splurk

Hey I put this in the introduction section but thought i might have better luck here - sorry if you have read this already and thanks (happyNZ) if you responded.
Hello, I'm new to the forum. My name is Niall and I am from Ireland.
I have just secured a job in a school (I'm a teacher) in Glendowie in Auckland. I start in January and will be in Auckland from late dec/Early Jan. Was wondering where would be a good palce to live? Was thinking central,newmarket,Parnell. Feasible??Dreaming??
I Am 26, enjoy socialising and will be moving over there with a mate from home. I don't like too long of a commute - Ideally cycling 3 -4 miles to work would be good.
Also I think my salary will be 48,ooo NZD before tax. Any Idea how it will be to live on this? I have no kids or partner to support and not into designer clothes etc.
Lastly does anyone know anything about Sacred Heart College(Where my job is)Good school?Bad School?
Sorry for all the questions and any help greatly appreciated!!
Thanks in advance,
Niall

garryhg

Hi Niall,

Not that I'm any expert, I'm only giving you some information from a book we bought before coming over.....
Sacred Heart College is a state integrated boys school with a decile rating 8. The decile rating does not really reflect on the accademic achievements of the school, it just shows how much funding is available to the school through voluntary payments from the parents (Low 1, High 10).

House prices in the Eastern Bays range from $400k (1 bedroom aptt.) to $1m +. Travelling in to the city centre (CBD) may take 30 mins at peak times.

Parnell/Newmarket are lovely, very busy and lots of expensive shops, again property is $5-600k up to $1m+.

It is really dependant on what you are looking for as a lifestyle.

Feel free to ask anything else....as mentioned, I'm no expert, but I could try and find out.

All the Best with your move!

sarahw

Hi

We're in Mission Bay which is quite close to Glendowie. I think your closest options are: Orakei, Mission Bay, Kohi (short for Kohimarama!), St Heliers, Glendowie, Meadowbank or St Johns. Then again if you want a bit of life around you then Newmarket is a good idea and at least you're going against most of the traffic on your commute. There's no train service to Glendowie and if you want to check out the buses look at maxx.co.nz

Take a look at smap.co.nz or wises.co.nz to get an idea of the various locations.

Happy to help if you need more info.

crosskaos

Hi there,

I am lead to believe by the 'locals' that Sacred Heart is a very good school and has an excellent reputation. It was an option for us to send our son there but it is too far for us living in Mellons Bay area.

I would recommend buying the 'Where to live in Auckland' book, ISBN 0-473-11366X publised by Barbican Publishing Limited www.wheretolivebooks.com. You can also order it from Kiwi Fruits www.kiwifruitsnz.com. We found it to be very useful whilst looking for areas and schools etc.

Good luck with your move.

Divine Comedy

Hiya, there is a book called 'Where to live in Auckland' which is very good. It has all info on house prices/rent, schools etc. It is about £20 and we got ours off the tinternet. It is very good and we still use it to look up places, which turns out to quite accurate. All the best with your new job and NZ life!!

splurk

Thanks everyone for all the comments,
I think Newmarkrt is sounding good if i can find somewhere on budget. I have been told there Is a train to GlennInnes, anyone know how long this would take or where i migh get it from?
Thanks for the bus routes very helpful,
Cheers,
Niall

sarahw

Unfortunately the train in newmarket doesn't go to Glen Innes. You'd have to go to Britomart in CBD and change trains. Again look at maxx.co.nz for train times/routes too.

splurk

Thanks, that is a realy good website!!
Think Brtomart is my best bet, about a 25 minute commute which is not bad. Would Parnell be reasonably close to Britomart train station? New market maybe too far to walk?Thanks for the help, getting all excited about the move now!!

lardyl

Newmarket is more like a place to shop/work (as I do) rather than a place to live. On a budget there would be a seedy apartment I'd venture and many fof the surrounding areas (Epsom, etc) are pretty upmarket.
What sort of accomodation are you after? What's your budget?
$48k aint much to live on in Auckland unless you are frugal with the accomodation and dont plan to save much! Don't want to rain on your parade but I'd check out the usual real estate sites for rental (check the really useful thread) and then decide where to start looking.

splurk

Thanks,
Not sure what my budget is really, I think i should have between 700 - 800 a week take home, so I guess my absolut max for rent would be 250 a week, maybe 100 - 150 for bills and travel (I have no car). Don't know what i would get for this but there are two of us and we don't mind house sharing.

lardyl

good palce to start getting an idea of rental costs is here:
http://www.realestate.co.nz/rental/all/newmarket
good luck

splurk

Thanks again,
Is very good to get some of this info now. Parnell might (I stress might) be in my budget (some two beds for 400) but think I will take the earlier advice and let price/budget be my primary guide and location secondary(within reason).
NZ not coming up as cheap as I initially thought, or rather it is cheap (realatively speaking compared to the u.k) but the cost of Living to wages ratio seems higher. As A teacher in London (all be it East london - cheap) I have quite alot of disposable and manage to save a bit.
However still looking forward to the move big time! Have a few thousand pounds sterling saved and will get a relocation grant of NZD 4000 off the government so that should see me right (I hope)

Avid

For you....

splurk

Maybe not then, Cigars and champagne all the way!! (Or rather nice beer and the occasional cigarrette - either way all good!)

Avid

The special tobacco grows like an Amazonian rainforest in this part of the world...

Better bring your Orb CDs with you, you'll be needing them...