[nickbraddock]

Hi all,
I am looking at a job based in Auckland, I had not really considered Auckland as a possibility as I am from Cumbria and am not used to big city life. Having never been to NZ, can any of you out there tell me what Auckland is like and if it is possible to live out of the city and commute etc, if so, can anyone give me any nice areas to live that are in easy commuting distance, yet rural?? (probably asking for everything there!) The job may be too good to turn down but I don't want to regret moving to Auckland when I was originally looking at Christchurch/Wellington so any help/information would be appreciated.
Thanks
Nick :?

[toots]

Yes it is possible - it just depends on how much you like sitting in the traffic.

Anywhere on the north shore up to Longbay / Albany / Dairy Flats is worth a look. The Whangaparaoa is a bit too far unless you are travelling outside the rush hours.

Howick (SE of Auckland) is also very nice and has some good schools.

I'd say it's more important to get a really good job offer first on a decent salary and then rent for a while when you get here. It''s well worth it because you can really get a feel for the place after 6 months and can change your perceptions quite a bit.

A lot of people also don't seem to stay in their first jobs for long and move on after a few months, or return home to their own countries. If you haven't bought a place then you are so much more mobile.

[Michelle and Richard]

I would second Toots comment. I do love Auckland as a city it has some great suburbs. Go for the job with the salary to get you here and then decide where you want to live. Where your job is based in Auckland will dictate where you can live without spending hours in traffic.

Michelle

[leslie]

when i lived in nz the thing i didn't like about auckland was it felt like a small town rather than a big city!

[AliJax]

Hi All, Having never been to Auckland or NZ for that, Linda & I are looking forward to an experience unsurpassed.

We have lived in St Helens for over 10years & I grew up here in a small villiage and Linda in Wigan. BUT we have no qualms about moving to the other side of the world looking for a better life & If its not in Auckland where we are heading in TWO WEEKS then we'll find somwhere else.

You just need to have a stab at it. keep it up! by the way we're heading to Howick, Lindas work will be 15 mins to Manukau City & I dont know mine but I will be looking to get the ferry from Half moon bay to the City riding my Bike.

Good luck.
:nice1

[wayne]

I love Auckland yes it has major traffic problems at rush hours but a motorcycle cuts through that no worries,yes it has a seedy side with massage parlours and strip clubs,and members of biker gangs can appear menacing when they strut their way through shoppers.
But Auckland is still an amazing city but it feels more like home to me than home does

[Jenzilla]

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are moving to Auckland in 2 1/2 weeks! It's nice to hear that people like it. It's snowing, really windy and -9 Celsius, without windchill, where I am - north of Boston. I hope the weather gets better for the movers and the flight.

I've been lurking on this site for the last few months as our NZ plans have been progressing and I just wanted to thank everyone for all of their helpful information. It makes the whole move a little less scary.

Are there any others on this site from the New England area?

[toots]

Auckland is probably the best place to live and work in New Zealand.

Why? because
1. It's a thriving city and the facilties are good . It doesn't have the big city feel but you still know you're in the 21st Century.
2. It's more pleasant on the eye than Wellington and it's flatter.
3. There is lots of work here and there are also satelite centres around the city that generate a lot of job opportunties.
3. The climate is pretty good, though a bit wet at the moment it is supposed to improve in Jan/Feb
4. There are more good schools here to choose from. Many on the Shore are decile 10 and there are also some excellent fee paying schools.
5. Less risk of earthquakes.
6. We have the beautiful Hauraki Gulf and the Coromandel on our doorstep.
7. An excellent choice of beaches on both the west and the east coasts.

[Diny]

Hey Ali

Our best man and his wife live in Half Moon Bay on Pidgeon Mountain Road. It sounds like a magical land doesn't it? Actually it's just another section of mile after mile of suburbia. They go into the city every day to work via the ferry and say it's very quick and convenient. Not long now mate - here's to a good trip.

Toots - quote

"Auckland is probably the best place to live and work in New Zealand".

I guess if you like noisy cities, excesive traffic, street after street of take aways and souvenir shops, office blocks, shopping malls, and all the other usual attributes of every other city in the world, and not forgetting the endless suburb after suburb - then I guess your comment is pretty accurate.

Personally I can think of dozens of places which would go above Auckland on my list of 'best places to live in NZ'. Each to their own and good luck to all of us - wherever we may be.

Diny

[toots]

:yes I agree the city centre is a bit like that in places but it's possible to live in Auckland without living in the city.

Depends on where you work too but if you sit and have lunch at the pavement cafes on the Viaduct, look out at the harbour and at the million dollar boats you'll get a feel for what I mean.

It's still possible to have a few acres in Dairy Flat with some sheep and work in the city.

Some places in NZ are great for a holiday, or a weekend away, but I wouldn't want to live there.

Each to his/her own I guess :nice1

[Michelle and Richard]

I have to say Dinny that I dont recognise the city you are describing yes its a city but some of the suburbs have a lovely feel to them also to many of us Auckland is the only chance we have of making a go of it here. Toots is right many of the small towns are great but to live there, no way.

I lived in Leeds, now that was a bad city. I can walk on a beach with virtually nobody else 5 mins from where I live with a stunning harbour as a back drop. Give me Auckland over Leeds any day.

Yes traffic can be bad but I walk to work or have a 50 cent bus ride that takes less than 5 mins

It wouldn't do if we all wanted to live in the same place but for now Auckland gets my vote.

Michelle

[Diny]

Michelle

I can imagine that coming from Leeds would make Auckland seem great. I'm sorry if I souned like I was giving it a severe bashing - that was not my intention. I just have a dislike for any city for more than a couple of days. An urban life does nothing for me. I'm a farmers daughter, a born and bred country girl and very much a 'wooly back' at heart. I do however respect your affection for Auckland. No offence was meant.

Like we have both stated - each to their own.

:nice1

Diny

[Michelle and Richard]

Non taken Diny. I just love this place and it does depend where you come from and what you are used to.

The harbour looked lovely when I walked home from work 10 mins ago and everytime I see that view I know why we made this move. I spent 17 years driving 106 mile round trip to work bewteen Leeds and Manchester anything that Auckland can thow at me has to be better than that .

Happy Christmas

Michelle

[Diny]

Jeeze

106 mile round trip. That would do my head in !!!!!!!

I have to admit, I love the look of the harbour, especially when you're coming in from the north and you see the city ahead of you, and of course - all the sails.

Have a great Christmas - see you in early 2005 :hopeso

Diny

[Kim39]

Am glad there are positive vibes coming out in favour of Auckland as thats where we are heading hopefully early 2005. Looking to settle in Howick or surrounding suburbs. Diny i can understand where you are coming from, as i have seen Runcorn, where i live go from a small town into a BIG town, luckily for me i live just on the green belt that is left. You walk out of front door and bang its there, the canal and beyond that the rolling green fields, but for how long?
Hey you call yourself a woolyback, thought only people from Cheshire were called that. Well the true meaning of a woolyback is someone who moves from there original place of birth to another place. So Diny all you are is just a good old country girl.

Kim

[Diny]

Not so much of the 'old' !!!!!!

[toots]

We are looking to settle more permanently in a few months from now and Howick is on our list, mostly because it is closer to hub's work but also because the schools are said to be good there.

We were hoping to go down there and have another look but have been very busy just lately, hope to visit again during the holidays. Looks like there isn't property on the market so we'll have to get friendly with some real estate agents.

[leslie]

we have lived in barnes and putney, both south of thames in central london. there is something amazingly therapeutic about crossing water at the end of the work day. think my heart rate drops by half just walking the bridge span.

[nyscribe]

on February 13th for interviews after a week in Christchurch. I'm a journalist used to a big city but we've heard here that Auckland is wonderful. I hope to connect with those of you there already!

[Beach Kiwi]

on February 13th for interviews after a week in Christchurch.

I just figured out why your post seemed to start mid sentence - it's because you're using the post title field as part of your reply!

That's not a very common thing to see. :yes

[nyscribe]

hmmm...is this the way to go? hope so.

[Beach Kiwi]

^ Most people leave the 'Subject' field blank, as it isn't really necessary - in fact, I could never see the point of it at all. Sure, you need a 'subject/title' for a whole thread, but for each post? :? :mrgreen:

Anyway, a post will 'work' either way, so I guess it's no big deal. :nice1

[Timbo]

Mayor supports traffic congestion tolls for Auckland

03.02.05
By ELIZABETH BINNING


Tolls aimed at reducing Auckland's congested roads and motorways could be a reality within 10 years.

Transit has listed congestion charging as a possible "travel demand management" tool in its 10-year plan and Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard supports the idea.

The Ministry of Transport is also investigating it.

Mr Hubbard said charging motorists as a way of managing peak-hour traffic was used in many other places, including London and Singapore, and it was inevitable for Auckland.

"The technology is improving dramatically in terms of being able to do it, and we have got to the situation where ultimately we just can't provide enough roads for vehicles.

"Five years ago in Auckland we would have said that the right to drive a car anywhere on a free base was paramount, but I think Aucklanders are accepting the reality of congestion problems and the fact that we have to come up with imaginative solutions," said Mr Hubbard.

Transit acting regional manager Richard Hancy said congestion pricing was only one of several options for managing Auckland's traffic volumes, which were growing up to 4 per cent each year.

"It's certainly one of the possible tools ... we can use to implement travel demand management, but it's very, very early days yet in terms of the New Zealand situation."

Mr Hancy said congestion pricing could include tolling specific areas, such as charging motorists who entered the CBD, or targeting certain roads or motorways where charges could vary according to peak flows or congested sections.

The Government has also been investigating the feasibility of road pricing for the past year.

Mr Hancy said Transit would look further at the idea once the ministry's findings were available, probably towards the end of the year.

The chairman of the Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee, Joel Cayford, said the regional council was interested in learning more about congestion pricing.

However, it was not an issue that was "on the front-burner".

"We are supporting the provision of relevant information about how it might be applied in Auckland but it's not something that would happen quickly."

This is not the first time the idea of tolls has been raised for Auckland.

Transit is investigating road tolls to fund the Northern Motorway extension past Orewa to Puhoi.

Similar tolls already apply in Tauranga on the Route K highway, and were used to pay for the harbour bridge.

Last May, National Party leader Don Brash also raised the possibility of introducing electronic tolls and congestion pricing when he said National would complete Auckland's roading network within 10 years of coming to power.

Fixing gridlock

The Ministry of Transport is investigating congestion charges, Transit has listed the idea in its 10-year plan and the Auckland mayor supports it.

Charges could target specific areas of town or be restricted to certain roads or motorways and would be designed to encourage the use of public transport over cars.

Various forms of charging occur in Britain, Singapore, the US and Tauranga.

Traffic congestion costs Auckland about $1 billion each year.

[Moorf]

Hey Scribe.. saw a couple of job adverts for Journalists in the Christchurch Press this week!

I'd give them a call asap and get your CV to them.... :nice1

[Timbo]

Concerns about Auckland economy


Auckland Regional Council's Business and Economy report shows region entering its seventh year of expansion



5 April 2005

There are signs everything is not all rosy in the Auckland economy.

The Auckland Regional Council's Business and Economy report shows the region is entering its seventh year of expansion, with growth over 2004 up to 3.8 percent.

The fastest growing areas are the services industries - like Finance and Real Estate - with Construction in a very close second place.

Regional employment growth and wages are both up 3.3 percent.

Auckland's house prices have increased by 8 percent per year on average over the past decade.

Auckland's Chamber of Commerce says Auckland has had a good 12 months, but Chief Executive Michael Barnett says the report also highlights some concerns for the future, and things could take a turn for the worse.

He says migrant numbers are down, so the construction industry will slow down and that is likely to impact on retail spending.

Mr Barnett says new taxes like the fuel tax are also taking $100 million a day out of Auckland's spending power.

[Glenda]

Hi Nick,

Just sticking in my tuppence worth.

Auckland is a really big place and you did not actually say whether your job opportunity is in the CBD or in other areas. There is a lot of industry in other parts of Auckland and if your job is in one of these other parts then (depending where) you would sure to be able to find a rural area to live in.

:smile

[dave k]

Auckland is probably the best place to live and work in New Zealand.

Why? because

2. It's more pleasant on the eye than Wellington and it's flatter.
.


:laugh :laugh :laugh

You're joking.................right?







right? :uhoh







'Course you are.