Anyone out there live in Nelson, or been to Nelson?

[anski]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

The US of A is a great country in many, many ways, and I'm sure there will be many things I would miss if we moved out of the country. But having said that, I'm sure I could also create a whole forum solely devoted to all the reasons why the US is NOT the best country in the world either.

Living in New Zealand isn't like what they present in the promotional videos and brochures? Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, if a family spent all of their time swimming with dolphins off shore, kayaking, hiking, surfing, skiing, and enjoying fine wine, they'd quickly find that they have no money left to live on. But that's true of any country.
I've seen promo videos and brochures for the US and it's the same way. They're PROMOTING it. They're not gonna show the rougher, tougher parts of living here. Having lived in Las Vegas Nevada for about 6 years now, I can attest to the unrealistic expectations people can have when they base their desire to live somewhere off of a tourist promotion, or a vacation they spent there. Ever thinks Las Vegas is this magical place of bright lights, shows, and 24/7 nightlife. On Las Vegas Boulevard...that may be true. But that's ONE street in Las Vegas. And to be honest, I can count on two hands the amount of times in 6 years of living here that I've been to the glittering, hotel/casino part of Las Vegas Boulevard. The rest of Las Vegas is like any other old city. Except hotter, and drier, and there nothing to see but dirt, dirt, dirt.

Anyway, my point is...We know that moving to NZ doesn't mean every day will be vacation for the rest of our lives. It's just gonna be a different way of living. maybe not better. maybe not worse. just different.

Everyone keeps trying to tell me the grass isn't greener on the other side. But coming from Las Vegas, it wouldn't matter where in New Zealand we choose, the grass WILL be greener...literally.

And the air will be cleaner. And the water will be bluer. and there's not a city in all of NZ that has even close to as high of a crime rate as Las Vegas.

Mrs Rose,

Do not be put off by others making negative posts about NZ, as I replied in another post I cannot get an electrician for $15 an hour, I wish I could though!

I found this info Project Cost Estimator - Hourly Rates for Electricians @ Tradebox & I would say this is pretty accurate in relation to tradesmen's hourly rates.

Although the minimum wage in NZ is $13.50 an hour many people get way above this. A friend of mine works in a boutique & earns $26 hour plus commission.

Kiwi's do not make new comers unwelcome, I know of several American families that have made the adjustment. Auckland is simply full of people from others parts of NZ & the rest of the world & our circle of friends is multi cultural.

If you are missing some good old American fare there is a shop nearby Martha's Backyard

I am very familiar with Nevada I have been visiting on a regular basis since 1985 & on my visit last September I was horrified to see the extent the downturn in the economy has had there. I have never seen so many homeless people, & I have certainly never seen anything like it in either the North or the South Island in New Zealand.
It is normal to feel uncertain when contemplating making such a big move. Why not plan of giving it a go for a period of a year or 2 if it does not work out you can always return back to the USA.

[toojoon]

Been to Nelson, and it's great in the Summer months, Jan/Feb. Hot and sunny with great beach weather!

[Song_Si]

Some people stats

when people gripe about 'kiwis' - in Auckland there is a roughly 40% chance (probably more given that these stats from 2006 Census) that the person was in fact born out of the country . . .

Auckland’s population is becoming increasingly diverse.
The region is now the most ethnically diverse in the country.
In 1986, 23 per cent of the region’s population was born overseas.
This proportion has steadily risen to reach 37 per cent by 2006.
Auckland is currently home to over 150 ethnicities from all corners of the world.
source

and these stats taken from migrants after they have been in NZ for three years; as with all stats an up and down-side - if 70% have enough or more than enough money, then 30% don't.
Three years is I think a reasonable time to be asking these questions - over that 'thrill' of shifting to a new country, and settled into the day to day lifestyle

Highlights
September 2010

75.7 percent of migrants were employed at wave 3, compared with 72.1 percent at wave 1.
69.8 percent of employed migrants worked in a skilled job at wave 3, which is similar to the proportion at wave 1 (67.8 percent).
84.9 percent of employed migrants were either satisfied or very satisfied with their main job at wave 3, compared with 80.8 percent at wave 1.
The real median hourly wages of employed migrants increased from $20.35 at wave 1 to $23.49 at wave 3.
70.6 percent of migrants had enough or more than enough money to meet their everyday needs at waves 1 and 3.
51.9 percent of migrants owned or partly owned their dwelling at wave 3, compared with 30.6 percent at wave 1.
49.3 percent of migrants lived in the Auckland region at the third wave, 31.5 percent lived in the rest of the North Island, and 19.3 percent lived in the South Island.
More than nine out of ten migrants were either satisfied or very satisfied with life in New Zealand (93.8 percent at wave 1 and 92.3 percent at wave 3), although there was a decrease in the proportion of migrants who were very satisfied, down from 44.7 percent at wave 1 to 35.5 percent at wave 3.
76.0 percent of migrants felt either safe or very safe in New Zealand at wave 3, compared with 85.5 percent at wave 1.
78.4 percent of migrants had gained or intended to apply for New Zealand citizenship at wave 3. Compared with migrants from other regions, migrants from South Africa (93.3 percent), the Pacific (93.0 percent), and South Asia (86.5 percent) were more likely to have gained, or want to apply for, New Zealand citizenship.

[Song_Si]

Originally Posted by toojoon

Been to Nelson, and it's great in the Summer months, Jan/Feb. Hot and sunny with great beach weather!

and scenic in winter!


St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes.
27/06/2012

[expatrion]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

I know some of you on this forum have already advised me that as an immigrant from the States, it's probably better for our family to look into the bigger cities like Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch for work...BUT....Nelson looks so perfect in all other ways for our family!

It's warm and sunny. It's not a super crowded big city. It's an "outdoor people" kind of city. On the beach. Near to beautiful national parks. lots of mountain biking trails. Housing is less expensive than Auckland and Chch...

My husband is a sparky, and I've looked on trademe.co.nz and there ARE electrician jobs available in Nelson. So my question is:

Can all of you PLEASE put in your two cents regarding the city of Nelson?

Your overall impressions of the city...the community there...the weather...the housing...traffic...economy...etc.. Oh, and if anyone knows about how much electricians make there that would be great!

thanks.

Its a great place. Just rent for 6 months before you dig in. Nelson is very ecclectic but you'll never be a local-not that that matters. Its got a bit of a hippy/organic vibe and is absolutely a gem. But after a year, everybody knows your business-if you dont mind.....

[robbob]

Nelson is a fine small city. It is a close community but by no means all reitrees or hippies. There are plenty of both, but also a sizeable Maori/PI and Asian population. Probably 25% or more.
There is no racial divide.
Work can be limited in certain areas, but trade vancanies are usually available, and once you earn a good name for yourself you'll always be employed.
As far as being accepted and fitting in... make an effort to do things for otehrs, help in a sports club, a school, a charity, and in a year or so you'll be repaid. Don't assume your ways are superior, and be willing to accept Nelsons way, warts and all. One reason so many fail in NZ is they arrive with notiopns of what it should be like, then try to change everyone and everything around them into what they think is better... Just arrive, find work, relax and wait... in a couple of years the things you think should be changed may well make a lot more sense.
Nelson is not as quick as some other places to befriend strangers, partly becusase it's quite remote and close-knit... but it's still a freindly place.
It's way better than anywhere else in NZ...

[pookienuffnuff]

Nelson is a nice laid back quaint sort of place. Quite hilly. As others have said. It is quite boho, arty, crafty, that sort of vibe. It rains more there than Marlborough (being on the west side of the mountains). And has had a number of flood events lately when it rains. So dont live in flat areas. Also landslides so dont live on hillsides. Good 2ndhand shops but I prefer life in Marlborough where it rains less. Wearing shorts is normal here...with steel toe caps. Never trust a smart/overdressed tradesman.

[pookienuffnuff]

Originally Posted by topcat83

Please don't feel that. Just bear in mind that there is 'another forum' out there that goes out of its way to 'infiltrate' ours. This is made up of a load of sad people who obviously didn't make a go of it over here and are bitter enough about it that they try and put everyone off.
They reckon we delete everything they write. Well we don't - because the whole point of this forum is to try and give a balanced view. Unfortunately when they're on a roll, then the balance gets skewed. And I will have no qualms about deleting what they say if they become personal or offensive.

The vast majority of Americans (and other nationalities) do not have a problem. It's the ones that come over expecting 'little America' and then get bitter when they can't get their usual brand of convenience food for the same price.

Very true, its not cheap here and its not little america. And to be fair NZ is no more anti american than anywhere else. If you make the effort to fit in then people will accept you. If you dont then they wont. Simples.

[pookienuffnuff]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

The US of A is a great country in many, many ways, and I'm sure there will be many things I would miss if we moved out of the country. But having said that, I'm sure I could also create a whole forum solely devoted to all the reasons why the US is NOT the best country in the world either.

Living in New Zealand isn't like what they present in the promotional videos and brochures? Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, if a family spent all of their time swimming with dolphins off shore, kayaking, hiking, surfing, skiing, and enjoying fine wine, they'd quickly find that they have no money left to live on. But that's true of any country.
I've seen promo videos and brochures for the US and it's the same way. They're PROMOTING it. They're not gonna show the rougher, tougher parts of living here. Having lived in Las Vegas Nevada for about 6 years now, I can attest to the unrealistic expectations people can have when they base their desire to live somewhere off of a tourist promotion, or a vacation they spent there. Ever thinks Las Vegas is this magical place of bright lights, shows, and 24/7 nightlife. On Las Vegas Boulevard...that may be true. But that's ONE street in Las Vegas. And to be honest, I can count on two hands the amount of times in 6 years of living here that I've been to the glittering, hotel/casino part of Las Vegas Boulevard. The rest of Las Vegas is like any other old city. Except hotter, and drier, and there nothing to see but dirt, dirt, dirt.

Anyway, my point is...We know that moving to NZ doesn't mean every day will be vacation for the rest of our lives. It's just gonna be a different way of living. maybe not better. maybe not worse. just different.

Everyone keeps trying to tell me the grass isn't greener on the other side. But coming from Las Vegas, it wouldn't matter where in New Zealand we choose, the grass WILL be greener...literally.

And the air will be cleaner. And the water will be bluer. and there's not a city in all of NZ that has even close to as high of a crime rate as Las Vegas.

NZ is NOT the clean and green capital of the world. They promote it as that but sadly it is quite lacking in environmental controls compared to the rest of the developed world. I work in this sphere and I was quite shocked. The air is often not clean due to high smoke levels (no central heating...wood fires), the rivers and seas polluted by effluent that other countries would not permit. Its getting better but most of Europe is cleaner and greener (even USA is). Cant say Las vegas is but the env rules in USA are often much stricter so may well be. And public transport virtually non existant outside Auck n Wellington etc. So everyone drives (even short distances ala USA). But its better than alot of places I could mention.

[MrsRose]

Originally Posted by pookienuffnuff

NZ is NOT the clean and green capital of the world. They promote it as that but sadly it is quite lacking in environmental controls compared to the rest of the developed world. I work in this sphere and I was quite shocked. The air is often not clean due to high smoke levels (no central heating...wood fires), the rivers and seas polluted by effluent that other countries would not permit. Its getting better but most of Europe is cleaner and greener (even USA is). Cant say Las vegas is but the env rules in USA are often much stricter so may well be. And public transport virtually non existant outside Auck n Wellington etc. So everyone drives (even short distances ala USA). But its better than alot of places I could mention.

Oh no, I didn't mean "greener" as in the whole saving energy/recycling/save-the-trees kind of "greener." I meant it quite literally. As in the color green....as in grass and trees greener.
I've lived in the Mohave Desert region of the Southwest US most of my life. Nothin' but dirt, dirt, dirt. Brown everywhere. I'm looking forward to lots of GREEN in New Zealand.

We have some public transport in Las Vegas (city buses and taxis) bu the city is very spread out so there are no trolleys, etc. It's pretty much the dame here though. Typically only really big cities have decent public transportation systems in place.