[Tara Sage]

Well it is all here :yes

All in one piece just having probs with DVD's Playstation etc :(

MAF inspected pushbikes etc but no problems :yes

[Moorf]

Woz is going to post you some info on the PS2.. not sure what though!

Great to see your furniture has turned up all in one peice, must be LOVELY to finally have your things about you....

When does the housebuilding start?

Moorf

[Tara Sage]

Not sure when, it is still our intention, but will wait till we get PR!!

How are things going with the house hunting?

Take Care

Tara

[Diny]

Hi Tara

Who did you use and how long did it take.

Diny

[Tara Sage]

We used Bishops move they were great and the moving company was fab this end although we sent the furniture groupage so it took a long time. 3 months from packing in UK to arrival, but it took a long time for them to find someone for us to share a container with.

No breakages!!! would recommend them just try to fill own container it would ba a lot quicker

Tara :P

[Diny]

Thanks for that Tara ... will get onto them for a quote I think.

Diny

[Annierobrigado]

hi anyone,

just would like to know if wicker furniture or wood is okay to bring to new zealand, would it withstand the colder climate, since they are more suited to tropical weather? wicker would look so nice against the backdrop of blue lakes or seas or green meadows and hills, but most of the houses i see on the internet have leather sofas and chairs, so i wondered if it had something to do with the climate.

thanks

:cheers
annie

[Diny]

Hi Annie - how you doing?

The shipping companies I got quotes from all said that it's not a good idea to take any wicker furniture with us. By all accounts if the customs people see wicker items on the manifest they will almost certainly require the container to be opened and all wicker items to be 'treated'. However, if you don't mind this happening then it's certainly possible to take your wicker with you.

As for any worries about the climate harming your furniture, I very much doubt you'd experience any problems, unless wicker patio furniture was left in the rain of course.

Diny

[Terry&Sophie]

3 months! :eek How do you cope without furniture for 3 months?

Is it better to send the stuff out in advance and suffer without it in the UK, or send it just before you go then cope without it in NZ?

I think we're looking at a long wait too because we won't have enough for a full container.

Sophie

[veronica]

You just make do, and its not necessarily 3 months, our daughters stuff arrived door to door 4 weeks to Auckland and our stuff arrived just over 5 weeks to Chch. Trudie and steve bought a garden table and chairs, (which they weren't bringing over) blow up mattress, bedding and essential crocks and pots. we did similar and I bet most of the folks here have done that too. Its amazing what you don't actually 'need'.

[richsadams]

Hi Annie :cool

Good questions...ones that we should have asked before we left as we got rid of some things that we could have imported. :no We brought both wicker and wood furniture and even some of those faux trees made out of real trees with silk leaves attached. No treatment was required. Since we arrived we've seen others have posted with the same experience. If it's actual furniture the MAF is not concerned. It's those decorator type objects from foreign lands that worries them as there are certain nasty bugs that like to call them home.

Simply declare any wicker, rattan or cane furniture on your import paperwork (usually supplied by the removal company) and you should be fine. The MAF may or may not have a look but if they do it's usually very quick and polite. :booby If in doubt, simply e-mail the MAF, they are very good at responding. :yes

Or if you're in need of replacements there are many stores here that carry wicker, rattan and all manner of wood furniture.

Regarding the climate, it depends on where you end up living and where you keep things. This is a sub-tropical set of islands and the elements (sun, rain and wind) can do some damage to things left outside. But if cared for properly and perhaps covered when not in use, your things should be just fine. :nice1

Our belongings took about 2 months to arrive from the U.S. We simply rented a furnished home for a few months. That also gave us plenty of time to look around and find the right house in the right place...highly recommended!

[Tanya]

Our goods and car are being loaded onto the container at our house next friday but it won't arrive in CHCH until boxing day!!
:wah
There are big holdups in Southampton and it will have to sit at the port here for 3 weeks before it can leave. It then arrives over the xmas holidays and we have to pay demurrage charges in CHCH because they are not there to sort the container out. :no

We think we won't actually get our stuff until the middle of Jan. Poor kids will have none of their toys over the summer before school starts :wah

Tanya

[Junnifer USA]

Hello,
I hve been reading your posts with great interest. We are hoping to be there by February.

Is furniture really that expensive there? And, how about either used (but in good condition) as you would find in a consignment shop or when an estate is being sold out? Is even that so expensive? For example, in the US I can buy nice cocktail tables for the sofa area, perhaps in mahogany, from as estate, in excellent condition for $100 - $130 US. Or, a child's bedroom set (single bed - frame and head board, 1 bureau) in wood, very good condition $100 US. = approx NZ 150.

I just bought a brand new 4" long wood and wrought iron sofa table for US$100. It is made of dard distressed wood with a top that is on hinges and lifts for storage. Very nice. Med-heavy weight.

Could you tell me how you find these prices to compare?

[veronica]

I can't say how these things compare but generally second hand is expensive. if I get time later I will have a look through the BUY, SELL & EXCHANGE paper and see. Try looking under the www.traderpoint.co.nz website, I think that is the electronic version.

[Diny]

Veronica

Thanks for that link to a brilliant web site. There I was thinking I had all the useful sites I needed when up pops another one. Pakeha Boy will be especially pleased with it because they a section with over 3000 boats in it.

Thanks again.

Diny

[richsadams]

Hi Junnifer,

Veronica is right, used anything is expensive here compared to the U.S. You could add another 25% to 50% more for the price of the items you listed. There are good deals to be had, but you won't find them in second hand stores.

Bring whatever you need and you should be ahead in the long run...plus you'll have the things you're comfortable with. It's always nice to have some "home away from home" once you get here! ;)

[Annierobrigado]

Thanks rich. would like to bring as much as i can so i don't have to spend too much during our first few months there. we could bring those folding things or the air beds that you can fit in a duffel bag...heehee.

if second hand is expensive there, then i guess i would wait till i save up some dollars for new things.

thank you all for your input!

annie

[Tara Sage]

Terry&SOphie

You just cope the 3 months just flew by, we borrowed a few bits off people we know and now have a box of goodies to pass onto the next people who arrive with nothing!

I know that there are companies that you can rent furniture from if you need too but we met people who had a spare bed and they leant it to us for a while I guess we were lucky :P