Tapuhi

Hi All

I have had interviews for jobs in Auckland, one in North Shore the other in Manakau and having a difficult time in deciding which would be better.

So I thought you could give me your opinions about each area, I want the good, the bad and the ugly anything that would help to make the decision abit easier.

We would live nearby(ish) about 30mins commute to each so don't need to worry about travelling to Auckland CBD so please reveal all because if I get offfered them both I need to have started to think abut pros and cons.

Let me know about areas, schools, things to do I have a 9yr old and a 12 year old, rental houses etc.

All advice appreciated

Thanks in advance

Tapuhi

lardyl

which bit of the w mids you from?

and do you want it to be like home?

from a yam-yam......................on the Hibiscus Coast


u're not at Russels Hall????

Tapuhi

No not from Russel Halls - Worcester.

No don't really want it to be like here. Its gonna be all new and don't know what to expect. But want to be able to have a nice 3/4 bed house with garden within easy reach of most things. You know what I mean?

lardyl

OK then

shore is more solihull

manukau itself is more tipton, but some nice spots out east of it

need any more info?

Tapuhi

Have done quite a bit of research on the two areas am i right in thinking that North Shore is the better area with better schooling than Manakau?

Have read that Manakau is quite a run down place that they are trying to improve with a large multi-cultural population and associated problems?

What is the east like over towards Howick I have noticed that it is quite asian in population. Any comments?

All good points and bad about both areas would be appreciated.

smudge1

Absolutely no contest in my opinion. North Shore definitely better by miles, although more expensive to live its a much, much nicer area.

South Auckland seems to have far more trouble with gangs and crime than North Shore (although there are areas in North Shore to avoid as there are everywhere).

happynz

I would think it depends on the schools. One really can't tar the whole area with the same brush. Sure, there are some rough as guts places in South Auckland, but there are some rather nice upmarket areas as well. It would be better to come and have a look with your own two eyes.

By the by, it's Manukau. Manakau is a small place in the Horowhenua down towards Wellington.

Anyway, yeah, there are some gang problems in parts of South Auckland. It's something that the residents of Manukau are struggling with.

Yeah, so what? It's not like anyone named Li or Chen is likely to mug you or carjack you. You will hear lots of people speaking Chinese, Korean and the like in places like supermarkets, bakeries and banks. I hope that is something that doesn't offend you. If it does, please don't come to New Zealand. There are already enough homegrown racists. No need to import any. (My apologies in advance as I am not saying exactly that you are racist, but your post has certain implications.)

Traffic sucks wherever you live in Auckland.

Good luck.

Tapuhi

Thankz happynz for your comments.

Better get the spelling of Manukau correct doesn't look good if I can't spell the place right!!! Thanks for the pick up.

I wasn't intending to imply that having an asian population was an issue, I lived and worked in Leicester for nearly five years so I dont have an concerns with cultural diversity in fact I have enjoyed being educated!! Maybe it was the way it was written I was mearly trying to find out about the area!!

......Any way moving on...Traffic is the most obvious prob but is that getting into Auckland CBD or is it in general?

Those of you who live on the North Shore and in Manukau or east towards Howick tell me about your area and why I should consider moving my family there?

Thanks

lardyl

Imagine the West Midlands, think of the elevated sections of the M5 and M6, take off a few lanes, remove the public transport (no just leave the trams), then remove the M42, M1, northern relief road (M6 toll that is) and almost all the rat runs so almost everyone has to go along the motorway to get anywhere.
Then decide that this bit of motorway is the only access north/south throught the whole of the country.
Mix in badly maintained, ageing Japanese cast-off cars, and a fair number of drivers from Wood End (Coventry)/Bedworth/scaggy bits of the Black Country all driving souped up Celicas with boom boxes, and remove the motorway cameras....... voila Auckland's motorway network.....
get the picture yet..........???

Yes, the traffic is a problem throughout Auckland but it is particularly bad on the main north-south route and the other bits of motorway.
Most of the time it works, just, but it will be a bit of a shock to you.....

crap coffee

That's one of the reasons why I live in Welly. I do mind hearing people speaking Korean and Chinese (loudly) everywhere :curse:!

I feel slightly awkward about it, for various reasons...

minky

Just because the jobs in Manukau does not mean you have to live there.
There are a lot of different areas with an easy commute.Botany and Dannemora are all new build with 500- 1000m plots but will be all house and a small garden schools are Point View Primary Willowbank,Somerville Int, Baverstock and Botany College.Flatbush is the new area with new schools coming thru but are getting more dense housing.Bucklands Beach has a mix of older homes and some new good schools and a lot go up there for Macleans as they do the English exams houses can be on top of each other their thru subdivision.Cockle Bay is quite nice but be aware of the school zones there.
Get the where to live in Auckland book as a guide and then choose areas and drive around to see what suits you.
There is a large asian population here which was strange but Ive got used to it after 18months and on the whole their children work hard at school which gives gives mine more incentive to work harder in my mind is not a bad thing.
There a pockets of natnalities in Auckland which is no different to the Uk in some ways

lapsed kiwi

You can avoid the worst of the traffic if you avoid the stretch of motorway between North Shore and the CBD. So if the job is in North Shore and you live anywhere north of the bridge, you'll be OK. How far north depends on where the job is - you can get from Orewa to Takapuna in 30min in rush hour, or you could get from Waiwera or Gulf Harbour to Albany in the same time.
I would say there is no comparison between north and south Auckland and would definitely choose North. South Auckland has some of the worst crime and social deprivation in the whole of NZ, whereas most of the North Shore is a nice, safe place to bring up a family. Of course there will be pockets that buck the trend in both cases.

crap coffee

oh, No...hell no no...

Dairy Flat to Takapuna takes about an hour

my brother leaves home for work at 8.00 A.M and arrives at his office at (approximately) 8.55 A.M
then he comes back home at 9.00 P.M everyday.

Work more for less pay in NZ :curse: working like a dog

Plus there are loads of crazy drivers on the road (AK) and it is downright dangerous. really really

Nerine

Yep, i think 30 mins is a little optimistic.

Which road does he take C.Coffee? if he's going past Rangitoto he could nip off round the back at the roundabout after the golf course - it comes out near the NS hospital but the traffic is still a pain.

Tapuhi

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][COLOR="Blue"]The job would either be at North Shore Hospital or Middlemore Hospital in Manukau. So whichever it was then i would live outside of the area and not have to worry too much about venturing into Auckland unles for shopping or socialising.

I have looked at up towards Botany and Dannemora as the schooling appears to be quite good. Obviously the final decision on where to finally settle will be decided once we come over but it is good to try to get pros and cons of all areas.

North Shore does feel to me to be the better choice but iam open to alll advice , comments so go on recommend an area to consider.