NZ for a year. North Island or South?

[quickdrawmcgraw]

dh and I have been talking about moving somewhere for a year with the dcs. New Zealand appeals most as it seems to have a lot of what we'd like. Dh works in TV graphics and would like to work in the same area, I'm an illustrator but could still keep clients from here and work from the house.
I'd love to be living somewhere semi rural with lots of outdoor stuff to do with dcs who are 7 and 5.
Does anyone have any recommendations of a town that might suit?

{envy]

no idea on a particular town but I reckon if your DH wants to do something in TV graphics then it'll have to be the North Island as there isn't much in that line in the South Island (although we do have some sort of TV studio and a comedy local TV channel here in Christchurch, I reckon most of the jobs are in the NI)

in which case you'll prob be looking at Wellington or Auckland,and most of teh TV stuff is in Auckland IIRC (my SIL's brother is a producer for a big morning programme on one of teh major channels and that's in Auckland)

if you can get a job in south island go for it- its the most beautiful by far
christchurch has a pretty centre although IMO the best place is suburb of sumner - in the hills, views of snow capped mountains and sea. christchurch well situated for exploring south island at weekends - abel tasman and vineyards to north, arthurs pass and ski fields west, and wanaka/milford sound etc south. oooo v jealous. its a beautiful place. i lived in chch for a year and loved it.

if you have to go north then i'd say auckland - by the sea (north shore) and live the sailing outdoor life. i think wellingotn is ok but a long way to get anywhere else.

I have to agree on Christchurch seeing as I live here
and for outdoorsy stuff you can't beat it

but I don't think your DH will be able to get anything in his line of work here TBH

Funny everybody has their bias. I love Auckland as I live here . The south is by all accounts very beautiful but too cold for me . Auckland is hot in the summer and on the whole mild in the winter. We are 30 mins south of Auckland have an 11 acre lifestyle block with pool the works and are 15-20 mins from major shopping centre with cinema complex etc but also same distance from beach.

Am sure those from Wellington, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay will now come on and say - no we live in the best place!!! Truth is you can't really go wrong - I'd find where the work is and start from there.

Auckland is the biggest city so may be more likely to find work around there. I think there is a bit of a TV/Movie industry - especially after Lord of the Rings. I think it might be in the South Island though. The name escapes me - hopefully a Kiwi will come along to fill you in.

I love Nelson an arty vibe small city about 70,000 brilliant outdoor, best climate, but I agree with sibble find the work and go from there and you can't go wrong you are always close to bliss.
I'ma kiwi and moving back in a few months after 8 years over here and I can't wait my parents are in christchurch so I'm a south island girl. I hope to go back to Nelson but will find work and then live there. Loads of jobs by the way.

Thank you for all your suggestions. It's helping a lot. Turns out that dh had said he wouldn't like to work in TV graphics and has some leave that he could take without having to work at all. yippeee! This is appealing to me even more now.
South Island seems like it would suit better I think as the hot weather in the North Island would be too much of a contrast coming from Ireland.