north or south island?

[MrsRose]

Hmm.... These forums are so helpful in so many ways...but at the same time, the many differing experiences and opinions can be confusing at times.

Wellington is another area we're considering. (at this point, we're considering pretty much anywhere that isn't super cold.)

Let me just be clear regarding what we're looking for...
We currently live in the States (Las Vegas). We've been in the desert most of our lives so no matter where we go in NZ, it'll be MUCH more beautiful than where we're coming from.
We want to get AWAY from the busyness and crowds of the big city if we can. I've read that Americans have a hard time adjusting to NZ lifestyle because we expect it to be similar to the way we live, but my husband and I have been thoroughly educating ourselves on the differences, and it is a most welcome change for us. Here in the States, it seems people spend their whole lives working, working, working to get the biggest house, and all the best stuff. We spend so much time in the "pursuit of happiness" that we forget to ever take the time to stop and just BE HAPPY. One of the things that has impressed us about Kiwis is the overall attitude of contentment, and your ability to just enjoy life.
We love the outdoors (hiking, camping, climbing, water sports, etc...) and NZ seems to be an outdoor lover's paradise no matter where in NZ you live.
As far as jobs and housing...what I've gathered so far by looking at sites like trademe.co.nz is that there are more jobs and higher pay in places like Auckland and Chch, but there are also higher rates for renting and buying homes, and more traffic congestion in those areas as well. There are jobs in Nelson and Wellington for construction trades (though not as many), and I'm sure if you rent or buy a home at a rate that is within your financial means, you could create a moderate living for yourself and still thoroughly enjoy life in NZ.

I supose it just depends largely upon the lifestyle you choose to live, and what's important to you and your family in life, right?

[MrsRose]

That being said...just humor me for fun... IF you were so financially well off that you could afford to live ANYWHERE in NZ you wanted (if the cost of housing, and finding a job wasn't even an issue)...

Where would you choose to live, and why?

[eaglekiwi]

Originally Posted by topcat83

With 8 posts - yes you can. The cut-off to allow private messaging is 5 (useful) messages (to stop the bods who just do the 5 for the purpose of spamming people). So you're in

Awesome! thank you for your most useful reply topcat83lol im really enjoying these forums although Ive noticed my computer is super slow loading (or not) pages-techie thing or my wee laptop is going through Winter moodiness.

[topcat83]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

That being said...just humor me for fun... IF you were so financially well off that you could afford to live ANYWHERE in NZ you wanted (if the cost of housing, and finding a job wasn't even an issue)...

Where would you choose to live, and why?

Actually - I'd live just where I am! In the hills above Miranda. But that's because we did do a lot of searching before we ended up here.

And here's why...

1. It is warmer than South Island (because it's further north)
2. it's drier than the West Coast but not as dry as the East Coast - as it turns out, a good consideration for a lifestyle block where it is good to have grass growing for most of the year
3. the countryside is (IMHO) as stunning as anywhere else you'll find in NZ - views over the Hauraki Gulf to the Coromandel and in the other direction to the Waikato Plains, and close to the Hunua ranges with their beautiful walks through native bush
4. It's an hour from Auckland and all its amenities (and just about commutable) and half an hour to three small towns for shopping
5. it's still a reasonable price to buy land and houses - especially if you want to buy a 'lifestyle block' (which might be a good choice for you, Mrs Rose, as you can raise your own chickens and veggies)
6. we know more people here than we ever did in a big city.

We love our lifestyle block (where we are beginning to breed alpacas) but don't kid ourselves that it will ever do more than break even.

Having said that we went on a sausage making course to 'Soggy Bottom Farm' and the English guy there is making a living from making decent sausages and pork pies from free-range pigs, sheep and cattle then selling them at the local markets.

[dodgerodger]

We lived in the south island; all I can say is brrrrrrrrrrr.

Our house which we paid $300 a week for (which was cheap mind you in the area we lived in) had no insulation and the heatpump sucked big time; landlord was too cheap to insulate and fix the heatpump which shutdown when it was too cold outside.

The majority of houses in NZ do not have central air so you will be pretty much stuck in the living room (or where ever the heatpump/fire is located in order to keep from freezing in the winter.
We basically lived in the livingroom/kitchen in the winter during the day and at night braved our bedroom which was so cold we would wake up with moisture on our bed from the cold damp air; moisture would also drip off the ceiling and on to our faces during the night.
$300-400 power bills to freeze at night and to live in one room.
This occurred in all 5 of the houses we lived in while in NZ.

The south island is better imo for the outdoors people BUT then again you have to make enough money to afford the price of gas in NZ to be able to travel to get to the areas of recreation; and get a day where it is not raining.

Nelson was nice when we were there but found it to be a town where with EXTREMELY small town politics, gossip and pretty much a good old boys network which makes getting work (when there is work) almost nil.

[anski]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

That being said...just humor me for fun... IF you were so financially well off that you could afford to live ANYWHERE in NZ you wanted (if the cost of housing, and finding a job wasn't even an issue)...

Where would you choose to live, and why?

We live in Auckland in Mission Bay, I posted some images in the Coffee Lounge section. Reason I love living here is it is beautiful, 7km from city, has nice foreshore, parks & places to walk, shopping centre, medical & dental facilities, schools, kindergarden, lovely art deco cinema & lots of choice for eating out.

Welcome To Mission Bay Auckland Beachfront

However we are considering moving (for weather reasons) to Hawkes Bay.

In your case think you have to come over take a good look around to see where you like & where you can earn a living.

[anski]

Originally Posted by topcat83

Actually - I'd live just where I am! In the hills above Miranda. But that's because we did do a lot of searching before we ended up here.

And here's why...

1. It is warmer than South Island (because it's further north)
2. it's drier than the West Coast but not as dry as the East Coast - as it turns out, a good consideration for a lifestyle block where it is good to have grass growing for most of the year
3. the countryside is (IMHO) as stunning as anywhere else you'll find in NZ - views over the Hauraki Gulf to the Coromandel and in the other direction to the Waikato Plains, and close to the Hunua ranges with their beautiful walks through native bush
4. It's an hour from Auckland and all its amenities (and just about commutable) and half an hour to three small towns for shopping
5. it's still a reasonable price to buy land and houses - especially if you want to buy a 'lifestyle block' (which might be a good choice for you, Mrs Rose, as you can raise your own chickens and veggies)
6. we know more people here than we ever did in a big city.

We love our lifestyle block (where we are beginning to breed alpacas) but don't kid ourselves that it will ever do more than break even.

Having said that we went on a sausage making course to 'Soggy Bottom Farm' and the English guy there is making a living from making decent sausages and pork pies from free-range pigs, sheep and cattle then selling them at the local markets.

Yum- I love pork pie especially with pickled onion, piccalilli & a beer.

[MrsRose]

Originally Posted by anski

Yum- I love pork pie especially with pickled onion, piccalilli & a beer.

Haha. The only food/beverage I recognize in this statement is beer.

What is piccalilli?

[MrsRose]

Originally Posted by topcat83

Actually - I'd live just where I am! In the hills above Miranda. But that's because we did do a lot of searching before we ended up here.

And here's why...

1. It is warmer than South Island (because it's further north)
2. it's drier than the West Coast but not as dry as the East Coast - as it turns out, a good consideration for a lifestyle block where it is good to have grass growing for most of the year
3. the countryside is (IMHO) as stunning as anywhere else you'll find in NZ - views over the Hauraki Gulf to the Coromandel and in the other direction to the Waikato Plains, and close to the Hunua ranges with their beautiful walks through native bush
4. It's an hour from Auckland and all its amenities (and just about commutable) and half an hour to three small towns for shopping
5. it's still a reasonable price to buy land and houses - especially if you want to buy a 'lifestyle block' (which might be a good choice for you, Mrs Rose, as you can raise your own chickens and veggies)
6. we know more people here than we ever did in a big city.

We love our lifestyle block (where we are beginning to breed alpacas) but don't kid ourselves that it will ever do more than break even.

Having said that we went on a sausage making course to 'Soggy Bottom Farm' and the English guy there is making a living from making decent sausages and pork pies from free-range pigs, sheep and cattle then selling them at the local markets.

What are alpacas?

And what's a lifestyle block? a large section of land? It's sounds nice, cause I'd really like to grow our own vegetables.

[escapedtonz]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

What are alpacas?

And what's a lifestyle block? a large section of land? It's sounds nice, cause I'd really like to grow our own vegetables.

Alpacas are mini llama's if I remember rightly and can get quite hairy ☺

Piccalilli is a cauliflower/onion/marrow/other vegetables chutney made with a mustard type sauce. Goes very well with cheese and lots of other things 😁

Lifestyle block as I understand it is a large plot of land approx 1 hectare / 2.4 acres plus with or without a house on it with access and provides the potential buyer with property and/or land to make a living out of it if you so decide to put the work in.

We are in Wellington since arriving from the UK and when we do come to buy we will be looking at lifestyle blocks as we want something different than what we have had in the past. Won't be using the land for anything initially but who knows what the future holds 😜