Shaggy07

Hi everyone, newbie here!
We've (me, the wife and 21mth son) got our one way flights booked for the 11th January and it still doesn't quite seem real.

Would be great to hear peoples tips and recommendations, especially about what to bring (we're shipping quite a bit already) and areas to live in Christchurch.

A little bit about us (thought i'd pose the questions before people get bored of reading ☺) I've signed up for a job in Christchurch, so thats one big hurdle out the way. House is 'sold', currently progressing with contracts etc. So thats another tick. Motel booked, tick, bank set up, tick. In fact pretty much everything is a tick thanks to the lovely wife and her organisational skills.
Just the small matter of the visa's to go now. They've been submitted for a few weeks (applied straight for residency) and as far as we can tell all is good. My new employer has had to provide loads of different information so we know the process is well underway. Just been held up awaiting a medical certificate. So now they have it fingers crossed we get the visa before the plane takes off....nothing like living on the edge aye?

My wife's already been contact via fb with a few groups out there as initially it'll just be me working so she and our son can settle in. It's brilliant that she's unbelievable social so she won't just be sat at home waiting for, really don't think the move would work out otherwise.

Look forward to any tips etc. That you can give us and all being well we'll see you in January.

Cheers

Stormer999

Hi Shaggy, sounds as though you have done your homework well and all ready to go. Housing in Chch is priced fairly relative to the quality of the land underneath. Any where near water is a problem so West side of the city is good we live in Burnside not far from the Airport good school area for your future needs that is NW of the City TC1 land so you pay more for the security of the ground. With all of the new builds around Chch now means house prices have stabilized and more rentals are coming onto the market at better rates. Bus travel around the city is good and cheaper than the UK and second hand motors are available from one of the many sales rooms around Moorhouse Avenue.
When you land NZ tends to be on a bit of a summer holiday shutdown with the big school holidays so nice time land. What part of Chch are you staying during your Motel stay ?
Incidentally we only received our visa's two days before flight take off !

Shaggy07

Hi stormer, we're stopping in Riccarton for the first 2 weeks and hoping to find somewhere to rent relatively quickly, want to know the areas and get settled before we think about buying.
Thats really good to hear about the quality of the ground (not really thought about that) so thats definitely one to keep an eye out for. If I'm correct is it pretty much anywhere west of the train tracks is good ground?

We'll certainly be aiming to buy a car asap so definitely have to check that avenue out.

Keep getting sudden waves of realising what a mammoth thing we're doing, but still mainly really excited (dreading the final family visits over xmas though).

Cannae wait for January now

Woodlea

Not necessarily anywhere out west will be good, plenty of houses near old creeks where the land will have slipped away, so a good idea to rent for a while and find out for yourselves.
Whilst it is a mammoth thing you are doing, by coming to Canterbury you are reducing your risks. Canterbury is the most like the UK in most respects than any other place that you could emigrate to, apart from the weather, which is much better. Settle in and enjoy, and good luck as we all need a bit of that!

Mark Smith

There's a couple of supermarkets nearby in Riccarton, one in the Westfield mall, Try and save and Countdown at Upper Riccarton. Plenty of places to eat and drink in that area.
Why not have a drive around the city if you have time, traffic will be much lighter at Christmas/new year and get a feel for the different neighbourhoods? Whilst broken fences, sofas on lawns and cars parked on bare earth front gardens aren't always a perfect indicator, you should be able to spot the better areas pretty quickly.
Here's a good link for some nice Chch family related activities going off all over the summer. Lazy Sundays are a favourite. Home | SummerTimes

jjg

There are plenty of nice areas, so take your time and have a good luck around.
You could always look at the hill suburbs if you fancy a view. Riccarton road is having major roadworks next year and that is going to cause chaos around there.
Cheers

moving2NZ2013

Hi we live in methven so if you fancy a cuppa if your coming this way give me a shout

LauraNotts

Welcome welcome We're keeping the place warm for you.

Stormer999

Shaggy, as others have said Riccarton has been acting as a makeshift centre for our city for quite a while it does have the biggest most popular shopping Mall there and quite a few good drinking holes not to mention some superb Asian restaurants. Our main City centre is growing now at an alarming rate with massive steel quake proof structures shooting up. We have a growing centre filled with attractive street art and new bars and eateries starting back in. Leave your Union Flag behind and the local Kiwi's make excellent friends.
Don't sit on any tables, say thank you to the bus driver when you get off, park in the direction of the traffic, always wear sunnies, big hat and sun protection and burn your long overcoat and rain mac.

Shaggy07

Hello,

Thanks for all the advice. Some good things to take on board.

Happy holidays everyone

Moses2013

Have I missed something here, or are you talking about the next holiday in the Med?

Woodlea

No the Costa Canterbury - same latitude as the Med, weather just as good - but not as crowded and they speak English

garethwm

Well it was yesterday. Near record 36 degrees in Christchurch yesterday. Lol.

Moses2013

:-) a bit like London in July then. I certainly wouldn't advise anybody in Christchurch to get rid of their overcoat though.

Moses2013

For me personally, there's no good or bad weather, but comparing to the Med would be a bit too optimistic. That all Mediterranean locations are overcrowded is also a myth. Costa Canterbury is still a nice place though :-).