[psh12001]

If you are considering coming to christchurch and need any help with anything , just ask ...... and ill do what I can to help you....
Paul

[Nicola]

Hi Paul

Have you been in Christchurch for a while. How are you finding life there.

Nicola

[Jo and Andy]

We are planning to come to Christchurch and would be grateful for all information, useful, petty, odd. I am sure you know what you mean.

Several people in the area have already been wonderful.

Thing I am after at the moment is style for a cv, as I must get my husbands done and then send it to some agencies for Sales Mangers in Christchurch.

Also what is the New Brighton area like to live, schools etc, crime.

It has been recommended to us by someone.

Thanks for any help, and hope you are enjoying yourself.

Jo

[Moorf]

Hi

This thread might be a handy resource for you with regards CVs...

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=566

The Brighton area is somewhere we are considering due to its great access to the beaches and it's reasonable property prices. Beachfront property is still relatively cheap but you will find that most of the larger properties on the front have been bought by developers and are rented out. This is because there are development plans for the Brighton area (mainly just north and south of the pier) which will make it a much more desirable seafront area than it is at the moment. Currently it reminds me of a run-down British seaside resort although why it hasn't flourished with its amazing beach is beyond me! Having said that, it does appear that these "Plans" have been in the pipeline for some time :roll:

Southshore is nice too and is an up and coming area and potentially a good investment as the properties in Sumner / Redcliffs and coastal hill areas become unfeasibly expensive.

North Brighton where the new estates are (up by Bottle Lake Forest) - full of modern houses and looks like Ramsey Street - great if that's what you like as the location is great!

Not sure on schools or crime for the area I'm afraid. Being a little run-down overall as far as I could see it may have a higher crime rate than other areas but that is just a "feeling" I got from the sorts of people milling around, the couple of dodgy looking bars and the rather delapidated houses dotted around (having said that, these houses are probably rented and a few do look like hippy hang outs!).

There are lots of different areas within Brighton - there's a golf course which properties around it, there's the seafront, the spit, the reserve etc etc so it's defintely worth a look-see :nice1 Sorry I can't be any more specific but it's an area we've only just started exploring ourselves :?

[veronica]

As a general rule of thumb (going by local opinion) and my own observations. New Brighton is tatty, the suburbs behind it Aranui and Bexley are not the best. South Brighton is better (I like it anyway) South Shore is even posher. Going North... North Brighton is OK and North Shore is too.

Of the east beach area Schools I know very little but we went to the primary school fair in South Brighton Area and it was really well supported, masses of families there, all the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves and the playground in the school fields would have put a lot of parks in the UK to shame. Good to see loads of kids on it using the monkey bars etc. Real mix of 'types' there too which I would consider a good thing but others wouldn't. The New Brighton Library is fantastic.

The big thing everyone says of the area is the wind, it can get blowy off of the ocean. I can never understand this as Sumner regarded as a desirable area, faces the same way and is only a couple of Ks away and nobody mentions this wind factor when talking about it.
Personally I would live in the area, Its got fantastic beaches and dunes but would keep a little away from the centre of New Brighton. As I don't know you I can't say if it would suit you. Best just gather info but don't, please, make up your mind until you get here.

[Moorf]

Good point Veronica... the wind really can kick up here in Sumner - to the extent that, as I watched out of the window the other day as the wind kicked up I watched our sun brolly rise 5ft in the air and come crashing down onto our BBQ - dented said BBQ and smashed brolly to bits.. and we're a block up from the shore!!

[shagen]

Hi Jo,

Take a look at this site. It gives a profile of the New Brighton suburb. THere are also profiles of other suburbs.

New Brighton Profile (http://www.propertystuff.co.nz/)

Not sure how accurate it is but you can use it as a gauge.

Hope it helps.

Shagen

[Jo and Andy]

It always amazes me how wonderful people are on this site and helpful. I feel that I will have made so many friends in New Zealand before I even get there.

Thanks for all the info
Veronica, Moorf, and Shagen

Don't worry when we come we will rent for a while and check out the areas, we will aslo have a good look when we book tocome over for interviews.

I hope all goes well and we manage to come, even though I get days when I wonder if it is the right thing to do, not being able to jump in the car and see family in 2 hours. Well sometimes the big picture takes priority.

I found a wonderful site on Christchurch the other day, but can I find it again, When I do I will post it.

Thanks again.