Originally Posted by Herm

Hi, we came out here 6 years ago dragging along our three kids who at the time were 12, 14 and 15.

Can't comment on the North Shore but with the eldest 2 now at Uni and the youngest in his final year of college intending to go to Uni next Feb I would say they have done more than ok.

They all settled reasonably quickly and at least as quickly as they did when we moved 12 miles down the road, changing schools on the way, in the UK.

The school life has been different to the one they would have had in the UK. They certainly did not have as bigger choice of subjects but that was partly our doing as we chose a small(ish), 900 pupil, school for them to attend and size does limit options. IMO school life here was much more relaxed, much more emphasis on sporting and social skills and less pressure placed on them to achieve academic excellence. One observation having had numerous friends of theirs visit over the years is that they have all ended up with a maturity far exceeding their peers in the UK whilst, at the same time, having an almost extended childhood.

All my kids are happy and all agree that the NZ experience has been a great success and something they would not have missed for anything.

Interestingly though, and this is something that anybody bringing children here needs to recognise, all 3 kids intend on leaving NZ as soon as they have their degrees. This is not because they have any dislike for NZ, far from it - they love the place, but because they recognise that there are limited opportunities to forge ahead with a career that is both challenging and financially rewarding.

As my eldest son keeps telling me, if your under 25 or over 45 NZ is a great place to be - anybody else go make some money elsewhere then come back. This is slightly sad but, on reflection, there is some truth in it.

Originally Posted by sparkywater

Does any one know what the UNI costs are in NZ? Thinking of comming over in four years when daughter will be 15 and son will be 13. UNI in the UK is an arm and a leg, what are the entitlements for imigrants in NZ? any info would be great.

Originally Posted by Herm

As long as you have residency -

First year halls are about $3600 per year.
Course fees obviously differ but as an example my son is doing a BA and his work out at around $4500 per annum. Daughter is doing a BSc and hers are more expensive at around $5500 per annum.
Consensus is that required spending money of $100 per week will just about cover most things.
In second and subsequent years halls of residence will get replaced by a flat which is cheaper but kids will then have to cover food, bills etc so it will work out at about the same. Should note that ours are in Dunedin - Wellington for example is considerably more expensive for housing.

Funds available - Student loan of up to $150 per week for approx 32 weeks, course fees get paid directly by government and added to student loan. A one off (per annum) of $1000 is available for course related costs - this again gets added to loan.

We contribute what we can but even so reckon that at the end of their degrees they will owe between $45k and $55k.

It ain't cheap.
of which kids can get a student loan of up to $150 per week for 32 weeks or so