Climates

nickbraddock · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 10

Can anyone help me with the climates? I am thinking about the South Island, is there a best place for climate or are they much the same? We would like a smaller place (than a city) but with job prospects for electrician / nurse, where the climate is good and the house prices are low. Any suggestions??

markkellaway · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:15 am Post subject:

Hi Nick,

North of South island is warm and relatively low on rainfall, in fact it is a beautiful place. As you go south so it gets cooler, Christchurch is slightly dryer and warmer than the south coast of England, Dunedin is, I believe, more like North England/Scotland. Don't quote me on the last one though as I haven't been there, I think Macsgold is there, perhaps he'll advise further.

As far as jobs are concerned the best places will be Christchurch, followed by Dunedin I would have thought, as these are the main population centres. North of the island will be more difficult, although I'm not sure of the call for nurses. I'm in IT and north of Christchurch is hopeless.

These are the views of an "amateur" though, I've only been to NZ for 2 weeks!! (so far fingers crossed

)

Good luck!

Mark.

markkellaway · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:18 am Post subject:

Nick,

One more thing, remember that the nly "big" city in NZ is Auckland. Christchurch is only somewhere over 300,000 people, about the same size as Poole and Bournemouth if you've ever been there and not at all like UK cities in feel.

Mark.

John Miller · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:52 pm Post subject:

Warmest and sunniest have got to be Nelson and, particularly, Blenheim. Both are on the north coast of the South Island.

goldwheels · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:52 pm Post subject:

Timaru ( http://home.timaru.com/ ) used to be a city years ago as some of the locals have told me, but now they say its a large town. You may smile at this but the population is around 30 odd thousand. It does have its own hospital, but do not know what jobs are available. There are some electrical jobs that come up time to time. If it maintenance electrician there are a few food factories here i.e. McCain's, Bluebird (crisps), PPCS (meat) and Fonterra (Dairy) which is the 2nd largest dairy factory in the world.
It has a local beach which I'm told is the only beach in NZ without a rip tide. The mountains are 45mins away, and it half way between Dunedin and Christchurch.
The weather here has been great so far for a winter theres been hardly any rainy days, but lovely clear blue skys, and the temp for example was 18 degC yesterday. It does freeze at night at the moment but average temp this time of year has been around 12-14 degC in the day.
House prices are relatively cheap here compared with Christchurch or Dunedin, and I'm sure if you got a house to sell in the UK you will pick up an absolute bargain here, check this site out for houses http://www.realenz.co.nz/
Best of luck with things, and also I am going to be bias about Timaru as I live near it and I think its great

Gratto · Testing The Water Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 9

markkellaway · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 3:44 am Post subject:

Hi Gratto,

I'm sure the IT sector is a good size in Wellington, we were also told that it would be a good place to go (I'm in IT as well). The original question in this thread was about the South Island though, hence my comments.

I would imagine that a Google search for "Wellington recruitment consultants" or the llike would turn up lots of interesting contacts for you.

Mark.

Gratto · Testing The Water Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 9

ok, I feel better now, your statement about there not being anything north of CC got me alittle worried.

925exile · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 4:44 pm Post subject:

I think Christchurch is tops Nice One

The climate is generaly good, very little rain, Ok cold frosts in the morning but by lunch time it feels warmer than your typical spring day in the UK. Nursing wise there is the Main Chch hospital + The adjoing Womens Hospital (currently under construction) and then St Margerets in Cashmere and the private St Georges in Merivale + Im sure there are others so no shortage of opportunity! but more than anything else just come for the view from the Port Hills over Christchurch, the cantebury plains and the snow covered Southern Alps, it will take your breath away every time yous see it!!

nickbraddock · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 10

Thanks for all of the above replies.
Climate is quite important to me (obviously second to job offers). As I do not really know NZ, is there a better climate in the North or South Islands? Is there any town/s cities in the North Island with a good climate with job prospects for a Nurse/Electrician? As I have said before, we would prefer a smaller place than a city as we are living in a rural community in UK and would find it hard to move to a city.
Thanks for any replies
Nick

markkellaway · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:49 pm Post subject:

Hi Nick,

There are quite a few large towns in the North island, and abviously Wellington and Auckland where most jobs will be.

For climate information take a look at http://www.niwa.cri.nz/edu/resources/climate/overview/. This site has a fair bit of information on the various regions in relation to the NZ Climate.

Mark.