ExKiwilass

Cross posted in moving back to the UK.

So, OH and I are talking seriously about taking a year out of our lives in Canada and coming to NZ or the UK. We have 1 kid, who will either be 6, 7 or 8 when we come.

Me & child will be nz citizens, OH is Canadian - not sure if we'd bother getting him a working permit or not, perhaps I'll be the main breadwinner for a change

Anyway, at this point I'm just researching the idea...does anyone have any thoughts? I'm assuming most of you would choose NZ over the UK (BTW, if we went to the UK it would prolly be Scotland...I think). Schooling, jobs, etc? Areas we were thinking Nelson, Hawkes Bay, somewhere warm for the OH...which is a bummer cos I'd really like to go to Dunedin!

Go.

ExKiwilass

Or wellington...lots of friends/ sister there.

southerner

Nelson and Hawkes Bay are both sunshine economies - I probably have more knowledge of Nelson. The housing is more expensive, and there is less big business there for the better paying corporate type jobs. That may or may not affect you guys. Both are fabulous areas, Nelson has great access to the outdoors and is generally a bit wacky too. Mapua is a great little village to settle in if you like the idea of being out of town a bit.

I'd be keeping Dunedin on your list too - it has amazing facilities and lifestyle for a city its size.

irnbru14

I would always recommend Welly to anyone

Depends what you want to be doing with you life really, what work you do and what you get up to in your free time.

Welly offers the best and worst of NZ weather, doesn't get as hot as Auckland during the summer but nowhere near as cold as the South Island in the winter, and the wind can be quite bracing!

But culture, arts, music, cinema, food are all fab here, its a very small city though and as you are slap bang in the middle of NZ nowhere is more than an hour away courtesy of Air NZ

ExKiwilass

I love Welly, I just don't know if OH is crazy about the climate I mean, why anyone would have an issue with gale-force winds I don't know... That's also his issue with Dunedin - it's cold(er) than other parts of NZ.

Also, when does the school year start/end again? Here it's sept to may.

In terms of free time we are more arty culture types than mega outdoorsy types. I"m open though - it doesn't hurt to try something new.

irnbru14

If you like Arty/Culture that rules out Nelson

Welly isn't always windy you know

Am Loolah

School year runs February to December.

We are in Bay of Plenty which also has a great climate - but I must admit you've got to be prepared to travel in terms of culture. I've don't mind a 3 hour drive to Auckland and staying in a hotel for a fix! I quite like Auckland, I liked Welly too when I visited - but I haven't lived in either.

Good luck.

southerner

Yep - WOW was stolen by some place that couldn't think up its own arty ideas

janek

very well said, although in truth I think it was 'sold' not 'stolen' but it sounds better the way you said it.

There's more arty fartyness in Nelson and the surrounding region that you can shake a sh*tty stick at, drives me nuts sometimes, but on the whole I cope I guess....

danjones1

The weather in Wellington is a reason never to live there quite frankly. Auckland and north of has far better year round weather.

Nelson is nice if you have money. Wages suck and it's known by locals as $10 town which represents the average wage there!

South Island is hillbilly land.

Look North.

irnbru14

Bloody Jafa's don;t know hee haw about the rest of NZ

The weather in Welly today has been fab

Tomsk

Given the choice between UK & NZ for a year I'm recommending NZ largely based on the age of your child. It'd be good to be able to really give him/her the opportunity to really experience the lifestyle in NZ especially given that it is part of his/her heritage. I love my life in NZ, I am also British & am very proud of my British heritage, not about to indulge in any knocking the UK type threads, but for a youngster I think the relative freedom, and relaxed outdoors, kids will be kids, lifestyle is just better for them. And at that young age I can't see the difference in the school year will matter that much.

Only my opinion though, for what it's worth. I'm not going to even think about recommending areas of NZ though

danjones1

I think of NZ as a better retirement place. The problem with raising a family here is two fold.

1. You might be denying grand parents access and miss out on the support network

2. When kids grow up they often leave NZ in search of a decent career

irnbru14

You are a cheery soul today ain't ya

IngStina

Dunedin and Vancouver aren't that much different weatherwise.