Carterof6

Hi my Husband & I along with our 6 children look very likely to be moving out to Auckland as hubby has been offered a job in the Henderson area of Auckland, I have looked up on healthcare, schools, living expenses, houses, overseas removals as well as getting our 2 cats out there with us, so was just wondering if anyone has any good recommendations of areas to live with young children & good secondary, primary & nursery schools please?? 😊

janeyk

Hi
Auckland is a big place and it depends upon the lifestyle you want, I suggest you get a copy of where to live in Auckland as this will give you insight to the areas etc, also look at previous threads on the subject

for information most schools (thre are a few exceptions namely in Albany on the North shore) have primary years 1-6 intermediate yrs 7-8 and college 9-13 although some areas cobine primary and intermediate

vetnurse1

Hi
If your husband is working in Henderson the western suburbs are going to be your best bet. Avoid the north shore!
We lived in Laingholm which is a lovely suburb close to beaches in west Auckland. It has a great little community too and Laingholm primary is a fantastic little school. Titirangi is also lovely and is a popular place for arty types. Nice for families too, nice cafés,regular markets and a trendy vibe. There is a big brit community in both of these suburbs if that helps too. These areas give you some lovely native bush and beaches very close by. It depends what you are wanting.
Other areas which are on the edge of the countryside but still commutable to Henderson would be Swanson and Oratia. Not sure what the schools are like there though. Henderson valley is also nice.
Some areas of Henderson are ok but it is quite busy. Some areas to avoid would be Ranui and Sunnyvale which are generally considered the wrong side of town. Te Atatu is nice too and closer to Central Auckland.
Really depends what you are wanting and how big your purse is! Prices in Auckland as you are probably aware are quite astounding.

I'd also recommend the book where to live in Auckland. It was invaluable when we were looking to settle here.

bearskin

The North Shore would be a good bet for a commute over to Henderson - takes about 20-30mins (good day-bad day). If you are happy or can afford to live in Albany or Greenhithe, the trip is pretty painless - on the motorway then across the top through Don Buck Drive.
Even from the coast, say Mairangi Bay, you're only adding the drive up to Constellation Drive and along to Albany.
Of course, that's just my suggestion, some might say to avoid the North Shore

If you're working in jobs that you can live 'anywhere' - like hospitals, government, teaching... then NZ is your oyster - you might like to like in somewhere like Central Otago, Wairarapa or Invercargill. You'd still need to actually find a job though, but you'd be living somewhere gorgeous rather than just a suburb of a big city.

davros1984

Carterof6

Thanks for the advice vetnurse1 & bearskin, yes we favour the west side from the different houses we have looked at, we currently live in a quiet seaside town so would definately like to live in a suburb, the city area is not for us! we plan to rent a house with at least 4 bedrooms for the first year or so then buy once we know & are settled in the area, our budget is about $600 a week on rent & my husband doesn't mind commuting up to 30-40 minutes drive if needs be. All my children love different sports & their strengths in subjects tend to be maths, art & history so looking for the best schools to cater for their academic interests!
I'll get that book thanks guys

westie1234

I would go with bearskin on this one, go around Albany area. West Auckland would be more convenient for you but the secondary schools are not that great in WA.

Engel

Be prepared to drive as the public transport system leaves a lot to be desired from the countries biggest city. Many routes stop around 6-7 pm.

Albany is nice if you can afford it. There is a central mall and many small businesses scattered around it. Express buses can get you to the CBD in less than 30 minutes, but a car in rush hour needs a calander not a clock.

And remember this is NZ, even the rough areas are a breeze compared to back in the UK.