Billie

We are hoping to move to New Zealand (Christchurch) area in January 2006 and my daughter is interested in starting University out there (University of Canterbury). Any comments on costs/ standard/ quality of education etc?

Also are there any good estate agents that I can contact before my three week visit to Christchurch area in July 05?? to get an idea of house types/ prices etc.
Any advice gratefully received.

annaerb

Check out www.ljhooker.co.nz
www.barfoot.co.nz

newkiwi

Canterbury is generally regarded as having a high standard. There has been a bit of an uproar over the new university entrance requirements for kiwi school leavers, not sure how this applies if at all to uk school leavers

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?ObjectID=10111581
not sure if the link will work.................

realenz.co.nz is pretty good for real estate, the agents with listings will all have their contact details on the site under the relevant listings

Billie

Some really useful links. Many thanks.
Have checked the UK qualifications and it seems that the NZ new requirements haven't as yet been applied to international qualifications- thank goodness!! At present someone from England needs three A levels for Canterbury Univ (at least one above a grade C and no particular subjects specified) and a good standard of English. Hopefully it will stay that way or my daughter might not be to apply!!
Useful to know about though as my son would be going to NZ to start NCEA level 2 and it will pay to make sure he does have the necessary lit/numeracy standards.
Your link to the newspaper also gave valuable info re housing. I see house prices hit a record high in January 2005!! (bad news for us folks in the process of trying to start up out there.