[Dash]

Just come back from my recce to NZ and thought I'd share some observations...

I was granted PR the week before we went so this was the final chance to decide wheter or not we would be making the move.

Travelled Air NZ via HK (fuel stop) then on to Auckland. Thought the whole trip was excellent, great in-flight on demand entertainment and attentive cabin crew. Returned via LA and no real delays in LA while we waited to re-fuel.

Staying in Auckland - Stayed with friends for two weeks and tried to fit into a day to day routine as much as we could to see what it would be like. We visited a few supermarkets with a NZ budget in mind and found there to be a wide variety of products and certainly enough choice and price for us to survive on.

Driving - Was expecting nightmare scenario after reading some posts but I'd rather drive in Auckland and the North Island than London or Paris or a number of countries I've spent time in.. Even got used to the 'turn right' rule which is a bit odd but 'thems the rules'

People - Our friends have both ex-pat and kiwi friends and we had a few BBQ's and social events to meet up with them and they were all very friendly.

Housing - Looking in the Bays area in North Island and the rents and house prices are very reasonable and will fit into our budget with our money from our house sale.

Lifestyle - Seems very healthy, we walked everywhere when we could. Walked to the beach, shops, etc... Friends house is 5 mins from beach in Browns Bay so they go body boarding regularly on great open beaches.

Hayfever!! - Not everyones problem, but my hayfever has been getting progressively worse in the UK and now even need an inhaler as it is supposed to be down to pollution as well as pollen. In Auckland, I never even sneezed although I appreciate it is the latter end of the pollen season there so difficult to make an informed judgement but it seemed positive.

To keep the post short... overall I have returned with a very positive opinion, despite having some reservations from some posts I've read. (I have always respected those negative views as they were from people who have 'done it' but I like to make my own mind up.)

So the final decision is.... Make the move. House goes up for sale in two weeks and looking to move out in late June!!

Good luck to all those still to decide or still applying..

[willsken]

Nice post Dash! :)

[gil]

Glad to hear you're so psoitive Dash, and look forward to catching up when you get here,

:cheers
Gil

[marcia]

Great post - hope the rest of your plans come together smoothly!

[zardell]

Great post Dash.......hope all your plans soon turn into reality.

Julie

xx

[kimandgareth]

Hi Dash

Its great that you came back and decided to make the move for good :nice1 We're off for our reccie a week on Thursday so its nice to hear from someone who has just done there. Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

[StevieD]

Thanks Dash, interesting thoughts - good luck.

[alan999]

Great to hear you are pleased with the place. I wasn't smitten by Auckland when I landed and spent a few days away at Rotorua before returning. When I did my impression was 100% positive, very much like yours. Got a job there now and flying out April 2nd!

Alan

[Croft]

Just come back from my recce to NZ and thought I'd share some observations...

I was granted PR the week before we went so this was the final chance to decide wheter or not we would be making the move.

We did that to - always good to make a recce before you make tha final decision to go. I know some can't afford that luxury, and I guess that's where forums like this come into play.

Travelled Air NZ via HK (fuel stop) then on to Auckland. Thought the whole trip was excellent, great in-flight on demand entertainment and attentive cabin crew. Returned via LA and no real delays in LA while we waited to re-fuel.

The new system is great isn't it!

Staying in Auckland - Stayed with friends for two weeks and tried to fit into a day to day routine as much as we could to see what it would be like. We visited a few supermarkets with a NZ budget in mind and found there to be a wide variety of products and certainly enough choice and price for us to survive on.

We were pleasantly surprised by the range, given what we'd been led to expect.

Driving - Was expecting nightmare scenario after reading some posts but I'd rather drive in Auckland and the North Island than London or Paris or a number of countries I've spent time in.. Even got used to the 'turn right' rule which is a bit odd but 'thems the rules'

Our NZ relatives constantly say how much better and more courteous the driving is in the UK! We never found a problem in NZ though.

People - Our friends have both ex-pat and kiwi friends and we had a few BBQ's and social events to meet up with them and they were all very friendly.

We've found the Kiwi's all very friendly and willing to help.

Housing - Looking in the Bays area in North Island and the rents and house prices are very reasonable and will fit into our budget with our money from our house sale.

You need that house sale, and nowhere near as good as it was in 2001 when we first visited NZ, prices have doubled and this may be a deal breaker for my wife.

Lifestyle - Seems very healthy, we walked everywhere when we could. Walked to the beach, shops, etc... Friends house is 5 mins from beach in Browns Bay so they go body boarding regularly on great open beaches.

Love that in NZ.

Hayfever!! - Not everyones problem, but my hayfever has been getting progressively worse in the UK and now even need an inhaler as it is supposed to be down to pollution as well as pollen. In Auckland, I never even sneezed although I appreciate it is the latter end of the pollen season there so difficult to make an informed judgement but it seemed positive.

A plus point for my wife then! We never considered it.

To keep the post short... overall I have returned with a very positive opinion, despite having some reservations from some posts I've read. (I have always respected those negative views as they were from people who have 'done it' but I like to make my own mind up.)

So the final decision is.... Make the move. House goes up for sale in two weeks and looking to move out in late June!!

Good luck to all those still to decide or still applying..

A great post - thanks Dash!

[pinkpiggy]

Dash - What an excellent post. Thanks for sharing your experiences and I'm glad you've decided NZ is the place for you. :clap

[andreamatt]

Hi Dash

Good luck with selling your house and all that follows,

Andrea, Matt, William and Martah (who haven't done a recce but who are selling up anyway)

[Belmont Babes]

Thank you for a wonderful post Dash. As we are just starting on the roller coaster ride words like these keep us going.

EOI submitted and selected 31/01/07 130pts

[Angelonthemove]

Lovely Dash well written

Don't want to burst anyones bubble re hayfever, asthma.

We did a 6 week recce 2 years ago around late feb/march and by the 4th days I was OFF all my inhalers. Stayed in Hotels and Bachs. North Island only.

Returned to live here 6 months ago August and I am worse. I have not come off any medication and starting to use the blue one during the day. My doctor has tried to get me off onto another product as she says my dosage is too high but I could not get on with it.

I put it down to different pollen, grass, spores in damp houses (despite DVS system)

I never had asthma in the UK only Cyprus. so different countries are different for everyone. Would not put me off living here though:nice1

[Hannah]

Great post Dash.
Just another comment on the hayfever. I'm doing my second summer here in NZ and, like last summer, have had virtually no problems with hayfever again. Like you I had severe hayfever in the UK, as did my son. Last UK summer he went on to a reliever inhaler for the first time, and I was pretty close (I try and avoid medications where I can).
We've put it down to 2 things - 1. the wind direction...we're on the coast and the wind blows in from the sea usually. I guess it could be blowing the pollen in land. 2. The different plants. Rape seed grew in Northants where I used to live and my hayfever was worse during the growing season for rapeseed. There's none here in Taranaki as far as i can tell.
I know it's not the same for everyone, but for me it's been a HUGE difference. I enjoy summer! In the UK my summer was obliterated for 2-3 months, as was my son's - here it's barely been a problem. A few sneezes in the morning, no eye irritation, no breathing probs!

GREAT!!!!!

[Dash]

Hi Hannah,

Sounds like you had similar experiences to mine regarding hayfever. I currently live in Cambridgeshire and summer is a pain. Hopefully I will be able to enjoy summer again.

Cheers

Dash