uk to nz

[Odin]

Its getting closer to 30% of the population are foreigners now.

...we are taking over the country ..... just watch out

[goaters]

Many thanks to all so far, if it was up to me we would be in nz asap but i still have to persuade my partner gail (she is the true scot, i moved here from England as a kid 30 years ago) that less rain and even fewer midges would be a good thing.

As for work i dont think that would be a problem, i am a joiner to trade and would hope to find a job befor we moved out.

I would like to live in the north island away from the rain as much as posible or anywhere that has less rain than Arran.

The better climate would also help our hobbies ie motor bikes, mountian bikes, hill walking, and the great out doors in general.

When (if) we did move it would be within 12 months at the earliest so keep the posts coming in and i will show them to the boss as so far you have all been very helpfull.

Thanks Nick

[MSTRS:Me]

I would like to live in the north island away from the rain as much as posible

Generally that would be Hawkes Bay (although lately I'm not so sure). East side of both islands has less rain/more sun than the west

[toads]

Many thanks to all so far, if it was up to me we would be in nz asap but i still have to persuade my partner gail (she is the true scot, i moved here from England as a kid 30 years ago) that less rain and even fewer midges would be a good thing.

As for work i dont think that would be a problem, i am a joiner to trade and would hope to find a job befor we moved out.

I would like to live in the north island away from the rain as much as posible or anywhere that has less rain than Arran.

The better climate would also help our hobbies ie motor bikes, mountian bikes, hill walking, and the great out doors in general.

When (if) we did move it would be within 12 months at the earliest so keep the posts coming in and i will show them to the boss as so far you have all been very helpfull.

Thanks Nick

Come to Gisborne, best place in NZ

[MikeL]

If you're not committed to a big city because of employment/business or educational opportunities, you will do a lot better in one of the provincial centres. Certainly the east coast of the north island has better weather than most other places (though you could look at the top of the south island as well (Nelson/Blenheim/Marlborough). Gisborne is a great place, underrated I think, because it is a bit isolated - but heaps of sunshine and some excellent beaches, and property prices half what you'd pay in Auckland. Alternatives would be Hawkes Bay (Napier) or Bay of Plenty (Tauranga/Mt Maunganui) but housing would be more expensive. Almost anywhere you go will give you easy access to great roads, mountains, bush and beaches... if that's what you're into. Or you could come to Auckland and experience all the disadvantages of living in London or Los Angeles without the benefits...

[ManDownUnder]

Its getting closer to 30% of the population are foreigners now.

I'm a kiwi through and through, but I'm not all here...

...would you take that into account when calculating the 30% number you mentioned?

[TwoSeven]

I would suggest that you save up and do the camper van tour in the summer before throwing your lot in and moving out.

Moving to a country thats in the backwaters of no-where can be quite difficult because you give up doing a lot of stuff you take for granted (especially if your a city person). I still get frustrated that I cant just go down the road and buy a part for my bike and that everything is always 2 weeks from japan and I've been here most of my life.

The other thing that takes a bit of getting used to is how slow kiwis are at doing things. I'm used to asking for something to be done and getting a prompt result - however, in this country your lucky if they'll phone you back by the end of the week if at all (although it is improving). I'm used to living in europe and asia where you do things promptly or give them a time when its done, none of this she'll be right, have it when I do it crap - which is a bit of a culture shock if you are not expecting it.

Having said all that, its the end of the lunch time rush hour where I live and I cant hear a single car, I can walk around the corner to the supermarket (like buggery - i'll take the car) and spend my $40 on the weeks shopping. This is the main reason I keep coming back here - I can shut the door from the hustle and bustle of living and working in the real world and just de-stress.

[Ixion]

I would suggest that you save up and do the camper van tour in the summer before throwing your lot in and moving out.

Moving to a country thats in the backwaters of no-where can be quite difficult because you give up doing a lot of stuff you take for granted (especially if your a city person)...

heh heh . He's coming from the bustling metropolis of the Isle of Arran !

[eliot-ness]

Just do it mate. Use the same excuse that I used. "It's only for a couple of years then if you don't like it we'll come home." That was thirty years ago. Never did go back myself. The wife goes back every couple of years and brags about how good things are here. Bloody good place to live, good food, high standard of living, cheap gas, (compared to U.K.) Wages good and pretty low unemployment. Heaps of work in your line. Building boom at the moment and shortage of skilled workers. Roads are mainly good, Probably more traffic than Arran but stuff all compared to the rest of U.K.. Bike prices are about the same but not many rusty ones. Great beaches and walking tracks.
Swimming six months of the year in WARM water. Fishing's brilliant, Bike riding ditto. If the wife/girlfriend gets homesick she can call home at prices you would't believe, The missus rings twice a week, 2hrs per call, and it costs around 6 quid. Can't think of one thing to knock it on. If you can survive on Arran you'll think you're in heaven over here.
If you want to compare prices etc PM me with a list of things you want to know.

[marty]

Having said all that, its the end of the lunch time rush hour where I live and I cant hear a single car, I can walk around the corner to the supermarket (like buggery - i'll take the car) and spend my $40 on the weeks shopping. This is the main reason I keep coming back here - I can shut the door from the hustle and bustle of living and working in the real world and just de-stress.

the stoning begins @ 6pm

[marty]

if you don't like rain though, don't move to auckland. or anywhere on the west coast.

i was in inverness about 18 months ago (xmas), and it wasn't too different to how it is here right now....

[RiderInBlack]

As for work i dont think that would be a problem, i am a joiner to trade and would hope to find a job befor we moved out.

Tradesmen are always in need, so you should be set where ever you wish to live in NZ as long as you are not too far from a town. Lots of life-style blocks over here (10-20arces of grass-land near to (15mins or less by "cage") a town, so you could have some stock and even a horse/pony (which are a lot cheaper here in NZ) for the misses/kids. If you end-up around Whangarei contact me, I'm a local Farrier around here. Of course if you just want to ride the bike, I'll show you all the good back roads up here (I like to get away from horses in my off times). There is plenty of places to take MX bikes up here as well.

Doug (The Rider In Black).

[marty]

my family comes from colensay - there's no-one (literally) left there now, but we visited it last year - not sure i could talk my wife into moving over there

[BM-GS]

Just do it. Me & the missus did a bike trip around the place in Feb 02 and started the moving-here-permanently process as soon as we got back. Having a sprog complicated things a bit, but probably no more than it would have done anyway.

I recommend a trip round first, though, as has already been suggested, if only because you'll never be able to do it once you move here & get a job...

Been here 2 years, not going back.

[Trakxntrials]

Hi there, both Terry & I moved out here to NZ from the UK. Me, I moved here years ago. Terry has been out here 4 years. It is a bit of a shock to the system at first in the employment versus pay $$$. A big shock actually. But as everyone says, once you get here, you wouldn't want to leave. But I do recommend heading southwards. Auckland is way too busy, overpopulated etc - not too mention the off road riding scene not as easy. Now if your talking South Island - thats a dream, that will become a reality for me in the next few years. I hope you south island riders can make way for two more riders

Also for the points that you need to score to apply for permenant residency in NZ works better for you if you
* have a job all lined up for you
* have plenty of $$$ in your account
* have a place of residence (relations/friends)
* also the type of trade your in (i.e. qualifications)

Another factor is that ..."Do you have family coming with you, or family that you are leaving behind?" and " Do you have family already living in NZ"
This all helps