[Stu]

...after reading the various posts referring to NZ problems such as cold rentals etc, and others all singing the delights of the friendly folks on this site, the thought occurs to me that perhaps a semi-formal arrangement could be done for the mutual assistance of folks here on the site.

Perhaps anyone looking to move in the near term to NZ could approach board members who live in the areas they were thikning of moving to, to perhaps check out a short list of rental properties to see what they thought of them. Then you would have an independent take on the situation before you arrived to find... what? Bikey gang living next door, or no roof over the kitchen (outdoor cooking area my arhse...), shonky stuff like that.

For folks moving to the main centres, I am sure there would be several different board members here for each locale that could combine to check things out for new arrivals, using their own experiences to help ease the way for the newbies. It would also be an excellent introduction to at least a form of community for new arrivals who may otherwise feel somewhat alienated.

Rental properties, maybe cars/dealerships to look at, where to go to find the nearest shopping centres, all very helpful stuff that folks already in NZ could help newbies with.

Hell, if anyone is going to be in Whitianga over the summer, I'll start the ball rolling by offering to take you out in the boat fishing for a day!

Just a thought, cheers,
Stu.

[Diny]

I think that is a splendid idea and I will be more than happy to help out when we get there.

Diny

[Babette & Andy]

Agree - great idea. Anything/anybody to help get rid of some pre-move nerves and jitters has to be a great idea.

We won't be there (ChCh we hope :hopeso ) yet for a while, but my family emigrated to Nelson in Sept03 so if anybody would like to know about that area, I'm sure I can get one of my family members on the case.
:cheers

[Kim39]

Good on ya Stu :nice1 :cheers Definately a good idea. I will take your offer of a day on the water, being a fisherman, (course i'm afraid ) i'll snap your hand off. Fishing is fishing, whether its course, sea, fly.
Oh yeh, where the hell is Whitianga????? :? will be going to Auckland in near future, is it anywhere near. Please excuse me but my geography of NZ ain't that good at the moment. Should be as i am going to NZ as a HGV driver. :laugh :laugh :laugh

Kim

[lindajax]

Hi Stu,
fab idea i would be more than happy to help others out - someone from the forum has been giving me advice about renting and offered help when we get there with car dealers etc and i feel its a lifeline worth having!!
love
linda xxx

[Lil]

Great idea Stu, I do feel a bit useless sat here in UK, so would be up be good if we could do something to make other folks passage a little easier once we get there.

How many peeps can fit in your boat? That's a very generous offer, you could start a new business running ENZ Daytrips, think you might get inundated with customers from here. :nice1

[Timbo]

Great idea Stu. Although this has been going on to one degree or another for a while, mainly in connection with ChCh and Auck.
Would be good to get things from the horses mouth so to speak.
Incidentally, YOU are proving to be quite an assett for this forum. Thankyou for joining us.

[Tara Sage]

HI from NZ

I am in Rangiora and would just like to say that if anyone wants any info etc send me a pm I will do my best to help out in anyway I can.

Anything to help get ride of those nerves :?

Tara

[jo b]

Great idea,

also if you are leaving a decent rental and know it is going to be up for Sale post it on here before it is advertised.

Jo

[eric_amanda]

It currently feels as if we are the only people north of Auckland on this forum! so if anybody wants help, assistance or advice on moving to Whangarei or surrounds (thats Northland by the way) then let me know, I will be happy to help where I can!

Excellent idea stu.

Best wishes

Amanda

[Timbo]

Amanda. I believe that new member Bushpig is up northland somewhere as well.

[Stu]

I think all it would need would be a seperate page on here with the genral locales of the various members in NZ (South Auckland, Northland, Palmy North, Chch etc, no need for actual addresses), so that those moving to these areas would know who to ask.

The boat? It is only a trailer boat, 7.2m (23ft), and I won't be up there until the summer, probly later January,(I am hoping to head to the Solomon Islands for a week or three in early Jan you see, for some tropical heat and fishing...mmmmm), but if anyone is touring theCOROMANDEL PENINSULA, and plans on a stop over in Whitianga, PM me, and I will let you have my ph number up there, we can load you up for a day too.

Lil, sounds like a great idea, sadly though, it is not allowed.... you cannot make money from private boats you see, and I ain't a charter boat! However, always keen on having new folks out on the boat, so happy to take visitors along for a day.

Kim... we have course fishing here too if you like that sort of thing... but I must admit, I am into the sea fishing a bit more.... I mean, come on...
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/006693.jpg
compared to....
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/006416.jpg

:nice1
cheers pal,
Stu.

[Babette & Andy]

Wow Stu, now I think that's what you call a fish :clap :clap :clap

[Michelle and Richard]

I'm in Auckland, anyone heading here just ask away, I'm south of the bridge but of course there is guru on the North Shore.

Michelle

[karltsmith]

;)

[shagen]

Stu, a picture paints a thousand words! What else can I say? Will PM you when we make it to NZ and anywhere near Whitianga.

I think helping out others like us when we are there is a great idea. Count me in as well...

Cheers,

[Terry&Sophie]

I'm in Auckland, anyone heading here just ask away, I'm south of the bridge but of course there is guru on the North Shore.

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

We're hoping to move to that area early next year, depending on the success of our EOI and whether or not the company I've applied to there recognises my potential and gives me a job! :hopeso

If not I suppose I could end up anywhere... wherever we can get work!

How long have you been in Auckland? Do you recommend it?

Once I'm more confident of where I might be moving to I'd welcome some advice from a 'local'! Great idea, Stu! :nice1

Sophie

[Moorf]

Hmmm, I'm going to be a party-pooper here.... :uhoh

As anyone who knows me from this forum will know I am MORE than happy to help others with info and advice.

However, I'd draw the line at checking out rentals / houses for people I don't know and also checking out areas... it's a v. personal thing.

Not only that but you have to fit it in around your own life-building and exploring and wobbles.

There's a reason why there are outfits out there that get paid to do this (although I must say that many are WAYYY over-priced) and that is because you have to take the rough with the smooth - are you prepared to put up with someone who is unhappy with a rental you "checked out"?

Sorry, but I thought this thread needed some balance and a bit of a reality check....

[shagen]

Agreed Moorf,

There are things which are very personal in nature like a home but I think we can help out by telling others what we think of it. Also the environment surrounding the place you intend to live. I however don't think one should solely rely on our recommendation. You still have to see it for yourself before making a decision.

For someone travelling a distance coming to NZ without ever having been there, it is pretty scarry to accept something from someone who charges a fee without actually knowing if he or she is reliable. So someone's recommendation could be a start to explore a particular place initially and then find something more appropriate later on.

Having said that, I think there is a limit to how much one can help with especially knowing that you yourself are trying to settle down in this new place.

Let's do what we can in our own way...

Cheers,

[Dave & Sandra]

I tend to agree with Moorf a bit on this one - I too am happy to share the benefit of my experiences, as you know, and am only too happy to answer questions and help if I can.

The thought of being inundated with requests to check out this rental and that area could be a little overwhelming. As Moorf says, it would be awful if you recommended that somebody choose a particular house to rent and it turned out to be awful - it is a personal thing. It would be even more difficult for people already living in the popular areas like Auckland and Chch. We are all still trying to settle here ourselves and look for jobs, and most are already working, houses etc. and there are only so many hours in a day. If you've got the added stress of trying to help someone else from back home relocate it may become a little too much.

It was a nice idea, but give a thought for our existing stress levels. Now, if someone would employ me full time..............

Sandra

[Michelle and Richard]

Know the feeling Sandra. It's the first time I've not had a job since leaving school and it feels pretty strange. It's Michelle's first day at work today and I can't get out of the house because it's p*****g it down(again)so starting to go a bit stir crazy - got Dr Phil overload!! Good luck with the job hunt.

Richard

[Michelle and Richard]

Firstly can I just apologise on behalf of my dear bored husband for using ***** but it is raining very heavily today. We have ducks swimming in our drive way and I'm not joking !

And back on topic yes personal recommendations can be a dangerous things I dont think anyone would expect someone else to start checking out rentals etc would they! Blimey took us weeks to find something decent ourself let alone find somewhere for others. Just a case of taking a cross section of opinions and come to your own decision.

Michelle

[veronica]

Apart from stating the obvious about different standards and taste in checking out things for people you also run the fisk of having the same people taking you for instant buddies, whether you like them when you meet them....Personally I think the info on the forum is a better bet then you can answer generally rather than specifically. The idea of posting good short term rentals a month or so before you leave them is a good one though.

[lindajax]

hi all,
I too tend to think its fine giving and recieving advice :yes
i.e " we went to this car rental lace and they seemed ok, but the other one was aweful" - that kind of advice gives you an idea of where might be good to check out.

Someone else looking at a home for you seems a little odd to me :no ( how would they know if your stuff would fit or look dwarfed in the place?), but someone passing the advice that a particular agent is good to use is very helpful. :nice1

That kind of help when I get there I'll be more than happy to give and recieve as I am recieving advice from one particular forum member at the moment which is proving very valuable ( Thanks Michelle :nice1 )
Love
Linda Xx