[emilyw]

Hello!

I am a South African living in the UK at the moment and am moving to NZ in Feb 2008. I have never been to NZ before, this trip was supposed to be a recce, but we decided just to go for it and do it all at once!

My boyfriend and I are in our late 20's and are looking to go to Hawkes Bay. I've been offered a job at Hawkes bay hospital, so thats one less thing to worry about. Neil is in property.

Any advice on parts of Hawkes Bay to look into? From what I can see, it looks like an amazing place. We both love the outdoors, the beach and the sea. We're not into city life, but also don't want want to be in the middle of nowhere. Are we right in thinking that Hawkes Bay is a happy medium - maybe leaning towards the rural side!

Any advice on areas we can look into to buy/rent a place? What would you say is the average age in HB?

Lots of questions!!!

Thanks,

E & N

[kanatakiwi]

Hi again Emily and Neil and welcome.

First of all Hawkes Bay is a region, not a city or town. There will be plenty of forum folks in that area who can help you. Major cities are Napier, and Hastings.
If it's the Hawkes Bay Hospital you are talking about, that's in Hastings., although it serves the entire region including a health centre in Napier, and a few rural health centres in the outlying areas.

There are beautiful beaches all along the coast, so plenty of beach activities like surfing, swimming etc. , lots of outdoor activities, cycling,hiking, fishing, weather is mild compared to the rest of the country, and it is a major wine producing region for NZ., (good if you like wine :nice1 ) which makes it quite a tourist area.

You dont say where in the UK you are at the moment, but if its London, you may find Hawkes Bay (pleasantly) quiet. Napier has a population of about 60,000. It was rebuilt in the 1930's after an earthquake so the downtown is all art deco buildings. I think Hastings is slightly smaller and is quite close to Napier, so I think you could live in either town and commute to work.

As to your question about things to do, I think there are lots of young people attracted to Hawkes Bay because of the lifestyle, (active outdoors, beach etc). If you want some action you can easily head off to Taupo for the weekend, or even to Wellington.
take a look at : http://www.hawkesbaynz.com
Hope this helps
Gloria

[james the mechanic]

Hi Emilyw,
We love the bay I think it’s a happy medium ideally placed between Auckland and Wellington. Napier, Hastings and Havelock North between them have a population of around 150000 people (quite a lot by NZ standards) so it doesn’t feel that rural.
I would say Napier has a younger average age (I’d guess about 30 something) than Hastings or Havelock, in fact the Lonely Planet guide was in trouble earlier this year for saying…
HAVELOCK NORTH
“Five kilometres southeast of Hastings’ rural toil, Havelock North is a different kettle of fish (or vat of wine) altogether. Range Rovers and BMWs cruise the streets as bleached-blonde 50-something wine wives sip lattes in a prosperous village atmosphere. The towering backdrop of Te Mata Peak keeps egos in check.”
HASTINGS
“Hastings is a utilitarian agricultural town with tractors on the streets and little of the chutzpah Napier manifests so readily. A random scene: a shirtless young renegade drives his ember-red utility around and around Hastings’ main block, The Doors’ Light My Fire stuck on repeat, blaring from open windows, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lip… The question is, will Hastings light your fire?”
NAPIER
“A dignified, sunny, composed city, there’s the air of an affluent English seaside resort about the place. The focus rests squarely on Napier’s urban virtues: its much-vaunted Art Deco architecture is milked for every tourist dollar, while good-looking middle-agers who’ve had too much sun glide between cool cafés.”
I would agree with most of that however, I have yet to see a tractor in the town of Hastings! I would defiantly look at Naiper. If being in town or on the shore is not important to you look at suburbs like Taradale or Greenmeadows which are both nice. If the sea is important, look at Clive or Bayview although both may feel a little small/ rural.
I know there are forum members working at the Hawkes Bay hospital but I can’t think who possibly Sharon Thomas.
Willsken is in the Bay and Sharon Thomas is in Greenmeadows to name but a few and with a bit of luck we will be in Napier by February.
Hope that helped
James

[Lupin]

Hello!

I am a South African living in the UK at the moment and am moving to NZ in Feb 2008. I have never been to NZ before, this trip was supposed to be a recce, but we decided just to go for it and do it all at once!

My boyfriend and I are in our late 20's and are looking to go to Hawkes Bay. I've been offered a job at Hawkes bay hospital, so thats one less thing to worry about. Neil is in property.

Any advice on parts of Hawkes Bay to look into? From what I can see, it looks like an amazing place. We both love the outdoors, the beach and the sea. We're not into city life, but also don't want want to be in the middle of nowhere. Are we right in thinking that Hawkes Bay is a happy medium - maybe leaning towards the rural side!

Any advice on areas we can look into to buy/rent a place? What would you say is the average age in HB?

Lots of questions!!!

Thanks,

E & N

Just remember you can't really swim in the sea at Napier, but Ocean Beach and Waimarama aren't far. I disagree with LP's assessment of Hastings, while it might be a poor tourist destination it actually has some pluses for living in and some nicer suburbs. If you're going to work in the hospital then Frimley is quite nice and you could walk to work easily.

Hawkes Bay has a fabulous climate, relatively affordable housing (especially in Central Hawkes Bay), some beautiful beaches, gorgeous mountains for tramping, rivers for kayaking and a laid back friendly feel. It is pretty isolated from the rest of NZ though, but that has it's advantages and disadvantages.

If you have any specific questions about the area please ask and I'll see if I can help :)

[willsken]

Hawke's Bay is lovely and the weather is fantastic. Middle of winter and I'm looking out the window at fantasitc sunshine! It's been like that for the last few days. It does get cold here but the sun makes me smile!! :D

We live in a small town about half an hour from Hastings. It has everything we need on a day to day basis and we decided to live here as the housing is quite a bit cheaper than Napier. That was my first choice, followed by Taradale (sp) I love those places! Hastings has some lovely areas but I didn't take to it in the same way. Haverlock North is also a nice place, seems very English though. (Not a bad thing, just not what we were looking for)

If I was a in my 20s Napier would be top of my list.

[shakyle2906]

Hi Emily

We are living at Greenmeadows at present which is a lovely area, but moving back to Hastings in next few weeks as we both work over there.

Also, i work at the Hospital - what sort of job have you been offered ?? I am a booking coordinator. Its a nice place to work, the people are great there and very friendly.

I would say Greenmeadows, Taradale or Napier are nice places to live at, but also if you are thinking of working at the Hospital, then Frimley is another nice place to live at and walkable to the Hospital.

Please feel free to pm me.

Sharon

[bob_the_engineer]

Hi Emilyw, welcome to the forum, I’ll let you into a little secret, Clive.

The majority of the people there are old kiwi families, it seem rural but if you look closer there are three restaurants, bars, sports ground, swimming pool two grocery shops a café, a petrol station and an excellent school. You have access to the beach and the Clive river for water skiing (tuki tuki river is a lovely walk). Unlike Havelock North it is right between two cities so a 7-8 min drive will get you into the city centre of your choice. Oh an excellent fish & chip shop and a Chinese takeaway too. Almost forgot the bakery, the fishing shop, the carpenter (furniture) two mechanics and a furniture shop. I understand a supermarket is building there at the moment. It’s one of those places that you could afford to move to now, but in five years you may not!

Additionally its really really quiet, the sort of place a shift worker can sleep all day, and five mins down the road you can party all night (well to 9.30 in the week, but late at the weekend lol). I loved living there, I only moved because of work, but I still have many friends and a place to stay whenever I want to visit.

Sorry Sharon but (having lived there) I would say avoid much of Hastings, Green meadows and Taradale, I don’t know Frimley (never lived there).
Additionally I do have friends who work at the hospital and I’d agree, it does sound like a really really nice place to work.

Green meadows I found the houses were too close together, a problem for noise, and there are fewer amenities than you find in a village.
Tradable was nice, but the town centre seems to be attracting yobs from outside the area, it’s apparently the place to be!
Hastings town centre at night, well to be honest I found if a little scary and I’m a 30 something bloke who isn’t easily swayed! Weirdly enough it’s a completely different, and very pleasant place during the day.

Flat jacket on eh,,,,,,,,,, my pet hate in the area is Havelock, I don’t appreciate being looked up and down, just because I choose to roll out of my old car on a Sunday afternoon, sporting a couple of days growth on my chin and wearing my old shorts. I don’t want to waste money on a swish car and the latest outfit, I am however polite and respectful to everyone I meet. When I turn up scruffy looking, asking for nothing more than a quite sit-down and a cup of coffee in a café I don’t like to be glared at.

I don’t want to offend, but honestly, the locals are getting tired of it too, I know people who grew up there and (second only to the drunk teenagers that are the cause of all the “no alcohol in the street” sighs you see) the attitude you get there, just going around your business, is getting them down too. Well its just not very kiwi is it!

Maybe I’m overreacting, I can get on fine in the most conservative little villages in the UK, maybe it’s just the allowance for a little eccentricity but I was astonished by the snobby attitude.

Finally though, on the whole, Hawkes Bay is a lovely place, it has a lot of decent friendly people and it was a pleasure (no a privilege) to have lived there.


Bob

PS If I was a in my 20s Napier would be top of my list too.

[emilyw]

Thanks for all the great replies - been busy searching all the areas mentioned. Am loving the sound of Clive, looks like a great area to buy property as well!

Sharon thomas - I'm a physio.

Thanks for all the info!

Emily

[Bruckner]

No advice, just wanted to welcome you to the forum!

The Other Emily

[shakyle2906]

Thanks for all the great replies - been busy searching all the areas mentioned. Am loving the sound of Clive, looks like a great area to buy property as well!

Sharon thomas - I'm a physio.

Thanks for all the info!

Emily

Let me know if you decide to take the job and perhaps if you move over soon, we can meet up!

[emilyw]

one question i have at the moment:

i am travelling for 3 months before i get to NZ, leaving in oct 07. in order to get my work permit, i need to be registered with the physio council (which i am not as yet, i am waiting for it...) So i can only apply in aug/sep at the earliest, but not going to be able to send off my passport anywhere. how long does it take to get a work permit once you're in Nz? arriving early jan, and due to start work 05 feb. i've heard 2 weeks from someone?? if i do it in london, does anyone know how long that takes?

a bit of a long winded question....!

[shakyle2906]

one question i have at the moment:

i am travelling for 3 months before i get to NZ, leaving in oct 07. in order to get my work permit, i need to be registered with the physio council (which i am not as yet, i am waiting for it...) So i can only apply in aug/sep at the earliest, but not going to be able to send off my passport anywhere. how long does it take to get a work permit once you're in Nz? arriving early jan, and due to start work 05 feb. i've heard 2 weeks from someone?? if i do it in london, does anyone know how long that takes?

a bit of a long winded question....!

Hi
We were told it could be anything form a matter of days to a week or so over here in NZ. In the end , we got them over in UK as we werent able to ship any of our stuff over without a visa.
I think nearest one to Hawkes Bay is Palmerston North, which can be a 1.5 to 2 hr drive. Its a nice drive but may prove difficult if you dont know area.
Sorry cant help further, hope this helps in some way. Am sure someone will have been in same position as you and may be able to give you a more definite answer.
Look forward to meeting up.
Sharon
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