[Twig]

Hi there,

We're a family of four and we're really interested in moving to Wellington, OH is an engineer and should find work easily. Thing is we really don't want to live a in 'city' - we currently live in a fairly rural village in Kent and would like to live somewhere fairly rural just outside Wellington. I've never been to NZ, have only my trusty books and you fair people to guide me.

OH doesn't mind doing a fair commute if the area was worth it - do you have any suggestions of nice areas??

Your help with this would be GREATLY appreciated, thank you :)

[Questor]

Up here on the Kapiti Coast - you can have a rural feel, yet still be only an hour from Wellington.

You could also try over in the Wairarapa, but I wouldn't fancy the commute over the RImutakas every day

Jon

[pinkpiggy]

Hi, I found this thread the other day when I was looking at info on where to stay in Welly - hopefully it will help you.

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9439&highlight=wellington+areas+live

[denisesykes]

Hi there
I was interested to read your post as we are a family who moved from 'fairly' rural Kent to outside Wellington approx 18 months ago.
We lived in Herne Bay in Kent and now live in Raumati Beach on the Kapiti Coast.
My O H works in the Hutt and it takes him about 40 minutes to drive to work, however , you should see the drive! Not quite the same as driving round the M25!
Our kids are 13, 10 and 7 and here in Raumati we have kindy, primary school and college (Years 9-13) all within walking distance.
The beach is 10 minutes walk from our house and the schools are even closer.We have a fair array of shops here in Raumati but it is only a 2 minutes drive to Coastlands Shopping Mall where you can get most of what you need.There is also mini golf, loads of restaurants and a cinema there too!
We can get to Wellington on the train within 50 minutes and the fares are ridicuously cheap.The trains are also spotless!
There are numerous places to enjoy the natural beauty of NZ within a stones throw of where we are.However there are lots of 'organised' activities too. You can choose from netball , soccer, rugby, tennis , cycling , mountain biking, drama, gym, pilaties, music lessons, triathlon, badminton, art classes, etc etc.
There are a fair few English familes close by which can work both ways.Whilst it is great to know someone who has the same background as youself it is very tempting to have conversations limited to 'what do you miss, what do you think of...etc , etc.!
We have a mixture of Kiwi friends (everyone is so nice!) and English pals so that seems to be the ideal.
I would definitely recommend the Kapiti Coast and do wonder why anyone would want to live anywhere else!
Please Pm me if you want any further details

Good luck with your move

Denise

[Twig]

Hi there
I was interested to read your post as we are a family who moved from 'fairly' rural Kent to outside Wellington approx 18 months ago.
We lived in Herne Bay in Kent and now live in Raumati Beach on the Kapiti Coast.
My O H works in the Hutt and it takes him about 40 minutes to drive to work, however , you should see the drive! Not quite the same as driving round the M25!
Our kids are 13, 10 and 7 and here in Raumati we have kindy, primary school and college (Years 9-13) all within walking distance.
The beach is 10 minutes walk from our house and the schools are even closer.We have a fair array of shops here in Raumati but it is only a 2 minutes drive to Coastlands Shopping Mall where you can get most of what you need.There is also mini golf, loads of restaurants and a cinema there too!
We can get to Wellington on the train within 50 minutes and the fares are ridicuously cheap.The trains are also spotless!
There are numerous places to enjoy the natural beauty of NZ within a stones throw of where we are.However there are lots of 'organised' activities too. You can choose from netball , soccer, rugby, tennis , cycling , mountain biking, drama, gym, pilaties, music lessons, triathlon, badminton, art classes, etc etc.
There are a fair few English familes close by which can work both ways.Whilst it is great to know someone who has the same background as youself it is very tempting to have conversations limited to 'what do you miss, what do you think of...etc , etc.!
We have a mixture of Kiwi friends (everyone is so nice!) and English pals so that seems to be the ideal.
I would definitely recommend the Kapiti Coast and do wonder why anyone would want to live anywhere else!
Please Pm me if you want any further details

Good luck with your move

Denise

Thanks for that Denise, it sounds ideal! OH is coming over for a recce next March (without me/kids) but the Kapiti coast will definiately be on our 'must see' places.

Thanks again! :nice1

[RayBCO]

Hello,

By the previous thread the Kapiti Coast sounds ideal...

Please could you tell me the commute times from the Kapiti Coast (did I spell that right?) to Wellington Central?

I may have a chance of a position there and have no idea of where to locate my family that would not break the bank in regards to renting a 3 bed place...

It sounds like it may be commutable from the Kapiti Coast, but can anyone give me a heads up on the commuting/locations near Wellington?

Thanks, Ray

[eternalkiwi]

Another option for a semi rural/small town feel could be areas like Belmont, Mangaraki etc which is part of Lower Hutt. Most of these area enjoy very nice landscape or harbour views and are approx 20-30 minute commute to the CBD.

There are also some village style suburbs around the greater wellington area.

Shawn

[ellenmelon]

miramar is nice. ive lived here for seven months and its pretty quiet and there seems to be lots of families around. there's a new world, petrol station, off licence,takeaways etc. everything you need and kilbirnie is a short drive for pak n save etc. 20 minutes max into town driving and on two bus routes too.

[beano_bill]

Hi,

We're currently in Naenae (ooh, did you hear the breath being sucked in by all those in the Welly region?:yes ) and wouldn't really recommend it - it certainly isn't the type of area we came here for. God, I sound like a snob....

As we both work in the CBD, we found the following useful when judging commutes:

http://www.tranzmetro.co.nz/

It also gives you ticket prices. Good luck with your search - if you end up going to Paraparaumu or Raumati, you need to drop into the boat shop on the corner.......they're really nice :D

All the best,

Beano

[incredible hulse]

Hello,

By the previous thread the Kapiti Coast sounds ideal...

Please could you tell me the commute times from the Kapiti Coast (did I spell that right?) to Wellington Central?

I may have a chance of a position there and have no idea of where to locate my family that would not break the bank in regards to renting a 3 bed place...

It sounds like it may be commutable from the Kapiti Coast, but can anyone give me a heads up on the commuting/locations near Wellington?

Thanks, Ray Ray - officially the train takes 50 mins from Paraparam (last stop on the regular line). Been doing it for over a year and it's never made it on time but is pretty good and normally takes 55-60 mins, but recently been a bit hit and miss and sometimes takes upto 1hr 15. The trains run every 20 mins or so at peak times. Driving takes between 40-60 mins depending on time of day.
A nice 3 bed rental would cost around 280-400 per week I would guess.

[JoanneG]

Thanks for raising this question Twig - I was doubting that I would like Wellington seeing as I hate the wind and I'm a rural girl!

I really like the look of Raumati and looking on www.open2view.com and Google Earth has convinced me even more.

Beach and schools all close by - heaven! Plus, my OH says 40 minutes is just fine!

Very useful replies - and it sounds so friendly too. :nice1

[incredible hulse]

Raumati is very nice - two little "villages"; Raumati Beach and Raumati South. We ended up just outside Paraparam in a lifestyle development (just down from the Boat shop Beano!) but my first choice was a beach house in RB. Couldn't strech to the 1.5 mill they were asking though ! There are 2 state kindies there, 2 primary/junior schools and 1 college. The kindy and school's are very good - not sure about the college. Also some cracking cafe's, pub, and few local shops.
There is talk of putting in a station in Raumati also in the next 3 years

[gpbenton]

Metlink has timetables and plans routes for buses and trains

http://www.metlink.org.nz/section10.php

[jess]

Just a heads up if you are looking to buy a home on the lovely Kapiti Coast. They're supposed to begin construction of the Western Link Rd. next year. Some north/south roads to the west of the SH1 from Raumati South up to Waikanae will be affected by it - higher traffic expected on them after completion. Just something to know before you buy. The local council (http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/) behind Coastlands can answer questions.

[Carol]

A word of warning.....
(just been talking about it at lunchtime)

A friend of mine was telling me that Doctor's surgeries in Kapiti are now at "critical" point - with too many people for too few doctors.
Closing lists for many surgeries are closed.....

Same with Whitby and Mana. (Porirua area)

Terrible really if it is true...... maybe some of our new Kapiti residents can confirm?

[jess]

Carol - really dumb American question here :o, but by doctors' surgeries do you mean doctors' offices - general practitioners? We started seeing a doctor here recently, and it was no problem. Just called and made an appointment for the next day.... Or do you actually mean surgery - operation - in which case I have no idea.

[Carol]

Hi Jess..... no I meant general practitioners....that's great if you got straight in. Maybe not as bad as I've been lead to believe.

It must be awful if you cant get onto your local office's list.
Apparantly it is not a legal obligation of the local office to accept new patients if they are considered "full" and therefore wouldnt be able to offer a reasonable service.
.......I didnt know that!

The Whitby office is definitely closed to new patients - and dont have a waiting list as they are already over-subscribed.
As is Mana apparantly.

[jackie m]

Hi
We are in Paraparaumu Beach we phoned the health service number to register with a Doctor in December they said we would get a call in a couple of weeks which we did & are now registered in Raumati which is a 10 minute drive. In the mean time Team Medical at coastlands will take any emergencies or illness. They are very helpful actually had the childrens injections done there when we first moved here in October no hassle at all so hope that will help.
Jackie

[jess]

Yet another dumb question -- we go to that Team Medical Jackie mentioned, and they've been great. My OH and I see the same doctor there and like him. Never have trouble getting an appointment the few times we've called. But we are not registered. What's the difference with being registered? I asked our dr at Team Medical and he said not to worry about it - we could come in any time. But is there a benefit to us registering somewhere? Sadly, I've been here a year and don't know. :o

Sorry to be getting off track.

[sizzlingbadger]

If you're registered with a doctors it usually means cheaper fees than if you're only casual, not really sure of any other benefits other than that :nice1

[incredible hulse]

A word of warning.....
(just been talking about it at lunchtime)

A friend of mine was telling me that Doctor's surgeries in Kapiti are now at "critical" point - with too many people for too few doctors.
Closing lists for many surgeries are closed.....

Same with Whitby and Mana. (Porirua area)

Terrible really if it is true...... maybe some of our new Kapiti residents can confirm?
Hi Carol, We were on the waiting list in Paraparm for a doctor for 10 months. I think the list was close to 500 people at the time (April 2006). We got in evetually as I think a doctor came over from the UK so they had more places; I think the immediate shortage has been reduced for the meantime beacause of this. In the interim we used the surgery in Mana as we had registered there when we first arrived as we were based in Plimmerton and my wife was 5 months pregnant, and Team Medical for emergencies (although this isn't a cheap option)

[jess]

If you're registered with a doctors it usually means cheaper fees than if you're only casual, not really sure of any other benefits other than that :nice1 Thanks. :)