Markk

I didn't realise they did the November 5th thing in New Zealand. It's like a bloody war zone here!

lizard

Yes they do, we went to a bonfire bash last year and one kiwi thought it was a kiwi tradition. She was amazed we celebrated it in England. She said Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the New Zealand Houses of Parliament. She soon crumbled when we started grilling her on the subject and telling her the facts about what really happened.

Jack The Lad

Just booked my tent pitch for January in Tauranga and the lady on the phone said it was mad

Forest forever

lizard

Where in the UK are you? Nottingham by any chance?

Jack The Lad

Lush Mansfield

lizard

Mansfield is not too bad, my favourite drink is Mansfield bitter. I miss Sherwood forest and clumber park. What type of thing are you looking for here? Dont mean to sound nosey, I may be able to give you some advice.

Jack The Lad

Nah, thats fine

Nice area within say 30 mins of the Hospital (wifes work) with good schools.

This is the whole poiny of my visit. To have a look around ang try and get a feel for the place.

Fancy a few in January. I can then pick your brains over a few

lizard

My wife is a nurse too. How long are you going to be out here? We would love to meet up for a few beers if it is possible but she is due to have a baby on Jan 13th so it may be a bit awkward for us. But the area we live is beautiful and she loves her job at the hospital. Plus we live next to the best beach in NZ. So you must check out the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Jack The Lad

I get to Tauranga on the 11th to the 17th. Just in time to wet the babies head

My wife is an ODP and will be looking for work at the Hospital.

Any particular areas in the Eastern Bay of Plenty?

Any to avoid?

Which schools?

lizard

Whakatane, Ohope, Cheddar Valley are good. Te Teko, Taneatua, Waimana are quite rough. There are more rough areas on the North Island truth be told than the South island. But its still a nice place to live if you avoid the dodgy areas. Do you have some cash? because the houses in the better areas are quite pricey. You will see when you get here, visit some estate agents and they will put you in the right direction. Are you visiting the south island? I think it is much better than the north ( my opinion) but colder. WE are planning on moving south in time.

Jack The Lad

Without a mortgage we will have about $425-500k.

We really want the North Island. Too cold down south for me. So I will only be visiting the North this time (Whangarei and Tauranga)

Which hospital did your wife work in?

lizard

You should be ok with that type of cash. My wife works at Whakatane hospital. Tauranga is busier than Whangarei and there is more to do, but you maybe be able to buy a coastal property in Whangarei. Whakatane is also very quiet not much to do at night time, depends what you want.

Jack The Lad

Cheers mate

Which hospital did your wife work in (UK)?

lizard

She worked at Chesterfield Royal

Jack The Lad

She wont know me then