Moving to New Zealand
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Moving to New Zealand
related page: Visiting New Zealand
Jan 2005
My husband and I are interested in relocating to New Zealand. We
have checked out the immigration website, and I am wondering if
anyone else has done this, how hard was it, how long did the
paperwork take? can you recommend anyone to help with the
immigration maze? Thanks
molly
[no replies received]
March 2003
There's a good chance we'll be moving to Wellington, New
Zealand, in a few months. Does anyone have recommendations about
neighborhoods, schools, communities, activities, and things to
be sure to see in this beautiful country? We are a family with a
toddler and a first-grader.
Thanks!
future kiwi
I am currently living in Wellington New Zealand and left the
Berkeley area 15 months ago. I would be more than happy
to share my knowledge of Wellington and living in New
Zealand in general. (email me for more details) There is so
much say but mostly Wellington is an amazing place to have
a family. Wellington is the Polar opposite of the uber rich bay
area where childcare, school and the cost of living are so
expensive and so competitive. (Also, I think I have been
stuck in traffic 2 times in 15 months! ). I have a 3.5 year old
who attends a wonderful preschool walking distance from
my house and it is free. My husband walks 30 min to the
center of town to work and our rent is very cheap for a 3
bedroom house in one of the nicest sections of town. For
your First Grader there are wonderful schools in each
neighborhood (there may be a small wait to get in) and
there is crhche for kids 18mos to 3.5 that my son started 3
hours a week and it cost us $5nz an hour. Also there is
playcenter and playgroup for babies - toddlers where you go
spend a few hours with them in a preschool like center with
toys, books and other Mums who have simmilar age kids
etc. The best thing is the Toy Library which rents all the best
toys very cheaply so you don't have to bring many toys. It is
like a dream and everything is so organized and efficient. I
am pregnant and there is no cost for me to have a midwife
and labor and delivery are all free as well. The level of care
is better than I had in Berkeley. Also, it is incredibly safe
here - I have not seen one incidence of road rage,
bitchiness or anything resenbling hostility except the
occasional rugby game. Kids are watched by the community
and there is little fear of anything ever happening to them.
And terrorisim and war seems a million miles away. It is so
safe and peacefull here. Some other good points are the
coffee is amazing, the down town is very happening and
cultural and there is some really good food (but a lot of bad
food). There are some down sides for sure...the weather is
not at all pleasant. Picture 9 months (april-December) of
Bay Area rainy cold winter and 3 months of a cool summer.
And the wind is enough to make you crazy - I have never
experienced anything like it. Because of the wind, you don't
want to live in certain areas that are exposed. Also, the
homes don't have heat (that's right!) so you feel freezing all
winter long. The cost of food, appliances, clothes, shoes
and toys and many other things are double so bring lots of
US dollars. In this way the cost of living is harder for us
earning NZD. Other American friends (work for WETA)
rented furnished apartments and then checked on extra
boxes on the airplane with toys, clothes etc. Some things
are very expensive here and the selection is seriously
limited so you may want to buy before you come. Also, eat
as much Mexican food as you can before you come
because you won't find any here.
Hadley
this page was last updated: Jun 16, 2005
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