridge house - I like Cambridge. I'm with westpac too and likewise rarely use an ATM. As well as eftpos Westpac have a great credit card system where you get 'hotpoints' for usage. I use mine for everything but am very anal and pay it off completely each month. It wouldn't work if you didn't IMO. I have 'cashed' in hotpoints this year for between $500 and $1,000. Hard to remember exacatly but it's bought an ipod, scooter, books, makeup etc..

Glad you've got accommodation resolved AB even if it is a couple of weeks away - you must feel relieved. Life can get started when you move in.

We've just woken up to a formal offer for DH from Auckland. It's CBD. Bit overwhelmed as it's been about 10 months to get to this stage. It's a good offer so I should imagine he'll accept - he's too busy dealing With screaming toddlers to discuss just now. Medicals are the next big hurdle I suppose - I'm a bit worried about that for me.

It's a lot to take in but I'm happy. Going to need to pick your brains Auckland ladies as to where to live and schools etc.

AB any chance of moving into a cheaper motel to save a few $ or is it too much of a hassle?

"Lollystix* congratulations on dh's job offer, fire away with the qu's

Thanks Sibble and whatshe said, I'll def look into that.
Move into the house on the 12 th now I think.And I think all the motel's are much of a muchness $ wise. We looked into getting a holiday home for a few weeks which would have been cheaper,but they were all booked up.

Yay,lolly how fabulous is that? Congratulations! Just think,Brodie will have a little kiwi accent..cute as,ey?! (see,I'm getting the lingo already!)