Stephen Jones

Have looked for work all over. Including BOP, Hamilton, Palmy North and the Wellington region.

davros1984

I saw this thread a week or so ago and I have resisted commenting until now.

I moved from Auckland back to South Wales August time in 2014. I'll tell you honestly now that for $320,000 you will be lucky to get a detached garage for that in Auckland. Whereas in South Wales you can get a 3 or maybe even a 4-bed house in some areas (and in some very nice areas).

Personally I find my quality of life here far better than what I had in Auckland. There are a lot more job opportunities and in general I find Wales a lot more relaxed than living in Auckland. Traffic is also lot less than what I experienced in Auckland and there are many beautiful areas in Wales to visit that are all within a 45min-2 hour drive.

To leave somewhere like South Wales to go and live in Mangere (which is one of the places in Auckland I would avoid) - honestly I just don't get it.

Sorry if I come across and direct as rude, but I have been there, done it, come back and can see the many benefits of being back. Unless Winston Peters can win a majority in NZ and end this tide of greed by National-leaning home-owners and put ordinary Kiwi's and people first, I am not sure I could go back to NZ.

On a positive note, after 2 years of trying to buy a house in Auckland to no avail (mainly due to being priced out of market on an-going basis) we have today finally exchanged contracts on our first house here in Wales. A 4-bed detached house in a pretty market town at a price that would have bought me a 2-bed apartment (at most) in Auckland.

Tom H

His campaign has started, he won Northland recently which was viewed as a safe National seat.

Moses2013

Definitely the right decision and you don't have to move to the other side of the world to have a great lifestyle. I always say it, but so many people move to New Zealand for the outdoor life and end up in Auckland. You have so many opportunities in the UK/Ireland, but it's just what you make out of it. I was just on Street Maps and took a capture from Llangollen (great place).

bearskin

I'd agree with some of that. Why move to NZ just to be in Auckland? Llangollen and bits of wales are just what the average Joe moving to NZ would be looking for/expecting to find. Ditto for lots of other areas in UK away from major cities.

Marzie

Crikey. Auckland has plenty of outdoor lifestyle. Golfing, swimming, fishing, boating, sailing, bush walks. You name it. And a couple of hours of so drive to the north Whangarei. Bream Bay. What can I say.


Comparing 'bit's of Wales similarity or bits of anywhere elsewhere in Britain's to some aspects of New Zealand's topography is a bit laughable IMO as a valid reason for putting folks off emigrating to Auckland or NZ in general.

So much more is completely different between the two country's which affects each ones lifestyle. Climate, attitudes, the mixture of ethnicities and cultures, 4.5 million population here compared to 66 million in UK in approximately the same size land mass. Some immigrants to NZ love that part of it, others hate it and miss the crowds and the hustle and bustle. You can't have it both ways. But it's an important consideration for anyone looking to emigrate here.

Auckland as the biggest city in NZ is more expensive to buy property, just as major cities elsewhere I guess. That's life. But, there is life south of the Bombay Hills kiwi's will tell you, so don't despair.

Parnell

Just to add, in NZ there is a capital gains tax and it applies even if it is your family home. I think it was Section 57 or 67.

If you purchased the property with intent of selling at a gain or if the property increases in value due to council rezoning etc.