[b&k]

Ok, when I first thought about emigrating to NZ, I thought Auckland would be the place for me but I am starting to come round to the idea of living in Wellington instead. As a long-time London resident, I want to be in a vibrant city but also want to improve my quality of life.

Please help me by telling me everything great about Wellington. I'm not interested in how it compares to anywhere else just the really good things about living in the capital.

[Potato]

I don't think anywhere in NZ is quite as "vibrant" as London. For comparison, Auckland is twice the size but has one-eighth the population of the English capital. Diffuse.

Wellington is "compact", there is quite a lot going on (especially at this time of the year), the views are outrageously beautiful for a capital city, public transport is quite decent, no chance of air pollution hanging around in winter since it'll get blown away :) , good range of outdoor activities quite nearby (Tararuas, Ruahines, the Wairarapa etc), ferry to the South Island, "character" of the place (squished onto hills overlooking the CBD and the harbour), Wellingtonians, Woof Woof Ruff signs, Te Papa.......many other people know heaps more about the place than me.

[mickandjean]

We're going to Wellington - I start work there on 3rd March.

I've lived in London on and off for 20 years and I've enjoyed it greatly - I met my wife there and pretty much all my friends are there. But one of our strongest motivations to leave was that we have a new baby (6 months old - and another on the way!!) We asked ourselves what was on offer in London for kids and we were struggling for an answer.

Why did we choose Wellington? Well, it has everything really. It is the capital city so is relatively cosmopolitan (though not in comparison to London), has museums, bars, cafes etc. But at the same time is very compact unlike Auckland which sprawls over a vast area. It also has a good deal of well paid work - I'm in IT and finding a job there was very easy. It's also surrounded by fabulous scenery and countryside and is great for a outdoors lifestyle - not something London is great for.

On our budget I'll be able to walk to work in under 30 minutes, and even less by bus. My wife will be able to go to the beach with the kids, or to the many parks, or the museum. When they are older she will be able to get a decent job (she is a teacher).

The "feeling" we have from the city is great - and as a bonus, statistically Wellington gets almost twice as many hours of sunshine than London!

We just can't wait.

Mick, Jean, Daisy and Tadpole

[Alan]

Mick what area of Wellington are you going to be living in and are there any other areas you would recommend?

[wes]

Hi Mick

What area if IT do you work in?

I currently work as an IT manager, with an MCSE and ITIL managers certification aswell as loads of experiance of Citrix, lotus Notes etc.. Is there a lot of call for these kind of positions in Wellington?

My wifes a nurse so we can get a PR via her i just wondered what the market was like?

I've just back from NZ and really got the bug!

Thanks

Wes

PS Sorry to hijack someone elses thread!

[Potato]

The "feeling" we have from the city is great - and as a bonus, statistically Wellington gets almost twice as many hours of sunshine than London!



Wellington averages 2100, London 1400 hours. :)
(But a Wellington winter is more than twice as sunny as a London winter)

[Chiba]

I currently work as an IT manager, with an MCSE and ITIL managers certification aswell as loads of experiance of Citrix, lotus Notes etc.. Is there a lot of call for these kind of positions in Wellington?


Yes, definitely. There's something of a "good people" shortage, as far as I can tell. I'm also in IT, but a development manager. If I were you I'd get your PR sorted and then get yourself down here for an interview trip. Having PR is a big deal - makes you a far easier hire.

We arrived in Welly at the end of November. Can't believe they let us live here! :)

[Wonderbob]

Please help me by telling me everything great about Wellington. I'm not interested in how it compares to anywhere else just the really good things about living in the capital.

Welly is a sensational place to live. I live in Brooklyn and can walk to work in Lambton Quay in 35 mins, 20 mins on the bus or 8 mins if I take my motorbike. It's very compact and easy to walk around, a car is not a must (compared to Auckland which has virtually non-existant public transport systems). It's close to the South Island for weekends away (or the Hawkes Bay - sensational!) and you can scoot up the mountain for some skiing in 3 hours in the winter should you so desire. The theatre/cultural scene is also thriving. All in all, it's a great place to live! :clap

[Lara Croft]

Don't forget that house prices rise as you get closer to the city. We've opted for a little further out, on the Kapiti Coast. I am 2 mins walk from a fantastic (usually deserted) beach, but still only aroound an hours commute from the CBD (by train - good service so far).

I've only been here 3 weeks (absolutely flown by) but I adore Wellington already. In comparison to Manchester it is clean, people are more polite, you don't feel threatened when you are out shopping in crowds of people, and to be honest, the crowds are not a patch on what I was used to. Coffee bars everywhere - I pass probably 20 each morning as I walk to the office fom the railway station. Beautiful views across the harbour, and in 5 minutes you are out in the most awesome countryside.

I gaze at the sea every morning from the train, with the most ridiculous smile on my face - what a commute it is! It bears no resemblance to my previous journeys to work along a crowded, usually standing motorway.

Love it :) And still can't quite believe I'm here...
Jane

[Red Devil]

... I'm starting to envy all you folk living in or close to Wellington :cool:

My wife is a nurse and the nursing agency have said there may be the possibility of renal work in Wellington... we're scheduled for 2 nights stop-over in the city during our 'recce' trip in April, so we're going to have a good look around and check things out :)

[wes]

Yes, definitely. There's something of a "good people" shortage, as far as I can tell. I'm also in IT, but a development manager. If I were you I'd get your PR sorted and then get yourself down here for an interview trip. Having PR is a big deal - makes you a far easier hire.

We arrived in Welly at the end of November. Can't believe they let us live here! :)


Hi

Thanks for the reply, it's very helpful my wife and myself want to emigrate although won't be in position to for a couple of years (for a number of reasons mainly that we've just started renovating a house).

I read on a salary survey that for an IT management position the salary would be between $100K and $150k is this correct as it is more than i thought it would be and would allow us to live a very good lifestyle if we lived outside of Wellington?

Thanks

[Chiba]

Sounds about right. As to "if we lived outside of Wellington", then let me put my Mr Cynical hat on. IMHO people always spend their budget, whatever the good intentions. If you don't want to spend 800k on a place in Welly then you're going to spend 800k on a huge place up in Kapiti instead. Nothing's going to make you buy the exact same size place once you've seen the pool, the sauna, the trees in the garden, etc. Just pick where you want to live and go for it. Living in Welly is great if you want a 10 minute commute and access to the city, but you'll likely be living in a box on a hillside. Living outside of Welly's great if you want a big place and a big garden, but then you've the commute to consider. Just look at your current lifestyle - if you like a pint after work, or like clubbing, or love the theatre, or like to hang out in the city on weekends, then maybe live centrally. Maybe get a bach for the odd weekend away. If you're more the kind of people who hang out at home, who like having a barbie with friends, like to get away at weekends, like the beach, then live out of town and buy an iPod for the commute. No worries. The beauty of Welly is that you have the choice. :)

[Wonderbob]

[QUOTE=Chiba;179143]. Living in Welly is great if you want a 10 minute commute and access to the city, but you'll likely be living in a box on a hillside. QUOTE]

Not always true. I have 4 bedroom house (with Sauna), a double garage and an adventure playground for the kids, in Brooklyn, and there are plenty of suburbs that have lovely flat sections (think Miramar, and that newly discovered gem Island Bay for example). The biggest problem is land value and hence housing cost in the inner city, it's tough to find places under half a million now, although I have a sneaky suspicion the Kiwi housing market will correct this year, it's certainly overdue for a correction......

[b&k]

This information is great. Keep it coming.

I like the idea of a house within walking distance and a bach for the weekend. How much would a bach be within an hour of the city?

The alternative plan would be to get a lifestyle block within 30 minutes of town. Any ideas for areas?

[Wonderbob]

The alternative plan would be to get a lifestyle block within 30 minutes of town. Any ideas for areas?

Pauahatanui is a beautiful spot, full of lifestyle blocks (10 + acres), within 30 mins of Welly, it's past Whitby and close to the water. Friends of ours have a 14 acre block there, and it's stunning. Definitely worth doing some research I reckon.

Cheers, Bob

[tigerlily]

Owning a bach isn't really necessary, since you can rent something any weekend you like. We live in Wadestown, and can walk to the city (DOWN the hill on the way in, and UP on the way home). If you like character, there are lots of beautiful old houses in the city. This neighborhood is very good, but some neighborhoods are a bit rough around the edges. I agree that sections can be very small, but that might be good for you if you don't like yard work and want to spend more time on the beach?

I like the vibrancy of downtown, there is lots to do and see. I'd say that the weather might get you down if you are expecting it to be warm and sunny and tropical all year though. Today was windy and cold and it's the equivalent of N. hemisphere's August right now. Last week we had some really hot days though.

So far we really like it here, but it's still the honeymoon phase for us.

[Steven & Ann]

I am not sure I agree completely with the range. Some technical specialities command salaries in the $130 range, but management jobs tend to be paid slightly lower. I would budget at the lower end and be pleasantly surprised.

Regarding Pauahatanui, there are emerging plans to site a very large windmill farm on the back hills (I think 65 turbines). Many sections are coming on to the market since the announcements. Make sure you do your homework.

[Wonderbob]

Regarding Pauahatanui, there are emerging plans to site a very large windmill farm on the back hills (I think 65 turbines). Many sections are coming on to the market since the announcements. Make sure you do your homework.


Fascinating. I know about the Makara farm that is underway soon, but have heard nothing about any around Pauahatanui way in the pipeline. Do you have any more info about this, as my friend would be very interested. Thanks.

[incredible hulse]

Agree Pauahatanui is very nice but be warned it isn't cheap. 10 acres + with a 4 bed house on wouldn't leave much change from 1.3 million upwards.

[IanW99]

Fascinating. I know about the Makara farm that is underway soon, but have heard nothing about any around Pauahatanui way in the pipeline. Do you have any more info about this, as my friend would be very interested. Thanks.

Check out RES New Zealand (http://www.res-nz.co.nz/) and select Puketiro Wind Farm for details.

Otherwise do a search on 'Puketiro Wind Farm' on the web for lots of articles.

Ian