[Supadolphin]

Hi everyone

Thought I'd better introduce ourselves after lurking through the forums for a few months now and I would just like to say how helpful it's been to us and thanks to all the members for sharing their experiences on the web. We are a family of 3 from the North West of England (Bolton) and my OH is leaving at the end of May to start his new job in Hamilton. I am staying on with my daughter whilst she takes her exams and (hopefully!) see our house sale through. It's been great to read everyone's stories and encouraging to see quite a few going to Hamilton and settling in well. I hope to be able help others starting out on the immigration rollercoaster with the experience we've gained so far. I had some medical issues i.e. high BMI (that old chestnut!)and abnormal chest x-rays (which came as such a shock) but it all came good in the end and we got our PR 3 weeks go:clap Just can't wait to get there there now and get on with our lives:)

Debs

[lockstock]

Congratulations! Good luck with everything. Let us have the info on Hamilton when you get there. It's one of the places we're looking at. Hope all goes well for you all.

[speckythecky]

Congrats on the impending move and welcome to the forum. Where about in Bolton are you from, I have lived in Bradshaw, Harwood, Tonge Moor and Astley Bridge.

[Supadolphin]

Hi Specky

We're in Egerton and used to live in Sharples ...what a small world eh!

Debs

[Sam B]

Hi Debs

Welcome to the forum. I live near Hamilton (Cambridge) and lots of others have moved here recently, It's a really nice place to live. Good luck with it all!

Sam

[zardell]

Hi and WELCOME to the forum.

Julie

(ex Blackburn. Just over the A666!)

xx

[pinkpiggy]

Hi Debs

We've been in Hamilton for just a week but so far love it. We're staying in a Motel at the mo but move into a rental next week. If you need any info just let me know.

[M&J]

Hi Deb

Were off to Hamilton in 6 weeks. Good luck with it all and if we can help with anything once we are out there, just shout.

Cheers

Jo

[Supadolphin]

Thanks for all your responses and I may wish to call on some members for some info on rentals etc. in Hamilton if that's okay i.e. the areas to avoid. My OH is sorted for the first 6 weeks as his employer has a rental booked for him and car sorted etc. but we obviously have no idea what this will be like with a view to staying in it for a few months when we all arrive:confused: .

We also quite like the look of Cambridge (Sam B, you're a great ambassador for Cambridge!) and I believe the high school is quite good there too.

Once again thanks for your responses and it's nice to hear from the North West peeps too. Really excited now and can't wait to go:)

Debs

[Sam B]

Hey, I'm swelling with pride! Ambassador ... yes, I like it! All the schools in Cambridge seem good. I've heard the High School has a good reputation.

[Kim39]

So another North Westerner drops into the Waikato:raebanana (i'm from Runcorn)

Let me say firstly Welcome to our World. So you are looking at Hamilton, well done. Have you thought about settling outside Hamilton, i know SamB is out in Cambridge, which is nice, but also take a run down SH3 into Te Awamutu. Its a nice little place, similar to Cambridge with a good expat community.

Take a look on the meets section and have a think about going along to the NW meets down at the Mascrat Manor in Warrington. Its a good way to get to know folk in a similar position and share the same passion. As i am one of the founding members of the meet, i can say they are well worth it.:yes

Good luck with it all, and maybe see you this side soon.

Kim

[Sam B]

Yeah, whatever Kim ... I know your game - you're after the title of ambassador for T.A. aren't you? Cambridge rules!

Ambassador - wiz zeze Fererro Rochez you are really spoiling uz...

[Oliver]

Hi everybody
I will start a separate thread outlining how things went with my move here, but just a short response to this thread by saying that I made it safely to Hamilton last week! I have now been here for 5 days and am in the process of settling in well! Hamilton is great and I'm happy that I decided to move here. Later!
Oliver

[Supadolphin]

Hi Kim

Yep, we're also really keen on TA (bit different from Runcorn, I'll bet!). There's some nice properties there at a reasonable prices but it really will depend on high schools and our daughter likes the look of Cambridge High School. She also fancies the bright lights of Hamilton of course with her being a teen (hehe). I'm sure things will pan out much better when we get there and get a feel for the Waikato area generally. Wondered whether anyone out there has any experience of the Waikato uni?

Paula, (Pink Piggy) thanks so much for your response to my pm. You've given me some leads on agents I hadn't known about before which is really helpful. Good luck with the move next week in your new rental and let us know how you go on.

Hi Oliver,

Good to hear you've arrived safely and looking forward to the full run down on Hamilton when we you get a mo - I will be glued of course!

I know, I sound all chipper but I'm not really - dreading OH leaving for NZ in a couple of weeks without us and feeling totally stressed with it all:( (leaving party this weekend so will have a couple of these:cheers).

Debs

[Oliver]

Hi Debs
I work in Waikato university. If you need any info, just PM me.
Regards
Oliver

[Kim39]

Hi Debs
I work in Waikato university. If you need any info, just PM me.
Regards
Oliver

Oliver, is there are Waikato Uni in Port Elizabeth, if not change that location:yes

Kim

[JoanneG]

Hello fellow Northerners! I was born and bred in sunny Blackpool.

Hamilton seems very popular - if it wasn't for this forum I might have overlooked Hamilton and Cambridge but they're now on my list for our visit.

Best of luck to you and your daughter (exams - yeuch!)

[lockstock]

We're really drawn to the Waikato and Hamilton/Cambridge now. What are the schools like (from a teacher's point of view!)

[Sam B]

The schools in Cambridge are fab. If you get in quick and send an email to Goodwood school (my children's school) they have 2 new vacancies just come up. This is pretty rare as no-one has left for 6 years. That's if you're looking for a teaching vacancy that is.

I have heard nothing but good about the other schools in Cambridge either, well mixed about Leamington School but I have heard it copes well with children with special needs. I don't know about Hamilton Schools though. I think it varies according to the area. Check out the ERO reports on them.

[colandros]

We're from just over the hill in rossedale.
seems like therea lot from this way looking to move to nz.
we're also looking at the hamilton/cambridge area.
for those who are already there what is your opinion of
morrinsville and te awamutu.
how do these places compare to cambridge?

[Sam B]

Te Awamutu looked nice when we went, but I bet Kim will give you more info as he lives there. Bit smaller than Cambridge I think, but similar feel. Morrinsville is dominated by 2 very large dairies and really is the centre of dairy farming. Again, has quite a nice feel, perhaps not quite as bustling and not as many cafes as Cambridge. Both a bit cheaper for houses I think, Morrinsville perhaps more so than T.A.