WHERE'S BEST TO LIVE IN NZ AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW:PART 3!!!!(HOLY SHIT!)

[AngryBeaver]

Can you believe we've finished finished off another thread? Jeez we can talk!!
Just an update..we've found a nice double glazed,4 bed house,with nice garden. So that's one stress off the last.
Hilongwhitecloud

CIDP - www.gbs.org.uk/info/cidp.pdf. I'm sure it's not as it's super rare. Just the tingling hand and feet is an indicator.

Our bed just collapsed, just as I was sitting on it to feed DD2!

Only pride has been hurt, but I thought I was losing weight, not putting on enough to collapse a bed

I guess bed hunting is on the agenda for tomorrow... not sure what we'll do tonight!!

Buy the biggest one you can find!!

I think that's the plan - especially after this morning when we had both DDs in with us (on the mattress on the floor - my poor knees trying to get out of it!)

We're hoping there might be a few deals out there because of the long weekend.

Good luck vviola loads of sales on today.

Well,I went to Aukland for the first time yesterday. I have driven past it to Torbay etc,but never been able to go in and park and explore.
I blimmin' loved it!
We had lunch at the harbour,then went and walked aound the main shopping area (which was really busy) then back along the harbour in the sunshine.
It has made me re-evaluate things,tbh. I have alwayd said no to moving up to Aukland. I worry about the crime increase,population increase,expense. But I enjoyed it so much,I have missed SHOPS! Gucci,Louis Vitton- ok,I can't afford to go in...but they're there! Theatre,cinema...just accessibility to...STUFF!
It's made me realise how isolated we are here. Hamilton is the nearest "city",and imho,it is really grim.I avoid it if possible.
It would be a huge decision to move again though. And I have started to make some really good friends. I think I would find it really difficult starting again...again.

ps It was much warmer than Cambridge...another tick in the box!

What does your OH think AB? How is his job going?

I think the main problem with Auckland is cost of housing - the inner suburbs are now pricey which is hard if you work 9-5. But the longer I've been here though the more I've seen some other areas further out which which look nice- Titirangi, Langholm, the Whangaparoa (sp?) peninsular. And Waiheke of course....

I'm glad you like Auckland AB, I really like it - yes there are really busy bits (in comparison to other bits of NZ, not in comparison to a big UK city) but also some very quiet/green/relaxed suburbs. There are so many lovely parks and beaches plus regional parks etc just around the outside of the city.

housing is expensive though - there are some areas that I think are good value in comparison to the inner suburbs but the compromise is having a longer commute.

Did you do anything about dd1 s school?

There are more job op's for dh in Aulkand,definitely. We would worry about the cost,though.But propbably the wages would be higher.
We did consider Waiheke before we moved here. But,realistically it would probably cost too much to go in and out. There would be the issue of when I go into labour! Would I have to wait for the next ferry and then go accross moaning infront of everyone?! Also,the dd's wouldn't find work there (in the very distant future!) so would probably have to move. Mind you,I suppose they'd go away to Uni and then start their adult lives anyway (sob!)...

I love Auckland (I'm very new) but true that housing is expensive but I find I the round it's the same as Edinburgh. Wages (like Edinburgh) better as you're major city but housing expensive.

With friends in Waihi Beach this week near Tauranga. So looking at their property press for their area and housing is about $300k cheaper BUT could we find jobs there paying what Auckland pays? Think it's all relative.

I've been drinking Canadian Club for the first time tonight and Ds4 is currently shouting in his travel cot at the bottom of the bed. The house is literally on the beach and I can hear the sea rumbling. It's amazing. Got sun burnt yesterday!

Yep AB - if your DH working odd hours too then the commute shouldn't be an issue at all from the North Shore.

I think if dh got another job he would be looking for more norml hours.It's the current hours that are making things very hard. Def wouldn't be lookng to live in Central Aukland,think woulod look around the East coast?
Off to Tauranga today I think ..might see you there lolly! Dh is quite keen to do a property/area recci over that way. I would be more enthusiastic...but...A lady I know,who has moved up from Christchurch after the quakes,was saying that her dh was keen to move their business and them t Tauranga,I said "oh,we were thinking of there too!" she replied"Yeaah,it's just the tsunami risk,really.After the quakes I can't put my kids in any more danger!"
Totally freaked me out!!!Now I'm too scared to live there!

AB my old boss had her first baby while living on Waiheke and she did indeed come over on the ferry while in (early) labour.

I think Waiheke residents get a monthly ferry pass which is about $300 so probably comparable to petrol/train/bus costs.

And Tauranga last had a tsunami...when? :)

I wanted to live on Waiheke but DH talked me out of it. Then I tried to push for Devonport, but no luck. I think I just really fancied being able to commute to Uni by ferry

New bed purchased... and we got a very good deal. But they won't be able to deliver it til next Monday so a week on the mattress on the floor for us!

I have never heard of a tsunami for Tauranga either,but now the idea has been planted!!I suppose Waiheke would carry an even higher risk! Yes,I have spoken to someone who lives on Waiheke and they say the prices in the supermarket are higher.But,I didn't get the impression they were shockingly overpriced. Just a bit. Also,I understand that there is quite an economic mix.
From what I gather:the commuters,the retirees,the stoners from the 90's,and those on benefits.
I would love to go and visit,and just get the vibe of the place.
I think I remember looking at a forum that said Devonport had a real hoon problem,but might be making that up!

We went to Tauranga today,and it is nice. Checked out Omokomora,too. But think we have decided that it's just too far away. There was a really lovely part of Omokomoroa,looking out into the bay...it was like millionaires row. I was musing about how idylic it must be to live there. Then dh pointed out the doughnut marks on the road. (It was a dead end road with room to turn at the bottom)
How gutted would you be? You buy an amazing house overlooking the harbour,and then you're tormented everynight by the sound of those tossers ragging their cars up and down outside your home.
Mind you,we hear them here,too

Someone told me that Waiheke used to have the highest number of beneficiaries in Auckland. I've been looking at property porn online and I reckon you could get a 3 bed for 4-500K. There are no proper shops other than the supermarket and placemakers though so you'd have to come off for those. When we were on hols there I met a girl who had a home birth on the island- unplanned cos things were happening a bit quick. They do use the chopper if need be but she said lots of people plan home births or come off the island when they are due.

Also,the population triples in summer! A bit off-putting! Apparantly looooads of people think it's going to be amazing,buy and leave within 2/3 years. Don't want to make that mistake!
We would need a 4/5 bed,anyway.
Re home births...that would be a no go for us after the horror-birth that was ds1!
I have been looking at Devonport...is that an island like Waiheke,or is it attached to land? It looks so nice,but I'm guessing v.v.pricey!

Can I ask a personal question of you? You guys all pay x2 more rent than we do. Do you/dh's all have really well paid jobs? Dh is thinking we wouldn't afford to move up.

Devonport isn't an island, it's on the north shore, it's the bottom bit of it so has a ferry over to the city. Ferry only takes about ten mins. And yes, Devonport is a very pricey area.

We have a mortgage, not rent, it's about 500 a week, depending on interest rates. We live in a cheaper area of Auckland though. I don't know how that compares to rents /mortgages where you are.

But yep, if you were seriously thinking of moving here you would need to do a proper calculation of living costs to see if it was doable. No point being here but being skint.

We pay $775 a week and after tax on DHs base salary (he hasn't started earning commission yet cos he's new to role) rent is about 60% of his monthly salary which is scary. Hence why I'm going back to work next week as it's all a bit tight. I'm in an expensive area and I do wonder how folk afford it. I think you could pay around $500-600 a week for somewhere in the North Shore but I'm no expert. If you're looking for more of a Waiheke vibe have you thought about Titirangi in Auckland. I don't know Waiheke (but going Sunday) or Titirangi but I hear Titirangi is arty and foresty and cool plus a but cheaper. Littlest - what's your view as you know Auckland well?

Ps friends in Tauranga. I think they're a bit bored as its small and their careers and prospering there so are planning a move to OZ.