[UktoKiwi]

We are moving to NZ around Easter 2006.
We could consider living anywhere due to my work being able to be done anywhere.
We are family with 2 kids under school age and we may wish to have one more.
We are fortunate to be selling our house in UK which will enable us not to worry about buying a really nice property anywhere in NZ.

We were pretty much decided on Auckland for a variety of reasons.
One being that we have been living in 2 large cities before and even Auckland would seem, at least population wise, to be quite small.
2nd being that probably easier for us to travel from Auckland compared to other places and also easier for people to visit us.
3rdly the climate being quite warm and we want to be able to live much more outside than we have been, especially for the upbringing of the kids.

However I am led to believe that the rain in Auckland is substantial and my wife really does not like rain. Not sure how much of a problem it really is though.

Christchurch, although cooler than Auckland, I believe is still warmer than the UK and apparently has much less rain than Auckland. I personally love the idea of being able to drive from Christchurch in a few hours to go skiing without having to fly.

But there are major things to take into account such as good schooling, good sports and health facilities, good doctors and hospitals, good international travel, good shopping, good fresh foods, low crime, good outdoors life, good healthy living and generally nice neigbours and people in general.

Would love to read anyones reasonable thoughts or advice on this.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Xmas and really Good 2006!

[UktoKiwi]

Forgot to say:-
We also (depsite what I said about driving to go skiing) really prefer not to use a car on a day to day basis. In the UK at present we really only use a car maybe once a week. We prefer walking, cycling and jogging including for shopping etc.
I realise that a car will almost certainly be necessary in NZ but if we could find a location where we might be able to have a really nice house with maybe 1/2 to 1 acre of land plus be able to daily buy fresh provisions, and walk to schools and maybe go on a river canoeing etc without having to use a car that would be really great.

[UktoKiwi]

I have just another couple of threads and it sems that we should also give serious consideration to Wellington!
Oh dear- we were all set on Aucklandn and then just the normal problems of finding the right house etc..
Now we are back to thinking which is the best city. HELP PLEASE

[Wannaway]

Can't really speak for Christchurch, having only visited there for a few days holiday 10 years ago. Lived in Auckland for a year now and would say, like most places, it has its plusses and its minuses. What I like about Auckland is its variety, in terms of people and vibe. You are close to good family beaches as well as the "wilder" surfer type beaches on the West Coast. You can get to the Bay of Islands in the north in three hours and as far down as Taupo (which is beautiful) in the South in three hours. You can get to skiing in three and half hours but most people have said to me its worth spending the extra money and flying down to the South Island if you are really into skiing. Akl is generally much warmer than the UK but it is wetter. I wouldn't say hugely wetter, we found a lot of the rain fell over night, but when it settles in it can be a relentless downpour for 24 hours or so. Downside is Akl housing is very expensive relative to salaries, transport infrastructure is not geared up for a city of 1m people and the standard of driving is truly appalling.

I have been to Wellington twice and I really like it as a city. However both occasions I have been there it has been very windy and I am not sure I could cope with that on a regular basis. The airport does tend to close quite a lot as well because of adverse weather conditions. But it is a really nice compact city.

All I know of Christchurch is it is dry (because of the effect of the Sthrn Alps and the Canterbury Plains or something) and it is a beautiful city from memory. The main downside I have heard is that it does have a bit of a smog problem and asthma is quite prevalent, I think something to do with Christchurch being in a bit of a basin.

This will no doubt start a heated debate as every place has its good points and bad points. Personally, if I could, I would not choose to live in Akl, a city of 1m people is just too big for me but my job makes it difficult for me to go anywhere else.

[Carol]

All I can say is......

Welly rocks!
:cheers