So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

This is for anyone that may be able to offer some guidance.

My husband has recently been offered a job with a company called FW McDowall. First thing, is there any other people who are working for this company and can give us an idea of they way they are.

Second thing is that the proposed area of living is Invercargill, Winton, Gore areas of Southland region. We would really like to get some idea as to whether the indication of "improved lifestyle" does really come through. I.e. can we partake in activities easier and are they more accessable or just as accessable as here.

We currently live in Inverness so we are well aware of how far some places can be to get to, therefore are not scared of travelling.

Also we have 2 kids aged 5 and 7, and were wondering about schooling and acceptability.

Any opinions are welcome as we need the impartiality!! :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance,

Colin and Amber

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Pm a person on this forum called Deb and Chris. She visited all of those areas with a view to moving there from Dunedin. Me personally I would stay in Inverness but depends what you are after.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

sorry that probably sounded rude. You can also try this website www.*****.co.uk. Loads of people there who are going to NZ or are in NZ.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

No worries as said open minded to everything to be said.

What don't you like about it?

Amber

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

This is the bit where Scottish tells you he/she has never been there.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Invercargill is a provincial town, population around 50,000. People who have lived there profess to like it but have still left. Gore is a fishing port and has a reputation of attracting a certain 'weathered' type of person. The climate is about the worst in NZ....the same as London with less rain but more wind.

However, you are only a short hop from the Lakes area, that is Queenstown, Wanaka etc and the scenery outside of the main towns is stunning. An ideal spot if you're into trout fishing, horse riding etc. Houses are also very cheap.

I would suggest agreeing to a short term contract, seeing if you like it and moving north to Christchurch if you dont. You will like Christchurch.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

What NZ or the bungalow capital of NZ (Invercargill) LOL.

I had the displeasure of living in NZ and have just returned home to Scotland. We lived in the North Island, Auckland for a month then moved on. We visited CHCH too and to me it could of been any city in the UK.

If you want specifics on cost of living etc pls feel free to PM me or search the other site that I gave you. I cant comment on schooling Im afraid but again the other site or possibly some other members can be you an opinion.

Not to dishearten you but if you read Returning to Uk part of this forum some people who have just left NZ, some after a year or so and some alot longer, they have talked about schooling etc.

IMO you live in a wonderful part of Scotland, so Im not too sure your reasons for wanting to move to NZ. It took us leaving Scotland to realise that we have a beautiful country here that has alot going for it.

Our reasons for leaving vary from cost of living to exams changes with one of the trades organisations, basically they changed the rules and we couldnt afford to sit new exam format. There are other reasons but if you want them pm me. I dont want to get into any slanging matches on this forum, and if I mention them someone will have a pop, guaranteed.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Sorry didnt realise Gore was a fishing port???? Is it not stuck by itself away from the ocean and is known mainly for farming. Also the climate is very hot in the summer and dry with cool winters. DD on this forum who lives there says its the best climate in NZ. Must admit watching the Kiwi weather news it always looked lovely and hot to me, in the Summer that is.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Your right of course, I was thinking Bluff for some reason.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Hi JWW,

Are you an expat or a Kiwi? If you emigrated over to NZ, how long have you been there and how did you find it in the beginning? :)

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Gore must have moved a few hundred KM's to the coast if it is now a fishing port.
It is a small farming town about an hour from In'gill. Most people say it is a nice town to live in, with a better climate than In'gill. But there will be less going on there.

In'gill, well what can I say. I come grew up there, but left when I was 19, met an english man and did not go back. Not beacause I hate the place or anything like that, love just took me to another part of the world.
All my school friends still live there and are doing very nicely and seem to have a very nice life. My best friend tells me that it is a progressive town with a very postitive outlook on things. And you get back what you put into things.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

DeeDee lives in Queenstown, not Gore, totally different climate. Very cold with snow in the winter and hot / dry in the summer. But if I remember correctly Nelson has the best climate and the most sunshine hours each year in the whole of NZ.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Dear Colin and Amber,

Ask me any questions,

If I don't know the answer I will find out from someone who does. My friend teaches special needs reading in some Invercargill schools so I can ask her about education, She is also pretty hot on real estate, has made a lot of money buying and selling, so can find out what the property market is doing.

I think you need to hear a few positive points as well as all the negatives that have been given.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Dear Colin and Amber,

Hi
I've only visited NZ for holidays, but my son is working at a school in Dunedin until August and has just spent this weekend with friends who are teaching at a school in Invercargill, if there is anything specific re schools or travel I'll ask him for you or I could give you his email address. He is also on BE as "Mr Cooke"
helinuk

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

What school do they teach at?

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

My son is at Kings school, Dunedin.
don't know the name of the schools in Invercargill:-)
H.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Read some of my old posts too. I am currently in Alberta Canada after staying with some friends for a week before going back to the UK. Its been -20 here, but, we are nice and warm in the homes here. Houses in NZ in a milder climate and we were freezing our butts off due to poor insulation etc. The difference between the two countries is amazing. Don't get me wrong, NZ is beautiful but its the standard of living that counts. Just remeber you cannot eat sceanery. Oh and the cost of living in Canada is WAY cheaper than NZ, the houses are cheaper and better in every way. Every day items are cheaper like food and consumer goods too. Check out the proprty prices on the net to see. Dig deep and hard and look at ALL the posts

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Maybe DD can clarify this one but he told me he came from Gore, so much so when friends of ours went to Gore for the day he met them on his push bike... then again maybe he cycled from Queenstown.

Either way it all what evers LOL

ps according to a few people as well Blenheim is the sunshine capital of NZ but heh I lived in the North Island and it rained alot ha ha

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

:eek: Help!! :confused:

Am more confused than ever!! But have definately taken off any rose tinted glasses!!

We are not the type of family to take things lying down, we spent a while in a caravan, ( a V. small caravan) with me doing laundry by hand every day, so we're quite tough :)

Just wondering to what people thought of $17 dollars and 60 hours a week?? Too much? Yes us too!

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

My OH has just choked on his coffee... what would you be working as?

My OH earned $17.50/hour as a qualified vehicle technician (mechanic), tough working conditions etc. etc. etc. ... he was losing the will to live doing 40 hours per week.. he'd have killed himself doing 60!

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

There is no DD listed as a member on this forum, but there is a deedee who's profile says farmer nr Queenstown.

deedee
farmer nr Queenstown NZ

Re the rain on the north island, maybe you should have gone down to the south where the people are nicer and yopu could have missed some of that rain. OH and also looked at a few bungalow houses at the same time.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Don't understand the big deal here but Deedee (the farmer who lives near Queenstown) definately DOES live in GORE... loves it there too.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

[QUOTE=cinderella]There is no DD listed as a member on this forum, but there is a deedee who's profile says farmer nr Queenstown.

deedee
farmer nr Queenstown NZ

QUOTE]

He has recently lived half a year in both places. His Gore farm is being left to become organic, so he's been doing some work on a station nr Q'town.

I'm another who grew up near Invercargill, and no longer choose to live there. It gets a bit of unwarranted criticism in the media, but is a fairly nice place in all. Bit flat for me personally. Closest city to the best scenery in NZ (Fiordland, Catlins, Stewart Is, Central - take your pick.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Well he has obviously moved from what you are all saying.

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Hi, what was the question again?
Yes i do live in Gore and near Queenstown.We currently have three places, one happens to be a farm on the QT/Central high country, a farm near Gore and a lifestyle block in Gore.....just incase anyone was even slightly interested.Also, i do love both locations considerably.....and yes i do cycle between the two places quite often :)
I've lived in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and the Cairngorms(oh, and Cambridge)so i feel i have a fair feel for the UK to compare here with there.Been here in NZ for little over 3 years :beer:
Its great ere' innit' :D

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

My OH is a mechanic, or patrolman as he prefers!! If I remember rightly you guys came back here (UK) ?? Uhmm. Lots to think about!! :cool:

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Yes, we got back at the end of Jan. Your OH may find his conditions there different to Chris (who hated every single day).. he tried two garages.. both the same really.

He's back now working in Manchester, finding it too easy now even though he's working more hours per day (he is doing 2hrs O/T a day here) he definately couldn't have worked a 10 hr day in NZ.. :scared: He misses nothing about NZ.. he's a different man now we're back.. I can't wipe the smile off his face. :D

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Invercargill is nice. It's flat and not far from bluff and therefore Stewart island.
The locals are okay.
Gore and Winton are a bit away from it all (esp Gore). I'd pick Invercargill over the other two, and Winton over Gore.

Dunedin is nice but too far to commute daily to these other places, uless the company is paying for a daily flight there and back.

Invercargill is at least a pleasant enough city and Mick jagger got it wrong when he said it was the asshole of the world, that title belongs to Perth, Australia ;)

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Christchurch is nice, most people friendly but has ongoing problems with gangsand other low lifes and sporadic episodes of violence in the city at night now.
Don't know I'd live there ever again: its half yuppy half hoon :(

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Think that is a bit unfair!! Lived in a suburb of Perth called Kwinana, for about 5 years and loved it!! However was at school at the time in Safety Bay, so that could account for this!!

Don't suppose you have been to Inverness, Achany or Golspie lately?? Now these are places worthy of that title!! ;)

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

Never been to Southland so can't comment, though told it is cold and windy.

A Welsh friend works in a BMW dealership in Hastings and enjoys the work. Does say thay they don't always have the 'special' tools that a dealership would have in the UK. He's on about $22 for a 8am to 5pm working week.

Not all the North Island is rainy. NZ is full of microclimates. Drive 50km in any direction from Hastings and the average temperature will drop several points. Hawkes Bay and Bay of Plenty both very dry. All the grass is brown, whilst Auckland/Hamilton/Northland still lush.

I find that the scenery in South Island more spectacular, though the North Island has gorgeous beautiful scenery.

Some of the returners to the UK should get a life. Have you ever been to Basingstoke? I hated it but I am sure that some people loved the place!
Roger

Re: So.., tell us about the South Island?
 

No. I'll have to take your word for that. It's true I'm no great fan of perth but admit that there's definitely worse places to be. I just don't buy the constant "australia is the best country on earth, and perth the best city ". Statements like that just amaze me with their arrogance and pretentiousness. So I fight back to put "a little balance " in things.

Kwinana and all those suburbs around there like parmelia, orelia, calista are terrorised these days by gangs of little street urchins who prefer throwing rocks at buses (and worse) to doing something more constructive with their spare time.

Think you must have got out at a good time ;)