Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
Oct 21st 2007, 9:43 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 39
Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hi there
we moved to palmerston north from the sunny town of burnley lancs lol.
i am writing what most folk would think is a negative thread, but it is info that i wish we knew before getting here.
Schools over here you HAVE to pay a donation, which can range from $130 a year to $100 dollars per term. The schooling is also way behind the UK, my 4 kids are learning what they learnt 12-18 months ago,
Doctors consultations can be costly too, these are not free either.
Housing, most houses dont have any insullation, they are not double glazed and dont have central heating. I think when they designed these houses they thought that NZ is a lot warmer than it is. We have been frozen this winter as the utility bills for gas and electric are horrendously expensive.
people also told us that NZ is cheap, well it is when you have your uk money but once you get onto the low kiwi wage it is no cheaper in fact probably more expensive than the uk.
Public transport in our region is expensive and nearly non existant, we looked into getting to Auckland, the flights were out of the question, too dear, the bus and train just took far too long and were as nearly expensive as the flights. On A positive, this is the most beautiful country that we have ever visited, most kiwis are brilliant people, we have made some great friends while we have been here.
Other than this we are looking forward to our first full summer here and hopefully our last as we are looking to move to queensland OZ where its WARMER
Sorry if this offends anyone but you only hear the good about NZ, heres the other side of the coin.
all the best
darren
hi there
we moved to palmerston north from the sunny town of burnley lancs lol.
i am writing what most folk would think is a negative thread, but it is info that i wish we knew before getting here.
Schools over here you HAVE to pay a donation, which can range from $130 a year to $100 dollars per term. The schooling is also way behind the UK, my 4 kids are learning what they learnt 12-18 months ago,
Doctors consultations can be costly too, these are not free either.
Housing, most houses dont have any insullation, they are not double glazed and dont have central heating. I think when they designed these houses they thought that NZ is a lot warmer than it is. We have been frozen this winter as the utility bills for gas and electric are horrendously expensive.
people also told us that NZ is cheap, well it is when you have your uk money but once you get onto the low kiwi wage it is no cheaper in fact probably more expensive than the uk.
Public transport in our region is expensive and nearly non existant, we looked into getting to Auckland, the flights were out of the question, too dear, the bus and train just took far too long and were as nearly expensive as the flights. On A positive, this is the most beautiful country that we have ever visited, most kiwis are brilliant people, we have made some great friends while we have been here.
Other than this we are looking forward to our first full summer here and hopefully our last as we are looking to move to queensland OZ where its WARMER
Sorry if this offends anyone but you only hear the good about NZ, heres the other side of the coin.
all the best
darren
Oct 21st 2007, 10:01 pm
#2
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,285
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
No need to apologise...that's all fair comment.
I'd managed to pick up on all those things from extensive reading of various threads on here before coming out apart from the fact that wages are much lower....a Kiwi friend in the UK told me about that one..it's the main reason he doesn't wish to return.
We're here on a posting for x years so it's not such an issue for us .......the NZIS info certainly doesn't show the flip sides...just the positives, so it's just as well forums like this exist. It's a long way to relocate without the full facts.
I'd managed to pick up on all those things from extensive reading of various threads on here before coming out apart from the fact that wages are much lower....a Kiwi friend in the UK told me about that one..it's the main reason he doesn't wish to return.
We're here on a posting for x years so it's not such an issue for us .......the NZIS info certainly doesn't show the flip sides...just the positives, so it's just as well forums like this exist. It's a long way to relocate without the full facts.
Oct 21st 2007, 10:08 pm
#3
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 243
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
I think it helps to here both sides the good and the bad especially for people like me who havent moved yet!!
I hope you are happier in queensland it will definately be warmer!!! We initially looked at australia but i think the heat would be to much 20 years growing up in north yorkshire has certainly helped me adjust to cold climates.
At least you are open to trying somewhere else both aus and NZ offer beautiful scenery and better quality of life.
Im not looking forward to poor wages and definately think we might struggle but we will give it a try and if we cant manage i might see you in queensland!!!
Good luck.
I hope you are happier in queensland it will definately be warmer!!! We initially looked at australia but i think the heat would be to much 20 years growing up in north yorkshire has certainly helped me adjust to cold climates.
At least you are open to trying somewhere else both aus and NZ offer beautiful scenery and better quality of life.
Im not looking forward to poor wages and definately think we might struggle but we will give it a try and if we cant manage i might see you in queensland!!!
Good luck.
Oct 22nd 2007, 1:26 am
#4
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 647
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
Have fun in queensland, home of the monster truck show, pig wrestling and other entertainment for the locals! 
Oh and it rains there too you know!
Oh and it rains there too you know!
Oct 22nd 2007, 1:52 am
#5
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 107
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
and whats wrong with any of the above? I wouldn't mind seeing some pig wrestling!
Palmy north...difficult one. On the one hand fantastic location - with good access to "nature" and ski fields etc - but sod all there in the actual town. I spent 3 months doing an IT contract there. Lived there during the week and drove home at weekends. I have never felt so glad to be back in welly!!
The most interesting thing which happened was a miniture riot. I woke up at 3am one night and witnessed from my downtown hostel a full on street fight between about 30 people! Windows were smashed, the cops were called.
It was like being in England all over again!!
I also had my car broken into
I have to agree with John Cleese about PN...trust me there are better places in NZ than palmy north!!
Oct 22nd 2007, 2:20 am
#6
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,008
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hi there
we moved to palmerston north from the sunny town of burnley lancs lol.
i am writing what most folk would think is a negative thread, but it is info that i wish we knew before getting here.
Schools over here you HAVE to pay a donation, which can range from $130 a year to $100 dollars per term. The schooling is also way behind the UK, my 4 kids are learning what they learnt 12-18 months ago,
Doctors consultations can be costly too, these are not free either.
Housing, most houses dont have any insullation, they are not double glazed and dont have central heating. I think when they designed these houses they thought that NZ is a lot warmer than it is. We have been frozen this winter as the utility bills for gas and electric are horrendously expensive.
people also told us that NZ is cheap, well it is when you have your uk money but once you get onto the low kiwi wage it is no cheaper in fact probably more expensive than the uk.
Public transport in our region is expensive and nearly non existant, we looked into getting to Auckland, the flights were out of the question, too dear, the bus and train just took far too long and were as nearly expensive as the flights. On A positive, this is the most beautiful country that we have ever visited, most kiwis are brilliant people, we have made some great friends while we have been here.
Other than this we are looking forward to our first full summer here and hopefully our last as we are looking to move to queensland OZ where its WARMER
Sorry if this offends anyone but you only hear the good about NZ, heres the other side of the coin.
all the best
darren
hi there
we moved to palmerston north from the sunny town of burnley lancs lol.
i am writing what most folk would think is a negative thread, but it is info that i wish we knew before getting here.
Schools over here you HAVE to pay a donation, which can range from $130 a year to $100 dollars per term. The schooling is also way behind the UK, my 4 kids are learning what they learnt 12-18 months ago,
Doctors consultations can be costly too, these are not free either.
Housing, most houses dont have any insullation, they are not double glazed and dont have central heating. I think when they designed these houses they thought that NZ is a lot warmer than it is. We have been frozen this winter as the utility bills for gas and electric are horrendously expensive.
people also told us that NZ is cheap, well it is when you have your uk money but once you get onto the low kiwi wage it is no cheaper in fact probably more expensive than the uk.
Public transport in our region is expensive and nearly non existant, we looked into getting to Auckland, the flights were out of the question, too dear, the bus and train just took far too long and were as nearly expensive as the flights. On A positive, this is the most beautiful country that we have ever visited, most kiwis are brilliant people, we have made some great friends while we have been here.
Other than this we are looking forward to our first full summer here and hopefully our last as we are looking to move to queensland OZ where its WARMER
Sorry if this offends anyone but you only hear the good about NZ, heres the other side of the coin.
all the best
darren
Hope Queensland turns out to be all you expect it to be and you settle well.
Last edited by Bellasmum; Oct 22nd 2007 at 2:22 am.
Oct 22nd 2007, 2:49 am
#7
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Joined: Sep 2007
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 128
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
Oh I do feel insulted we live just outside Palmie North 
All you mentioned well yep no arguement with that but if you got your own car running costs compared to the UK are cheaper. Thats why we dont have public transport
Good luck in Queensland and dont complain during the wet season in the summer with 40c and humidity to match
All you mentioned well yep no arguement with that but if you got your own car running costs compared to the UK are cheaper. Thats why we dont have public transport
Good luck in Queensland and dont complain during the wet season in the summer with 40c and humidity to match
Oct 22nd 2007, 4:10 am
#8
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Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
Oct 22nd 2007, 4:13 am
#9
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Northland New Zealand
Posts: 587
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
I've lived 13 years in Oz, Perth not QLand (thankfully) many many years in the UK including North Yorks and now NZ. Of them all NZ has the best all round to offer in my opinion.
In terms of you wish someone had told you blah blah blah before you arrived...you were the ones moving you should of done your research, no doubt you'll be saying the same after a few months in Oz...especially with all the deadly insects, sea killers and crocs....can see you back in Yorks before long. You have to work at making a place your home, there are negatives for everywhere but positives too until you've been to Oz you won't realise just how many negatives there are...check out the returning to UK thread...most are from Oz.
In terms of you wish someone had told you blah blah blah before you arrived...you were the ones moving you should of done your research, no doubt you'll be saying the same after a few months in Oz...especially with all the deadly insects, sea killers and crocs....can see you back in Yorks before long. You have to work at making a place your home, there are negatives for everywhere but positives too until you've been to Oz you won't realise just how many negatives there are...check out the returning to UK thread...most are from Oz.
Oct 22nd 2007, 4:28 am
#10
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 107
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
deadly insects, sea killers and crocs....can see you back in Yorks before long. You have to work at making a place your home, there are negatives for everywhere but positives too until you've been to Oz you won't realise just how many negatives there are...check out the returning to UK thread...most are from Oz.
Not even a snake! I did see some ferocious looking cockroaches I had fun 'taming'. Also big fruit bats. wombats, lizards etc. I guess the reason why more people ,on the moving back to UK thread, are from OZ is cos there are loads more people moving there than here? Last year alone several of my mates left these shores to go back to their homes, and they weren't all doing it to get away from me!
Mate, how do you explain the huge number of kiwi's going to OZ and the miniscule amount of ozzies moving to NZ?
Good PR?
Oct 22nd 2007, 5:11 am
#13
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Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 980
Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
ollieclaret;
maybe you should have considered a visit 1st before migrating to N/Z. mind you mate it must be better than "Turf Moor" any day, or even worse than Ewood Park.???
maybe you should have considered a visit 1st before migrating to N/Z. mind you mate it must be better than "Turf Moor" any day, or even worse than Ewood Park.???
Oct 22nd 2007, 5:13 am
#14
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Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
phil01;
Burnley is in gods country mate (Lancashire) NOT North Yorks
Burnley is in gods country mate (Lancashire) NOT North Yorks
Oct 22nd 2007, 5:33 am
#15
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Joined: May 2005
Location: In a house very close to the beach
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Re: Palmerston North, i wish someone told us this
Rain..........where, show me
Also show me where the pig wrestling is, we do get V8 and Indy car racing but I'd love to go to a Monster truck show as well
