Who hates Auckland

[James Deuce]

I grew up in Auckland and my wife is from Carterton and she wanted to be closer to her family so we moved from Auckland to Wellington 15 years ago and haven't looked back. We've lived overseas too, and I have to say that it helped confirm my loathing for Auckland. It is probably the most impractical city in the world. It has a size close to Los Angeles, with a 20th of the population and has for no intents and purposes a city "culture". Get out, even if it means finding a job, moving away for 3 months to establish yourself like I did. You won't regret it.

My brother moved to Ngatea rented for a while and then bought a huge place, especially compared to his 2 up/2 down Glen Innes flat.

Go for it!

What industry do you work in?

[wari]

I... The extra sleep in the morning alone has made a huge difference! ....

I THought you said SHEEP ...

[Marmoot]

Is it world or is it me?

First, the guvment take hefty amount of my income for the income tax, eh....
Then, there is GST to be paid on anything I buy
Plus, since I use bikes and cars, there is petrol tax to pay
Once a year, I have to pay the Rego including road tax
Then there is also the ACC levy which I never use and never want to use
After that don't forget to pay the parking meter....or else....
Yeah, or else I get the parking ticket which I have to pay to the council
Not to mention the towage fee if I get towed away
Then the petrol tax spewing away again whenever I get in traffic jam.....
I can almost hear it....sounds like coins rattling in my engine
Ah, the mail comes, only to tell me I have bank fees deducted automatically for friggin overdrafts that I didn't even sign for
Oops, that reminds me to pay the credit card bill, with interest cos its a few days behind
Why? Because I spent the money for the new tires for my new WoF
The WoF lets me drive to the supermarket to buy some groceries....which prices keep on soaring
Maybe it's cheaper to eat McD.....not! It's not cheap and not filling
And since I tried it one too many, I now have to pay for the doctor's bill
That reminds me I need to see a dentist soon

Phew....now if there is anything left, I'd better save it up coz my gf is an overseas student and we're gonna need to pay that whallopping $15000+ fee soon......

[kerryg]

I THought you said SHEEP ...

And then there's all the BAAAHS.......

[Eddieb]

I moved back to Hamilton 7 years ago, after about 6 years in Auckland, and I've never regretted it. The extra sleep in the morning alone has made a huge difference! Top commute would be about 15mins down here, depending where you live & where you find work.

Definately agree, my sister has a 1 1/2 acre block out in the country and it takes her 10 minutes RIDING!!! to get to work at the uni.

I've just found out today a friend of mine here in Welly is moving home to Hamilton for all the same reasons. We worked together doing web design in Telecom and he's been offered a job in Hamilton with a web company getting more than he is here, plus benefits. And theres no comparision to the cost of living, especially housing.

[kerryg]

Iwe moved from Auckland to Wellington 15 years ago and haven't looked back.

Now who's for discussing the merits of Wellington (is there life there??? is it intelligent life though?) vs Auckland????

Stand back to back, draw pistols,walk ten paces, turn......and

[James Deuce]

Now who's for discussing the merits of Wellington (is there life there??? is it intelligent life though?) vs Auckland????

Stand back to back, draw pistols,walk ten paces, turn......and

They're very different places, and the whole bitter Akl vs Wlg thing just makes me go, "Whaaaat?".

For us the lifestyle in Wellington is better.

[kerryg]

Is it world or is it me?

So, you too have that feeling that evil forces ijn the world are conspiring against you??
You too need to switch the lightswitch on and off 17 times (just to be sure?) and do you too have those voices in your head urging you on???..on and on....insistent and nagging.....telling you, yes, YES, you are the Messiah re-born.....and you and ONLY YOU are able to cure this sinful world ....given only enough Semtex....

Oh alright...I'll stop now...

[Eddieb]

I think the traffic is not hugely worse than Auckland. Supposedly studies have shown the delays are only a minute or 2 longer in AK than Wellington. I don't think there's much difference in Housing costs either. Wellington's have skyrocketed in recent years and it's hard to get much below $300k unless you are a fair way out.

I think theres a better vibe here though, people are friendlier, less hard and self absorbed. (Present company excepted of course)

[kerryg]

They're very different places, and the whole bitter Akl vs Wlg thing just makes me go, "Whaaaat?".

For us the lifestyle in Wellington is better.

Yeah...but that's no sport

[Magua]

I've lived in Auckland all my life, I've been around all the other major centres of New Zealand. I must say Auckland, the city, is a HOLE. Wellington/Christchurch etc, their cities are so much better. Nice looking, more things to do.

In the end, Auckland is home. I love it here. The North Shore is the shit. House prices are a bitch on the shore, 25% increase since same time last year, but that doens't affect me at the age of 17.

[greenhorn]

I grew up in Auckland and my wife is from Carterton and she wanted to be closer to her family so we moved from Auckland to Wellington 15 years ago and haven't looked back. We've lived overseas too, and I have to say that it helped confirm my loathing for Auckland. It is probably the most impractical city in the world. It has a size close to Los Angeles, with a 20th of the population and has for no intents and purposes a city "culture". Get out, even if it means finding a job, moving away for 3 months to establish yourself like I did. You won't regret it.

My brother moved to Ngatea rented for a while and then bought a huge place, especially compared to his 2 up/2 down Glen Innes flat.

Go for it!

What industry do you work in?

At the moment i'm in IT.. sort of trying to build a career but the building is going slow. I done lots of stuff in the past.... bit of fitting and turning bit of building. If i moved i'd be pretty happy doing whatever. My original idea was to skill up in I.T so we could afford to live here but the way its going as soon as the pay increases so do all the bills so its like i'm constantly struggling. Same story with a lot of people i guess.
I'd probably go for a look see round the country right now if i could afford it. We probably going to sell our flat and with the modest profit we have a chance to try something. But it feels like our one shot to get it right.
Words of Paul in NZ ringing in my ears... i guess it all boils down to just having some balls and giving it a go. Its a bit hard when you got others who are affected if you stuff it up though.

[Drunken Monkey]

Sometimes I do. Sometimes I think a nice house in Mt Maunganui would be just about right for me. But after a couple of months I know I'll miss the 'hustle and bustle' - I need change and challenges to keep me going, and although the thought of going to a surf every morning appeals then golfing every afternoon (after a mid-day romp on the gixxer, no less!), deep down I know it's just not for me. Besides, the rest of the time I want to leave Aucks, it's for HK, Shanghai, Tokyo, Kingston or Melbourne. Hardly quieter cities. Wellington has a much nicer 'city feel', but the weather is just too darn cold.
Auckland provides people like me with a tolerable medium. Not quite a great city for nightlife, but better than a 2 pub town. Not quite as sleepy as a smaller town, but handy to some great getaways.
I've lived in HK, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. I've stayed in many more cities. Auckland may not be perfect, but I think it rates pretty well.

[James Deuce]

Words of Paul in NZ ringing in my ears... i guess it all boils down to just having some balls and giving it a go. Its a bit hard when you got others who are affected if you stuff it up though.

Think laterally. There are bucket loads of industries and small businesses that value multi skilled individuals.

Yes your family is affected, but they are more affected if you are grumpy and preoccupied with money issues.

[Artifice]

if your trying to drive to work in auckland then i rekon thats 1/2 your problem. when i used to ride to work on mah cicle i always got there with a huge grin on my face. darn gixxer is currently getting its panels resprayed after the new tyre on the rear incident though.