Another NZ query - a few random questions - gardening and schools (again) and central heating

[SarfEasticatedMumma]

We're still in the early stages of considering moving to Wellington, but as we are not telling the family until we have made up our minds I don't know who else to ask. These are my current queries if you are able to help:
Gardening can you buy English cottage garden plants there, or just natives. Although I am fully prepared to engage with native plants, I will need some plants to remind me of home: roses, lilac, iris, peony etc
Montessori I have noticed that there is a Montessori school near where we are moving to, which follows the mainstream curriculum. It looks lovely and just what I'd like for my DD7. I guess I just want to know whether doing this will mark us out as hippies, and possible count against DD when she tries to get a job or whether it's quite common for people to chose different kinds of schools for their kids.

heat pumps now I know that central heating doesn't exist there, and people rely on gas heaters, wood burning stoves and heat pumps. How about under floor heating? I hate being cold, so am trying to work out what I need to look out for in the estate agents details. There are some brick built houses, but I guess that they aren't so good in an earthquake.

We are just finishing a nearly month-long holiday here. We have travelled all over both North and South islands and stayed with friends and in holiday lets. We have been lucky with the weather - lots of sun and bizarrely not much wind, even in Welly!

The houses are cold unless they have underfloor/good pump heating. Kiwis have an inbuilt tolerance for much colder temps and it has been the norm to see males in their shorts and jandals, even in Queenstown! Electric blankets help, as do electric heaters, but bedrooms can be baltic, especially where a woodburner in the main room is the main way of heating the house.

But the people are warm and welcoming and life is much more unpretentious than in the UK. The majority of the country dress for comfort rather than fashion and people are less formal. It is also quite ethnically mixed (which is a great thing) - much more so than most of the UK.
Food is more expensive than in the UK, eating out similar or slightly more expensive.

I don't know much but Petone is quite a way out of Welly - don't know what the commute would be like?

I wouldn't fancy the walk from Korokoro to Petone. Or rather, the walk up the hill back home. The commute is a breeze (says she who never actually does it.) DP has no complaints and he goes all the way to the airport. Just have to time it. I'm a city girl and never expected to live in the Hutt but don't feel far at all. Sorry I haven't RTFT but a couple of things caught my eye so had to jump in. We're just back from a decade in Scotland and started at Wa Ora which I assume is the school you're thinking of. Really happy with it but I miss the triple glazing.... When are you coming for coffee?!

And if you do come, ship EVERYTHING and more. Kiwis will buy all your old ikea furniture for a premium!! We brought some of our things but are forever turning to each other going "shoulda brought that".