[nick w]

hi..we are seriously considering a relocate to to NZ within the next two years (kids finish college in graphic design and photography and media studies summer '09). I am an architectural technician (autocad) and wife is a medical receptionist. I have friends/family in Titahi Bay, Picton and Wanganui. Although we are in our forties, I feel our potential could offer NZ a good return and we could be much better off, if not financially then psycologically than remaining here. Questions for my ex pat colleagues...
1. Best location (provincial/large town) for best weather.
2. I know the opportunites are available for our qualifications.
3. Bugs apparent - wasps, flies, ants, midges (wife question).
4. How do the locals view UK nationals...I assume if we adopt their way of doing things and don't act the big 'I know better than you', then things are ok. We don't want to immerse ourselves wholly into an ex-pat community.
5. I have had interviews for placement here already and intend a 2-4 week recce later this year. Would hiring a car from auckland driving south be expensive, is it easier to fly or perhaps go by train? thanks nick

[willsken]

:nice1 hi..we are seriously considering a relocate to to NZ within the next two years (kids finish college in graphic design and photography and media studies summer '09). I am an architectural technician (autocad) and wife is a medical receptionist. I have friends/family in Titahi Bay, Picton and Wanganui. Although we are in our forties, I feel our potential could offer NZ a good return and we could be much better off, if not financially then psycologically than remaining here. Questions for my ex pat colleagues...
1. Best location (provincial/large town) for best weather.
2. I know the opportunites are available for our qualifications.
3. Bugs apparent - wasps, flies, ants, midges (wife question).
4. How do the locals view UK nationals...I assume if we adopt their way of doing things and don't act the big 'I know better than you', then things are ok. We don't want to immerse ourselves wholly into an ex-pat community.
5. I have had interviews for placement here already and intend a 2-4 week recce later this year. Would hiring a car from auckland driving south be expensive, is it easier to fly or perhaps go by train? thanks nick

I can't answer all the questions but.............

Best location depends on work. I'm a teacher and opted for Hawke's Bay, as the weather is lovely. Loads of other places with good weather but Hawke’s Bay has over a 1000 more hours of sunshine a year than London. Apparently!

Bugs - no more than I've noticed in the UK.

No bad feeling towards us being from the UK. Most people are just interested to know why we came.

There is good and bad here, the same as anywhere. I have however, found the reaction to us to be very positive. We have been made to feel very welcome and as a family we have been accepted and have settled really well.

Best of luck!:nice1

[movefromus]

1. Best weather....the warmer areas are generally in the more northern cities. Auckland's pretty good. New Zealand in general does get it's fair share of rain though (hence the rainforests in some areas).
2. Don't know about your job prospects.
3. Bugs - Having moved from NZ to the US I'd much prefer to live in NZ when it comes to bugs. We do get wasps and bees in NZ. Ants in New Zealand are not the bitey kind...mostly just little black ants and some teeny tiny red ones that don't bite to my knowledge and in my experience. We have pretty much no poisonous spiders...we have the Katapo Spider but it only lives in one specific area of the country. I believe sometimes red back spiders are seen (somewhat recently introduced I believe) but I've never seen one in NZ before.
On the topic of wildlife...New Zealand has no snakes, no bears, no large predatory animals (except the occasional shark)... no poison ivy (but you may not have that in the UK anyway).
4. Don't know as I haven't lived there for 8 years.
5. We rented a 7 seater van in April last year while on holiday and it wasn't cheap. I personally though would recommend driving if you have the time, etc. as it's a great way to see the beauty of New Zealand and to get a feel for the country. You can stop along the way and take in the sights.

Carly

[Sam B]

Nelson and surrounding area is meant to be a micro-climate with lots of sunshine. The weather's better than the UK anyway in NZ, no drizzle! Torrential rain, but plenty of sun. More sun than the Uk I think, and definitely better than Cornwall.

There are a lot of annoying flies, the odd cockroach but really bugs are not a big problem. More mosquitoes than in the UK and the bites itch more. Some beaches have sand flies that are REALLY annoying. But it's not a buggy kind of place.

Have had absolutely no bad feeling from kiwis, the place is inundated with Brits, especially round where we've settled, so they seem kind of used to us. Anyway, many kiwis have British relatives or have spent time in Britain. No probs!

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Can't argue with any of the above responses. Would reiterate the warning around sand flies. they're mostly near coastal areas (obviously) but they were a real pain in the proverbial for me when I got bitten by them (a lot) on holiday here last year. No sign of them in Hamilton, thankfully. We've had the odd praying mantis in the kitchen, but they're harmless and rather pretty actually, lovely shade of green.

I have certainly seen jobs for architectural technicians and AutoCAD bods (I used to do that a long time ago, hence I remember seeing them on the job sites).

Hawkes Bay is renowned for the supposedly best weather in NZ although Nelson tends to get upset at that claim. Both are lovely, Nelson a much smaller place of course. Both myslef and my OH loved Napier when we visited - beautiful art deco architecture, but there is little work there for an IT bod like me (not that I'm having muchluck thus far in Hamilton either !).

On that point the job hunting experience here is a mighty slow one, so if you come without a job, be prepared for a wait.

As pointed out, if you can drive around the country and enjoy the fabulous countryside en route. Flying between major cities is easy (but obviously pricey). Trains, forget it.

[incredible hulse]

Already been said but weather is great in Hawkes Bay, Nelson and also Bay of Pleny way. South of North Island isn't so great - I would say Welly is on a par with the UK but probably has more rain (mainly in Spring) and isn't as hot; but has a nice sunny and warm summer. Sand flies are a nightmare and are not confined to the beach !
Kiwis don't mind us Poms - I've had a few grumbles about taking jobs and increasing house prices but mainly in jest I think

[nick w]

thanks for that so far. I was already thinking hawkes bay, coromandel area. I had an old aunt that lived in new plymouth, but I understand thats heavy with the petrochemical industry. Hadn't considered nelson will check it out further. I was minded to do some archicad 3D modelling here before we went, so thats another string to the old bow. One last thing - my boys are halfway through college courses on graphic design and media studies at mo. Although I'd hate to disrupt them, if the opportunity came up beforehand I will be in a dilemma. Any thoughts on that appreciated.