Mishclark

I wish I could like your post Wez130 like Facebook! Good luck for your move, that time will go fast!

Justcol

you don't want to live in Tokaroa, believe me


For proximity to Hamilton you have Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, Matamata. forget everywhere else, they are not nice
places no matter how attractive the house prices look.

Robbie2010

Have to agree ... Tokoroa, Huntly, Ngaruawahia are all sh*****es!

Dorothy

I live in Perth Australia. My favourite part is the departure gates at the international airport.

j19fmm

Paihia will be heaving with backpackers and holiday makers in 10 weeks time forgive it, it's not always like that. Don't forget to pop over to Kerikeri too and visit the Makana chocolate factory cafe and shop. Simple pleasures round here

wez130

We went to Paihia and KeriKeri last year when we were there in December on the way back from Cape Reinga. I really liked Paihia. There's a beach front bakery for sale too which is tempting, but i'd be worried about it being too seasonal there.

BEVS

You can send him BE karma.

Mishclark

Thank you BEVS!

bearskin

We live in Torbay on Auckland's North shore. I hear it's one of the suburbs/areas that is now out of price of first home buyers. You used to be able to pick up property quite cheaply - around the 400K mark, but those days are long gone. Schools aren't as good as you might think, but there is a lot of choice - as it's densely packed suburb, there are 3 schools within walking distance and then 3 more a 5-min car ride.
We are a bit lacking in facilities such as a corner shop and our local cafe just closed down - due to owners of the land/building being in court not because the cafe wasn't well used. But the beach is very close - only two streets away, and we have a sailing club, Scouts, fitness/martial arts lessons etc at the school. Torbay does have a little village centre but it's up a massive hill from us and Browns Bay is an easy walk (bit further but flatter walk) which has everything you need - banks, 2 supermarkets, 643 cafes, 27 pokestops...

LittleLadySunshine

Whakatane which is an hours drive down from Tauranga.
Beautiful part of the Eastern Bay....
Crime is an issue here as wages are low. Having said that most folk will run after you with your wallet or your mobile if you leave it somewhere since they know how hard you have to work to replace it. If you look like a tourist on a rented bike though.....
Definitely less crime than in the U.K. But then we moved from city to small town so the comparison is unfair.
Weather and climate is incredible. If you have qualifications you will find work here.
I've just picked up a job as a recruitment agent ☺️
I'd say the BoP is a great choice as so many people now are heading away from Auck to more affordable locations.

Bo-Jangles

All fine of course, if jobs are available or people are prepared to do the hard yards and commute to far extremes. There's an interesting article today:

Sleepy towns awoken by property madness | Stuff.co.nz

LittleLadySunshine

Lots of folk come here to slow down and retire.... We get awesome sunshine!
However.
There's been a definite upswing of people through our office that are trying to get out of Auck and onto the property ladder.

Your article although about another area is pretty spot on about here too though. The lack of rental properties is scary. Construction is speeding up but not keeping up with demand at present.

In terms of jobs in the eastern bay generally if you are qualified and experienced you should find work although people often diversify into alternative careers. (I was a teacher and fancied a change) if you are an accountant or an engineer you will likely be able to choose from multiple jobs. It's harder to get the entry level admin kind of jobs as there's competition in that area or sales jobs.

Whakatane is a small town though and it's often being in the right place at the right time which is a frustrating truth for many. The more active you can be in the community the more likely you are to meet someone who knows someone who needs something......

Munchkjn

I was initially struck by the natural beauty of Wellington and it is really seems a nice city in many ways. I was looking forward to a sunnier climate than back home. I have been here since late winter and through spring and based on my experiences I would say that despite the lattitude, the weather in Wellington is equivalent to North West england/South West Scotland.

Combined with the (very real) earthquake threat, the weather here doesn't make Wellington a particularly liveable city based on my short stay here. Now it may be that I have just been unlucky, but the outdoors lifestyle much vaunted as a reason to move here is a fallacy. Yes there's an outdoors. Do I want to go out in it? No. I was skeptical of others' views on Wellington before I left the UK. Maybe I should have paid more heed. Sorry Manchester, all is forgiven!

escapedtonz

Exactly. Two of the several reasons why Wellington wasn't going to be the place we would settle. Love life in NZ so much more now we are 500km North in the Bay of Plenty. Much better climate and not many earthquakes. An outdoorsy lifestyle is very real here.

Munchkjn

I'll bear that in mind Escapee, after I've got some time under my belt here. Aftershocks still racking the CBD today in the high 5's.