dangermouse
5th May 2007, 10:57 PM
Hi again,
We arrived in NZ in February and have been on a none stop rollercoaster ever since.
We have been very busy (house/job/car/schools/nursery hunting) since arriving in Wellington and internet time has been short so the poor old forum has taken a back seat.
Well we are now all sorted and back:D
We spent the first six weeks in Newtown (pretty central) in a furnished rental (dirty and with the odd resident mouse) and would have flown home if that was an option. We have now found a lovely rental (not cheap) in Korokoro which is in the western hills above Petone (20 min drive 12 min on train to CBD).
The kids are in school we both have jobs, Alison started pretty much as soon as we got here as her job was what got us here.
It took a while for me to find work, which was ablesssing really as trying to get a nursery place for a child under 2 is a nightmare.
The wheels of industry move very slowly here, the agencies are very promising but lacking on results.
I am now working for the NZ Fire Service as a training designer (not putting out fires). I found the job on Seek which is a really good place to start. Since starting work a few other potential employers have raised their heads above the parapit so watch this space because the job with the Fire Service is on a 12 month contract which I find a bit scarey, shame really as they are a nice bunch to work with.
The next job is to try and find a permanent home, we like Korokoro as it has a villiage feel to it, has great views over the harbour but is still close enough to the city.
We have tried to do a bit of exploring during the odd day we are not busy and have done: Island Bay (lovely beach), Wellington zoo (well worth a visit with kids), Botanical Gardens (take the cable car from CBD), Castle Point beach (amazing lagoon), Kapiti coast (great beaches about an hours drive).
We hope this thread is of some help to those still mulling over the idea of coming over and those who are nearly here.
Words of wisdom: Don't expect it to feel like home straight away - however after 3 months it is starting to.:clap
John Alison Sally (13) Jacob (10) Lucy (1 1/2)
We arrived in NZ in February and have been on a none stop rollercoaster ever since.
We have been very busy (house/job/car/schools/nursery hunting) since arriving in Wellington and internet time has been short so the poor old forum has taken a back seat.
Well we are now all sorted and back:D
We spent the first six weeks in Newtown (pretty central) in a furnished rental (dirty and with the odd resident mouse) and would have flown home if that was an option. We have now found a lovely rental (not cheap) in Korokoro which is in the western hills above Petone (20 min drive 12 min on train to CBD).
The kids are in school we both have jobs, Alison started pretty much as soon as we got here as her job was what got us here.
It took a while for me to find work, which was ablesssing really as trying to get a nursery place for a child under 2 is a nightmare.
The wheels of industry move very slowly here, the agencies are very promising but lacking on results.
I am now working for the NZ Fire Service as a training designer (not putting out fires). I found the job on Seek which is a really good place to start. Since starting work a few other potential employers have raised their heads above the parapit so watch this space because the job with the Fire Service is on a 12 month contract which I find a bit scarey, shame really as they are a nice bunch to work with.
The next job is to try and find a permanent home, we like Korokoro as it has a villiage feel to it, has great views over the harbour but is still close enough to the city.
We have tried to do a bit of exploring during the odd day we are not busy and have done: Island Bay (lovely beach), Wellington zoo (well worth a visit with kids), Botanical Gardens (take the cable car from CBD), Castle Point beach (amazing lagoon), Kapiti coast (great beaches about an hours drive).
We hope this thread is of some help to those still mulling over the idea of coming over and those who are nearly here.
Words of wisdom: Don't expect it to feel like home straight away - however after 3 months it is starting to.:clap
John Alison Sally (13) Jacob (10) Lucy (1 1/2)