[Ishi26]

Hi Guys and gals - Happy New Year to all.

Need some urgent help as moving to New Zealand is imminent. :raebanana

I have a job offer which can be based either in Auckland or Wellington but we can't make up our minds as to which one to go for. The new employer needs to know my decision within the next 10 days.

What are the pluses and minuses for both of these places? Which is better - weatherwise, propertywise etc etc??

Thanks for your help.

Regards

Ishi26

[pleccy2000]

My vote goes for Welly.

[gil]

Hi ishi26, great position to be in!
Have you looked at the "Location" section of this forum? There's loads of pros and cons for both places.
Whilst we have not yet been over to NZ in person, for what it's worth, we feel more drawn to Auckland based on all our research.
I'm sure plenty more folk will add their views, so good luck!
Gil

[sizzlingbadger]

I would go for Wellington as well.

[Smiler]

Wellington :raebanana

[Avalon]

Wellington!

We had the same choice (twice as it happens now). Wellington was just more "us". Its a much smaller city which suits us. It has a great atmosphere which i found lacking in Auckland. I also prefer the waterfront in Welly. The harbour and oriental bay is just wonderful for walking along at luchtime or sitting on the wall for a picnic. Auckland just disnt seem to really have that.

If you think a bigger city would be better for you - its auckland, but if you after somewhere a bit smaller and with what is supposed to be the best coffee culture in nz (which sold me) its Welly.

Also - welly has The Chocolate Fish Cafe. No matter what Auckland has to offer - it doesnt have that!

Good luck!

[Going2NZ]

Let's hear it for The Chocolate Fish!! But seriously, I have to agree that Wellington gets my vote.

Maybe if you can tell us what you are looking for, we can give you a better idea of which would suit you better. After all, we all have our own preferences and the perfect place for one person might be pure misery for another.

[kiwidebs]

I personally like Wellington but will be moving to Auckland cos that's where my family is and they are the reason we are moving to NZ!!

But check out this link.
http://tinyurl.co.uk/gvtk

Debs

[jubjub]

I have not been to Welly, but it all looks a bit hilly for me! We are in Auckland and are happy here for now, however there was an article in the NZ Herald you may wish to peruse...

Wellington 'one of most boring places on earth'

01.01.06 1.00pm
By Nicholas Moody and Ann Newbery


Hamiltonians can breathe a sigh of relief. Wellington - and not the perennially slated Waikato town - has been labelled New Zealand's most boring city.

At least that's according to English author Adam Russ, whose new book 101 Places Not To Visit: The Essential Guide To The World's Most Miserable, Ugly, Boring and Inbred Destinations offers Wellington as its only New Zealand destination to avoid.

Our capital city rates four out of five stars in the boredom rankings, making it the equal of Adamstown on Pitcairn Island (where the "most likely cause of death is declining a marriage proposal") and Sofia in Bulgaria (renowned for "buildings so ugly that even the Nazis couldn't be bothered to raze them to the ground").

Fans of the UK television series The Office will, however, be glad to know that Slough - home of fictional boor David Brent - beat the Windy City with a five-star rating. Just like the "overgrown village" that is Australia's insect-plagued Brisbane.

Not surprisingly, Mr Russ's opinion of our negligible cultural heritage and main attractions - shearing contests, apparently - isn't shared by many Wellingtonians.

Wade Lipsham from Sandwiches, a live music venue in Wellington, described the rating as "absolutely ridiculous. He's obviously judging our culture without coming here." Mr Lipsham said Wellington music acts such as Fat Freddy's Drop and Shapeshifter were having an impact on the world stage.

"From a musical point of view he's well off the mark," he said.

Fair Go's Kevin Milne, who has lived in the Wellington region for three decades, was surprised at Russ's inference that Wellingtonians didn't know how to make proper hamburgers.

"That is one of the reasons that Wellington is a great place," he said with pride.

"People in Wellington like beetroot in their burgers. They like to be different. They don't like to follow the same old formula that may succeed every-where else."

Mr Milne also said Wellington was undoubtedly "the thinking person's city".

Though the TV host regularly flies to Auckland to film his top-rating consumer show, "it would take billions of dollars for me to move elsewhere, like Auckland," he said.

Actress Geraldine Brophy has lived in every major New Zealand city and was happy to defend the city she's called home for the past two years.

She said Wellington was a "fantastic city", especially for the arts, and thought the London-based author might well have suffered from a case of sour grapes.

"I think perhaps somebody didn't get quite the service in a cafe bar that they might have wanted while they were writing the book," she said.

Ginette McDonald, who achieved fame as 80s icon Lyn of Tawa, said she had nothing but the highest praise for her stomping ground.

"I cannot speak more highly of a place that is nestled in the valley with the women's prison at one end and the old psychiatric hospital at the other. There's a lovely symmetry to it. "

Chris Lamers, general marketing manager at Positively Wellington Tourism, admitted he was initially put out when he read Russ' lowdown on Wellington, but was no longer so concerned after reading the rest of the book.

"We're happy to crow from the rooftops when we succeed, so one tongue-in-cheek piece isn't going to ruin the world."

It was better to be spoken about than not spoken about at all, he said.

"With people like Cate Blanchett singing our praises and King Kong premieres I don't think we need to worry."

[pleccy2000]

Wellington 'one of most boring places on earth' ?? More boring than Dargaville?

Each to their own.

[Biddy]

Absolutely Positively Wellington!

[Ishi26]

Thank you all for the info - it really was enlightening.

Personally, I am not really fussed about where I am based. However, with 2 kids (son 9 years and daughter 12 years) and a wife in tow, I have to consider the following:

1) Schooling (both my kids are in top groups for all subjects and have been ranked as "gifted and talented"). I am therefore keen to ensure that continuity is maintained in NZ and therefore good school is important.

2) Location - we currently live in Milton Keynes which is clean, full of greenery, open space and my wife is hoping to move to a similar environment. Whilst MK is ranked as a city (unofficially), it is small enough and rather more pleasant than say London or Manchester.

3) Climate - We prefer the warmer climate.

Hope the above helps.

I appreciate it is a tall order but any suggestion would be welcomed.

Once again thanks for all your comments.

Regards

Ishi

[irishgirl]

Also - welly has The Chocolate Fish Cafe. No matter what Auckland has to offer - it doesnt have that!

Probably WAY too late posting a reply to this thread, but if for no other reason, you have to move to Wellington because of the TCFC!! Smiler will back me up on this too!

My vote goes to Wellington, but then I am biased!

Hope decision-making went well!

Good luck


Dee

[Smiler]

Not too late, I'm here a backin' you up!:laugh


D x

[xanctus]

3) Climate - We prefer the warmer climate.

If this segment is very important, then Auckland is definately warmer I think.
As for Schooling, I guess Carol can give some inputs as she knows better school system. :D

[jubjub]

Auckland Grammar school is, I think, meant to be the best in the country, its boys only, and costs a fortune to buy a house in the school zone! There is a girls equivalent, heres the links

http://www.ags.school.nz/
http://www.aggs.school.nz/

there are also excellent schools in east Auckland, MacLeans for one

http://www.macleans.school.nz/

the climate is here is nice and warm too, although a bit humid, its 25 degrees today, and I feel a bit sticky!:o

We lived in East Kilbride which is a scottish version of Milton Keynes, and have found Auckland fine for us, lots of open spaces, parks etc. And the best bit, every junction is not a roundabout. But you do need a car to get out and about further afield.

We have visited North Shore which is apparently another area with good schools, it seems perfectly nice, but unless you work over there the commute into Auckland over the bridge can be a nightmare, cant really tell you much more than that.

[Ishi26]

Hi

Thanks once again for all your help and especially to Sal for her details on school.

Kind regards

Ishi

PS will let you know which place I decide - still in the proces sof sorting out nitty gritty with the employer.

[dave k]

No contest....WELLINGTON!!

As for the guy who wrote that it's one of the most boring cities in the world, I simply can't believe that he's talking about the same city that I live in.
Utterly ridiculous.

[Avalon]

So far that's:

Wellington: 9 "you have to live here"'s

Auckland: 3 "its great" and 2 positive comments.


Welly Wins! :clap

[Smiler]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c75/smiler127/emoticons/ole.gif



D x

[Avalon]

Awww - how cute.



Ok, im gonna stop following you round now and go and sit on the balcony.

[andersonclan]

It has to be Wellington. Small and intimate v large and sprawling. Weathers good - warm but not too hot (don't need to spend a fortune running air conditioning) - much better than the UK. Schools - some excellent ones in the area - state and private. The following link covers all NZ schools

http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/

Plenty to see and do - great rugby, great facilities.

Good public transport facilities not like Auckland. Plenty of clean gree open space. Much less noise and pollution in city centre than Auckland.

Housing and cost of living cheaper.

South Island is only a ferry ride away.

Margaret

[Jonathon1977]

After visiting both I will place a vote for Welly.

Jonathon

[Amerikiwi]

Most kiwis will tell you there`s New Zealand and then there`s Auckland, which 90% of non-Aucklander kiwis despise with a passion. Wellington`s definitely a prettier city and more relaxed, less congested, etc., which probably means a nicer lifestyle to most people. In my case, I operate a home service/repair business and 95% of the work we do is one day, in and out. So we basically need to visit 300+ homes or businesses per year in order to remain busy. I`m not too sure I could do that in a city with a population which is 1/3rd the size of Auckland`s, which describes both Wellington and Christchurch, the 2nd and 3rd next largest cities in N.Z. So I suppose a lot depends upon what you do for a living... if not for my situation, though, I`m sure I`d be tempted to try Wellington out myself, just for that small(er) town feel.

[starkhorn]

At the moment we are thinking about which city to land at when we arrive in NZ. For me it's Wellington simply because the south island is only a ferry ride away. Just remember it's not called the Windy city for northing though. :)

However we are considering Auckland as well mainly due to the University in Auckland seems to be very good and likeihood that there are more IT jobs in Auckland than Wellington....although I'm still researching this point.

But I agree it's a tough call to make.

Cheers
Starkhorn

[Carol]

Wellington 'one of most boring places on earth'


Mr Milne also said Wellington was undoubtedly "the thinking person's city".



hmm....

When I lived in Newcastle - possibly the BEST part of it was the fact that tourists "passed through" it on their way to Edinburgh or wherever from the south.
Not many loitered........

I loved that.

I love Wellington for many many reasons.
Most of all it's compactness and its cosmopolitan ure.

Auckland .......... not for me.
Ugly. Too busy and far FAR too many suburbs for my liking.

[sarahw]

WELLINGTON no contest!

Wellington being boring? - the person who wrote this obviously hasn't been here - or took a wrong turning before he arrived here! Movie-making business is here, tonnes of free things going on every weekend in the city - we've just had a load of nightly concerts in the botanic gardens, X-Air games, Chinese New Year, Sevens Rugby, etc...

The bars & restaurants & coffee houses (not to mention the Lighthouse Cinema in Petone & the Embassy in the city) are fab & you don't pay near as much for property as Auckland. Also far more greenery close to the city whereas I feel Auckland is a bit of an urban sprawler for my liking.

A Kiwi once told me there's a reason we have windy days here - its to keep the Aucklander's out!! ;o)

[Arclite]

So where did you go ?

Arc

[suzer]

which is the best for jobs though?

[Carol]

Depends on what job.



Oh hang on - no it doesnt.
Nope Welly wins no matter what.
;) :laugh

[suzer]

Depends on what job.



Oh hang on - no it doesnt.
Nope Welly wins no matter what.
;) :laugh

lol

IT for him

Conferencing/events/tourism for me

[Carol]

lol

IT for him

Conferencing/events/tourism for me


Welly all the way girl!
(seriously!!):cheers

[suzer]

Welly all the way girl!
(seriously!!):cheers

really? i'm concerned about getting some good experience in my field---had thought auckland would be better, but if wellington is just as good, i'm up for it.

oh you're living there---yr biased;)

[Carol]

well.....a tad.
:D

My hubby is in IT too...... had to come to Welly as he is a Mainframer.
I could have worked anywhere as a teacher - but I loved Welly from the moment I set eyes on the place.

Just as well really!

Been here 10 years now.

[suzer]

well.....a tad.
:D

My hubby is in IT too...... had to come to Welly as he is a Mainframer.
I could have worked anywhere as a teacher - but I loved Welly from the moment I set eyes on the place.

Just as well really!

Been here 10 years now.

long time:) i still need to do some research on whether a can find a decent job there. figured he'd be able to find something just about anywhere, as long as we're not in podunk;)

[The Hodges]

Ishi26,

Can’t you give one a go and if you don’t like it, change. The following was in the Metro (London free paper this week) www.wellington.govt.nz and so may be a sign.

Trouble is, or may be a blessing, as I understand it there are no international flights to Welly airport, only Auckland and Christchurch.

I know people that have settled in both Welly and Auck and so it is personal preference, but you’d be better off deciding once you’ve landed.

[xanctus]

Ishi26,

Trouble is, or may be a blessing, as I understand it there are no international flights to Welly airport, only Auckland and Christchurch.


I think this is the first capital city of a country where no international flights in and out for my experience. (I know, some flight goes to Australia and some of the islands, but not serving to other major cities/countries). Maybe this thing is one of the unique element of Wellington.

[suzer]

I would think flights within Wellington wouldn't be that expensive and it isn't far from Auckland, which is where we're flying into.

[sarahw]

Yeah we don't allow international flights to come to Welly to keep the riff raff out!! :o)

Seriously, the plan (eventually) is that Welly will become an international airport - (my OH is working on the construction job) they are extending runway & updating & expanding terminals so that they can take more international flights... from places like Far East etc.

To be honest I'd prefer it if they didn't - although it can be a pain when you're taking a 27 hour flight to have to take another 1 hour flight, I like that remoteness. Plus the place we travel to the most is Australia & they have direct flights with 2 airlines so suits us well. As it is the airport is a relaxing place to be & I'm not sure it will be so much when international flights start coming in.

[jess]

As it is the airport is a relaxing place to be & I'm not sure it will be so much when international flights start coming in.

Yes. As it is now it reminds me of a small Virginia airport (before 9/11). So low key and relaxed, and with a portrait of Peter Jackson made out of toast! What more could you ask for really. :)

[Rose]

This will be too late for the original question, but I have lived in both places and have some comments. Some people say Auckland and Wellington are like Sydney and Melbourne and there's something to it:

Auckland:

Much higher average temperature.
Can be very humid.
More of a beach culture.
Lively Pacific feel eg Pasifika festival.
Lots of ethnic food.
Pretty awful transport - public and private.
Fantastic, quite built-up harbour.
Struggling to create a pleasant city centre.
Various socialising centres including Parnell, Ponsonby.
Can be a struggle to leave on a Friday night because of the traffic.
Can feel claustrophobic because it is so spread out and pooly planned. You will need a car and you will sit in a lot of jams.
Great volcanos to climb.
Close to Piha and other wonderful west coast beaches.
Close-ish to escapes such as the Coromandel Peninsula, Northland etc.
Has sprawl.
Entertaininig browsing: Avondale Market, Otara Market.

Wellington

Pretty awful climate. Believe everything you hear about the wind.
You are never far from a bit of wilderness because the tops of the hills are protected.
Houses often have wonderful views because of their hillside location.
Fantastic, wild harbour.
Easy access to wine growing regions and places like Nelson, the Wairarapa
A better class of drunk on a Friday night (thanks to the govt depts)
Located on an active fault line
Great arts festival.
Very compact downtown area that you can walk around easily.
You are more likely to be able to walk to work.
Good bus system that is well used.
Feels safer than Auckland.
Good international community because of the embassies etc.
Wonderful cafe scene.
Kapiti Coast is a good place to escape.
Has flair.

[suzer]

well, i'd much rather have wind than humidity. otherwise, wellington sounds better on most counts!