[corinnep]

Hi everyone!
My family and I have just been given our ITA, and have the dreaded medicals tomorrow, we hope to be in NZ in November...I want to make the experience as unstressful as possible for my kids, particularly my 7 year old who is worried about leaving her pals.
Does any one in Wellington have kids of a similar age who could chat to her on-line, or fancies being a pen-pal for a couple of months before we come over? Or is there anyone currently in the UK who is taking kids over to Wellington in the near future?
Also what have other recent immigrants got to say about family friendly areas to live in in Wellington?
Many thanks, Corinne.

[Sarah Edburton]

Hello Corinne,

We're hoping to move to Wellington very early January and we have a 10 year old and a seven year old daughter who would be more than happy to write to your daughter via the forum - I think you can send personal e-mails on here......

Sarah

[Pete & Angela]

Hi Corinne & Sarah,
we moved to Wellington from Norfolk in January this year with our two kids Levi (7 in December) and Holly (6 in December). They would both be keen to pass on their experiences and to email and become friends with anyone who wants to know more about life in Wellington from a kids point of view. They both really love it and have settled here really well which was a big relief for us as that made the transition much easier.

We arrived during the school holidays and lived in Petone to begin with. Now we live in Khandallah still in rented and it is a great area for families but quite expensive to buy in. The school the kids go to is really good and they are doing much better than they were in the UK. Lots of facilities around like a free open air swimming pool in the local park in the summer, lots of clubs and activities, sport, Mt Kau Kau to walk up if feeling energetic, convenient to everything and only a 10 min or so drive to the CBD for all that has to offer. We want to stay in this area so that the kids remain at the same school.

Having said that there are nice areas to live in all around Wellington. You'll definitely find somewhere that suits you if you take your time to have a good look around and start to get to know the place.

Pete & Angela

[irishliz]

We arrive in Wellington on 28th with a 7 year old boy, 5 year old boy, 3 year old and one year old. Pete and Angela - Khandallah is one area we are interested in viewing and I wonder which school your children are at. I would also be interested in knowing about the child-friendly areas. Our 7 year old is terrified and would certainly be interested in an online chat but we are without computer from next Friday until we find a rented property.

Best of luck with the medicals.

[Pete & Angela]

Liz,
our kids are in Khandallah school which we rate highly. The other local school Cashmere Ave also has good reputation. We believe that they are getting a better standard of teaching than they were in the UK. They are encouraged in a very positive way to think for themselves, to be effective team members and to appreciate others points of view. Only thing about the school is that it has to constantly fund raise. This gives plenty of opportunity for involvement but also means they expect a voluntary contribution of $250 per child each year. The kids also have to buy their own workbooks and pencils etc.
The whole of Wellington is pretty child friendly in our opinion. There are always things on for children, especially in school holidays. Lots of parks mostly with good standard of play equipment &/or skateparks or cycle tracks. We have been to open air plays, festivals, craft workshops, street fairs etc. There are good beaches within fairly easy reach, sports activities (just back from their first time skiing), clubs, libraries, cinemas and eating out with kids is no problem. If you let us know what your concerns are or what the kids would particularly like or miss if it were not available we will do our best to answer you.
Our kids have settled in well and found it easy to make new friends and have a lot more activities and interests than they did in the UK. We even had a whole week recently where we weren't asked once if they could watch TV!

Pete & Angela

[irishliz]

Thanks Pete and Angela.

Our son is nervous just because it is something new and different - as are we. We move out of our house here on Friday and into mil until we fly on 24 October. OH has a post for 2 years and we felt it was an opportunity too good to miss.

Maybe see you all in Welly?

[Pete & Angela]

Liz,
it would be great to meet up when you are here. Do you know yet where you are going to be staying? Send us a PM when you can and we will get together. In the meanwhile if you get to use a PC from mil's please send us any questions that we might be able to help with. What does the OH do by the way?

Pete & Angela

[andreamatt]

Hi everyone

We moved out here in late June, now living in Karori and enjoying life. William (9) and Martha (7 in December) are at Cardinal McKeefry school in nearby Wilton - all very friendly / family orientated.

Anyone interested in meeting up for picnics in / around Wellington when the weather warms up a little? Let me know,

Andrea Matt William and Martha

[Pete & Angela]

Glad you are all enjoying it. We would be up for an outing when the weather is a bit better. Feel free to PM us or we will do the same to you.

Regards,
Pete & Angela

[irishliz]

Hello all

I have booked us into the Quest appartments for two weeks and hope we can get a rental fairly quickly. Now officially offline but using net in library - not able to do after next week as will have the younger children with me. We will be in touch once we hit Wellington via internet cafe and would love to meet up for picnic.

All of us are shattered after a very emotional move last week but excited at next step. Can't wait.

Just nervous we won't get rental in time for our stuff - can any of you recommend a good rental agency in Khandallah or Kaori, please.

My OH is a civil servant.

[IanW99]

We used Guardian First National (http://www.guardianfirstnational.co.nz/index.cfm?propertyAction=rental) to find our rental.

There is also Trade Me (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Property/RegionListings.aspx?search=1&mcat=0350-5748-4233-&sidebar=1&132=FLAT&selected135=&selected136=&134=15&135=&29=&122=0&122=0&59=0&59=0) and realestate (http://www.realestate.co.nz/rental/all/wellington)

Sure there are some others.

Ian

[andreamatt]

Hi Liz (and all moving to Wellington in the near future)

We have a rental property through Quinovic (on Kent Terrace). We are trying to find tenants to the property over asap really. The lease is until July 2008. It's in the Wellington suburb of Northland, easy flat access, 3 beds and a garage and garden. Let me know if you're interested.

In the meantime hope it all goes well with the move... you'll love Welly!

Andrea

[Pete & Angela]

Hi Liz,
when we first came to live here we used Quality Serviced Apartments initially, staying in a fully furnished and serviced house in Petone which was a really good start for us. The only issue for staying longer with them was the cost. It was very difficult to coordinate a rental with the arrival of furniture etc especially as customs clearance happened only when they were ready. When we started to look for a rental we found they were going very quickly. We had an added issue that we needed a place which would accept our dog. We found private ads in the Dominion Post to be good source. Luckily when we took ours on we continued the furniture rental from the previous tenant until ours arrived and just bought a few cheap bits to tide us over. We would recommend that you check any rental out before signing up for it. A lot can be damp or cold if they don't get sun or access could be quite difficult especially with kids. If you want any help with this when you get here please get in contact and we will be more than happy to help.

Pete & Angela

[irishliz]

Andreamatt - might possibly be interested but can you post link to details. And wonder as well why you are moving on?

Cannot wait now to get there - Pete and Angela we thought about booking the serviced apartments as they can be flexible - our stuff is sheduled to arrive 4 weeks after we land but we could actually get it in two weeks earlier if we decide this week? Not sure what to do.

Thanks all for encouragement.