A year in windy Welly

janiejones · Feb 14th 2012, 7:36 am

I'm more of a lurker than a poster, but thought I would share our story with you.

We flew into Christchurch last year, then onto Wellington a few days later, with four suitcases, and no jobs. Two days after arriving in Welly, I got a job offer, and my OH got a short term post six weeks later. That led to another job, which has since gone permanent.

We're renting a small flat, and bought a car in the winter. The car meant that we've been able to travel and see a lot more of the area. We've been to a vineyard concert in Napier, a luxury lodge in the Marlborough Sounds, and spent the Christmas break travelling around Taranaki.

To celebrate our year, we flew back down to Christchurch, and spent a week tramping in South Island. We still own a house back in the UK which we're renting out for now, so it's still too soon to see if we'll stay, but we know that we'll stay for longer than the two years we initially set ourselves.

My friends tell me that I'm real Kiwi now, as I've got a Farmers card

**BEVS** · Feb 20th 2012, 11:16 pm

OOpsies . How did I miss this .

Sounds like it's all going to plan. Congrats on the job front too & thanks for taking the time to pop in and update .

What did you think of The Sounds?

janiejones · Feb 21st 2012, 5:49 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEVS

OOpsies . How did I miss this .

Sounds like it's all going to plan. Congrats on the job front too & thanks for taking the time to pop in and update .

What did you think of The Sounds?

Cheers Bevs. We loved the Sounds. We'd been through on the ferry a few years ago, on holiday, so to get some quality time there was great. We tried sea kayaking for the first time, loved it!

Mrs Pointer · Mar 31st 2012, 9:38 am

Sounds a lot like our first year in Wellington!!

Nick Miller · Jan 28th 2013, 6:49 am

Hope things are still going well. You must have your fly buys card now! If you are still in Wellington, I hope you're enjoying this extraordinary weather. I'm back for my second stint here - there is definitely something about the place.

janiejones · Jan 29th 2013, 6:10 am

Airpoints credit card. All the points! Still going well, I'll be doing my two year update next week

janiejones · Feb 4th 2013, 7:11 am

Two years in, where did it go!

I picked up our PRVs today, it's exactly two years since we arrived bleary eyed at Christchurch airport. In the last year, I got promoted to a permanent position, and we moved to a slightly larger rental, more convenient for both of us. We've seen Flight of the Conchords, Bill Bailey, and Billy Bragg, all on our doorstep in Wellington. We had a short break in Aussie (no jet lag, yay!), and tramped the Queen Charlotte Sound over Christmas. We can't get away on hols this week (flipping month end), but we're off to Stewart Island next week, tramping again.

The past two weeks have seen amazing weather, and my OH has spent most afternoons after work down at the beach (within walking distance), swimming, and again at the weekends.

We're going 'home' for a holiday in August, so topping up our Loaded card now, as the exchange rate is so good, and looking forward to seeing friends and family. When we got back here from Aus, it felt like coming home, not getting funny looks when I asked for a 'trum flat white' !

Still not sure if it's permanent, but I reckon we'll still be here for our NZ passports in three years time

Nick Miller · Feb 4th 2013, 7:27 am

Congrats on your visas. After 2 years here, Wellington felt like home to me so may do again.

**BEVS** · Feb 7th 2013, 1:29 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by janiejones

Two years in, where did it go!

I picked up our PRVs today

Congrats to you JanieJones.

Lovely to read that it's all tramping along nicely. I'll be interested to read about Stewart Island . It's one of those places I've wanted to visit.

chez7 · Feb 7th 2013, 11:30 pm

been here in Welly almost 7 yrs now but selling up and going back as soon as house is sold ,I have retired early and wifes still working for now so I am houseman ,enjoyed every bit of Welly ,seen all of the islands top to bottom and will miss them but family ties are first and we have to return as wifes mothers in need of help now so we have decided to go back .No probs returning as full residents here will just have to see what happens.Would deffo recommend living here to anyone coming over .

moonie2011 · Mar 15th 2013, 3:22 pm

Hi janiejones,
We are in the process of sorting everything out as OH has been offered a job in Welly.
Was wondering if I could PM you to tap into your knowledge of areas to live etc in Welly
Thanks in advance

skybluestu · Mar 21st 2013, 8:23 am

Hi Moonie

Get up to the Kapati Coast (raumati / paraparaumu beach) and commute, better weather, less wind and a couple of degrees warmer.

Feb 14th 2012, 7:36 am	#1
janiejones Forum Regular Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Lower Hutt Posts: 89	A year in windy Welly I'm more of a lurker than a poster, but thought I would share our story with you. We flew into Christchurch last year, then onto Wellington a few days later, with four suitcases, and no jobs. Two days after arriving in Welly, I got a job offer, and my OH got a short term post six weeks later. That led to another job, which has since gone permanent. We're renting a small flat, and bought a car in the winter. The car meant that we've been able to travel and see a lot more of the area. We've been to a vineyard concert in Napier, a luxury lodge in the Marlborough Sounds, and spent the Christmas break travelling around Taranaki. To celebrate our year, we flew back down to Christchurch, and spent a week tramping in South Island. We still own a house back in the UK which we're renting out for now, so it's still too soon to see if we'll stay, but we know that we'll stay for longer than the two years we initially set ourselves. My friends tell me that I'm real Kiwi now, as I've got a Farmers card __________________ EOI selected 23/09/09 on 125 points, no job offer. EOI successful 20/10/09, ITA arrived 21/10/09. ITA submitted 12/02/10. CO appointed 19/03/10. Phone interview 29/04/10, approved 30/04/10. Blue stickers 30/07/10. flights booked for 02/02/11.

Feb 20th 2012, 11:16 pm	#2
BEVS resting Super Moderator Joined: Oct 2003 Location: below Posts: 17,625	Re: A year in windy Welly OOpsies . How did I miss this . Sounds like it's all going to plan. Congrats on the job front too & thanks for taking the time to pop in and update . What did you think of The Sounds? __________________ As we never know what may happen tomorrow , we best make the best of today. Yeah.

Mar 31st 2012, 9:38 am	#4
Mrs Pointer Forum Regular Joined: Jun 2010 Location: Porirua, Wellington Posts: 198	Re: A year in windy Welly Sounds a lot like our first year in Wellington!!

Jan 28th 2013, 6:49 am	#5
Nick Miller Just Joined Joined: Jan 2013 Location: Johnsonville, Wellington City Posts: 23	Re: A year in windy Welly Hope things are still going well. You must have your fly buys card now! If you are still in Wellington, I hope you're enjoying this extraordinary weather. I'm back for my second stint here - there is definitely something about the place.

Jan 29th 2013, 6:10 am	#6
janiejones Forum Regular Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Lower Hutt Posts: 89	Re: A year in windy Welly Airpoints credit card. All the points! Still going well, I'll be doing my two year update next week __________________ EOI selected 23/09/09 on 125 points, no job offer. EOI successful 20/10/09, ITA arrived 21/10/09. ITA submitted 12/02/10. CO appointed 19/03/10. Phone interview 29/04/10, approved 30/04/10. Blue stickers 30/07/10. flights booked for 02/02/11.

Feb 4th 2013, 7:11 am	#7
janiejones Forum Regular Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Lower Hutt Posts: 89	Re: A year in windy Welly Two years in, where did it go! I picked up our PRVs today, it's exactly two years since we arrived bleary eyed at Christchurch airport. In the last year, I got promoted to a permanent position, and we moved to a slightly larger rental, more convenient for both of us. We've seen Flight of the Conchords, Bill Bailey, and Billy Bragg, all on our doorstep in Wellington. We had a short break in Aussie (no jet lag, yay!), and tramped the Queen Charlotte Sound over Christmas. We can't get away on hols this week (flipping month end), but we're off to Stewart Island next week, tramping again. The past two weeks have seen amazing weather, and my OH has spent most afternoons after work down at the beach (within walking distance), swimming, and again at the weekends. We're going 'home' for a holiday in August, so topping up our Loaded card now, as the exchange rate is so good, and looking forward to seeing friends and family. When we got back here from Aus, it felt like coming home, not getting funny looks when I asked for a 'trum flat white' ! Still not sure if it's permanent, but I reckon we'll still be here for our NZ passports in three years time __________________ EOI selected 23/09/09 on 125 points, no job offer. EOI successful 20/10/09, ITA arrived 21/10/09. ITA submitted 12/02/10. CO appointed 19/03/10. Phone interview 29/04/10, approved 30/04/10. Blue stickers 30/07/10. flights booked for 02/02/11.

Feb 4th 2013, 7:27 am	#8
Nick Miller Just Joined Joined: Jan 2013 Location: Johnsonville, Wellington City Posts: 23	Re: A year in windy Welly Congrats on your visas. After 2 years here, Wellington felt like home to me so may do again.

Feb 7th 2013, 11:30 pm	#10
chez7 Just Joined Joined: Feb 2013 Location: upper hutt Posts: 16	Re: A year in windy Welly been here in Welly almost 7 yrs now but selling up and going back as soon as house is sold ,I have retired early and wifes still working for now so I am houseman ,enjoyed every bit of Welly ,seen all of the islands top to bottom and will miss them but family ties are first and we have to return as wifes mothers in need of help now so we have decided to go back .No probs returning as full residents here will just have to see what happens.Would deffo recommend living here to anyone coming over .

Mar 15th 2013, 3:22 pm	#11
moonie2011 On our way :) Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Devon, Uk Posts: 160	Re: A year in windy Welly Hi janiejones, We are in the process of sorting everything out as OH has been offered a job in Welly. Was wondering if I could PM you to tap into your knowledge of areas to live etc in Welly Thanks in advance __________________ 28/2/13 Job offer received in Wellington. 05/04/13 Job contract signed. 15/4/13 WTR visa submitted. 19/4/13 visas approved whoop whoop Check out our blog www.jakesnzlife.vpweb.co.uk

Mar 21st 2013, 8:23 am	#12
skybluestu Forum Regular Joined: Apr 2010 Location: ParaParaumu Beach NZ Posts: 96	Re: A year in windy Welly Hi Moonie Get up to the Kapati Coast (raumati / paraparaumu beach) and commute, better weather, less wind and a couple of degrees warmer. __________________ EOI Submitted 04-05-10 (165 Points), EOI selected 05-05-10, ITA Received 15-05-10, ITA lodged 27-07-10, PR Approved 20-10-10, Blue Stickers in passports 23-10-10. Arrived Napier 13th November 2010. PRV issued December 2012.

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