The Best Place In New Zealand

Helen · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

If we were to move to New Zealand; where should we move to?

We want it to be:-

Warm and sunny
Appealing to the eye
Family friendly

and have:-

Low crime

and be within driving distance of:-

Good schools
Good shops
A good university and/or other higher education opportunties.

Could anyone help pinpoint the best location please?

John Miller · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 2:52 pm Post subject:

If you need a university close at hand, you're instantly tied to the 'big' cities. Then if warmth is important to you, as well as lower than average crime rates, I'd suggest Auckland's North Shore. You'll get excellent schooling there too. Rangitoto College is probably the top secondary school on the Shore so try and get a house within its zone.

karltsmith · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 11:19 pm Post subject:

I agree, the upper and lower east coast bays fit your criteria. Try to get a copy of a book called Where to Live in Auckland it will explain the school zoning system and tell you more about the demographics of all the 'burbs. If you do go the North Shore try to find a job there...crossing the harbour bridge in rush hour is tedious and you don't want to leave one rat race to join another! Pommes abound on the North Shore..I used to live in Browns Bay but most of the bays are beautiful. If you want life style check out Okura and Dairy flats but be aware these are outside the Rangi zone!

John Miller · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 11:49 am Post subject:

No suggestions of anywhere else yet, so it looks like we'll have to officially declare North Shore City the best place in New Zealand. Nice One

JCM · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 3:19 pm Post subject:

Oh well, I suppose I'll have to rise to the bait Razz

Western Christchurch and especially the hamlets around it like West Melton will certainly give you everything you want. I believe rural Canterbury has the lowest crime rate in NZ. (Someone will no doubt correct me if I'm wrong Uhoh

.) Chch can't compete with Auckland for warmth - I've flown into Chch from Auckland a couple of times in spring and the air here energises you. In Auckland, it more folds around you like a warm blanket. What Chch can compete on is dry days - we have far more than Auckand. Check out:

http://www.emigratenz.org/NewZealandClimate.html

I believe people in Chch take more pride in their gardens which makes for a prettier view Yes

. Also, if you like a flat city, choose Chch. It would tire me out going up and down all those hills 'up north' Laughing

Christchurch or North Shore? I'm sure you'd have an excellent lifestyle in either

JCM · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 5:34 pm Post subject:

karltsmith · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 4:37 am Post subject:

Hi JCM,

My wife was the one who was sucessful in being offered a research position in Glenfield on the North Shore. After a bizzare 2 hour telephone interview they were so impressed (I'm delighted to say) that they offered her the position there and then. For my part I will be a house husband for about 3 months while we settle back into the Kiwi lifestyle, look up old friends and get my twin 20 month old daughters settled in. I'm hoping to start my own consultancy business once there with an ex pat now a fledgling Kiwi.....but he doesn't know it yet. My wifes job and our UK equity should buy a nice squat in the bays. I've lived throughout the Auckland region namely Browns Bay, Parnell, Hillsborough and Remuera and Suva in Fiji for a while. My second choice as a place to live is Christchurch. I was last there in 1995 but I've travelled extensively throughout NZ.
Clink

Helen · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

Thank you very much for your replies karl and JCM. I must admit that North Shore sounds more to my liking purely for the warmth. Sorry JCM Shy

. I also noticed the wonderful climate of Napier in the link you were kind enough to provide JCM. To my eyes, Napier looks as if it enjoys spring and summer all year round, but without Auckland's rain. Just the sort of weather I wanted from Australia actually. I also noticed that Martin and Wendy are moving to Napier early next year. It will be very interesting to read their impressions once they have settled in. It's rather a pity Napier doesn't have a university as I would like our children to have the option of staying at home, if they choose to, when they go to university.

Do either of you JCM and karl have any experience of Napier? Or does anyone else?

karltsmith · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 11:30 pm Post subject:

No personal experience of Napier I'm afraid but I am a bit Art Deco fan and as you probably know it's famous for art deco styling so I will no doubt visit one day! I suppose it all depends on the lifestyle you want for you and your sprogs! If Uni is required and you want to give them the option of staying at home then you're tied to living within spit of a large city but a city by NZ standards isn't that big compared to the UK (apart from Auckland). Of course there's no guarantee they will want to go to the Uni right on their doorstep is there? It depends on the courses they want to take! Any ideas on that? Rolling Eyes

For our part we want proximity to the city but a gateway to sun, surf, sand, bush and countryside and good schooling for the wee ones. A semi rural location also appeals but we are mindful of the school zoning regs that apply and we want, like most parents, the best opportunities for the sprogs! When it gets to Uni stage it will be their decision though! Fortunately for us thats about 16 years away!

Helen · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

My children are aged from 8 to 13 so I do not want to put off a move too long because it might interfere with the eldest's school exams. Perhaps I am trying to plan too far ahead, but that's just the way I am. Embarassed

John Miller · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 4:15 pm Post subject:

I've never been to Napier/Hawkes Bay either. I've heard a little about it from three sources, so this is all second hand.

Firstly an estate agent on North Shore who drove me around one afternoon while I was house-hunting. She had come from Napier and said life was better on the Shore from a crime point of view. She said that she felt safe leaving windows open at night on the Shore but would never have done this in Napier because of burglars and violent criminals.

Secondly a couple I knew went to Napier for a few days holiday and said it was wonderful.

Thirdly a young lady I worked with for a short time was from Havelock North. She loved it. She told me Havelock North was the poshest part of the Napier area. Apparently Hastings is the opposite.

I hope that's of some use to you Helen. Hopefully Martin and Wendy will have some first hand knowledge before too long.

AJ Cartwright · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2003 5:41 am Post subject:

Hi Helen,

Have you thought about Tauranga? It's only a smidgen cooler in summer than Napier. But it also doesn't have a university.

Average Temperatures
Jan 23.9
Feb 23.8
Mar 22.3
Apr 20.0
May 17.0
Jun 14.8
Jul 14.3
Aug 14.9
Sep 16.4
Oct 18.0
Nov 20.0
Dec 22.0

2256 Hours Sunshine
110 Wet days >1.0mm

http://www.metservice.co.nz/learning/index.asp

Helen · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

Thank you AJ. I shall add Tauranga to my list of places to research.

martwend · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 5:01 am Post subject:

Hi!

That's the first mention we've heard of a high crime rate in Napier

...in fact the imprssion that we have been given is of a much lower crime rate away from Auckland. I would grateful for any information about this.

Wendy

ENZ · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 7:45 am Post subject:

Hi Wendy.

I looked into NZ crime a year or so ago. I intended to write an article for the ENZ site but never got round to it Embarassed

. There's a pamphlet issued by the Government about crime in New Zealand that's available as a hard copy in libraries but not on the internet.

In summary:

Crimes of Violence

'Crimes of violence' in New Zealand includes robbery, common assault, murder, threatening behaviour, threatening language, assault on Police, assault on spouse, assault on child, and aiding suicide.

The worst places for violent offending in recent years have been Auckland City, Manukau City (South Auckland), Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Tokoroa, Wanganui, Hamilton.

The locations suffering the fewest crimes of violence are Auckland's North Shore City, Rural Canterbury, and Otago.

Sex Offences

Sex offences included in New Zealand's crime statistics include possession of unlawful videos, prostitution (soliciting), indecency, incest, obscene exposure and sexual violation.

The worst locations for sex offending in recent years have been Auckland City, Hamilton, Taranaki and Napier.

The locations with the lowest rate of sex offences are Auckland's North Shore City, Rural Canterbury, Southland and Nelson.

Burglary

You have the highest chance of being burgled if you live in Manukau (South Auckland,) Papakura (South Auckland,) or Wanganui.

The lowest rates of burglary occur in Nelson, Rural Canterbury, South Canterbury and Otago.

Ethnicity of Offenders

The rate of Pacific Islander offending is approximately double that of European New Zealanders, while the Maori offending rate is about four times higher. Almost half the prison population is Maori compared to a 16% representation in the general population.

I'm sorry if this is bad news. Looking on the bright side, within the Hawkes Bay area there will be 'good' and 'bad' areas and I'm sure you'll find out very soon which is which.

I have also not been to Hawkes Bay, so add me to the list of people who are keen to hear your impressions from this part of the world.