[KD17]

Theres a lot of excellent threads about what various places are like, but can anyone say from their time in NZ what are the places to avoid?

coming over totally cold, we don't want to get caught out in an unwelcome neighbourhood, and having travelled a little I know part of it is knowing where not to go.

No specific part of NZ, just wherever you have experience of.



Keith & Debby

Our journey begins...

[Carol]

Porirua wouldn't be my first choice......
Whitby (5 mins drive away) is lovely though.

[smitjo]

Does anyone have any idea what Plimmerton is like? We are staying there for our first few weeks in Welly!

[Carol]

Does anyone have any idea what Plimmerton is like? We are staying there for our first few weeks in Welly!

It's lovely!!

Has the cutest shops - fab indian restaurant - two other really good restaurants - good hairdresser - train station on main line into Welly - brilliant school and kindy - but best of all right on the beach with fantastic views. (And equally fantastic wind!!)
Hence a favourite spot for Windsurfing.

I go there every Friday with my class to use Plimmerton School's Technology Centre.

Would I live there?
Yes - but prices to buy are high because of views.
Renting would be good for a while though.....

[wilson182]

We went to Welly for a few days after christmas last year ( turns out I have cousins there) and we travelled down to Porrirua.....On the only day that had Torrential rain and hurricane winds (we wanted to look at the police museum) Everything was shut, so we ended up in the local KFC. We asked the young guys in there what to do on a rainy day in Porrirua and they said....

Err......nothing!!!!

Personally, I dont fancy the idea of living in Auckland... We came from quite a big city and didnt like the idea of swapping one for another.

[Danpoll]

Dunedin, and the far south in general, full of gap tooth farming simpletons. pretty to look at though.

Dan

[Carol]

Everything was shut, so we ended up in the local KFC. We asked the young guys in there what to do on a rainy day in Porrirua and they said....

Err......nothing!!!!
.

awwww...I would have met you for a cuppa!!!!
:D

There is actually loads to do......
I just wouldnt want to live there.

[Diny]

So many wonderful places in NZ. Our future plans will take us up to the Coromandel Peninsular, Northland is fab - and Bay Of Islands (IMHO) knocks the rest of NZ into a cocked hat. For the here and now we're in the Manawatu - very agricultural and off the beaten track but getting us ahead in leaps and bounds. Wouldn't like to think we'll be in this area for ever but hubby and I always have a 'plan', ours is to stay here a little while longer, get a couple of more rentals under our belts and then move on. Bearing all of this in mind there's no better place for us in NZ 'at the moment'.

If I had to mention one place I wouldn't want to live in NZ, it would have to be Christchurch. I accept the explanation that there must have been a high wind on rubbish collecting day (hmmmmm) but it still struck us as being the litter capitol of NZ.

Diny

[Avalon]

My list would be:

Wainuoimata (Round the back of Eastbourne / lower hutt)
Upper hutt
Porirua
Palmerston North
New Plymouth
Wiararapa north of Masterton
Anywhere thats a Suburb.

Only really counts NI obviously as thats the bit ive seen more of.

[adamsat]

No 1 on my list would be Huntly

[StevieD]

And it must be remembered that these are opinions of course :) As we know, one man's meat etc....

[Moorf]

Timaru...

[KD17]

And it must be remembered that these are opinions of course

for sure, we all see the world differently. :)

It's interesting that not many have said the same place.

I think I was really coming from the perspective of if it's a troublesome area, not so much whether you like it or not, for example, when I was last in New York (very many years ago) it was well known not to go into the Bronx area as that would surely be trouble.

From the replies so far it does seem to be more a matter of opinion about the area and not so much the area itself, which is interesting.



Keith & Debby

[Avalon]

Except there does seem to be consensus that Porirua aint a great place

[mark & Heather]

glad no-ones mentioned Nelson in here :)

[StevieD]

:laugh :laugh

[wilson182]

OH firm had the contract to errect the new Mitre 10 in Nelson last year, and he had to stay up there, so by default my daughter and I got to have a couple of nice long weekends up there. We are going up for a few days after xmas this year, loved Kaiteriteri (though not technically Nelson) and the able tasman park

xx

[katandbob]

everyone has their own opinions...personally I think it depends on your preferences..ie are you a towny or a villager?? we are still making our minds up...currently in Dunedin.

and going to carry on touring for a while before making up our minds, plus a few days here and there will not give you a full picture of the places, you have to spend a bit longer to get a feel to a place....for instance It was freezing in Sumner but its warm in Dunedin at present....also seems a bit deserted for a uni town...but then again maybe they all went home for the weekend...Ha ha

Kat

[Arclite]

Why not Upper Hutt or Upper Hutt valley ?

Arc

[Diny]

Kat - now I'm confused !!!! I thought you were going to be in Sumner for a month or so at the rental? Dunedin? Have you decided Sumner wasn't for your or what?

Hope you're enjoying the trip anyway - keep us posted.

Diny

[pleccy2000]

What makes me laugh is that when you approach Poriua on SH1 (northboud) the sign says "Poriua... Amazing" (or something like that).

Talk about false advertising.

The only reason I ever went there was to go to the mall or the craft shop (it's quite big).

[Charlosparky]

Well reading this thread puts me at ease. I have a job offer in Porirua but i have a brother-in-law in Whangarei Northland and hope to have a job offer there by the time we get there in Sept. Even if i dont then we may try to settle in Whangarei and i may have to work away in auckland for a bit- hope not though, had enough of that in the UK. Having said that, bits of Whangarei have been mentioned on here before such as Rumanga and Tikipunga being not so great to live in.

[Big Puku]

Mine would be:

Wellington central (just 'cos it's too busy)
Wainuiomata
Petone
Porirua central (lived in Plimmerton and it's pretty good)
Wairarapa (unless you have 3 eyes & don't like your kids)

but then again I do like Upper Hutt (not Maori bank tho) Palmerston North & New Plymouth.

[sizzlingbadger]

Wairarapa (unless you have 3 eyes & don't like your kids)

Hey, hey, the Wairarapa is a fantastic place to live ... we definitely don't have 3 eyes and hate our kids (well maybe for the two week holiday we may look like that :D )

It's a great place to live just not everyone's place to be I suppose :nice1

[Avalon]

Mine would be:


Wairarapa (unless you have 3 eyes & don't like your kids)
. :D :D :D Well - I AM known to be allergic to children!

Havent grown a third eye yet though :D

[Big Puku]

haha that was quick :laugh - I'm only winding you up as you're from the "wrong" side of the hill. Don't think anywhere is much fun at the moment though :( (including the paradise that is Upper Hutt!)

Matt

[Avalon]

haha that was quick :laugh - I'm only winding you up as you're from the "wrong" side of the hill. Don't think anywhere is much fun at the moment though :( (including the paradise that is Upper Hutt!)

Matt
Make that "wet" side of the hill. :)

[sizzlingbadger]

Make that a very, very wet .... patio is looking a swimming pool or is it a drowning pool for 3 very hyper kids who won't stop eating :roll

[Smiler]

Make that a very, very wet .... patio is looking a swimming pool or is it a drowning pool for 3 very hyper kids who won't stop eating :roll

Sizz

If you want a peaceful day, throw them on a train this way.

I need a stacker (or 3) for tomorrow. 46+ steps, a cord and a half of wood will keep them quiet for a bit. ;)

I'll feed them too. All they can eat and sweetie money thrown in. Better than being thrown in the pool by a mad mum. :D

D

[sarahw]

Adam - the 'Porirua, Its Amazing' billboard coming into the area makes us laugh too - its got a picture of a windsurfer & makes it look like such an exciting place to live. However, we 'technically' live in Porirua - Paremata - which is lovely, as is Plimmerton, Cambourne, Whitby (and there is really good windsurfing at Plimmerton so the poster's not a complete lie). But there are some dodgy bits - mainly central Porirua, and certainly Cannons Creek!! Personally would avoid Ascot Park as well but some might settle there happily.

Porirua 'city' counts all of its outlying areas as part of the 'city' including Pukerua Bay which is miles away up the road & almost on Kapiti Coast. The central city itself has improved over the last few years so we've been told & I feel quite safe there on my own late at night but wouldn't want to live there or in Cannon's Creek. Basically its like a mini Bracknell (where I used to work in UK) - mainly shops, offices & roundabouts in the centre.

We go there to go food, clothes, DIY etc. shopping, for the excellent Saturday morning market, dog training classes, cinema etc. very handy to where we live & saves us going into the city. So whilst Porirua might seem an unsavoury place to live - its very handy & is a great place to live nearby (Paremata for those that don't know is about 5 mins drive away - 1 train station away). Plus, the views in the area are stunning!!

http://www.pcc.govt.nz/

[sizzlingbadger]

Thanks for the offer smiler, unfortunately bit young to get them working (5,3,2). We're off to the library for an activity this morning. Penny just loves Mr J (2) wrecking her library :D

As it's raining (again) it'll be dvds and lots of books to keep them quiet, well that's the plan, maybe thrown out of the window along with the kids by this afternoon :roll

[Smiler]

Thanks for the offer smiler, unfortunately bit young to get them working (5,3,2). We're off to the library for an activity this morning. Penny just loves Mr J (2) wrecking her library :D

As it's raining (again) it'll be dvds and lots of books to keep them quiet, well that's the plan, maybe thrown out of the window along with the kids by this afternoon :roll

Good luck. :nice1

Did you get the boat to the library? I've been looking at the flooding pics. :(

The Hutt was really high when I drove past yesterday and the harbour has turned a muddy shade of mud this morning too.

[sizzlingbadger]

Luckily it's not too bad around us, took a drive out to Martinborough and tried to get to a friend's house. Martinborough is looking really flooded and I couldn't even get to my friend's place, road closed due to flooding, just hoping that they're house is okay as they're back in the UK at the moment.

Library was fantastic kept them busy for 1 1/2, now they're sitting quietly watching a dvd.

[Diny]

It has rained solidly for the last 3 days and the Manawatu is starting to look water logged.

Thank the lord for inventing DVD'd eh - my boys are lying on a sofa each - fire roaring, watching the Incredibles.

I hear they're having scorching weather in the UK, Dad says they're having temperatures that far exceed the ones they experienced here during the summer.

I need to go to the shops in a while - I think I'll be taking the kayak !!

So - as for locations to avoid - at the moment I'd say New Zealand !!!!

Diny

[K&CS]

Oh, I don't know Diny, I actually quite like cosying in on cold wet day (having said that, we're not having the same sort of weather you are - it's just a bit drizzly here - I'm still going out for a run this evening). You just have to accept it's winter here and summer in the UK - it won't be long till spring now (and the next few days look absolutely glorious. Going down the beach again tomorrow).

Kate x

[Diny]

Yeah I know you're right - but rain rain rain - tanking down non-stop - gets you down after a while.

It's true - soon we'll be in spring and UK will be in autumn and the conversation table will be reversed - everybody going on about how the weather in NZ is far superior to anything they had back home.

Haven't looked at the forecast yet - it is due to turn nice up here too? I hope so. Got 8 people coming round for dinner tonight so I doubt I'll have a chance to watch the news.

Diny

[StevieD]

Here we go on the pom bit, talking bout the weather. Sorry to hijack the thread, but yesterday here saw flash floods and thunderstorms. Nothing unusual in that you may say, but we were so close to a lightning strike. We were visiting Jan's mum to pick some stuff up, and the storm started. It was so hot, over 30 degrees, so it was welcome relief. Well the thunder rumbled and banged and the lightning flashed, and I was happily surfing the web. Jan was talking to her mum, sitting in the bay window on the big armchair.
The next thing that happened, well all I can say is it was very scary. The room turned a reddish colour and there was a bang, like a huge firwork going off outside the window. The pc stopped, alarms sounded all over the place and there were strange popping noises outside. Time seemed to slow. Jan hasn't moved so quickly in her life, her mum shouted, and there was a burning smell.
After we had settled down, we noticed people out in the road. We peeped out then ventured out into the front to be met by June's (Jan's mum) neighbour coming out of the house. She babbled some incoherent chatter then just said that she had been struck! It seems that she was on the telephone and remembers looking out of the window at the rain. Next thing, she is the other side of the room on the floor, nursing a huge burn just inside her elbow. It was quite scary to think that we were that close to a lightning strike, and only a few minutes earlier, I was fiddling about with a Freeview box, changing aerial connections!!
Sorry to hijack the thread but had to tell someone!!

Steve

[Diny]

Yikes Stevie ......... you nearly fried eh. That sounds well scary and if it happened to me I'd still be changing my underwear !!!!!

Hope you're OK, are more so, I hope your neighbour is OK. Spoke to Mum earlier and she told me about the thunderstorms.

Diny

[StevieD]

Not spoken to June about her neighbour, but yes, it was pretty hairy I tell you!

[marcia]

don't tell my kids, they were getting all het up about being struck by lightening at the weekend when it was stormy.

Emerson bless him, kept saying 'what that mummy?' and i said ' it's only the clouds having a stock car race and crashing into each other, nothing to worry about' and he was fine then!!

Just don't tell Ayrton and Mika how close you were stevie, they'll have a fit!!

[StevieD]

OK Marcia, won't do it, just keep them away from the forum. It was scary, think it was a fireball by all accounts because there was a sort of "reddish ball" and it went right through the house next door, after having struck the poor woman.

[StevieD]

Oh, here is the newspaper article I have just found on the local news website.


Lightning strike (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/)

[Lupin]

WOW!! Lightning coming out of the phone....I'd have been terrified!!

[K&CS]

Gawd, that really is unlucky (or lucky I suppose, depends how you look at it). I didn't realise you shouldn't talk on the phone during a thunder storm! Funnily enough, I'd been commenting yesterday that we hadn't seen one single thunder storm since we came to NZ and how I love a good storm, but it kind of makes you realise how dangerous nature can be!

Diny, I hope your dinner party went well. I think the weather's improved today in your area, hasn't it? It's a lovely day here - this is the sort of NZ winter day I love - bright and sunny and I'm watching all the surfers in the sea from the balcony (who are incidentally all quite mad. They were even out on the morning when the snow came!).

Kate

[Nicola]

You could try checking out the local school deciles to find our about an area. Here is the web link http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/index.php. It usually gives you an indication, the lower the decile the more poverty in the community.