[Philip10]

Hi I've just read Carey's post in another thread about bringing or chucking some black plimsolls, which got me thinking how about a general Bring or Chuck Thread, I'm sure it's been done before, but an update would be great for us who are going to NZ within the next few months

Philip

[Andy-Dee]

Good idea - Im taking a Dyson vacuum

[Georgebulldog]

If you have the room
Bring everything chuck nothing :D
Glad I did

[willsken]

Ram as much into your container as you can. It doesn't cost any extra and I've said so many times since we've been here ... I wish I'd brought ...:roll

[peebles16]

Yep bring it all - you can always sell it on trademe :D

Karenx

[CJ22]

Bring or chuck - a 3-person tent? It'll need a thorouigh cleaning, and MAF are likely to get arsey about it anyway. Worth the hassle, or are tents cheap enough anyway in a country that prides itself on it's outdoorseyness?

[Georgebulldog]

Bring or chuck - a 3-person tent? It'll need a thorouigh cleaning, and MAF are likely to get arsey about it anyway. Worth the hassle, or are tents cheap enough anyway in a country that prides itself on it's outdoorseyness?

Don't know too much about this but here's a shop that sells them, could be they are the most expensive in NZ :laugh You will have to wait for a keen camper to answer your question
http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/

[Kate D]

Bring or chuck - a 3-person tent? It'll need a thorouigh cleaning, and MAF are likely to get arsey about it anyway. Worth the hassle, or are tents cheap enough anyway in a country that prides itself on it's outdoorseyness?

Outdoorsy stuff in general here is surprisingly expensive. Stock pile and stash it while you can:-)

[Leanne]

If I had a container I would bring it all. But for me it's whatever fits into the suitcases (not sure how I'm going to fit all of the shoes in :laugh ). I think I'm just going to be shipping a few boxes over. I'll be choosing carefully what goes into those boxes!

:D

[Sam B]

Bring all, chuck nowt

[Bozeman]

Outdoorsy stuff in general here is surprisingly expensive. Stock pile and stash it while you can:-)

I would even go so far as to say shockingly expensive!

[Familyofmonkeys]

Bring or chuck - a 3-person tent? It'll need a thorouigh cleaning, and MAF are likely to get arsey about it anyway. Worth the hassle, or are tents cheap enough anyway in a country that prides itself on it's outdoorseyness?

We brought 4 tents over with us and had no problems at all with MAF...and yes they are not that cheap over here!

Bring everything you can fit in container...soooo glad we did once we saw the price of some of the things were were unsure about bringing....it is amazing how much all the little odds and ends add up in cost when you need to replace them. Remember anything you don't end up wanting can be sold on trade-me....it is amazing the stuff some people will buy here.

[dusk]

the bring everything you can fit in the container rule is a good one, except where you don't have enough stuff to fill a 20 footer and are using groupage, in which case you are charged by volume and it's then worth considering if paying to ship something is worthwhile or not :)

[dilanium]

I'm getting rid of most of the non essentials in my life. Because we're not getting a container.

[timeanzbound]

Leanne,

The shoes, the shoes, the shoes. I know at least 3 boxes will be filled with my shoes. I can't leave those behind, some were very expensive and they go with certain outfits. And then a bunch of boxes for all of my clothes. I will definitely go through everything and try to eliminate what I don't wear anymore, but I'm really bad with that. If there's room, I might just bring it all.

[Leanne]

Leanne,

The shoes, the shoes, the shoes. I know at least 3 boxes will be filled with my shoes. I can't leave those behind, some were very expensive and they go with certain outfits. And then a bunch of boxes for all of my clothes. I will definitely go through everything and try to eliminate what I don't wear anymore, but I'm really bad with that. If there's room, I might just bring it all.

I am seriously going to cry when it comes time to pack my 2 suitcases. How on earth am I going to get my life into 2 suitcases?! :wah

[tea drinker]

Hi Leanne
You could always ship out a few boxes separately???

[Leanne]

Hi Leanne
You could always ship out a few boxes separately???

I guess I should have some boxes packed and ready to be shipped out. Mom's going to have to send me my Christmas stuff anyways (she's already asking where my stocking is). And then in the spring...I mean the fall...she can ship another box out with my birthday present. :D It'll all work out. And do I really need alllll those shoes anyways?

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Two suitcases each and whatever fits in those is all we will be bringing..Plus of course a "carry on" each.



Suzanne.

[Mrs Pony]

We're bringing the lightest load possible... clothes, a few kicknacks to remind us of the US & family, pictures, maybe OH's CD collection...I would like to bring our living room set since we haven't paid it off yet...but...Don't think we will be able to afford getting a container to ship more. :(

going to back up everything on the PC onto external drives... anything that has to be plugged in will be left here since they won't work there anyways...

[tigerlily]

I'd say rip the CDs into MP3s and you'll save a bunch of space. Shipping from the USA is very dear, but perhaps leave a box with family of things you can't part with and can't afford to ship. Have mom bring an extra bag with that stuff on her first visit to see you!

[Familyofmonkeys]

Don't think we will be able to afford getting a container to ship more. :(



What about a shared container?

[Nettie 2]

All those shoes!!! Yes I brought all mine with me and what happens? I live in trainers which I never wore in UK except for tennis! I find my life is so different here that I rarely need to dress up, and live in jeans etc. Still, I could never have left them behind..... :no

[Bergita]

Omw. Hats off to all of you who are bring suitcases and nothing else! We had a 20ft container for our things, and I was so happy the day it arrived! I would agree with everyone else - bring as much as you can! Leave behind as little as possible!

[Spooky]

I had someone from the packing company do a site survey of my place. After factoring in the furniture, mattress, white goods, a ton of books and like 50 boxes worth of 'junk', the guy told me I was lucky to be able to fill HALF a container.

So I looking to fill half a container. The company says they can put all my goods into a half container wooden crate and let me 'share' a full container with another one of their clients.

[Hagabel]

We will definitely ship decent furniture that we own and beds etc, clothes and a lot of kids stuff that adds up if you buy again. Probably some keepsakes and cd's and maybe computer, defintely laptop but that would be it. Oh, and ride along lawn mower, oh in love with it!!

[Mrs Pony]

I'd say rip the CDs into MP3s and you'll save a bunch of space. Shipping from the USA is very dear, but perhaps leave a box with family of things you can't part with and can't afford to ship. Have mom bring an extra bag with that stuff on her first visit to see you!

We might have to do that... OH is VERY fond of his CD's and likes having the actual cases for them (huge music lover). He's been selling his things (comics, collectors statues/figurines...guy stuff) off little by little and I think I feel worse about it than he does. I don't want him to get rid of the things he likes so we have more savings. I have a few things that we will have to store with my parents (mostly furniture) Not sure my parents would be able to make it out to see us as soon as I would like...maybe it will motivate my dad to finally take a long vacation! :)

What about a shared container?

I'll have to check and see but from what I've read on here I don't think we will be able to afford it. We have friends there so we might start mailing a box a week once we get the blues. plus we don't know if we will have to rent a place and share with others or be able to afford a place just for us...

[JPOnion]

Good thread. It's a ways before I'll be moving, but this is one of the things I've been thinking about and don't really know what I'll do. I think I've got a lot of stuff, but really it just barely fills a 1 bedroom apartment. I'm hoping, though, to sell all the crap I don't need but just have some kind of emotional attachment to for one reason or another (a lot of my stuff was inherited from my dad), get everything down to a few boxes / suitcases to take on the flight with me, and the rest of the stuff I can't part with or dont take with me put in storage somewhere near my moms place and she can ship it out if I need / can afford it. Most the stuff isn't stuff I use, but stuff I have.

I could probably afford to use some room on a container, but I don't really have anything that can justify the additional cost (I think). My furniture is all second hand / cheap stuff I bought just to have something. I guess the only big items I'd need a container for are my motorcycles (though I can probably buy some there) and that dream home theater system I finally was able to afford a few months ago. ...oh well, it's all for the greater good :raebanana

[thewoodies]

I am taking as much as i can putting stickers on stuff that could be left if it doesnt fit. On another thread someone said they wished they had brought out their old tumble dryer - mine is very old but if it fits in! oh and dishwasher its old - OH will probably tell me i cant have a new one when we get there so if it fits???

Also i wasn't going to bring mattresses on another thread someone pointed out that matresses in NZ are different sizes - also the ikea ones are odd sizes anyway. someone else recommends you take your wardrobes as walk in ones are not always enough!

Have a look around this site there are some good tips:clap

[Familyofmonkeys]

Also i wasn't going to bring mattresses on another thread someone pointed out that matresses in NZ are different sizes - also the ikea ones are odd sizes anyway.

Be careful bringing mattresses as they can be compressed and springs damaged while in the container. NZ mattress sizes are different, but only in name really.....i.e. UK kingsize is the same as a NZ queensize. When we bought a replacement in Bedpost, the guy just asked our current mattress dimensions, stuck it into the computer and it brought up a whole list of mattress sizes from UK, Continental Europe, US and NZ.......there were plenty within 1cm of the required dimensions. That said, a decent quality mattress will not be cheap here but there is plenty of choice.

[thewoodies]

Be careful bringing mattresses as they can be compressed and springs damaged while in the container. NZ mattress sizes are different, but only in name really.....i.e. UK kingsize is the same as a NZ queensize. When we bought a replacement in Bedpost, the guy just asked our current mattress dimensions, stuck it into the computer and it brought up a whole list of mattress sizes from UK, Continental Europe, US and NZ.......there were plenty within 1cm of the required dimensions. That said, a decent quality mattress will not be cheap here but there is plenty of choice.

Thanks thats good to know if we put mattesses in container and send it early we have nothing to sleep on ! and if it hasnt arrived we havnt got anything to sleep on NZ when we get there so it makes sense to buy new. At least our one:laugh :cheers

[Chaz]

Any advice on a gas BBQ? I know the cylinder cannot be taken - the BBQ will somehow need to be spotless - should we just leave it?

[JandM]

You can bring the barbecue, get the fitting changed (easy and not expensive), and the gas bottles are on sale everywhere. Worth bringing if it works well.

[Chaz]

You can bring the barbecue, get the fitting changed (easy and not expensive), and the gas bottles are on sale everywhere. Worth bringing if it works well.

More worried about trying to get it cleaned properly - dont want to be nailed for importing left overs - lol.

I might take it apart, perhaps give it a soap wash, then perhaps even give it a new lick of high heat paint and pack it, ready to go.

[IanW99]

More worried about trying to get it cleaned properly - dont want to be nailed for importing left overs - lol.

I might take it apart, perhaps give it a soap wash, then perhaps even give it a new lick of high heat paint and pack it, ready to go.

Gas BBQs are readily available and reasonably cheap in NZ especially if you buy during the sales, so if you decide to sell it and buy new that would certainly be an option.

But if you've got room and it's still in good condition then I wouldn't worry too much about MAF, they are only really interested in seeds and bugs. The reason you remove the dirt is because seeds can be hidden in it.

If you don't do a very good job and they aren't happy then they will no doubt just charge you to fumigate (or clean) it which isn't very expensive.

Ian

[timeanzbound]

I am definitely bringing most of my clothes and shoes. Bringing pots, pans, computer, a few kitchen appliances, CDs, a lamp, etc. The rest, I'm giving away or selling it. Sometimes its good to start fresh and have an external cleansing.

[JPOnion]

Sometimes its good to start fresh and have an external cleansing.

I agree, and this is why I'm leaning towards selling / storing most of my stuff when I go. There's just too much "baggage" associated with most of the stuff I own. Most of it has either been mine or in my family for most of my life.

I forget who it was, but somebody on this forum said in their blog that it felt wierd to finally have all their old stuff around them when it was delivered a few months after they arrived. Maybe I'm thinking too hard about this, or being too optimistic, but I'm looking at this move as a way to start fresh, to start over...it's kind of hard (mentally) to start a new life when you're surrounding yourself with the old one.

I might be looking at this move as more of a reboot than most, though. I guess it helps that I don't have a whole lot of stuff anyway, and certainly not enough where the cost to ship is less than it would be to sell in the US and buy again in NZ*.

*unless my math is wrong.

EDIT: I guess if I were to ship stuff, I could always justify it by going out and buying everything I know / think I'll need in NZ and know is much cheaper here in the states, but don't currently have...then when I ship all that over I can take some of my old stuff. Options are good! :raebanana

[Moorf]

We sold pretty much everything except personal memorabilia, books (I just can't sell my books :no), music and it was great to start over - in fact, for the first few months we spent in rentals we used the basic gear we had bought at The Warehouse and only bought a sofa... it was then we realized just how much we didn't need all the other stuff... !! Having said that, we also came here determined to to gather so much.. umm.. stuff... (it's kinda working!)

[NikT]

We did the same, got rid of everything apart from the sentimental rubbish.
And my sparky tools.

We thought; new country, new life, new stuff.

Nick.:cheers

[Jacqi B]

We'll be shipping the furniture, computers, hi-fi (very good one), OH's motorcycle and possibly his 1968 VW Beetle (the OH needs to look into whether its going to be allowed in).

We'll be sorting through clothes and shoes and getting rid of some of it.
We have zillions of CDs and quite a lot of vinyl plus DVDs - these will be coming.

However, I am NOT just going to pack everything. I'm not taking junk to our new life. We moved all the junk from the last house to this one and I can't move for junk, it depresses me.

I had a cull of my books before we moved to this house six years ago so probably wont leave many of those behind. The OH has lots of techie books and I'm sure many of those are out of date and will never be looked at again. But that'shis call.

As I go through the cupboards I will be thinking about whether I really really want the stuff before I designate it as 'take'.

[mylesdw]

Jacqi - you should not have a problem with the Beetle, cars over 20 years old come in as classics and don't have to comply with nearly as many regulations. It will cost about $1000 to get it on the road. We did a big clear out of stuff too, it was great! The only thing I have since regretted bringing was a whole load of DIY stuff (woodscrews etc) which I ended up buying again and a dehumidifier that I sold to my brother-in-law; not a big deal but I would have chucked them in if I did it again.

[Jacqi B]

Jacqi - you should not have a problem with the Beetle, cars over 20 years old come in as classics and don't have to comply with nearly as many regulations. It will cost about $1000 to get it on the road.
that's really useful. Thanks!:cheers

[dilanium]

Bringing pots, pans, computer, a few kitchen appliances, CDs, a lamp, etc.
The kitchen appliances will probably not work without converter so may not be worth bringing (that said, microwaves are really expensive, and there is not the large selection of kitchen appliances here that there are in the states).

The lamp would probably be pretty easy to rewire- I'm not an electrician, but I have images of my head of plugging it into the wrong electrical system and the bulb making a huge explosion... :laugh I doubt that's what would really happen.

[JPOnion]

Jacqi B: How hard is it to bring a motorcycle over? Any recommendations on where to find regulations / reading material on this, idea's on cost (I'm coming from US, so shipping cost would be different I'm sure), etc? I usually just see info on shipping cars.

I'm a motorcycle fanatic, I own and ride 2 bikes but haven't had a car in around 6 years...I think I'll need one in NZ, but I'd love to bring at least one of my bikes over.

[Familyofmonkeys]

[QUOTE=JPOnion;240137]Jacqi B: How hard is it to bring a motorcycle over? Any recommendations on where to find regulations / reading material on this, idea's on cost (I'm coming from US, so shipping cost would be different I'm sure), etc? I usually just see info on shipping cars.

I'm a motorcycle fanatic, I own and ride 2 bikes but haven't had a car in around 6 years...I think I'll need one in NZ, but I'd love to bring at least one of my bikes over.

Might be worth sending PM to Jeni Elise ( http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/member.php?u=4107 ) as they brought over their scooter from US.

[Jacqi B]

Might be worth sending PM to Jeni Elise ( http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/member.php?u=4107 ) as they brought over their scooter from US.

thanks for that, have let my OH know as he will have the right questions (IYSWIM)