[paul arthur]

Have obtained employment in Palmerston North. I would be very grateful if anybody can advise me what the above two places are like to live and approximately how long it takes to drive to the centre of Parmerston North. Also are these areas subject to flooding.
Is the Levin and Foxton area better to live and communicate or is it correct that the weather in Levin and foxton is not as good as the other two places.
Any comments gratefully received.
thanks

[Dave & Sandra]

Hey - another Palmy person. The numbers are growing.

My husband Dave is currently working there. He has found a house in Feilding, which is subject to flooding, (Feilding, not the house :oops: ) but he assures me that the house is on higher ground and not liable to flooding. The house is still standing anyway and he is a structural engineer, so I'm trying hard to believe him.

House prices tend to plummet if you go further afield than PN. Feilding is 10 mins drive away (not in rush hour). Ashhurst is another place I have heard recommended. The one place to avoid in PN is Highbury. Hokowhitu area in PN is a popular place for ex-pats to settle. Dave hasn't said very much about the weather apart from the fact that it's been very windy, which of course Wellington, not too far away, has the reputation of being and I believe there haven't been many frosty mornings.

I think Foxton is nearer to the coast, Foxton Beach obviously is on the coast and that's about 30-40 mins drive from the centre of PN. He could answer more specific questions if you want me to put them to him.

He just signed the bridging loan for the new house today and takes possession on Friday and I've only seen pictures of it. :shock:

Let me know if you want me to ask anything on your behalf. Melissa on this forum (mgoulet) has bought a house in PN and has spent more time there than I have so could answer some questions.

Congrats on the job - Sandra

[Dave & Sandra]

PS - Forgot, sorry. I haven't come across the two places you mentioned.

[Dave & Sandra]

Paul

Copy of an e-mail I just got from Dave

Danneverke is 40 minutes drive away, Pahiatua is 30 minutes. The road (through the gorge) to Danneverke is sometimes washed out and the detour takes an hour. This happens every year for a few days, but this year it was for 3 months.



Not too encouraging :shock:

[paul arthur]

Sandra thanks very much to to and Dave for your help, I am not sure if we will eventually look for property in these areas now.
I guess we will go back to the Foxton/Levin area, however I have heard that it rains much more in these areas.
Thanks again
Paul

[MelissaLG]

Paul,

I am the Melissa that Sandra mentioned. My user name on the new forum is MelissaLG. I have heard that Levin is a nice town, and I believe that it is about 20-25 minutes from PN. I remember taking a drive from Massey University (on the southern edge of PN) out to Shannon, which was an 18-minute drive (driving at a good speed, no traffic). Levin was farther I think, and in a slightly different direction than Shannon. I will check my map and get back to you. I also asked about Foxton but never drove out there. I was told that it was really too far of a drive if I needed to travel to PN every day. This even though I explained that I am used to a long commute...but everyone counseled against it, saying that after living in NZ for awhile, 5 minutes will seem a long commute. I mostly ignored that advice, choosing to stay in town largely for other reasons. So if you really like Levin or Foxton, I say go for it as long as you do not mind the drive.

[paul arthur]

Thanks very much for your comments.
I and my wife are used to communting (I travelled to London every day on the M25) for several years so, as you say a shorter commute should not be to bad.

Thanks
Paul