starting out

veronica · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 1:15 am Post subject: starting out

Hi, we have just come back from a flying visit to Christchurch, we will be moving out in May and as we are setting up a business we wanted to get a few preliminary things sorted beforehand. A few bits of info that might help.

One thing that we found really usefull was that if you go into the postshop you can pick up a telephone book and a yellow pages for nothing.

We should have bought a "prepaid cell phone" when we first got there as it would have made life a lot easier when peole want to call you back.

We had to go into MAF and we found them to be really helpful, you can take in vacuum cleaners, but they must be clean, new filters and no bag.
garden furniture is ok if its treated and clean, some wooden and natural ornaments are ok it they have been kept in the house and again are clean and bug free, Basically it seems if it is clean and bug free, no wood worm etc its ok.

My own feelings are that selling off washing machines, freezers etc for next to nothing here (England) isn't worth it, you may as well take the stuff as it saves hassle, time and money buying new there.

We did find the property market very bouyant and the agents not hungry for sales., they don't have to be as the buyers are chasing them.

We were surprised and a bit disappointed at the number of houses in the suburbs that have another house built in the garden on a rear plot.

The weather was all over the place while we were there but we did notice that chch is definately breezy, and don't forget the lack of ozone, with a cooling breeze and a mildly sunny day you can still get burnt.

Can't think of anything else at the moment but as we only got in an hour ago the brain isn't functioning as it should so will maybe think of things after a nights sleep. hope this helps someone. Veronica

Donna · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 2:54 am Post subject: Christchurch - beaches????

It seems a very trivial question with all the other millions of questions you think of when looking into emigrating but IT IS still very important...
For anybody who has been or is in Christchurch - what are the nearby beaches like???

We really like the sound of Chch but also like the thought of being close to a nice beach where we can pop to with 2 children aged 6 and 4. In the books, websites etc there is loads of info about the fantastic beaches further north but i've been unable to find anything about local ones to Chch.

Any info would be great.

veronica · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:47 am Post subject:

someone over there can probabley answer in greater detail but we were there last week and they looked good to me. the sand was a bit darker than some beaches we have seen but it was sand not shingle. the surf was quite rough when we were there but they have been having storms, and I am not sure about rips etc but they have lifeguard/surf clubs on the beach. Sumner was a smaller beach but the coast from southshore through New Brighton up to the waimakariri river is about 15 kilometers of sandy beach. hope that helps a bit. Veronica