[nippa&pippa]

I am looking for fellow members who live in Darfields (west of chch) or nearby to ask few questions about the areas, thanks.

[nippa&pippa]

anyone????

[Moorf]

Ask away, it's my local town and I live 10km away :nice1

[nippa&pippa]

We been to Kirwee today and love the areas. We need some ideas and feedback. Do your children go to darfield's school? they are very good?

My husband want some ideas on how much petrol will be per week roughly depend on what sort car it is

[Moorf]

We don't have kids I'm afraid, Curtis, who sometimes posts on this forum, has kids at the local schools. It's got a good reputation, and there are lots of paying boarders living locally from Japan. Some people here in Waddington, where we are, also send their kids to weekly boarding school in one of Chch's private schools.

Hubby drives in each day, to Riccarton, and it takes him the same amount of timem as it did for him to drive from N.New Brighton to Riccarton. Very little traffic -I did a post a while back on this, you can read it here: http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8828&highlight=darfield

Petrol - Woz uses around $60 / week in petrol. It's approx 500km a week and his car is a 1.6 Nissan thingy. :o

Hope that helps... my parents were looking at small lifestyle sections in Kirwee when there were here - they say it'll be the next West Melton (which is expensive). Some lovely houses for sale there.

I'm also friends with Jo Brankin who is handling the sale of much of the land and property in Kirwee, if you want an intro by phone or email then let me know.

I'd be happy to show you around :nice1

Helen

[nippa&pippa]

Sorry for delay reply back, must be full moon tonight, both children are unsettling tonight...had battle getting them back to bed... :uhoh

Anyway, thanks for your info, very helpful....i was going to ask about supermarket as saw tiny one in darfield!! But then i usually buy fresh from butchers and farm shops. Plan leave dry food etc with my hubby when he is on way home, agree, very short list.

Can you give me your friend's email that i can get in touch in the future when our house finally sold to start looking for a house as the areas is lovely and unbelieveable quiet after live in chch....especially living right next to airport!!

[Moorf]

His info is worthing posting here - he's a really helpful guy with lots of local knowledge.

Joe Brankin - http://www.marealestate.co.nz/home_agents.php

Mobile: 021 324529

03-318 8104

joe@marealestate.co.nz (joe@marealestate.co.nz)

Annie Smith, another agent whose details are on the page above, is also great, if not a little bonkers :D

Edit: Was just browsing Joe's properties and he's still selling the one that my parents looked at http://www.marealestate.co.nz/property_finder.php?view=187 great place if you like new builds...

[nippa&pippa]

Thank you :nice1

Good to get recommend estate agents after we met a horrible lady from ray white, she really got stink attitude....so we keep out of ray white till today, not realise house we saw today is with ray white, aarggghhh, but we were impressed with this another estate agent, and she is from england, small world. She just rang tonight offer her help, as self employer estate agent to support us and to ensure we don't get rip off by local :nice1

[Moorf]

Yeah they can be *very* helpful - keep her at arms length, I would. Most estate agents here are self employed, whether they work for a small outfit or Harcourts, they pay a fee to be associated with a particular chain and they get an office space and marketing blurb etc as part of the fee deal.

Try and negotiate their fee - it's always worth a try, especially if they think they've sold you something for a wee bit more than a Kiwi would have spent (it happens... they love Brit buyers..), even though she's a Brit she's still on a percentage of what you pay for it! ;)

Also be aware of an immigration scheme for the Selwyn District that may affect a property you are viewing, I know several locals who are whacking their properties on the market now as there is no advice of the planning plans for the immigration scheme on LIM's yet (docs that you get to check your property out - like a Local Search I guess). The ones affected wouldn't be ones in established residential areas, but beware when looking at ones in lifestyle block areas / rural.

The Central Plains Water website has info on the irrigation scheme, which could see huge swathes of land eaten up by mammoth canal networks, and it's something to be aware of round here.

Some info here (http://tinyurl.com/2tdzcu) and here (http://www.cpw.org.nz/)

[nippa&pippa]

Thanks Helen for info that is great help, will show my hubby when he finish watching film 'the legend of lucy keyes', i can't watch as turn out got no subtitles :no too late to take it back as shop closed at 8pm!!!! very early here! :roll

[Moorf]

You're very welcome :yes

[nippa&pippa]

I will keep in touch as your info is big help on this areas....Other things before i forgot, one of kiwi friend(!) mentioned about crop spraying in the areas, how bad? as got two young children to think about....

[Moorf]

I will keep in touch as your info is big help on this areas....Other things before i forgot, one of kiwi friend(!) mentioned about crop spraying in the areas, how bad? as got two young children to think about....

I'm still alive!! :D

No idea, the planes buzz around a couple of times a year. They were out earlier becauseit's been still.

Another thing to keep in mind is the rail track. Not many trains at all, but I wouldn't want to be any nearer than we are - about half a km - of it. Coal trains rumble from coast to coast overnight - about 8 in 24 hours I think, we don't notice them much anymore - I like the sound, can set my watch by them. Some new sections in Darfield (Hordon Road development and Plantation development) are far too close - some even back on to the track :no - no amount of double glazing will stop the noise, let alone the vibrations!

Oh, and other thing - check that the house is well shielded from the norwester winds - most established houses will be but new sections are often bare. Otherwise you'll need to plant one or risk your garden ending up over Akaroa.

[nippa&pippa]

Sorry, been dragged off computer by hubby as his sister called us via skype!

Interesting on trains bit, lucky i don't hear anything at night :laugh (prefect for not hear baby crying at night, just leave it with hubby :laugh ) but then i am very sensitive on vibrations :no .

[Ana&Steve]

Also be aware of an immigration scheme for the Selwyn District that may affect a property you are viewing, I know several locals who are whacking their properties on the market now as there is no advice of the planning plans for the immigration scheme on LIM's yet (docs that you get to check your property out - like a Local Search I guess). The ones affected wouldn't be ones in established residential areas, but beware when looking at ones in lifestyle block areas / rural. Hey Moorf, I'm lost on this, I want to heed the warning if it pertains to all immigrants in all areas, but I don't understand what to look out for. :o Could you explain please?
Ana

[Oregonkiwi]

Ana - I think maybe it should read "irrigation" - a spellchecker problem maybe??

[benandclare]

Anyway, thanks for your info, very helpful....i was going to ask about supermarket as saw tiny one in darfield!!

Who needs a
supermarket when you've yummy cakes in the bakery opposite

:clap :laugh

Ben

[Moorf]

Oooops, yes, IRRIGATION scheme!! :o Wow, what a typo to make!!

It's not an horrendous scheme, it's the way in which it's being enforced with the compulsory purchase of land along its path. I personally don't see why they are trying to irrigate the Canterbury Plains when they are renowned for being naturally dry as a bone, brown and dustry in summer, but it seems the dairy farmers need to transform the countryside so they can graze their cattle which are traditionally grazed in other areas but there's more money to be made in dairy...well that's the local gossip from the pub!!

[nippa&pippa]

Anyway, thanks for your info, very helpful....i was going to ask about supermarket as saw tiny one in darfield!!

Who needs a
supermarket when you've yummy cakes in the bakery opposite

:clap :laugh

Ben

Oh ben, I would love it have this chance to buy cake!!!!! With got two children with egg allergy, this is out of questions!

[Ana&Steve]

Ana - I think maybe it should read "irrigation" - a spellchecker problem maybe??
Oooops, yes, IRRIGATION scheme!! Wow, what a typo to make!!
Thanks for clearing that up! I'm like a sponge right now, trying to absorb all the NZ life info I can...but I think I'll wring out this irrigation thing, it's all wet.
Ana
I kill me :laugh

[Moorf]

Ohhh no Pippa - you can't live in Darfield and not eat the bakery cakes!! ;) People come from far and wide for them - one guy comes in via helicopter if he's passing! :laugh

I'm afraid the Darfield fush'n'chups aren't any good. This place is great for dieting though, as most places close before 8pm!! :D

[nippa&pippa]

Ohhh no Pippa - you can't live in Darfield and not eat the bakery cakes!! ;) People come from far and wide for them - one guy comes in via helicopter if he's passing! :laugh

I'm afraid the Darfield fush'n'chups aren't any good. This place is great for dieting though, as most places close before 8pm!! :D

Hmm, so i will have to do this: sneak in, buy cake and hide it inside black bag. Then tie up underneath the car before children see it, then hide it somewhere in the house!! that will be fun project for me!! Otherwise i got a war broke out by themselves over a cake.....even older understand no egg, my little one will be screaming place down as she doesn't understand yet, she love my homemade egg and milk free chocolate cupcake (see cooking thread).

For fish and chip, no problem as can't remember when we last time went to chip shop!!! must be over 5 years ago!