Biddy

OK So my wife and I have had our EOI approved - many We've been umming and ahing about which bit of NZ to settle in. Auckland seems the obvious 1st choice for us as I'll need look for work as a Sales Manager (Healthcare?) and my wife will initially look after the 3 kids. Rental seems the best option to start - but the problem is I've never been to NZ let alone Auckland! I want to find the right part 1st time to avoid the kids moving schools all the time. The East Coast Bays seem to offer loads - good schools, beaches, suburban life etc, but am I wearing the biggest pair of Rose tinted specs in the world ever?

So who can give me some good tips?

Ideal world: Friendly neighbourhood, local primary school and shops and beach to walk to. Low crime, polution etc. Good sports and recreation needed.

Nightmare: :scared: Industry, congestion, 1hr + commute, Unfriendly people, expensive etc.

Or should I just forget AKL and head for Bluff and be an Oyster farmer?

Cheers

Biddy

newkiwi

The Bays on Aucklands North Shore can offer better value (ie bigger house) for money than central suburbs. Generally good with beaches close and a suburby feel to it. Very popular areas, and probably very good for kids. The flipside is that you will have to commute over the Harbour Bridge if you work in Central Auckland, which can be a nightmare, especially if there is an incident. Not sure of commuting times, depends where you live on the Shore. However, if youre really lucky u may always find a job on the Shore as well!

The only issue with the Bays really is teh commute over the bridge, apart from that its a good choice. As with everything, its a trade-off. AKL is the best bet for jobs, but not the only one, Christchurch, Dundein and Wellington are good alternatives. Depends on where the jobs are i suppose. check out seek.co.nz to see whats around.

Renting is the way to go initially if youre still settling in.

Best of luck

Sally1

Hi there

I have been looking for months for the Pharmaceutical Industry and almost all are base in and around Auckland. What kind of Healthcare Industry are you in? I have just come back from a month in NZ and did my homework on Auckland with regards to jobs. I've been told that the commute across the bridge takes over an hour and the cost of living is most expensive. I could also give you some names of the Agencies that employ in that industry. Let me know.

Biddy

Hi Sally - hope the month over there was worth it! I worked in Wound Care Sales and then management for 10 years in total untill 2 years ago when my wife and I bought our own business. So I'd be looking for similar employment really - Wound care, appliances or capital eqpt rather than pure Pharma. I have made contact with some rec agencies already but would really welcome any tips you have to pass on.
Thanks

ukkiwi

Nice place to live - especially if you can afford to live in one of the nicer bays - Takapuna, Milford, Castor, Campbells - your looking at $600k as a start point. You then got Rothesay (where i live) , Browns and Torbay where you looking at around $400k as an entry point. Rentals can be expensive too - the nicer stuff start at around $450pw and goes up to $1000+pw.

Have a look at http://rentcheck.co.nz/index.html

Tooanfrom

Be aware that due to the Asian influx there is a very strong rumour that Browns Bay is going to change its name to "Blowns Blay"--I went into to a Chinese Takaway there, and complained his chicken was" rubbery".
He just said "Fang yoo verry much"

Biddy

Thanks for that - the website looks pretty useful. Realenz rentals is pretty comprehensive aswell.

kiwichild

Most anywhere on the north shore or east coast bays is good. Personally, I always liked Devonport.

ukkiwi

I agree and would love to live there - unfortunately dont have 800k to spend

Kiwipaul

Not neccessarly I own a 3 bedroom 2 story brick built house only 6 years old in Selwyn Cres in Milford, about 1kms from the beach, and I got it valued this year at $NZ450,000 and it rents for $400 per week. It's on about a 800sqm plot with remote DLUG, burgalary alarm 2 living areas.

So their is hope in the bays and it's a supurb place to live. My bolt hole if I get fed up with Oz.

Biddy

Sounds great - when's it going to be vacant?

Kiwipaul

When the current tennants give the required 3 weeks notice, but they've been their 15 months so far. When they leave my agent will hopefully replace them with min gap as every week empty costs me $400. So far I've had 3 different tennants in 5 years with less than a 1 week gap each change.

My agent in NZ does a superb job for 7.5% commission on rental income.

annaerb

You could try the Eastern side like Eastern Beach,Mellons Bay, Howick, Botany,Beachlands/Maraetai where I live. Beachlands/maraetai are small coastal towns,near the beach, friendly, not too far from town & a great lifetyle.

Here is some infor for you to look at which may be of some help.

http://www.times.co.nz/WelcomeGuide/...ry.htm#schools
http://xtramsn.seek.co.nz/healthcare/index.ascx
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/classifieds
http://www.fairfaxnz.co.nz/publications/index.html
http://www.ezybuy.co.nz/
http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz/
http://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/
http://xtramsn.co.nz/home/

Carol

Biddy

Cheers for all the leads - I have considered that region but don't know much about it. I guess it avoids the harbour bridge nightmare if commuting into the city! Any idea of commute time at peak hours?
I've also heard there are some not so nice parts in South Auckland - any problems over on the eastern shore?

Thanks

Biddy

Sally1

www.synergyconsult.co.nz
www.pohlenkean.co.nz

The above agencies were really helpful.

There is a compnay that is called Global Science that may be worth contacting. They have positions in the North and South Island.

www.globalscience.co.nz.

Have you been checking the jobs on seek and NZ Herald websites?