Platty

It seems very likely, for the moment, that we will be moving to Wellington, NZ and I have a few more questions

We have a 5 year old daughter, she has some communication problems (currently seeing an NHS speech therapist) mainly making herself understood and understanding instructions plus a total lack of empathy. She is getting better all the time but I am worried about the effect of the move and what kind of help she would get in NZ? Can anyone help me or reassure me () with that?

Also I have heard many positive and negative views of NZ in general, so tell me, What do you like and NZ? And What do you hate about NZ?

Thanks guys

lardyl

Our eldest lad is very similar in some ways and remains so in NZ, its almost a case of "physician heal thyself" as MrsL is a SLT who worked with kids having an ASD diagnosis for 8 years before we left the UK.
Lardy Mk.II was pretty negative about the move to start with and although he is enjoying all of the active/sporty life he still struggles with socialisation. There is little treatment for kids who are not in the worst 1% on communication and one of my colleagues has a child with an autism diagnosis - his wife has given up work to deal with the fella (she was a teacher) and there is some help there but not a great deal - having said that MrsL was frustrated by the UK system as she had no time to treat the kids, only diagnose and provide programmes to help.
If you want specifics then PM me.
As far as NZ goes there are many positives and quite a few negatives - take most of what people say with a grain of salt...........depends on what you want from life. Ticks the boxes for many things - eg sports, but is not the best place to persue your profession/career in many areas ..... IMHO of course, but the I did not come here to further my career.

Am Loolah

Hi Platty,

I can't help with info on Welly I'm afriad as we're in the Bay of Plenty. I think my 5, 8, 12 and 15 year olds have got the same communication hiccups as your daughter - and possibly my Hubby?!

I would go so far as to say we perhaps underestimate kids when it comes to things like this. They are resilient and adaptable. The younger they are, the easier the move, in my personal experience.

Positives of New Zealand:

The weather.
The scenery.
The people.
The lifestyle opportunities.
Things to do - often free.
Kids have more freedom - when they get to teens - not always a positive!

Negatives of New Zealand:

Lower wages.
Expensive groceries & less choice.
Racism.
Extortionate orthodontists bills!

Other:

Having to find out how to do everything from scratch - ie; Register for tax, get IRD number, find doctors, dentists etc!

All just from my perspective - am sure others will disagree!

garryhg

hi ,jacky here....sorry can't help you with the welly question i'm afraid......can only tell you my positives and negatives.....

positives...

nothing like uk
weather,people and kids are nicer....
more family orientated,beaches,better schools imho,
sport for kids,

negatives...

nothing like the uk
food shopping expensive,sandflies on beaches,
subdevision terrible with houses(auckland)
no family support,

learning to cope with the negatives hear completely depends on what frame of mind your in at the time,when i first came here i didn't think i would last a month,the negatives seemed huge and were taking over my life...
now they don't bother me so much...there is positives and negatives no matter where you live,you just have to decide which one means more to you....gl with your choices...

Platty

Thanks guys, we've been doing alot of research Mr Platty has been speaking to people he knows in Wellington & I have been chatting to my gt aunt & uncle in Auckland and at the moment for us the positives seem to outweigh the negatives. So if he gets offered the job we will go for it

Hes actually having his technical interview as we speak so lots are good vibes are needed

nellyboo

Jacky, I totally agree about having a positive frame of mind. Most of the English people I've met here moan about shopping, mortgage interest rates, lower wages, etc. You just have to be prepared to cut your cloth accordingly. Plus I don't see much keeping up with the Jonses out here, kids all wear flip flops and not designer trainers.
Its what you make of it. If you try it and don't like it you can always go back to the UK after having the fabulous experience of living in such a different country.

Platty

Exactly!

Mr Platty had his interview last night and it went extremely well, he has been put through to third and final interview with what would be his boss next tuesday. Both of feel like we are on a constant rollercoaster ride atm, excited and scared

karonious

Hope that goes as well as the previous ones
Have some karma to keep you going
Karen X

Platty

Thanks, everytime I think about it my stomach starts churning

lardyl

blimey - I only managed two technical interviews for my job, and we super-techno-expertos are like rocking horse poop (apparently), so your man must be as rare as rocking horse poop walked into a house on bare kiwi feet............

Platty

Well I guess, he has worked for 2 large ISPs in the UK and hes also extremely intelligent and charming but then I biased

lardyl

nice sig, except I always thought that it was:
"eventually you get p!ssed off".........
same difference I suppose!

sinope

It might be worth asking the same question about your daughter on the Mumsnet forum - there is a living abroad section (in the Homes and Gardens bit) and quite a few expats use the site. The link is here: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk Good luck.

Platty

Thanks Sinope