Where to live around Christchurch?
Feb 6th 2003, 6:59 pm
#91
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 327
Originally posted by Jaffa30
Hi Shirley
http://www.interislandline.co.nz/
this is a handy site which we've used before. on the left side of the screen, you just enter in your details and they give you a range of fares to choose from.
The Lynx is the fastest ferry (2hours 15 mins), while Arahura & Aratere are the slower ferrys (3 hours).
Hi Shirley
http://www.interislandline.co.nz/
this is a handy site which we've used before. on the left side of the screen, you just enter in your details and they give you a range of fares to choose from.
The Lynx is the fastest ferry (2hours 15 mins), while Arahura & Aratere are the slower ferrys (3 hours).
hi jaffa,
thank you very much for this link. i'm going to work now so i'll leave paul to sort the booking out. this site should make it easy!!
see, i do all the hard stuff while he's at work!!
Feb 6th 2003, 7:16 pm
#92
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 163
Cheers Ian,
as posted earlier, we have the tickets, now putting the timetable together. The frogeye is temperamental to say the least, the last time I used it about 2 weeks ago before the snow and grot, the carbs were going out of balance. They need a full rebuild. What you say about the small companies is encouraging, done a major rebuild recently, new clutch( with daughters boyfriends able assistance it has to be said), interior, bodywork, etc, got ripped off on the respray, I could have bought the compressor, spray gear and paint and still have done a better job myself. Still, live and learn.
Take care
Lee
as posted earlier, we have the tickets, now putting the timetable together. The frogeye is temperamental to say the least, the last time I used it about 2 weeks ago before the snow and grot, the carbs were going out of balance. They need a full rebuild. What you say about the small companies is encouraging, done a major rebuild recently, new clutch( with daughters boyfriends able assistance it has to be said), interior, bodywork, etc, got ripped off on the respray, I could have bought the compressor, spray gear and paint and still have done a better job myself. Still, live and learn.
Take care
Lee
Originally posted by Watt Dabney
Lee,
If you bring in something tasty like an ah frogeye nzers will love it (1 more to the collection). I recently brought in a rather splendid 1998 kawasaki zrx1100 which was received very coolly as just another jap. The roads have lots of old british and american cars (compared to uk where mondeo clones rule the roads). Everything from austin 1100
to chev belair
. I have seen 1950s american pick ups being used as working vehicles. There are many small companies specialising in classic/vintage/veteran vehicle restoration and many men I have met since arriving here a few months ago have a project of some sort on the go. One workmate owns a tr4 and is building 1910's side valve velo. Our mate the builder races a greeves in pre '72 bike racing and is successfully tempting me to come out to play. I did find a website months ago for a company selling a huge amount of classic vehicles but have lost the address. Try nz search engines. If I can be of any more help in this area just ask.
Ian
Lee,
If you bring in something tasty like an ah frogeye nzers will love it (1 more to the collection). I recently brought in a rather splendid 1998 kawasaki zrx1100 which was received very coolly as just another jap. The roads have lots of old british and american cars (compared to uk where mondeo clones rule the roads). Everything from austin 1100
to chev belair . I have seen 1950s american pick ups being used as working vehicles. There are many small companies specialising in classic/vintage/veteran vehicle restoration and many men I have met since arriving here a few months ago have a project of some sort on the go. One workmate owns a tr4 and is building 1910's side valve velo. Our mate the builder races a greeves in pre '72 bike racing and is successfully tempting me to come out to play. I did find a website months ago for a company selling a huge amount of classic vehicles but have lost the address. Try nz search engines. If I can be of any more help in this area just ask.Ian
Feb 7th 2003, 9:34 am
#93
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 327
Originally posted by sully4441
Hi Lizzie,
Ta for the link will take a look today. Just back from Brum centre, nightmare and cold, paid for tickets. £1900 plus a few pence for the 3 of us with Singapore Airlines. Will book hotels in Christchurch for first week, as this is where we will be 'looking at' then hire a car and play it by ear up to Aukland. Have map, have ideas from this thread, will plan. Okay so it's only a holiday at the moment, but the furthest we ever ventured before was to Southern Spain, again and again and again........
June seems a long way off.
Cheers
Lee
Hi Lizzie,
Ta for the link will take a look today. Just back from Brum centre, nightmare and cold, paid for tickets. £1900 plus a few pence for the 3 of us with Singapore Airlines. Will book hotels in Christchurch for first week, as this is where we will be 'looking at' then hire a car and play it by ear up to Aukland. Have map, have ideas from this thread, will plan. Okay so it's only a holiday at the moment, but the furthest we ever ventured before was to Southern Spain, again and again and again........
June seems a long way off.
Cheers
Lee
lee,
delighted you are fully booked!! it feels like a big step on it's own doesn't it? i think it sortof nails your colours to the mast in terms of friends and family realising you are serious about doing this! any negative reactions so far?
we booked back in september and april seemed forever away. i can't believe how quickly the time is flying past though. come to think of it this forum has taken up a huge chunk of it. it's mainly been very useful stuff though especially in terms of consoling me that we are not the only ones. i don't seem to get the wobbles nearly so often now as i did at the start. do you or jayne have any major doubts or are you fairly settled in your head that this is what you want?
sorry i'm rambling again!
Feb 8th 2003, 3:29 am
#94
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Sussex, formerly Christchurch
Posts: 395
Originally posted by lizzie
Before he departed for Chch we had been lead to believe by friends who had visited the city that it was very "small town", a bit like towns here 30 years ago. When he arrived we had booked him into a motel pretty much in the centre and his initial reaction was it was more like Manchester! (yuk!). He has had mixed reaction from the Kiwis - people who have nothing to gain from him such as checkout operators in shops, bank clerks, general people in the street have been very friendly and interested to talk to him. (I should add my partner is a very sociable person and could talk the hind legs off a donkey!) Staff in several key employment agencies in Chch have been particularly aloof towards him, he's gone into their offices in order to make appointments to chat with them about his/their requirements and they couldn't even lift their heads up from what they were doing ... hmm. Additionally, there have been one or two people (friends of friends) who have the attitude that all immigrants should go home and leave the jobs for Kiwis.
People talk about the "laid back" attitude of the Kiwis - this may be true of some, but it's a rat race there just as it is here. People are just as busy going about their business.
The driving came as a shock also - pretty maniacal on occasions, he was also amazed at the "hooning" that goes on.
Having said all this, once he ventured out of the city to the suburbs he realised some of the other side of NZ - the space, the beauty, the more relaxed pace and a pleasant environment to bring up children. He's very quickly made some good friends which is great and they are able to show him how life could be for us in Chch. Which just leaves the job ...hmmmm!
Admittedly he did go there at a very bad time, arriving just before the Christmas break when most places close down or do very little on the hiring and firing front. Now it will seem as though I am blowing his trumpet, but he is a very talented embedded software programmer, a good communicator and with many years experience but despite tens of applications he has yet to get an interview. We are limiting our chances somewhat in that we don't want to go to the North Island (Auckland would seem to have more opportunities) but we are finding it really strange to keep being knocked back when some of the jobs would appear to have been made for him. In fact, some of the companies continue to advertise week in, week out for the same vacancies for which he has been turned down because "they have candidates who more closely match their criteria" It is hellish frustrating and not a little worrying. If anyone has any suggestions I would be pleased to hear them (I would add he has been trying to bypass the agencies and go direct to the companies, even turning up at their doors).
It is a little irritating for us therefore to be told that NZ is short of skilled IT'ers when they have a bloody good one under their noses and they aren't interested. His JSV runs out in May, so we still have a few months yet but it is a panicky situation.
I don't want to put anyone off, everyone's situation is very different and some people are born lucky - me on the otherhand, well it's typical - everything always goes to the wire!
Lizzie
Before he departed for Chch we had been lead to believe by friends who had visited the city that it was very "small town", a bit like towns here 30 years ago. When he arrived we had booked him into a motel pretty much in the centre and his initial reaction was it was more like Manchester! (yuk!). He has had mixed reaction from the Kiwis - people who have nothing to gain from him such as checkout operators in shops, bank clerks, general people in the street have been very friendly and interested to talk to him. (I should add my partner is a very sociable person and could talk the hind legs off a donkey!) Staff in several key employment agencies in Chch have been particularly aloof towards him, he's gone into their offices in order to make appointments to chat with them about his/their requirements and they couldn't even lift their heads up from what they were doing ... hmm. Additionally, there have been one or two people (friends of friends) who have the attitude that all immigrants should go home and leave the jobs for Kiwis.
People talk about the "laid back" attitude of the Kiwis - this may be true of some, but it's a rat race there just as it is here. People are just as busy going about their business.
The driving came as a shock also - pretty maniacal on occasions, he was also amazed at the "hooning" that goes on.
Having said all this, once he ventured out of the city to the suburbs he realised some of the other side of NZ - the space, the beauty, the more relaxed pace and a pleasant environment to bring up children. He's very quickly made some good friends which is great and they are able to show him how life could be for us in Chch. Which just leaves the job ...hmmmm!
Admittedly he did go there at a very bad time, arriving just before the Christmas break when most places close down or do very little on the hiring and firing front. Now it will seem as though I am blowing his trumpet, but he is a very talented embedded software programmer, a good communicator and with many years experience but despite tens of applications he has yet to get an interview. We are limiting our chances somewhat in that we don't want to go to the North Island (Auckland would seem to have more opportunities) but we are finding it really strange to keep being knocked back when some of the jobs would appear to have been made for him. In fact, some of the companies continue to advertise week in, week out for the same vacancies for which he has been turned down because "they have candidates who more closely match their criteria" It is hellish frustrating and not a little worrying. If anyone has any suggestions I would be pleased to hear them (I would add he has been trying to bypass the agencies and go direct to the companies, even turning up at their doors).
It is a little irritating for us therefore to be told that NZ is short of skilled IT'ers when they have a bloody good one under their noses and they aren't interested. His JSV runs out in May, so we still have a few months yet but it is a panicky situation.
I don't want to put anyone off, everyone's situation is very different and some people are born lucky - me on the otherhand, well it's typical - everything always goes to the wire!
Lizzie
That would explain the predicament of the doctor from Egypt who is working in the local Kebab shop around the corner from us! Good luck to your husband.
Feb 8th 2003, 5:48 am
#95
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 23
most brits don't have a problem in chch. the immigrants reported with problems weren't brits. making the point since the forum is meant to be for brits.
Feb 8th 2003, 8:51 am
#96
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 327
hi sully,
love your pic. we could have made good use of that during last years camping hooliday in cornwall. we ended up with our tent floating on 6 inches of water during a thunder storm and paul spent three steady hours sweeping water away from the entrance- not a lot of fun!! another reason to go!
muppetking you have me a bit worried now! i was under the impression that they are crying out for health care professionals in all parts of nz. how do you rate my chances as a nurse. do you know any of those struggling to find work?
BTW sully, we are fully booked for all our holiday. i think i maybe have it on here somewhere else but we are taking 10 nights in a little self catering chalet in christchurch (during which i WAS hoping to get a job offer- a tad optomistic maybe but i'll still have to try!) and then leave the car at christchurch and take the train up the coast to picton. we'll then hire another car in wellington for the north island. (we have hired the cars through trailfinders -seemed to be there or thereabouts the best price.
we also have booked accomodation for wellington, lake taupo and auckland. if there's anything else you want to know you can drop me a line.
love your pic. we could have made good use of that during last years camping hooliday in cornwall. we ended up with our tent floating on 6 inches of water during a thunder storm and paul spent three steady hours sweeping water away from the entrance- not a lot of fun!! another reason to go!
muppetking you have me a bit worried now! i was under the impression that they are crying out for health care professionals in all parts of nz. how do you rate my chances as a nurse. do you know any of those struggling to find work?
BTW sully, we are fully booked for all our holiday. i think i maybe have it on here somewhere else but we are taking 10 nights in a little self catering chalet in christchurch (during which i WAS hoping to get a job offer- a tad optomistic maybe but i'll still have to try!) and then leave the car at christchurch and take the train up the coast to picton. we'll then hire another car in wellington for the north island. (we have hired the cars through trailfinders -seemed to be there or thereabouts the best price.
we also have booked accomodation for wellington, lake taupo and auckland. if there's anything else you want to know you can drop me a line.
Feb 8th 2003, 10:13 am
#97
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 327
Originally posted by sully4441
Hi Shirley,
I wouldn't worry about getting a job, as I said before Jaynes friend contacted the hospital direct, they were falling over themselves. She is using an emigration agent as you asked me previously, they have never been to NZ before. But rather than say more and get it wrong, Jayne is on an early today, I'll get some more info off her when she comes in. Are you on ICQ? If so I'll send you my number later, you can chat to me or jayne direct then.
Cheers
Sully
Hi Shirley,
I wouldn't worry about getting a job, as I said before Jaynes friend contacted the hospital direct, they were falling over themselves. She is using an emigration agent as you asked me previously, they have never been to NZ before. But rather than say more and get it wrong, Jayne is on an early today, I'll get some more info off her when she comes in. Are you on ICQ? If so I'll send you my number later, you can chat to me or jayne direct then.
Cheers
Sully
Please excuse my ignorance!! and thanks for your reassurance!!
Feb 8th 2003, 1:39 pm
#98
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 327
hi lee thanks for the link to ICQ.
i don't particularly want to use that yet though if i can help it. we get enough spam and paul is already fed up with all the stuff that trips into our sytem tray every time we switch on!!
however, what about using the instant messaging on the forum chat. if jayne is home from work later perhaps we could try that!!
the kids are patiently/impatientyly waiting for the computer just now though, and i have ironing to do but if it would suit to try later perhaps yu could send a pm re time etc.
thanks in the meantime
i don't particularly want to use that yet though if i can help it. we get enough spam and paul is already fed up with all the stuff that trips into our sytem tray every time we switch on!!
however, what about using the instant messaging on the forum chat. if jayne is home from work later perhaps we could try that!!
the kids are patiently/impatientyly waiting for the computer just now though, and i have ironing to do but if it would suit to try later perhaps yu could send a pm re time etc.
thanks in the meantime
Feb 9th 2003, 2:09 am
#99
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Sussex, formerly Christchurch
Posts: 395
Originally posted by jajpe
hi sully,
love your pic. we could have made good use of that during last years camping hooliday in cornwall. we ended up with our tent floating on 6 inches of water during a thunder storm and paul spent three steady hours sweeping water away from the entrance- not a lot of fun!! another reason to go!
muppetking you have me a bit worried now! i was under the impression that they are crying out for health care professionals in all parts of nz. how do you rate my chances as a nurse. do you know any of those struggling to find work?
BTW sully, we are fully booked for all our holiday. i think i maybe have it on here somewhere else but we are taking 10 nights in a little self catering chalet in christchurch (during which i WAS hoping to get a job offer- a tad optomistic maybe but i'll still have to try!) and then leave the car at christchurch and take the train up the coast to picton. we'll then hire another car in wellington for the north island. (we have hired the cars through trailfinders -seemed to be there or thereabouts the best price.
we also have booked accomodation for wellington, lake taupo and auckland. if there's anything else you want to know you can drop me a line.
hi sully,
love your pic. we could have made good use of that during last years camping hooliday in cornwall. we ended up with our tent floating on 6 inches of water during a thunder storm and paul spent three steady hours sweeping water away from the entrance- not a lot of fun!! another reason to go!
muppetking you have me a bit worried now! i was under the impression that they are crying out for health care professionals in all parts of nz. how do you rate my chances as a nurse. do you know any of those struggling to find work?
BTW sully, we are fully booked for all our holiday. i think i maybe have it on here somewhere else but we are taking 10 nights in a little self catering chalet in christchurch (during which i WAS hoping to get a job offer- a tad optomistic maybe but i'll still have to try!) and then leave the car at christchurch and take the train up the coast to picton. we'll then hire another car in wellington for the north island. (we have hired the cars through trailfinders -seemed to be there or thereabouts the best price.
we also have booked accomodation for wellington, lake taupo and auckland. if there's anything else you want to know you can drop me a line.
Feb 9th 2003, 7:29 am
#100
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 327
Originally posted by Jaffa30
Hi Shirley
http://www.interislandline.co.nz/
this is a handy site which we've used before. on the left side of the screen, you just enter in your details and they give you a range of fares to choose from.
The Lynx is the fastest ferry (2hours 15 mins), while Arahura & Aratere are the slower ferrys (3 hours).
Hi Shirley
http://www.interislandline.co.nz/
this is a handy site which we've used before. on the left side of the screen, you just enter in your details and they give you a range of fares to choose from.
The Lynx is the fastest ferry (2hours 15 mins), while Arahura & Aratere are the slower ferrys (3 hours).
jaffa, (or anyone else who knows)
anyone know of a website/company which combines the Interislander crossing with the Transcoastal train on the way up from Christchurch? we are sure that we have seen it at some stage, and it saves some money to book both together, but of course now that we are ready to book it, can't find it!
thanks muppetking for the health board web site. i appreciate it. i actually check it fairly often already and there seems to be plenty of vacancies. just hope they are as short as it looks and they are prepared to wait a few months for me to get over!! i'll just have to wait and see i suppose!
thanks again
Feb 10th 2003, 1:22 am
#101
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 91
Hi Shirley
Yep, Tranz Scenic can book both for you.
Their contact details from their URL (www.tranzscenic.co.nz) are:
"From overseas Phone 0064 4 495 0775
Fax 0064 4 472 8903
Email: [email protected]."
Yep, Tranz Scenic can book both for you.
Their contact details from their URL (www.tranzscenic.co.nz) are:
"From overseas Phone 0064 4 495 0775
Fax 0064 4 472 8903
Email: [email protected]."
Feb 10th 2003, 11:50 pm
#102
on the road again member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 59
Originally posted by jajpe
jaffa, (or anyone else who knows)
anyone know of a website/company which combines the Interislander crossing with the Transcoastal train on the way up from Christchurch?
jaffa, (or anyone else who knows)
anyone know of a website/company which combines the Interislander crossing with the Transcoastal train on the way up from Christchurch?
you'll have to see the different schedules to check it's connections.
the interislander & train used to be(still is?) one & the same & all trains used to connect with a ferry.
Feb 11th 2003, 2:26 am
#103
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 91
you could hire a kayak to get to wellington
:scared: :scared: :scared:
:scared: :scared: :scared:
Feb 11th 2003, 5:37 am
#104
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Sussex, formerly Christchurch
Posts: 395
Originally posted by jajpe
Don't feel too bad Alan i appreciate your help - and everyone elses too!
Also i have a question for Muppetking although I'm almost scared to ask, but i would really appreciate your objective opinion on high schools around Christchurch. before you start i know that you believe the education sytem to be much inferior in general to that of the U.K but if you had to choose are there any high schools either public or private preferably public) whose reputations stand above others.
we realise that at the ages our kids are at (10,9 and 7) we really need to be thinking in terms of the next school stage when choosing where to settle, so that we are well placed for secondary education. we had liked the look of some houses around the Lincoln area but then then the Lincoln high school website is not so detailed as some of the others and wondered if you could offer an opinion from what you have learnt there. it's o'k, i've braced myself for whatever's coming!!!
many thanks
Don't feel too bad Alan i appreciate your help - and everyone elses too!
Also i have a question for Muppetking although I'm almost scared to ask, but i would really appreciate your objective opinion on high schools around Christchurch. before you start i know that you believe the education sytem to be much inferior in general to that of the U.K but if you had to choose are there any high schools either public or private preferably public) whose reputations stand above others.
we realise that at the ages our kids are at (10,9 and 7) we really need to be thinking in terms of the next school stage when choosing where to settle, so that we are well placed for secondary education. we had liked the look of some houses around the Lincoln area but then then the Lincoln high school website is not so detailed as some of the others and wondered if you could offer an opinion from what you have learnt there. it's o'k, i've braced myself for whatever's coming!!!
many thanks
Feb 11th 2003, 6:02 am
#105
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 23
Good Schools in CHCH
the best public schools in christchurch are:
christchurch girls high school
burnside high school
riccarton high school
these schools are the best performing state schools in chch in terms of exam results. discipline is excellent at all three.
around chch, darfield high school probably has the best reputation. lincoln and ellesmere college (in leeston) also have good reputations.
christchurch girls high school
burnside high school
riccarton high school
these schools are the best performing state schools in chch in terms of exam results. discipline is excellent at all three.
around chch, darfield high school probably has the best reputation. lincoln and ellesmere college (in leeston) also have good reputations.