[Jim&Karen]

Hi all havent posted a thread for ages we just lodged our ITA 16/2/07 and now its just a waiting game. We have our heart set on Nelson area or Christchurch depending on job prospects.

I am a registered nurse and oh is networking manager. We had a recci in Dec 06 and fell in love with the south island. We are both up for a challange and a nw lifestyle.

We dont know anyone who has migrated to NZ South Island so we would welcome contcts from people who have made the move to either of these
locations. I [Karen] am the priniciple applicant and we just have enough points before it becomes too late for us to apply. We know it will be hard as we are leaving everyone including our 2 daughters aged 25 and 26 behind including our 6 month old grandaughter.

We are easy people to get along with and enjoy outdoor lifestyle and a bevvy, any like minded people out there?

[nippa&pippa]

Hi Jim and Karen

Welcome from me!
We live in Christchurch and have just been to Nelson few weeks ago. Both very nice areas....:nice1
You are taking very bold move to move to NZ and leave granddaughter behind! but i did other way around, taking my children away from our parents, they miss our children so much that both parents is coming to NZ, my parents coming in easter and my husband's mum coming in october despite we just emigrate last october/november!!! Gary's sister and her husband coming next feb...what next!
Wish you luck on your progress on ITA to PR, hopefully won't be too long as our took 2 weeks!

[Moorf]

Welcome Jim and Karen,

We're on the South Island and loving it. We've lived in Chch and now are 50km inland near Darfield.

Feel free to ask away! :nice1

Moorf

[Nelsonian]

Hi Jim and Karen
It was the south island for me when I decided to move last year :) Am currently based in Nelson (and enjoying all the sunshine!!). If I can help, I'll be happy to do so. I'm quite a sporadic poster - so it may take a few days....:exit
Best of luck with it all - Jane.

[bevsere]

We also live near Nelson. Let us know if we can help in any way.

[GBpeter]

'Nelson' is a fairly large area eg the Nelson Bays stretch westward through Motueka to Golden Bay. Jobs are centred on the Nelson/Richmond connurbation which given your occupations are probably where you would work. As you go west, jobs get scarcer/commuting times potentially longer eg Golden Bay is 90 mins from Nelson and not really commutable.

No problem leaving the children behind given Skype, e-mails etc for comms. Mine are a similar age and they both visited NZ in the first 15 months - I suspect we will alternate visits for a while with them coming here one year - us going back to Uk the next.

Very relaxed lifestyle (haven't worn a tie since arriving), spend my spare time kayaking around the Abel Tasman coast interspersed with BBQ's and beer. Friendly populace (more so than the North Island) though you might miss UK style pubs.

[Jim&Karen]

Thanks guys for your comments and positive feedback. Just hope we have more interest in our house for our plans to be in nelson area in sep 07. I look on nursing sites regular to get a feel of vacencies and hve sent a couple of e mails etc.

Jim did a random search for IT jobs not as many as in the North island but we are both flexable in our approach for employment. Fortunatly we are not relying on job offers for our application.

Good idea GBPeter re family visiting we are already sorting out skype.Does it make you feel homesick when you see family etc? how do you cope with it?

Know what you mean about English style pubs when we did our recci but that wont bother us if that is the main thing. We are just looking forward to a change in lifestyle and to outdoors more hey ho who needs English Pubs.

Jim might miss real beer New zealand wine is good. Will start looking at house rentals in and around Nelson anyone ideas?

Kind regards

karen and Jim

[Nelsonian]

Hi - good quality rentals not that easy to find in Nelson - but I do recommend Paul Meeson at Haven Realty - British and been here several years - very helpful and straightforward and will know what you're looking for!

[Jennieandmike]

Hi Jim and Karen ,
New to this forum thing, but just read your post and was wondering how the plans are going? We are heading out to nz in 7 weeks (v excited) and like you are heading to Nelson or Christchurch depending on job offer ( we should find out about one in Nelson tomorrow!) Are you any closer to knowing your moving date?

[srivett]

Hi Jim and Karen! Wishing you luck in your move - job hunting is a nerve-wracking experience any day of the week without adding another country, but it sounds like your skills are right for the area. We're moving in 4 months and have our sights set on either Christchurch or Nelson as well. Seems like a popular area! Not surprising, considering the climate. When we visited last year, I think we must have stumbled into Nelson on the only 2 rainy days of the year. Haven't actually seen the famed beaches except through rain, but I had a great feeling for it. Nice artsy city. We'll just have to see how things work out.

Good luck!

Suze

[coyotewildwomen]

We ( actually just my husband) lives in Nelson right now. I am in the US right now until October.

We found a great furnished place right on the water. We used trademe to find it. We can walk to a wonderful beach near Tahuna. It does seem to rain a lot in Nelson but then we are from Colorado- where it is dry and sunny almost all the time.So our perceptions may be different than yours. However, we do get a number of bright, sunny days which is lovely.

Nelson is wonderful but it can be challenging to meet people given its small size. Not a whole lot of expats from our experience or strong expat community- and we have had a tough time hooking up with many people as yet- but I know they are out there. It may be more challenging because we don't have kids with us, and are working as consultants on our own- so we don't have the work connections.

There is a Newcomers group but we have not done anything with them yet because of scheduling issues. We joined Rotary and that has been helpful. I think, as in any new community, we have to get out there to meet people. They aren't going to come knocking at our door. The people we have meet have been great, and very friendly, however.

Let us know if you move to the area and want to get together! We are happy to help in anyway we can.

Wendy and Mel