[YouMeAndThree]

There are various threads about what to buy (in the UK) before coming over as they are cheaper or easier to get hold of, however I wondered what the good NZ buys are? What can you get in NZ that you really shouldn't bother buying new and shipping over? ....... the radiator thread got me thinking. I'm thinking more of larger items such as furniture/white goods/electricals etc. but if you can give the low down on any other items you were surprised at the lower prices then please feel free to share.

:cheersThanks

Lx

[Familyofmonkeys]

Good quality cutlery sets.....we were considering replacing our old battered set before we came over, but didn't. Really wanted one of those big sets that does 8-12 people (enough for 2 dishwasher loads so no washing up in between) that included soups spoons and cake forks. Most sets were in region of £200 - £300. Over here you can get similar sets in Farmers/Living & Giving/Stevens for $150-$300.....way cheaper!

Small electrical appliances can be very cheap here (but larger white goods are very expensive). You can pick up a basic toaster and kettle for less than $10 in the Warehouse. When my hairdryer blew up last year I got a replacement in farmers for $25....which would have been over £30 in UK on argos website.

[M-Squared]

I bought 2 sets of "proper" (ie. don't shove it in the dishwasher or it *will* start decolouring) cutlery before we moved from the US. US$80 for a 16-piece set. Even though I have to hand-wash everything, well worth it! :nice1

[thewoodies]

Thinking of bringing a new big fridge freezer in container? Anyone any thoughts good idea? bad idea?:uhoh

[Rusty]

Thinking of bringing a new big fridge freezer in container? Anyone any thoughts good idea? bad idea?:uhoh

Hope its a good idea as OH wants to bring ours

[wwwdot]

I have been doing comparisons on-line and, for example, a Kenwood food processor was much cheaper in the UK at Costco than in NZ whereas, for example, a good quality Brother sewing machine seems cheaper in NZ than anywhere in the UK.:)

Both were on my shopping list and now the food processor can be found in my kitchen while I have to wait a while until I get the sewing machine.

[catt]

When i was in NZ in November i bought a hand blender.......yes i was on one of these packet food diet things.......it cost over £30 (have kept it as will use it when we move there) but the comparable one in Tesco is only £4.95......go figure :(

[IanW99]

Thinking of bringing a new big fridge freezer in container? Anyone any thoughts good idea? bad idea?:uhoh

If you are talking about one of the wide fridge freezers e.g. American style then I would definitely do a price comparison first to decide.

We brought one with us and it doesn't fit in our kitchen and it never fitted in our last house either. Most houses are still only set up to handle the slimmer type fridge freezer even though you can buy the wider version.

Ian

[mylesdw]

If you are filling a container, bring as much as you can; you've really nothing to lose. A freezer may be filled with valuable/breakable things and then it really isn't taking much space. I cleared out loads of stuff I regarded as semi-junk (DIY stuff like screws and nails etc) and wished I had just chucked it all in the container.

I would REALLY think twice about bringing a car; unless it has some sentimental value or it is very new, it's probably not worth it. The authorities here are very strict (anal) about what they will allow on the roads so just because you've been using a car in the UK and it has an MOT does not mean it won't cost thousands to get registered here. Many vehicles simple can't be registered here EVER!

[YouMeAndThree]

I have been doing comparisons on-line and, for example, a Kenwood food processor was much cheaper in the UK at Costco than in NZ whereas, for example, a good quality Brother sewing machine seems cheaper in NZ than anywhere in the UK.:)

Both were on my shopping list and now the food processor can be found in my kitchen while I have to wait a while until I get the sewing machine.

:clap Thanks for that. I'm in need of a sewing machine, so will put that off until I get to NZ.

Lx

[StevieD]

Sewing machine shops everywhere here.

As for white goods, I haven't found it any better/worse to be honest. If you scour the multitude of sales that are on you can always pick up a bargain, just depends if you want to take that chance or not. And, bringing one with you means you have to fit it in the house as someone rightly said, whereas if you buy here you can measure up and to it the sensible way like we did - using elbows to measure the gap :laugh

[Jo Jo]

for example, a good quality Brother sewing machine seems cheaper in NZ than anywhere in the UK.:)



I second this - I bought a new sewing machine here in NZ, and was pleasantly surprised by the range available and the prices. (I bought a Brother BC-2500 and I love it - it's so easy to use, especially compared to the ancient machine I used to have.)

[Milliemoo]

Hope its a good idea as OH wants to bring ours

We bought a huge Smeg fridge freezer in the container and it's still all wrapped up in the storage in the garage as we've renting all this time.

The cost of it here was about $6k from memory!

Milliemoo

[nippa&pippa]

:clap Thanks for that. I'm in need of a sewing machine, so will put that off until I get to NZ.

Lx

My OH brought me a Bernina sewing machine in NZ and I am so impressed with it www.bernina.co.nz/ and best of all, it is made in swiss ;)

[Tia Maria]

Small electrical appliances can be very cheap here (but larger white goods are very expensive). You can pick up a basic toaster and kettle for less than $10 in the Warehouse. When my hairdryer blew up last year I got a replacement in farmers for $25....which would have been over £30 in UK on argos website.

Also its a pain changing all the plugs on toasters, hairdryers etc etc.

We bought our fridge freezer from the UK, (we love it - sad but true!), and the same model here was a lot more expensive, also once on a NZ wage, we simply wouldn't have been able to justify the cost, so I'm glad we bought it before.

However, as others have pointed out, it simply might not fit in your new place, unless you intend buying a do up and can fit the kitchen around it. You could always check out Trade Me to see what they sell for, in case it doesn't fit in your new home.

Don't bring cheap chipboard furniture, as it may not survive the journey and you could use the storage space for better things.

If you are going to bring garden things, factor in that MAF may insist on having them cleaned, (even if you have already), if the cost of the cleaning is worth more than the tool, then buy them when you get here.

Don't bring baby socket protectors - they are the wrong shape! Also our baby monitors never worked here, although we never got to the bottom of that.

Some phones can't be used with NZ Caller ID, some can.

As other posters have suggested, unless the car is particularly special, don't bring it

Cheers

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

Also our baby monitors never worked here, although we never got to the bottom of that.


Our does work here :p

Just in case you wonder what mine is, Tomy walkabout classic was brought in UK in 2003.