[Malin]

Hi,

big surprise, miracle, whatever: Michaels telephone-interview was successful and we received yesterday an e-mail: they offer him the job! After all this time! Back in January we decided to relocate as tourists and to look in NZ for a job, booked our flights for the 31st of May, ... and now, just 14 more days to go and in the meantime the strong believe that it is impossible to find a job from Germany in NZ: :clap

But: how is Rotorua? We have never been there (even not in NZ) before. Are there areas where it's better not to live? I have been reading in other postings about the smell and many many tourists ... does anyone know here how are the prices for renting a house?

We have a son, 11 yrs and I am sometimes a bit anxious .. :uhoh .

Malin
(very relieved and excited and really not able to think about correct english today ... :raebanana )

[Nienke]

Don't know anything about Rotorua, been here only for 2 weeks, but wanted to say congratulations with the job! :clap

[Lupin]

Malin, I haven't lived there but my sister inlaw did for 18 months and we visited her. It smells by the lake, but not really anywhere else. We were staying in her house and although we visited thermal areas etc, I didn't really notice many tourists. I **really** liked Rotorua. My sister in law really love it there and only moved back because she's a medic and wanted to do surgical training. When we were there rents and house prices compared very favourably to other areas too.

Congratulations on the job offer :)

[willsken]

We only spent a couple of days there but as much as it is quite touristy it's not that busy. We really liked it there and some of the places on the outskirts were really really beautiful.

I would do a bit of research into secondary schools if I was you. I have read that there are some difficulty with the Maori students. Having said that I work in a secondary school in the UK and deal with many many disaffected kids. So how serious the problem actually is I don’t know. Look and see this list of schools. http://www.indexnz.com/City/Bay-of-Plenty/Rotorua/Schools It seems there are many decent schools available. You should get an indication from the write ups, the higher the rating the more well off the catchments area of the school.

[Jules]

Hi Malin

We live in Rotorua and it is a beautiful place!!!! Yes it does smell in some areas but you soon get use to it (we dont smell it anymore)

As for tourist, no it isnt that busy really, you only notice them when you are down by the lake front.

There are about 12 lakes round the area, we have been to most of them.

As for renting, when we first came we rented for $175 per week (the house was horrible tho) now we are in a nice area and renting a Lockwood for $275 per week. It just depends on where you rent, obviously there are the not so nice areas where the rent can be really cheap, if you want any info on the areas just pm me.

Jules

[ruthyroo]

Hi Malin

Congratulations and good luck for the rollercoaster ahead!

We lived in Rotorua for 18 months when we first came to NZ. Mr Rr is a teacher and I worked for local government.

Good points: very scenic area - we had a house on the shores of Lake Tarawera with a view of the volcano - fantastic place to live, property is relatively cheap, central for visiting the rest of the NI, loads of recreational opportunities especially with the lakes, well-serviced town for its size (thanks to the tourist $$$), strong Maori culture (so you really feel you are living on a Pacific Island rather than England on Sea!), really interesting geography / geology and I loved all the steaming vents / bubbling mud pools / sulphur pits in the middle of town - and the spin off benefits of the spa pools! Most people get used to it very quickly, and it's only strong in the centre of town.

Bad points: relatively / perceived high crime rate, relatively large / poor Maori population and all the negative social implications of people living in poverty, relatively high gang presence and occasional trouble, racial divide, town can feel kinda agressive at times, especially at night (though the liquor ban in the city centre has helped heaps). The social problems do spill over into the schools, especially those located in the poorer parts of town - Mr R regularly came home with tales of pitched battles, gang warfare spilling over into the playground as the kids played out their parents rivalries, lack of motivation, drug problems etc. But as always, kids that are well supported at home can rise above this - and many do. Just be aware that it might be a bit of a culture shock, especially if your son goes straight into secondary / high school. Maybe if you are over here soon he can get into primary / intermediate, and settle in before making the jump to secondary.

To summarise, I enjoyed most of our time in Rotorua. Living by the lakes, enjoying a good lifestyle etc. We were both working, no kids so had plenty cash to basically have a nice middle class life. But Mr Rr was constantly brought back down to earth in his daily encounters with the other side of Rotorua at school. So it was definitely time to move on when we did.

PS. when we arrived and were looking for a rental, we asked an estate agent to mark on a map where we defintiely shouldn't look at renting - her wee map was very helpful in avoiding some of the dodgier areas... lcoal knowledge is always best.

[Malin]

Thank all of you!
On one hand you make me feeling better - it is very nice to hear, that people moved there and love it!

I heard about the difficulties there and they make me worried mostly because of my son. I was already thinking about the catholic school there, even if we are not catholic at all.
My idea was (at least until this morning) it might be better to send him to a school where he doesn't need to change again in two years? For a small german boy it's a very big step to go, his english is good for his age, but he is really scared (very understandable).

It is difficult for me to imagine how present these things are, especially in schools. Now I am sure we'll manage it to find a house in a nice surrounding, but I need to know him feeling good and secure at school... he is not one of these strong resistant kids. (I sound probably like a clucking hen, but I guess you'll understand my worries...). Difficulties in the beginning are natural and usual, but I want them so small as possible, of course.
Am I allowed to choose a school or is it dependend on the area where we live?

Regards from a warm and rainy Germany
Malin
(who still needs ages to write in a way that it looks english - at least to me :yes .... )

[Avalon]

Regards from a warm and rainy Germany
Malin
(who still needs ages to write in a way that it looks english - at least to me :yes .... )

Malin - your english is better than that of most English people :nice1 Especially typing on a forum.

Congratulations - and any anxiety you feel can be relieved by a visit to the Polynesian Spa.

I hope you enjoy living in NZ.

[Malin]

Thanks Avalon, my self-confidence when it comes to language (and some other things, but not all ;) ) is more or less somewhere deep in the basement: this is why I always excuse and mention it ...
Malin

[zardell]

Thanks Avalon, my self-confidence when it comes to language (and some other things, but not all ;) ) is more or less somewhere deep in the basement: this is why I always excuse and mention it ...
Malin


If you are teaching your son English, believe me that lad of yours will have no worries whatsoever.

Your command of our (sometimes ridiculous) language is superb and your grammar to be commended.

I personally find foreign languages very difficult (so difficult in fact, that I give up) so I applaud you and others like you. :clap

Julie

xx

[Malin]

You won't believe it, but while I was reading your posting my husband looked at me (from time to time he does that :laugh ) and said: what are you looking for, you are blushing! (he probably thought about something else...).
But even if I really didn't want to fish for compliments - thank you! It gives me a feeling of being in the ground floor, at least for today!

My son learns english from The Rasmus, Beatles and a small part hopefully in his bilingual class at school :yes .

Malin

[Smiler]

My son learns english from The Rasmus, Beatles and a small part hopefully in his bilingual class at school :yes .

Malin

What a great way to learn english. :clap

[theoptom]

Hi

I'm not sure if this the right place for this post as it covers a couple of points, but here goes

My OH and I have just secured jobs in Rotorua, can anyone advise us on the nicer/prettier areas in which we can rent, say within 20mins drive or so of the town centre?

next question...

We love the 'great outdoors' and plan to spend much time exploring remote areas, walking skiing mountain bikes etcetc, do we need a 4x4 to access these types of places?

thanks in advance

[ruthyroo]

Anywhere out by lakes Okareka and Tarawera are probably the most scenic - Tarawera especially. No services, no shops, one (good) cafe / bar / restaurant at Tarawera (we used to kayak from our house to it for breakfast at the weekend). Lots of native bush and a big brooding volcano to help you keep your perspective on life. Okareka is about 10 mins from town, Tarawera about 20. Both communities tend to be white, middle class and affluent. Some rental properties tend to not be available over the summer months - the owners will want to use them for holidays etc, so make sure you check it's a year round let. Prices to buy out here are hiiiiiigh by local standards - but there are a lot of properties available.

Ngongataha is popular with a lot of immigrants - small town to the north west of Rotorua, has good shopping and services. Mixed community. Not all that scenic.

Lake Rotoiti, Rotoma and Rotoehu are east of Rotorua town, maybe 20-30 minutes drive. A bit cheaper that Tarawera / Okareka, probably becuase of the higher maori population in this area. Not as scenic, but still good for access to the lakes.

4X4 - you won't need it for most roads, they tend to be gravelled and graded if not sealed - but if you really want to get off road a 4X4 will make it easier.

[Brad77]

Hello. I was offered a teaching position in Rotorua yesterday after a long telephone interview. After all the planning, hoping and praying and the initial excitement of finally having a job in NZ I am feeling a little scared! I have visited Rotorua (for 1 day last year) but never thought I would live there. To move from a city of 5 million to a small town will be quite an adjustment. I am happy to see that there are others in my position on these forums.

Thanks for all the good advice.