[roseandrob]

Hello!

Just wondering if anybody living in/or knowing the Hamilton area, could give me an idea of which are good and which are bad neighbourhoods?

Also, are there any semi-rural areas which are excellent in terms of commuting to Hamilton for work?

My mum has suggested Matamata and Otorohanga.

Many thanks! :)

[pinkpiggy]

Hi Rose and Rob

Try having a look at this link - it's a previous post about where to live in and around Hamilton area. I personally think it's probably too far to travel in to Hamilton every day from Matamata and Otorohonga.

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13990&highlight=hamilton

[lockstock]

We looiked at Matamata but it's too far to commute if you're working in Hamilton. Te Awamutu is supposed to be nice (there's a few on here from there) and so is Pirongia. We've settled in the South of the City which is not too bad and very convenient for work and shopping in the City (brilliant). We're going to take our time and look in more rural areas in a few years but not too far out. There's rural and there's disappeared off the face of the earth - which is fantastic if you can do the self-sufficient thing. I'm just enjoying only needing one car at the moment.

If you can narrow down your list I'm sure Pink Piggy and myself will be able to fill you in on some local info:yes

[Kim39]

Oto is a 50 min drive into Hamilton, and Matamata around the same. Rural area's include Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Pirongia, Te Kowhai, Gordonton, etc. The list could go on, and on. It depends what you are exactly after.

Kim

[Sam B]

Too far from Matamata and Otorohanga, as everyone has said, but I reckon Cambridge ticks all the boxes. In Hamilton, Hillcrest is supposed to be a nice area. Tamahere and Matangi too (just outside).

Go Cambridge!!!!

[Carey]

And Morrinsville? Anyone know about schools, family life there?

[Sam B]

Yeah, it's not too far from Morrinsville to Hamilton, probably similar to Cambridge. It seems like a nice town, decent shops, couple of nice cafes, and I think the schools are fine. Heart of dairy farming country with 3 large dairy factories nearby - the cafe is called the Krazee cow or something, just to give you a flavour. Perhaps not quite the charm of Cambridge, but everyone knows I'm biased

[roseandrob]

Thank you all for your replies. I shall have a look through previous threads but I'm guessing mum doesn't always know best! and Matamata isn't ideal.

We are ideally imagining somewhere outside Hamilton (although not in the middle of oblivion!) and I think the main motivation for this is that we will get more garden space for our dollars (rightly or wrongly!). We are also looking at something of a project as OH is a carpenter and wants to do his thing!

We're just trying to get an idea of places to look at buying our first house, and what we can afford, as we are both young and will be bringing over approximately £25k and are going to have a mortgage. I've heard so many horror stories from my young (age-wise I'm talking mid twenties) kiwi friends, that kiwis can't afford first-time properties in NZ anymore and my step-mum (also a kiwi and possibly the most negative person in New Zealand!) bluntly told me we wouldn't be able to afford anything over £200k (well not with that attitude!). And one of our main motivations has been that we will be able to buy a house with a garden, and have a dog or two (the simple life really!). We'll have a combined salary of $90k and no debts so I think we've got a chance as I imagine compared to some, we live simple non-materialistic lives. I think places like Te Awamutu and Morrinsville would be good starting points and places such as Rototuna are probably 20 years down the line!

If anyone over there thinks we need a reality check then please feel free!

Thanks! x

[M&J]

Hi

We live in Pirongia, about 30 mins into Hamilton. It has a reallty good village feel to it, all the essentials, pub, cafe, garage and soon to be dairy (shop). also a great school I'm told and a thriving rugby club.

good luck with the decision.

Jo