MAZ-10

Hi all

My sis and brother-in-law are moving to NZ later this year. My brother-in-law has two job offers, one in Hamilton and one in Whanganui - both are very similar packages, but they need help with deciding which area would be better for a family to live in.
I would really appreciate any "inside" information regarding best/worst areas to live in for both towns, schools are definitely a priorty for choice of where to go. One daughter is 14 years and the other is 16, so college information is also desirable. I have looked at schools for the areas, and it seems to me that Hamilton has a higher rating, but would really appreciate any advice from the people that know.
Many Thanks
Maz

littleal

We like Hamilton and it is very accessible to other areas such as Auckland, Taupo, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel etc. The schools are variable and unfortunately the girls high school doesn't have such a good reputation as the boys high school. We have daughters and are aiming for Hillcrest High - you have to be in zone, and the house prices reflect this. Other schools with good reputations have a religious slant e.g. "Dio" http://www.waikatodiocesan.school.nz/

Justcol

Never been to whanganui but i know love30stm on here lives there and she hates it.
I live in cambridge 20 minutes out from hamilton. Hamilton has pretty much everything you need.
shops are good, schools are like everywhere, there are good and bad. colleges arent really
around. kids tend to stay on at the school the attend after year 11 and do two more years (12 and 13)
which are the equvelent of uk sixth form years.
I've been told Hamilton girls school is very good and also hillcrest high school.
If they dont want city living cambridge is 20 mins away and is a realy nice town live in.
Stay away from,fairfield, nawton, fairview downs. dont consider huntly or ngaruwahia(?)
These are all my personal opinions and others may tell you otherwise

Genesis

Wanganui is by the beach, hamilton isn't. One thing to consider. Ther are bad reports for both..just like Palmerston North where I live. Most people just tolerate my city. Others are way less kind. Being 'non beachside' makes any town in NZ unattractive. I think both places have things going for their actual position geographically but if it were me I would go for Hamilton. I get the feel there's more going on there. Wangers is a bit too small for me.

owen

hamilton

bourbon-biscuit

Hamilton, but stick with Hillcrest High zoning- Hamilton Boys' has a good reputation, Hamilton Girls' much less so. Hillcrest is not the priciest part of the city either

MAZ-10

Hi All

Thanks so much for your replies. I know my sis and bro-in-law have read them also and are veering towards Hamilton I believe. Hillcrest sounds like the area to look into it.
Thanks again for all your help, really appreciate it
Maz

kiwinow

Yeah, I'd agree. My parents stunned us by moving to Wanganui when they retired, and I still can't see the attraction. It's a small town with a grubby river that has a cute paddle steamer on it, and um, that's it. Oh and a nice kid's play park.

Hamilton is quite pretty, with parks and a lake and a hot air balloon festival, with good shopping and restaurants, but it doesn't have a beach. However there are beaches and an assortment of NZ attractions within an hour, and Auckland is less than 2 hours away. As someone else said, if you don't want to live in the city, Cambridge is nice.

karonious

Not sure if it's still there - I put a bit about Hamilton on the Wiki thingy quite some time ago. And the beginning of my blog has a bit too - I liked Hamilton well enough, personal circumstances dictated a change though.

Justcol

we have friends in tamahere who's kids go to hillcrest so the catchment area must be fairly big.
they could always rent in hillcrest then move elsewhere if getting into the school was a problem