[Iain & Liz]

Hi,

I'm looking for info ( any info) on Christchurch! I have been offered a job with a local company in Sydenham but am finding some information difficult to find.

We (me,my Wife and 2 young boys) are hoping to arrive in Christchurch sometime in November we intend staying at Meadow park Holiday Park for a couple of weeks while we find somewhere good to rent. We have been looking at some of the real estate sites for Christchurch and some of the houses LOOK great, but what we are after is expert local knowledge that can tell us all about a few suburbs of the city, ie local ammenities, schools (are eldest is coming up to primary school age) and a sense of community. Also any other information on Christchurch would be fantastic.

P.S is Christchurch an easy city to get around with out a car? (my Wife doesn't drive).

Thanks Dave
:nice1

[Moorf]

You need to speak with Nicky (Kiwi on this board). She can tell you everything you need to know about Chch and can also help you with the relocation.

You could PM her.... :nice1

[veronica]

can't answer the school thing except to say the estate agents will tell you which is a good school zone, (house prices tend to reflect it too) drop some an email and ask.

Chch is an easy place to get around without a car. The bus services are good and cost $2.00 from most parts of the suberbs ($1.50 if you have a prepaid card) and its an easy city to walk in too. There is also a tram that does a circuit of the city and for the vast sum of $12.50 as a resdident you get to use the ticket for a year. Feel free to contact us when you get here.

[kiwi]

Hi,
here is a list of some areas...
The Good

NORTH
Waimari Beach (N/E)
Burwood
Redwood
Casebrook
North Shore
Avondale
North Brighton

SOUTH
Cashmere
Huntsbury
Murray Ainsley
Beckenham
St Martins
Halswell

WEST
Ilam
Russley
Merivale
Fendalton
Burnside

EAST
St Andrews Hill
Redcliffs
Mt Pleasant
Sumner
Scarbourgh

----------------------------
Not So Good

EAST
New Brighton
Aranui
Linwood
Bromley

SOUTH
Waltham
Sydenham
Spreydon

EAST
Addington
Upper Riccarton
Hornby

THE... CITY
Most of it!


meadow park is a bit of a dive. (sorry, but it is!) I wouldnt want to be there on first getting to chch if I didnt drive. How much are they charging you a night? I can probably find you a decent holiday house for the same price, and it will cost you a yorkie bar!

Let me know if you want me to interfere!!!

Tell the wife about our kiwi koffee mornings that she is invited too!!! (see general chat thread)

Nic

[Moorf]

Hope there is a coffee morning in a couple of weeks time... woohooo, I can say "see you in a fortnight" now!!

:clap

[kiwi]

ABSOLUTELY!!!!

There is actually a dessert night for you too!!! How was Italy?
Nice to see you back,
getting excited?
Nic

[kiwi]

Dave, just had a thought as I was at the 'helicopter park' at Parklands and thought "this would be a great suburb for the Mrs, cos it is like a village" and as you have really young kids, it would be excellent...no good for teenagers.

There is a great school (parkview) and a kindy and a helicopter park! and a shopping centre and a bus to town..but you wouldnt need to leave cos everything is there. Even a forest for bike rides, which leads to the beach.

Value for money I think it is a great suburb, rents are about $220-$300 and if you have to be stuck somewhere..why not there! QE2 is a 10 min walk and there is also the golf course 5 mins away.

Another good suburb for non drivers is St Martins, another village like atmosphere and not too expensive (compared to Sumner) and right near sydenham. (5 min drive) 4miles from town. No one goes to town though cos we all have malls in the suburbs, only tourists use town for shopping.

off to sunbathe...must be 30 in the shade today!! nearly.. spring has sprung...

nicky

[Moorf]

30 in the shade!!!! Argh,,, re-writing packing list....!!

[kiwi]

yeah, wouldnt that be nice?!
more like 18...but we can dream, bring the jumpers..still 2 deg at night
Nic

[Slatch]

My partner an I have been wanting to migrate, but to somewhere that speaks English with a similar lifesyle and therefore came up with NZ or Oz. I think because we still want and need to keep working Oz would be to warm an therefore NZ came to the forefront being a generally similar lifesyle, yet hopefully an improvement to our current....

But, the underlying factor is "Where in NZ should we live", as this affects where we need to look if we come over for a short stay or just sell up and go.

After searching the internet for 6 months now, moving between the two islands, I have come to the conclusion that Christchurch, or that region of Canterbury, sounds the most appealing as its not too rural and not as busy as Auckland, the climate would be ideal as it would be a slight improvement to the UK, and as far as jobs are concerned, there should be something for a structural engineering draughtsman like myself and something to keep the missus entertained. Also the property market seems within budget.

Could anyone tell me if the following link give an accurate account of Christchurch?
http://www.nz-immigration.co.nz/christchurch/

And would my 6 months surfing be in vain or are conclusions something like? :roll:

[kiwi]

Slatch, you are on the right track!

Good choice mate, and engineers are wanted here. (Dynamic controls keeps poaching UK people...I have a mate who works there and 2 people off the forum have ended up there..they are engineers ...not sure what type)


It is a magic city (especially today....20 deg and NO WIND! yay!)

Look forward to welcoming you when you get here. (dont pay nz immigration...you can do it yourself..will you be here for the BBQ in Nov?)

I had a phone call from Dave (above) on my mobile..how cool is that!! First time anyone from the UK has rung me, I felt honoured!
Anyway, everyone, he is sorted and out of that holiday park...in a nice home with views of the ocean..much nicer!!!

Nicky

[Moorf]

Kiwi - Dave didn't tell you he reversed the charges :laugh :laugh

[Slatch]

[Look forward to welcoming you when you get here. (dont pay nz immigration...you can do it yourself..will you be here for the BBQ in Nov?)]

NZ immigration is just one of our web references, had no intention of paying anything just yet......learnt that parts of NZ may not be as rosy as the image the govt paint. This has made us wary and feel we need to visit before just packing up and jumping on a plane.

Still in early stages, looking at maybe next year, but I'll certainly bring some biscuits for next time. :D And if we decide Christchurch is the somewhere to live, I can fill in the EOI form.....which leads me onto my next question:

Can anyone tell me roughly, how long does the process take from sending the EOI form to receiving an Invitation to Apply for residence, applying for residence and assuming all is well, being granted a Residence Visa and Permit. Plus how long the visa lasts before having to re-apply?

[veronica]

Residence visa doesn't have to be reapplied for. Just that if you are out of the country for an extended period of time it becomes invalid. Not sure what the period of time is but its a long while and someone on here will know.

[Iain & Liz]

Too right I reversed the charges :angel
I prefer dealing with people rather than machines they confuse me!!


Thanks to Kiwi and all the others for the help it is very useful.

With regards to just selling up and jumping on a plane, that is exactly what we are doing! I feel a litlle insane for binning, giving away or selling everything we have on the hope that nzis wont tell us to leave in two years. These things have got to be done.

Hoping to land in November can't wait :cool

[Slatch]

Thanks for the replies......

Dave, Christchurch on a whim? If so why Christchurch?
Have you gone the skilled migant route? Do you or anyone else know how long the process takes? Is it dependant on whether you have a job offer?

Sorry, maybe I should start a few topics :oops: Just wanting a timescale to figure out a suitable time to go/fix a date.

[Iain & Liz]

Why not!!

We wanted to go the the South Island, and liked the idea of Christchurch.

I do have ajob offer with aChristchurch based company, but this is not compulsory if going down the skilled migrant road. I have just submitted my EOI but I am also applying for a work visa at the same time to allow me to get to NZ quicker. With regards to time scale not sure I think I read somwhere it can take a year between submitting an EOI and recieving a visa (dont take this as gospel). Lots of research is the only answer. it is a daunting task.

I have found two books really useful, Living and Working in New Zealand by Mark Hempshell, And Live and Work in Australia & New Zealand by Dan Boothby And Susan Kelly.

Dave
:nice1

[jesselyn]

Have you gone the skilled migant route? Do you or anyone else know how long the process takes? Is it dependant on whether you have a job offer?
Sorry, maybe I should start a few topics :oops: Just wanting a timescale to figure out a suitable time to go/fix a date.

http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=85

i dunno if this will help...

jes :angel