elmuzzerino

Hi Everyone.

I am an Expat Scot in my 8th Year of living in New Zealand (4 years in Wellington and 4 years in Auckland). My missus if from Nova Scotia, I have visited there in Summer and Winter and LOVE IT!

NZ is great in many ways but I have found as time passes that there are just so many things that I miss about the Northern Hemisphere (UK, Scotland, Canada) such as the Seasonal Change, Winter, Xmas, New Year, Snow, Pubs, Culture, Proximity to UK (Family)

(check out my link on <snip>

Ok Ok I know I have just confirmed the classic stereotype of a whingeing Brit, but as you all probably know, as an expat we do tend to 'compare' things a lot.

I guess I am just over NZ now with the leaky homes, expensive property, hoons, lame Xmas and New Year, Isolation, boring damp cold winters and other than the Maori, a severe lack of culture.

We are planning on making a move to Nova Scotia in 2014 and I would love to hear from anyone who has made a similar move. Maybe you can give me a little idea of the pro's and con's of living in Halifax or nearby.

Any Kiwis reading this, I do apologise if this seems a little offensive, I did leave Scotland after all for a reason and I know that the UK certainly ain't perfect.

powderman75

have you ever been to Christchurch?

Auld Yin

I have, but I don't see the relevance of your question to the posters comments.

spankysparkle

just a thought, but isn't the weather better in Chch (not so much rain during winter, more sun), the property cheaper etc? could be that some of the stuff that annoy the OP about Wellington & Auckland may not be issues in Chch? Would be a cheaper move too.
Sorry, I shouldn't butt in. Maybe NZ is just not meant to be..

elmuzzerino

Hey Guys,

yep I have been to Christchurch and quite like it. I did not like it the first few times I went, I found it to be a somewhat featureless city, (flat) but I do like the Snow in winter (Proximity to Mt Hutt)

Overall I think that there are many problems nationwide which NZ seems to suffer from. Just this morning on the radio the housing minister was being grilled over his plan to 'subsidise' insulation in NZ homes (Floor and Ceilings only) which after 1000's of homes later, still does not meet the minimum UN standard for a healthy home. That is simply crazy for a 1st world nation.

I often find that NZ is a nation of 'Style over Substance' where you can afford to drink the best coffee and dine in the best restaurants but you are unable to buy your own dry, warm home.

This last couple of weeks many Kiwis have remarked on the Vancouver Winter Olympics often stating that 'it must be freezing!' and 'I wouldn't want to live there!' ...

... myself and a few other expats exclaimed, 'mate, there is only one place I have been where it is cold, damp and bitter through winter' and that is right here! in Auckland.

Give me a frozen lake, snowball fight and snow forts over a boring cold, damp winter any day!

(sorry Kiwis, just being honest)

*I noticed the link option in the toolbar, but I got <sniped>? what gives?

christmasoompa

As I said, it's against site rules. You've posted it before and it was removed for the same reason.

Have a re-read of the site rules regarding advertising, and put it in your signature instead.

elmuzzerino

ah ok sorry, I did not see the reason link below it....

Cheers!

Caitilin

I was in Wainuiomata (near wellington) for almost a year before coming here.

Imenz

I'm in Auckland (have been for 7 years, and Oz for 2 before that). I'm hoping to move to Vancouver next year to live with my boyfriend.
I adore Auckland, and don't really want to leave - I love it here, and love my life here too.
But, as he can't move to NZ I've got to move to Vancouver. I find it pretty similar to Auckland if I'm honest. Same sort of vibe to the city, although perhaps being bigger a tad more buzzy and vibrant. I'll be out in West Van though, so not really in the city itself.

I'm rather nervous about the move, but know it's the right thing to do for me at this time.

JAJ

It would always be worth securing a right to return to NZ before leaving, such as an indefinite returning resident visa or NZ citizenship.

Oink

Uh oh.

Elizabeth I

LOL! I totally agree with you, this is the coldest dampest place, Auckland. And I think 2 years ago was the coldest winter on record and I got the flu and it was so severe I felt like I was going to die.

There was a news report basically saying that we live in wooden tents and they're not suitable for the cold winters we get so there you go...

Elizabeth I

I'm looking to move as well, from Auckland to Vancouver.

Elizabeth I

I feel exactly the same as you and I love Auckland too and my life here is pretty terrific. It's great living here and has that similar feeling to Vancouver just that Van is bigger and better (from what I can tell anyway). I hope it's the right thing to do for me, moving to Vancouver, I dunno, just have to wait and see....

Elizabeth I

I don't like Christchurch.

But Nelson, the Tasman National Park and the Marlborough Wine region, (particularly Herzog Winery and Restaurant)....be still my beating heart.

http://www.herzog.co.nz/