[nippa&pippa]

After reading other posts, i make sure we get a letter from our GP in uk to explained that medications in shipping container for me and my children. We just had phone call from custom requested a letter from nz dr, not from uk dr even it was uk dr presribed the medications! did anyone else had same problems? as our nz dr never came across this problem before! Our ship is now def coming on next wed :cheers as can't wait to get our stuff!!!!

Also tip for other people wish to get community service card without delay, get staff at work and income to certified copy of your passsport, PR blue stickers and your birth certificates!

Anyone know what is same as 'Tumble tots' in UK for NZ? as my son missed tumble tots!!!!!!!!
Thanks!

[jubjub]

Try Jumping Beans for kiddy gym lessons..

http://www.jumpingbeans.net/

Or if you just want a casual soft play place, look for a Lollipops or a Chipmunks

http://www.lollipopsplayland.co.nz/locations_nz.php
http://www.chipmunks.co.nz/

Cant help with the customs thing, although it does sound a nonsense. and good luck for your container!

Edit, should have added, go ask your local plunket office if they know of anything as well, they have lists of local playgroups etc. http://www.plunket.org.nz//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

[Cardy]

HI there
customs rang our removal firm and told them they just needed uk doctors letter. we had it faxed to us then faxed it to the removal firm and no problems. Cant understand how they expect your nz doctor to give you a cover letter for uk meds i think they have got there wires crossed at customs ,maybe its someone new who doesnt understand . have you tried ringing them? might be just a simple chat to some one who knows what there on about . let us know how you go on? we had loads of asthma inhalers so we wouldnt have any problems or cost!! for at least our 1st 12 months.
Cheers Cardy :nice1

[kiwidebs]

Hi

My sister used to take my niece to GymbaROO - which seemed similar to Tumbletots http://www.gymbaroo.com.au/index.php - couldn't find locations on there but you could drop them an email and see if there's one close to you. And check out http://www.kidspot.co.nz/ for some good info on local kids stuff.
HTH.

Debs

[nippa&pippa]

At last our shipping finally arrived last monday but we had few hiccup with NZ's broadband link to our computer with my husband losing tempers :roll
Anyway we are now online, the house is tip with boxes everywhere but who care :p as we are now happy with our beds, toys etc after all the hassles we had.....
Regards to stupid customs situation, grrrrrrrrrr, turn out that some medications on the lists i gave to customs is not available in NZ so it is list as high risk!!! so they need letter from our NZ dr to support UK dr's letter to release these medications if NZ dr is happy for this medications is ok to be use in this country :roll (i did got upset at one point as i got fed up of waiting for container and been travelling everywhere to get this, fetch this etc for customs and moving company by buses with two young kids on tow)

Took our shipping container two weeks to arrived to our house. After problems with customs, we was worried about MAF next but it was breeze after she look at few items and realised all others items will be spotless and clean :yes so she didn't bother looking at rest of our items inculding woodwork items! lovely...

[jo-and-jeff]

At last our shipping finally arrived last monday... Took our shipping container two weeks to arrived to our house.
But it looks as though your container only tooks 6 weeks or so total to arrive. I'm envious; we were told 3-6 weeks, but it was 12 weeks between when it left our house in the U.S. and when it arrived at our place in Auckland. Sat for a week in Baltimore, for some strange reason went to Valencia, Spain, and then apparently spent about 6 weeks in the Bermuda Triangle before finally making a pitstop in Sydney.

I'm convinced from other peoples' similar reports that the moving companies have no idea when you might really get your container, they just throw them on some ship and you have to hope for the best...

;)

Congratulations on settling in to New Zealand!

Jo

[Anita & Marco]

Hi,
Our experience with shipping of our stuff is totally different. We just chose the travelling date of our container. We had our container in storage until we knew where we would possibly be going to live. At that stage we contacted the shipping company overseas and told them when we wanted to have it on a container ship and to which city. The container arrived exactly on the date that had been discussed. No problem whatsoever. I think it might be different for different regions in the world.

Cheers,
Anita