New Zealand - Christchurch....is anyone heading in from UK

Delson

21st June 2006, 09:28 PM

Hiya, Anyone heading to christchurch from the UK. If you need any help or advice, drop us a line. We would be glad to help..
Paul, Lisa and family

Hi Paul & Lisa

Hopefully that's where we will be heading. Going for a recce trip 5 weeks today, can't wait!! Very interested in "your" town so you may be getting lots of questions at a later date!! :nice1

Sonia

tonyb

21st June 2006, 10:37 PM

Hi Paul and Lisa

We are hoping to be in Christchurch by Sept. I will be working in Cashmere but would prefer to live out a bit and from the research ive done i like the look of your area and Rangiora. However i dont want to spend all day travelling ( i work shifts) I would like to know how long it would take to drive from where you are to Cashmere ( outside of rush hour ). Also, are house prices still reasonable in and around your area. Sorry for all the questions.

Regards
Tony

P.S. Can you recommend anywhere (guest house, b & b , etc) where we could stay for the first week or so in order to find our feet?. Ta

osmyth

22nd June 2006, 12:29 AM

Hello Paul and Lisa,
I was going to post this nearer the time but as you may be able to help here goes. We are going for a holiday, which I think now has turned into a recce as well, in November (in Chc for 20th-23rd), and was looking to meet up with someone for an hour or so to talk through their experiences.
Do you think this may be possible, or do you know anyone else who may be willing to oblige.
thanks very much,
Owen and Bev.

Dazza

22nd June 2006, 08:10 PM

Hiya, Anyone heading to christchurch from the UK. If you need any help or advice, drop us a line. We would be glad to help..
Paul, Lisa and family

Ditto, we are also in Kaiapoi and would be happy to help anyone if we can, just give us a shout.

susanlin

22nd June 2006, 09:53 PM

Hi

I live near Cashmere. I would be happy to meet up for a chat about my experience of life in NZ with a hubby and 2 teenage children.
I've been here over 2 years now.
I would have really appreciated someone to chat to about their experiences before I made the big move so if I can help anyone, I'd be happy to.

The forum was a huge help to me as I prepared to emigrate but face to face contact with people who had 'been there, done that' would have helped me a lot I think

Sue

osmyth

24th June 2006, 12:59 AM

Sue, thank you for the offer.
I'll be in touch nearer the time if that's ok.
cheers.

psh12001

26th June 2006, 08:52 PM

delson, No worrries , just ask away when your ready and we will answer what ever we can. Chat soon
Paul and lisa and tribe

psh12001

26th June 2006, 08:59 PM

Hiya TonyB, commute time from Kaiapoi to cashmere would be 40-45 mins. and would be about about 30 km i think. it takes me 30 mins to get to linwood and is 22 kms away, hope this helps

paul

psh12001

26th June 2006, 09:05 PM

pinkpiggy

27th June 2006, 01:10 AM

Hi, we're also hopefully headed to Christchurch when we eventually come over. We're in the process of completing our EOI at the moment but are awaiting pre-assessment of my husband's qualification before doing so. We would appreciate any advice anybody can give us about life in Christchurch.

The main questions that currently spring to mind are:

(1) What is the job market like for people with IT skills?
(2) What is the job market like for 'working' mums? I have had a variety of jobs including legal secretary, checkout operator, college administrator and latterly on a in-house IT support helpdesk for a bank.
(3) What are the best areas for primary/secondary schools? I have two boys currently 9 and 8. We would prefer to be somewhere that was within easy commute of Christchurch but that has a 'small town' / 'village' feel to it.

As you can see, I have lots of questions and any advice would be really appreciated.

coopers

28th June 2006, 03:28 AM

Hi..we are hopefully Christchurch bound very soon...just waiting for my medical to be okayed.
Have you any idea where I can find school performance reports for ChCh?
I have tried google and found the schools own websites. We have been told that Burnside high is a good school, but thats about it. So any links or own experiences would be welcome. I am going to working in Lincoln.
Thanks :nice1

psh12001

28th June 2006, 06:50 PM

pink piggy,
With regards to small towns , there are lots of suburb of christchurch that could fit the bill as do towns like Kaiapoi or Rangiora and others that are outside christchurch city. Re the jobs , Chchc is supposed to be a good place for IT and recent friends who stayed with us only last week came out to secure a job in IT and rental and obtained both with 10 days! They come over in 5 weeks for good. As for mums jobs, that shouldnt be a problem either and i think that kiwi emplyers seem to be very flexible with hours too with regards tolooking after kids as well.
As for schools , I dont really have anything bad to say about any. I dont personally believe in good schools and bad school theories. i think its within the child, not the school that makes the difference. Schools here are much more open and casual than uk schools and i dont think they have as good as resourses as uk schools do in some subjects, but they still manage to do well without all the bells and whistles.

chat soon
Paul, lisa and kids

psh12001

28th June 2006, 07:00 PM

Schools ummmmm! See my above comments and yes Burnside is one of the better schools but there are loads of them that have good reputations, but i think that lincon to burnside would be a bit of an ass each morning. Schools here have zones too, so unless in them you would need to apply or rent/ move into the zone and pay an arm and leg for the privalidge! I think you need to at more issues first before you decide on a place to live, like work, schools, leisure time activities etc as there is no fun in trecking across town every weekend or every day to do what you want to do. This is why we chose kaiapoi as its easy to get to town. Schools are good as are shops. we are close enough to the sea and motorway and yet far enough away from christchurch to have a rural aspect.... choose carefully or try before you buy, so to speak

Hope this helps

Paul lisa and kids

pinkpiggy

28th June 2006, 07:05 PM

Paul, Lisa

Thanks for the info. Great news about your friends.

Speak to you soon

coopers

29th June 2006, 02:16 AM

hi...thanks Paul and Lisa and kids!

Suppose like anywhere really then! We are being put up in Lincoln until our stuff arrives, our main concern is that our 13 yr old daughter will find the rural aspect a bit boring!

We will have I suppose about 3 months to decide. The main thing is to get the kids in school and settled.

I have been preparing myself for NZ well, morrisons are selling 750ml bottles of stienlager...yum...goes well with the football! :cheers

cheers
Andy Tracey and kids

jodieinchch

1st July 2006, 09:22 AM

hey everyone
i'm new to here. i'm 18 and moved to christchurch in february on my own. the family are planning to emigrate too, jst selling house back home, so its jst little old me at the moment. i'm in ilam/avonhead in christchurch living at the college of education studying to be an NZ teacher.
i've noticed lots different, but still love it, jst the transition part is difficult with feeling that you don't fit in in either UK or NZ. I sometimes think it would be so much easier to go back to UK bt then I realise I would just miss everyone and everything here.
Burnside High is a fantastic school, very difficult to get into though if you're not in the zone. Christchurch Boys and Girls schools are good schools too. They're all state schools. But if you were looking for private schools St Margarets, St Bedes or St Andrews are fab schools. Choices are endless.
Anyway, if I can be of help to anyone then please get in touch. Anybody know of any chch meets soon?
Jodie xxx

Andy-Dee

7th July 2006, 08:16 AM

I am also looking for a good school in Christchurch for my 6 year old - can afford private if necessary but would prefer not to. My daugher loves gymnastics and horseriding/pony club so will need good clubs over there to keep her happy. I'm sure there are loads but would appreciate peoples comments on first hand experience of any.
Hubby looking for job in IT so details of agencies and companies in that area would be great.

Dee & Andy

mossum

7th July 2006, 08:21 AM

Hi dee & andy

I grew up in Ch Ch & was a very horsy child - I used to go for long weekends etc here http://www.kowhai.co.nz/ I used to love it there .

looking forewards to returning to Ch Ch very soon - just waiting for houser to sell & then we are back home with mum for a while ........ my DH cant wait :p

vic x

edited to add this site too looks pretty good

http://www.nta.co.nz/arion.html

Andy-Dee

7th July 2006, 06:43 PM

Thanks Mossum for the link, it looks great, daughter and I both ride so quite excited by the facilities over there, hubby can't at the moment and is starting to look a bit 'bunny in headlights'.

Dee & Andy

Marie P

7th July 2006, 06:46 PM

Hi Dee and Andy ,

Just saying hello ...I'm from Warrington ....one of my friends lived in lower whitley .

Marie x

benf

7th July 2006, 09:25 PM

Hi,
My girlfriend and I have just driven down from Auckland after moving here from the UK last August. On initial impressions we really like Christchurch and we're now after a rental around the Brighton/beach area having taken our little mutt for a walk on the sand there this afternoon! We're having a bit of trouble finding many places to be honest. Is there usually much turnover of rentals in this area, and could anyone give me some pointers on the best place to look?
Thanks all,
Ben

jodieinchch

8th July 2006, 01:00 PM

when you get here if you ever need a babysitter, don't hesitate to call me :o)

psh12001

8th July 2006, 07:37 PM

didnt know you did a baby sitting service too! ill bare that in mind ...where are yo living at the moment ? are you at uni campus?

What is it your mum doesnt like about it...?

jodieinchch

8th July 2006, 10:50 PM

of course! i love kids- thats why i'm doin a teaching degree!! if i can get there, back etc, i will always be willing to babysit! yeah im in ilam at the moment, just at college of education halls, across the field from the uni campus!

Andy-Dee

10th July 2006, 09:54 AM

Marie P
Where in Warrington and what was the name of your friend in Lower Whitley - cannot believe it, its such a one horse village.

Dee
Good to know about babysitting services too

Marie P

10th July 2006, 10:17 AM

Hi Dee ,

We lived in Winwick .

My friend lived in Smithy cottage next door to the guy with the old fashioned buses ,but she moved to Higher Whitely and then to Appleton .

Marie x

Andy-Dee

11th July 2006, 05:11 AM

Hi Marie
Ooohhhh SPOOKY, we live in Wheelwright Cottage, we got it off the guy with the old fashioned buses who went bankrupt, as a mortgage reposession. Rosie and John Hutchinson are our neighbours at Smithy Cottage - is that your friend? If it is we havent shared our plans with anyone here yet - so mums the word.

Spooky, spooky, spooky
Dee

Marie P

11th July 2006, 08:13 AM

No they moved out years ago in Appleton now .

Do you have a garden around the corner too ?

Marie x

Andy-Dee

11th July 2006, 10:48 AM

No our garden is at the back but have to admit the layout for the cottages is wacky, when we moved in the old coach port was still standing but have demolished that now so garden is quite big.
Best thing about living here is the village school, but with only 87 pupils not sure how long it will remain viable. Where in Winwick did you live?

Dee & Andy

katandbob

12th July 2006, 12:26 PM

Hi All

To add to this thread, If anyone wants a short term let in Sumner while they find their feet, I can recommend the following,

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/5706.asp

this is where we stayed while we were there, unfortunately the heating was on the fritz and we didnt realise that it had underfloor heating!..Doh!...should have rang or emailed him, but he was on holiday and I didnt want to bother him!.....but I have been assured by Craig Wakelin that its fixed and the current visitors are nice and toasty!

It was a lovely appartment, with everything you need to feel at home,Washer/dryer - god we needed one after being on the road a week!,great kitchen, TV, DVD and 2 bedrooms, with further mattresses for kids to bunk up if needed....Check out the link for more informataion. its a walk away from the beach...I'd use it again if we went for a holiday to Sumner.

Dazza and Wendy stayed there too,

Craig says that if there are any more Migrants interested in letting then they can email him on....CRAIG.WAKELIN@xtra.co.nz

to discuss length and price. (there was even a bottle of wine in the fridge and a welcome note to say welcome to our new home - New Zealand!)

so good luck,

Kat

GeordieLass

26th July 2006, 05:39 AM

Osmyth, no problem, and we are from NW england, Most people here seem to be from south so it will make a change chattin to anther northerner! We used to holiday a lot on Whitby,Scarborough over your way and pass through York en route. You are welcome to engauge with us when you arrive. If we can be of any help in the mean time just ask, as we know what its like when your there and dont know what its all about over here... chat soon

Paul Lisa and family

You have another northerner heading your way, probably in January, visa permitting. I grew up in Scarborough and spent a year at college in York in 2002.

Can I ask do you get back to the UK to visit much? Is it prohibitively expensive and is it difficult to get enough time off work during the UK summer to make it worth the trip?

The thing I think I'll really struggle with is getting through a whole winter without Christmas in the middle of it! How do you manage?

Oregonkiwi

26th July 2006, 06:44 AM

The thing I think I'll really struggle with is getting through a whole winter without Christmas in the middle of it! How do you manage?

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7082

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6610

:)

GeordieLass

27th July 2006, 11:54 PM

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7082

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6610

:)
Genius!

(and I resolve to use the search function before asking in future! Thanks again!)

I've also discovered that Christchurch gets 2050 hours of sunshine annually and that its more evenly spread throughout the year than London's measly 1500. So that should help.

Melza7

28th July 2006, 02:08 PM

Hello out there Christchurch people, or near new Christchurch people!

I am looking on here to see if there are any other females or couples out there that just want a friend to chat with, go for a cuppa, dinner, movies or clubbing.
Maybe you have just moved to Christchurch, or maybe you are just wanting to make some new friends.
I work in administration, have a long-term boyfriend, (nearly 6 years!), fave music - Robbie Williams, Madonna, U2, Jack Johnson, bit of R n' B, dance, umm what else... like travelling, (went on a roadtrip inn USA for 4 weeks, lived in Canada for a year - so know how lonely it can be in a new country!), cooking, watching rugby, movies, love meeting new people!

CHRISTCHURCH ONLY

psh12001

2nd August 2006, 09:53 PM

are you here yet?

psh12001

28th August 2006, 07:56 PM

feel free to ask us any questions about life here or if you want any help before getting here!

Paul, lisa and family

Moorf

28th August 2006, 08:02 PM

Hey Melza - there's a meet in Christchurch in September. Can you make it? The thread is here: http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7544&page=3&pp=10

We'd love to see you both there if you're about.

I'll PM you too :nice1

Moorf

28th August 2006, 08:04 PM

psh - are you coming :) ? Can you make it?

jodieinchch

28th August 2006, 08:10 PM

i'm so excited about the meet!!! can be football for a night...and wellys!

Rose

30th August 2006, 01:29 AM

Can't say I'm coming over from the UK - we live in Sweden now. But we are hoping to come to Chch early next year to live near my brother and his family in Spreydon.

My question: how long does it take to drive to a beach (any beach that's good for walking and maybe a coffee and cake in winter) from the centre of Christchurch?

Oh, and we will be very available for beaches, coffee, movies, drinkies etc when we come - I need to make sure my Swedish chap doesn't feel isolated.

Thanks!
Rose

Moorf

30th August 2006, 08:13 AM

Hmm, from the centre of Chch (say Cathedral Square) to a beach... I'd say around 10-15mins drive to Brighton and 25 mins to Sumner... I did Hornby to Sumner in 25 mins the other day and traffic was heavier than normal.

nippa&pippa

17th September 2006, 07:59 AM

With my husband got job in riccarton, we have been to riccarton when we went for job interviews and it's seem very busy areas, can you tell me the nice and quiet areas near riccarton to stay short term?
Sophia x

steviec

19th September 2006, 01:08 AM

Hi everyone in and around christchurch. We are heading there as soon as we sell our house in the UK. Steve has an Uncle who lives in Harewood. We will hopefully be there early next year. We are a large family with our 4 daughters and would love to meet up with people who are all settled and know the area. Thanks, Tracy.

jodieinchch

19th September 2006, 09:00 AM

look forward to seeing you then!!

Moorf

19th September 2006, 09:02 AM

Sophia

My hubby works in Riccarton. It's a very busy area of Chch - that is my least favourite road to drive down and it's not helped by having one of Chch's largest malls on that road.

There are tons of motels on Riccarton Road itself, or you could try looking for a rental nearby but many are taken up with Asian students.

You could look in Merivale, Fendalton, Riccarton or Addington but anywhere out from these won't make a huge difference to journey time - maybe 10 mins or so.

Some maps you might find useful

http://www.zoomin.co.nz/nz/christchurch/riccarton/riccarton+road/

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Maps/WardMaps/RiccartonWigram.asp

Moorf

shalamyna

20th February 2007, 09:44 AM

Hi Paul Lisa and Family,

We have just received our residency visa's for hubby, myself and two teenagers, just working out final details ie can we afford to live on the salary hubby has been offered, then we will be on our way from Kent. Sadly I have to wait till July as my eldest is doing GCSE this year. Can I ask you did you feel as terrified as I am feeling right now? guess we are used to the safety net of free dental/optical care for the children, there are some real horror stories to be read any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Have 1001 questions really........

Sue

able

20th February 2007, 10:16 AM

Hi Sue, school kids in New Zealand get free dental treatment although orthodontics aren't free. Maybe you should start a new thread "My 1001 Questions". I've found there are plenty of wise heads here to give answers.

shalamyna

27th February 2007, 02:08 AM

Hi all moving Christchurch in stages, hubby first, from Kent. any Kent people in Christchurch with teenagers doing NZ equivalent of uk GCSE??

Love to hear from you,
Sue and Tony

tick tock

27th February 2007, 07:19 AM

Hi, not sure if this helps anyone but we moved to CHCH in November.

I have found the two schools my kids go to great and I can not compliam about that at the moment.

We took along time to sort out which area we wanted to live in ( we came in Aug ) and decided that we wanted to chose the school first and buy a house in that school Zone. That worked out well.

I find CHCH to be more like a counrty Town in the Uk rather than a city, more like Bath. You never seem to be far away from any where. you can get out of the place quickly and you have lots of places to visit

The traffic isnt too bad, I think it depends on where you came from, but I find it a easy. You could live on one side of town and work on the other without too many problems.

My eldest son was in the first year of GCSE and has found it an easy transfer. The schooled wanted to put him in a year above his age as they find the international children tend to be a bit a head but we said we wanted to give him time to settle before he took any major exams.

Harewood is nice , I go to get my veggies there!

vixxann

27th February 2007, 07:27 AM

whilst browsing for research purposes (at this stage anyway) I keep seeing quite a few nice rental places in St Albans - what is this area of c'church like?

tick tock

27th February 2007, 08:17 AM

I ive in the next "village area" to St A , have been told it has a lot of rental houses. It looks OK and is very close to the center. Low rise residencial area

The only negative thing I have heraed is that it gets its fair share of break ins because of the rntals, but not sure if that is true

psh12001

16th March 2007, 10:15 PM

We are nearing 4 years here now and would still love to help any future poms with moving out here. We are ex manchester family with 5 kids soon to be six and are still loving life in Kaiapoi area , north of christchurch. Anyone who needs a helping hand with any aspect of getting here, just ask and we would be more than happy to help and tell it how it really is.
good luck
Paul, Lisa and kids

Asli&Mark

17th March 2007, 11:06 AM

Hello Paul, Lisa and the Kids,

We will be in Ch Ch 27th March and be delighted to meet sometime. We were quite upset that we missed the Christchurch meeting on 11th. So for us it would be great to know people from the forum :)

Asli and Mark

Andy-Dee

17th March 2007, 12:15 PM

We are there on the 27th too - any chance of a meet - late afternoon / early evening? We have one child aged 6.

Moorf

19th March 2007, 12:21 PM

I thought I'd organise something....

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?p=121894#post121894

nickydwuk

19th March 2007, 06:30 PM

We are not sure where we want to settle. It really depends on house prices etc... The Christchurch area is one possibility as I could get work at the hospital however we would look to buy outside the area. One area we looked at was Kaiapoi. How far is this from Christchurch and what is the communte time?

psh12001

19th March 2007, 09:49 PM

No worries sonia, you know where we are

psh12001

19th March 2007, 10:07 PM

Anyone who wants a chat, just call us on Kaiapoi 2127 and we will get the jug on!

psh12001

19th March 2007, 10:10 PM

i travel kaiapoi to Linwood area chch, setting off at 7.30 each morning and back agin at 4.30 and it takes 25-30 mins. I would say thats the norm for anywhere else in chch too unless over other side of town near port hills where you have to cross city, then add another 5-10 mins
hope this helps oh and its 22 km from my house to linwood ave/palms mall area

stephenandjulie

24th April 2007, 06:37 PM

Hi everyone

We arrive in Christchurch on 29 May. Hoping to meet up with you all at some stage. For the moment though, we are very busy preparing for departure.

Julie and Stephen

olivia

25th April 2007, 03:47 PM

whereabouts are you staying when you arrive?
we live in rangiora which is about 30kms north of chch but it only takes 30 mins to get into chch so if you want to meet up once you've got over the jet lag then pm me and i'll give you our phone number.

Olivia, Stephen & Isaac (2 yrs)

Joanne100

1st May 2007, 12:20 PM

Hi all,

Fellow northener here!! originally from Manchester but my 3 kids were brought up in Essex, now living in the Cashmere area, been here 21 months, would love to meet up with anyone here already or coming to chch in the near future, northeners or not!!! lol
Anyone who needs a place to stay for a week or so while u sort yourselves out on arrival we have a one bed self contained flat, ready to rent out from end of May, let me know if u want more details.

Im free for coffee/tea/hot choc/wine/lunch if anyone is brave enough! ive met so many people online that it makes me laugh coz in the Uk u just wouldnt do it, why do we feel so safe here, crazy isnt it?
Joannex

Pip

1st May 2007, 07:26 PM

aberdian

11th May 2007, 03:45 AM

Looks like we're going to be Christchurch and surrounds bound too, now that the New Plymouth job offer has fallen through (a good thing we think). Looks like a trip out for the first 3 weeks in Oct, look at areas/schools/have a holiday, then back out end of January for the start of the school year.

Any recommendations for a primary school in the arc to the West and North of CCH - I've noticed the names Kaiapoi and Rangiora mentioned a few times. We'll also check out Ashburton as we loved it when visiting my wifes brother there 5 years ago.....

Cheers

Ian