Twirlywood

I would be really grateful if anyone has any input on living on the west coast please. Are any poms there ? whats the weather like? cost of living etc ? any info would be great.The Greymouth area and Hokitika
Many thanx Dawn

BEVS

Perhaps contact Buzzy--Bee. He lived down that way for a while. His wife hails from that area and his in-laws still live there.

TeamEmbo

The only things I know about the west coast are that it is very, very beautiful, stunning scenery, very lush and tropical vegetation and it doesn't stop raining. The weather fronts come across the Tasman dump all their rain on the west coast as they move in land and by the time they get to Canterbury all that's left is a hot, dry nor'wester.

Browner_

There aint a lot there, thats for sure.
If NZ is remote, Greymouth and Hokitika are really remote.
Cant think of anything positive to say about Greymouth.
Hokitika is an interesting place to visit once in a blue moon.

Beautiful coast of course.

Dustybin

there is a nice pub in punakiaki..

southerner

I think a lot of Yorkshire and Welsh miners have moved there in recent years, so an inquiry through Solid Energy or Pike River might bring a few to light.

Yotty

Whenever ther's an easterly wind the Coasters can enjoy some dry and warm weather ..

janek

It's fab that pub, I love it, along way to go for a drink though, but what a great drive getting there....

keeny

we are now in process of moving to Hamilton / Huntly in North Island, but originally husband applied to a post advertised by Solid Energy in Greymouth. He wasnt successful in that application (although is now succesful with Solid Energy in Huntly) he is a coal miner and we are from Yorkshire! He has heard through the coal grapevine of other miners who have been to Greymouth.... and come back again. It doesnt seem to have had great reports from what we have heard. Weather poor, middle of no where, nothing there. Dont know all their reasons for coming back but for some reason they couldnt settle in that area.

BEVS

I think of the west coast. I think of sand flies.

Quite good looking . Nothing much there. Very quiet all round.

Browner_

It was probably because they realised it was a lot more fun down the pit.

luvwelly

Yes whole coastline (we drove it as far as was possible) amazingly remote even for NZ. Greymouth has to be one of the most disappointing NZ towns I have ever visited (fortunately only one night).
Hokitika was much better even though smaller..wouldn't want to be marooned for life in either but I suppose we all have to go where the work is.

New Plymouth (North Island) is also remote but would appear to be a more rounded place to live in.

Buzzy--Bee

.... and have done for 75 years and they wouldn't live anywhere else!

Hokitika is a great place to live if you are a family person or older person and you have an income.

Most young people leave it at least for a while.... many return later in life.

Buzzy

(slinks back into the darkness of cyberspace.......)

Margaret Parkinson

We have only visited Greymouth but it is remote as others have said and not much there. It all depends on what you want. If I was emigrating to NZ this is not the place I would choose.

BEVS

Buzzy