[clodestar]

After lurking for a while and discovering loads of info i thought i'd better join and introduce myself. I'm a primary teacher, OH a power systems engineer and we have 3 children ( 1,5 and 12). Thought about emigrating for a while now things are really moving. OH offered a job last week and we're coming to have a look 2nd April. Excited and scared all at the same time. Also completely overwhelmed by the amount to do. Anyway Hello;)

[zardell]

Hello and WELCOME to the forum.

Julie

xx

[Sam B]

Hello!

Welcome to the forum. Where do you plan to live in NZ?

[saralou]

Hello!!!!

Welcome from another newbie!! Good luck with everythin

Sara

[StevieD]

Welcome clodestar - we have just arrived in NZ, and yes, there is a lot to do!! Good luck, sure you'll get lot's of useful help from this forum in the coming weeks/months...


Steve

[clodestar]

OH job offer in Wellington. After lots of investigating we like the look of Kapiti then Upper Hutt. We want to live near services but neither of us are city folks. Nice to visit but not where i want to live. Another essential will be some kind of internet connection. Although i understand this could not be a reliable as here. Cost of living looks about the same with some notable exceptions - books - what is going on there ?. Salary level not bad although a lot lower than here. OH has gone in a grade below present but salary seems to progress quickly. I know some NZ employers say that and don't deliver but have friends who already work for same company and seems pretty ok. We're hoping to buy 3/4 bedroom with reasonable garden. what seems average for that on Kapiti at present ? But my head is seriously spinning with all there is to do.:roll

[jess]

We bought a 4 bedroom 160 m2 home in Kapiti in Sept. for 315K NZD. It's a renovated older home made open plan, heated by a woodstove. There's a 3 bedroom house for sale on our street that's brand new with less garden but has high cielings, gas heating, a garage, and built in audio visual outlets (snuck a peak at the open house like a nosy neighbor) for the high 500k's. So there's variation in price even in the same area depending on the details.

I'm a big advocate of renting a couple of months before buying to have time to get to know the areas, traffic flow, and what's available on the market. A lot of houses here are closed tender (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10027) or 'buyer bids over' (BBO) a certain amount, instead of a listed price - so you either have to limit yourself by only looking at listed price houses, or you have to go to open homes and auctions and get a feel for what different properties go for and how much you should bid. Also, there's a good bit going on in Kapiti - we looked at one home in Raumati without realizing all the details of a housing development being planned and different ideas on where the proposed Western Link Rd will run. Reading some Kapiti Observer newspapers will help you get an initial feel for possible development in the area.

(By the way we have telstraclear for internet, and it's as fast as the broadband I had in the states. I've been very happy with it myself.)

Welcome to the foum. :) I hope you like Kapiti as much as we do!!

[Angelonthemove]

Hi and welcome. Fellow Berkshire person (Reading) came here via Cyprus though. Daughter is still in Berkshre.

Coming to Welly, you will enjoy it, more like a large country town to me.

Wish you all the luck with relocating and all the joys of packing your furniture etc etc

Angela

[clodestar]

Thanks its been great to read everyones comments. I can't believe we're coming to visit in a few weeks. We're presently desparately trying to get everything we need to send in eoi . OH just needs to get qualification assessment, probably pre-assessment due to time delays from NZQA and i need to find my birth certificate which is some where in the house. We've got most of documentation. Crown are coming to survey 1st week in May. So i have between now and then to sort out everything and spend just over 2 weeks in New Zealand making sure . AAAh! Then we only have to sell house! Medicals and police checks.And we need to be there September at the latest. What is Kapiti like ? We have researched but its good to hear your experience , it makes it more real.

[willsken]

Hello and welcome. You're coming over on my birthday!! :clap

[jess]

What is Kapiti like ? We have researched but its good to hear your experience , it makes it more real.Check these two threads if you haven't already:
Kapiti Coast? (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5769)
Kapiti Coast Info Please? (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8185)

[marcia]

Hello and welcome. You're coming over on my birthday!! :clap


And our 'moving in day'

Welcome to the forum - enjoy your reccie trip and don't forget to do the boring 'pretend weekly shop' in the supermarkets, gives you a good idea of how much you would be spending on groceries, we also priced up the cost of replacing the white goods we weren't bringing, but have been lucky enough to have most of them thrown in with our house deal! Also might be an idea if you have time to have a quick look at car lots to get an idea of cost there, but they are pretty negotiable as well!

[pinkpiggy]

You're coming over on my birthday!!

And my son's 9th Birthday.

Enjoy your trip - i'm sure you will love it.