[shelby]

Hi all, I'm currently in Buckinghamshire in the UK and myself and my husband-to-be are looking to move to NZ hoping for a better way of life. My question is where do people suggest the best place to move to?

Here's what I'm looking for ...

1) Good job prospects (I'm a legal secretary, hubby is a gym equipment service engineer)
2) Low crime rate - want to feel safe
3) Relatively fair house prices, not cheap cheap but not over expensive either
4) Good weather - not too windy not too rainy all the time
5) Close to an international airport
6) Close to a beach would be nice but not essential

If anyone can please help us out on this that would be great as I've heard such mixed responses I'm completely confused.

Liked the sound of Wellington until I read 'windy wellington', like the sound of Auckland until I heard about the crime rate and the traffic jams during the rush hour. Kind of leaning towards South Island and Christchurch but only know the weather isnt as good as the North and that it's like the UK weather but how much like the UK weather.

Am looking to come over to have a look at NZ this year but want to have at least 1 place set in my mind that we want to explore rather than do ALL the north and ALL the south.

Hope it all makes sense and someone can please help :nice1

[Jennispink]

Hi Shelby,
Welcome to the board:)

I' don't know if I can help on all counts but we are hoping to move to Manakau this year (I have a job offer, just trying to sell house here first and that's not too easy).

Manakau is 30 mins south of auckland so still has weather patterns similar, its reasonably close to the beach, I gather some people commute to Auckland from there so job prospects are expanded. I don't honestly know about crime rates but they can't be as bad as the UK.

Anyway, my choice was very much biased by the job offer but I hope you find what you're looking for

jenni

[benandclare]

Hi Shelby, we moved out here four months ago and love it in Christchurch.

The weather so far is very British in that it's changable but predominately better. The sun shines for a few days , we get some wind, it goes cloudy , smidge of rain then back to sun, we are into summer now and we've had temps in the low 30's on quite a few occasions. What has surprised me is it can very windy here too!!
There is crime here, but for the major ones, they do seem to be cleared up very quickly. Chch has a bit of a reputation for being a bit dodgy in the centre around the weekend, but we've not had any experince of that when we've been there.

Reckon Chch ticks all your other boxes :nice1

So welcome along to the rollercoaster ride and enjoy :D

[jackie m]

Hi Shelby

If you liked the idea of Wellington but not the wind then try Kapiti Coast where we are see this thread for some ideas maybe thread on kapiti
Depending if you need to commute. But have to say been here 2 winters & only seen snow on the Ranges so not as cold as UK in winter :D
At the end of the day its all down to preference maybe a trip to Lower North Island Wellington then over to the South.

Search in threads for areas you are interesting in & get some more helpful ideas.

Wishing all the best with what you decide. Ask away aswell this is what we are here for:yes

Jackie