North Island v. South Island????????
Apr 2nd 2006, 1:22 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 10
North Island v. South Island????????
As you can tell, we don't seem to know a lot!
But one thing we do know is, WE'RE COMING!!!! YIPPEE!!!!
I know we're a long way off before we board that plane but at least the most important decision has been made. We're gonna do this for our benefit and the welfare of our children.
WHERE TO LIVE??????
Now we need to decide where to live. We've looked at Whangarei on the web but we really don't know anything.
!) So, OK, whats the difference between North and South Islands? I do need the minutest details. I read you had to be mortgage free to live on the South Island?????
How do the job, housing and schools prospects differ between the 2 islands?
I read, (quote), "where the wealthy people live, the housing and education is better, than where the poor people live who have less adequate housing and education." What areas does this quote refer to?????
MOVING COSTS
2) Roughly how much money do you need upfront to get started?
Ie: visa's, how much do they cost and where do you get the forms from?
Would you advice going through one of these consultancies who do it for you?
What other costs are involved?
JOB PROPECTS
3) If we don't have to go through a recruitment agency, are telephone job interviews acceptable general practice?
4) Is the work culture 9 till 5, or are you expected to work long hours with no extra pay?
BANKS, HEALTHCARE, DOCTORS & DENTISTS
5) I read an account of someone who opened a bank account before leaving the UK but they didn't say how they did it. How do you go about choosing the right bank?
What is the healthcare like and how much does it cost?
EDUCATION
6) Lastly... we have Primary and Senior aged school children - are schools small and local, or are they large and centred in towns and what are the class sizes like.
What do the schools expect you to pay for?
A lot to read I know, sorry but if you could dip into any question with your experience, then it would just help us to know what area and where we need to focus our research on.
MANY, MANY, THANKS to you all.
But one thing we do know is, WE'RE COMING!!!! YIPPEE!!!!
I know we're a long way off before we board that plane but at least the most important decision has been made. We're gonna do this for our benefit and the welfare of our children.
WHERE TO LIVE??????
Now we need to decide where to live. We've looked at Whangarei on the web but we really don't know anything.
!) So, OK, whats the difference between North and South Islands? I do need the minutest details. I read you had to be mortgage free to live on the South Island?????
How do the job, housing and schools prospects differ between the 2 islands?
I read, (quote), "where the wealthy people live, the housing and education is better, than where the poor people live who have less adequate housing and education." What areas does this quote refer to?????
MOVING COSTS
2) Roughly how much money do you need upfront to get started?
Ie: visa's, how much do they cost and where do you get the forms from?
Would you advice going through one of these consultancies who do it for you?
What other costs are involved?
JOB PROPECTS
3) If we don't have to go through a recruitment agency, are telephone job interviews acceptable general practice?
4) Is the work culture 9 till 5, or are you expected to work long hours with no extra pay?
BANKS, HEALTHCARE, DOCTORS & DENTISTS
5) I read an account of someone who opened a bank account before leaving the UK but they didn't say how they did it. How do you go about choosing the right bank?
What is the healthcare like and how much does it cost?
EDUCATION
6) Lastly... we have Primary and Senior aged school children - are schools small and local, or are they large and centred in towns and what are the class sizes like.
What do the schools expect you to pay for?
A lot to read I know, sorry but if you could dip into any question with your experience, then it would just help us to know what area and where we need to focus our research on.
MANY, MANY, THANKS to you all.
Apr 2nd 2006, 10:12 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: North Island v. South Island????????
Hi there.
Where to live
Go where the work is. Try as many employers as you can and go for the one that pays the sort of money you want and offers the type of job that you will enjoy doing. You are going to be spending more of your life working than enjoying the lifestyle so, IMO, getting the job right should be your primary objective here.
Moving Costs
I've been here almost two years so I'll let someone else answer this for you but unless your situation is a particularly difficult one do not use an agency, save the money for something else.
Job Prospects
Depends on the sort of work you are looking for but recruitment agencies often carry out telephone interviews, my partner also had a webcam interview.
Banks etc
Look on the websites of all the major NZ banks - they should have some info on how to open up an account from the UK. As for healthcare - can vary but there does seem to be a bit of a brain drain from the south to the north island, auckland seems to be attracting a lot of the specialists at the moment. You will need medical insurance - this will either cover you for hospital/specialist treatment or GP visits, to have a policy that will cover you for both is quite expenisve. Dental insurance is pathetic and probably not worth having, dentist and orthodontic charges are very expensive, get all your dentistry sorted out before coming here.
Education
The size of the school really depends on where you are. In some parts of the country the intermediates are being closed down and amalgamated with other schools. School zones can be quite strictly enforced so it pays to ensure that you are happy with a school before settling on a place to buy. I'd even say think about renting for a while until you get a feel for where the good schools are, they can be very variable and you should start by looking at the ERO website and reading some of the reports there.
Where to live
Go where the work is. Try as many employers as you can and go for the one that pays the sort of money you want and offers the type of job that you will enjoy doing. You are going to be spending more of your life working than enjoying the lifestyle so, IMO, getting the job right should be your primary objective here.
Moving Costs
I've been here almost two years so I'll let someone else answer this for you but unless your situation is a particularly difficult one do not use an agency, save the money for something else.
Job Prospects
Depends on the sort of work you are looking for but recruitment agencies often carry out telephone interviews, my partner also had a webcam interview.
Banks etc
Look on the websites of all the major NZ banks - they should have some info on how to open up an account from the UK. As for healthcare - can vary but there does seem to be a bit of a brain drain from the south to the north island, auckland seems to be attracting a lot of the specialists at the moment. You will need medical insurance - this will either cover you for hospital/specialist treatment or GP visits, to have a policy that will cover you for both is quite expenisve. Dental insurance is pathetic and probably not worth having, dentist and orthodontic charges are very expensive, get all your dentistry sorted out before coming here.
Education
The size of the school really depends on where you are. In some parts of the country the intermediates are being closed down and amalgamated with other schools. School zones can be quite strictly enforced so it pays to ensure that you are happy with a school before settling on a place to buy. I'd even say think about renting for a while until you get a feel for where the good schools are, they can be very variable and you should start by looking at the ERO website and reading some of the reports there.
Last edited by livewire; Apr 2nd 2006 at 10:14 pm.
Apr 3rd 2006, 6:01 am
#3
Here in Dunedin
Joined: May 2003
Location: Dunedin
Posts: 1,975
Re: North Island v. South Island????????
Originally Posted by Wandering Star
WHERE TO LIVE??????
Now we need to decide where to live. We've looked at Whangarei on the web but we really don't know anything.
!) So, OK, whats the difference between North and South Islands? I do need the minutest details. I read you had to be mortgage free to live on the South Island?????
How do the job, housing and schools prospects differ between the 2 islands?
I read, (quote), "where the wealthy people live, the housing and education is better, than where the poor people live who have less adequate housing and education." What areas does this quote refer to?????
Now we need to decide where to live. We've looked at Whangarei on the web but we really don't know anything.
!) So, OK, whats the difference between North and South Islands? I do need the minutest details. I read you had to be mortgage free to live on the South Island?????
How do the job, housing and schools prospects differ between the 2 islands?
I read, (quote), "where the wealthy people live, the housing and education is better, than where the poor people live who have less adequate housing and education." What areas does this quote refer to?????
There is no way you need to be mortgage free to live in the south island, I think you might have misread it. Perhaps it meant to say that you are more likely to be mortgage free in the south island, because the cost of property is cheaper on the whole.
I would say job, housing and school prospects are generally much the same between the 2 islands. Certainly it seems that the South Island has at least its share or even more than its share of top private or independent schools if that is what you are after. Unemployment rates and economic growth are probably the same north and south, and probably on the whole you will buy a better quality house for the same money in the south.
The statement about wealth and associated standard of housing and education is probably just a fact of life the world over. There are no doubt "poorer" suburbs throughout NZ where the housing is cheaper and where the education opportunities are less than say Remuera, Kandallah, Merivale or Maori Hill.
Apart from average temperatures and population density, I'm not sure the north south distinction is that useful. For example Christchurch and Dunedin have more going on than all north island cities except Auckland and Wellington, and most of us who live in south island feel we have better access and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors than those in Auckland or Wellington, despite not always being as warm temperature wise.
And then you get places like Central Otago which has warmest summer temps of anywhere, and Nelson or Blenheim that probably have the best all round weather.
Hope this helps - its just my view.
Apr 3rd 2006, 6:40 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 49
Re: North Island v. South Island????????
Really i would say that everyone has different tastes and you need to actually get on the ground to decide. Could you do a reckie visit or travel when you first arrive?
Obviously alot of people have the decision made for them in where their job offer is. However, for us ,we decided that if we are going to make such a gigantic move then we would stick to our ideal (atleast to start with) and go to our favourite place which is the South island.
Obviously alot of people have the decision made for them in where their job offer is. However, for us ,we decided that if we are going to make such a gigantic move then we would stick to our ideal (atleast to start with) and go to our favourite place which is the South island.
Apr 3rd 2006, 9:43 am
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 10
Re: North Island v. South Island????????
I so appreciate all of your very wise answers. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I had a touch of the heeby geeby's yesterday incase anyone thought I was trying to get a "well we're better than you are" type thing going. Not my intention at all, believe me!
It's just that there are 7 of us in this family (including mum if she is allowed to come) ranging from 9 - 81 and there is no way we can afford to come and do a reccie beforehand. All our money now will be tied up in the BIG MOVE pot. So we are depending on what ever we can find out.
As there are so many of us wanting different things,(Me? I want to live in my hiking boots half way up a mountain, living my brown rice and lentil lifestyle!. My daughter? She would want to be near boutiques and shops, and lots of 'em) it ain't gonna be easy to please them all!!!!!
I just need to get a good idea of what's what and where. I've kinda got a grip on the Cities but it's when all the districts come up and it's like, ARGH, I've no idea!
I'll keep ploding on, research, research, research! I'm away now to digest all of the above info and thank you all once again. Crikey I don't know how I'd do any of this without all of your imput!
I dream of when, perhaps, in a couple of years time, I might be able to help and return the favour to someone else in my position!
It's just that there are 7 of us in this family (including mum if she is allowed to come) ranging from 9 - 81 and there is no way we can afford to come and do a reccie beforehand. All our money now will be tied up in the BIG MOVE pot. So we are depending on what ever we can find out.
As there are so many of us wanting different things,(Me? I want to live in my hiking boots half way up a mountain, living my brown rice and lentil lifestyle!. My daughter? She would want to be near boutiques and shops, and lots of 'em) it ain't gonna be easy to please them all!!!!!
I just need to get a good idea of what's what and where. I've kinda got a grip on the Cities but it's when all the districts come up and it's like, ARGH, I've no idea!
I'll keep ploding on, research, research, research! I'm away now to digest all of the above info and thank you all once again. Crikey I don't know how I'd do any of this without all of your imput!
I dream of when, perhaps, in a couple of years time, I might be able to help and return the favour to someone else in my position!
Apr 4th 2006, 10:42 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: North Island v. South Island????????
I know what you mean - we have the great hiking boot / boutique divide too. It's hard to accommodate everyone's aspirations isn't it 
Good luck with it all, it's a great adventure and a turning point in your lives. If you need anything else please feel free to ask.
Good luck with it all, it's a great adventure and a turning point in your lives. If you need anything else please feel free to ask.
