Possible relocation to NZ.
Discussion
Hello,
I am posting here to hopefully get some advice from anybody who was moved to NZ from the UK. The better half could potentially be landing a job in Auckland, which would do wonders for her career and it's something we're really looking forward to potentially doing.
Myself, I am in the armed forces, and the thought of having a better work/life ethic is really appealing to the both of us.
I guess what i'm asking is for any advice on things to bear in mind when considering the move.
With regards to employment for myself, I would like to get into the automotive sector, mainly logistical work.
Can anybody who may have made the move themselves highlight any major differences between the two countries, or any things that they wish they had known before? This would be of great help when weighing up the yes or no decision.
All feedback welcomed, apologies for the long post.
I am posting here to hopefully get some advice from anybody who was moved to NZ from the UK. The better half could potentially be landing a job in Auckland, which would do wonders for her career and it's something we're really looking forward to potentially doing.
Myself, I am in the armed forces, and the thought of having a better work/life ethic is really appealing to the both of us.
I guess what i'm asking is for any advice on things to bear in mind when considering the move.
With regards to employment for myself, I would like to get into the automotive sector, mainly logistical work.
Can anybody who may have made the move themselves highlight any major differences between the two countries, or any things that they wish they had known before? This would be of great help when weighing up the yes or no decision.
All feedback welcomed, apologies for the long post.
Takapuna is nice, pretty chilled out compared to the Auckland CBD. Bars and restaurants only stay open until 1am on the shore.
Property prices are astronomical in Auckland, one thing I wish I would have done 7 years ago when I came here from Manchester was buy property but unfortunately I wasn't in a position financially to do that back then. You seem to get a lot more bang for your buck buying property on the north shore, i'm looking at buying in Northcote Point within the next year. Prices will rise on the north shore if and when they build a tunnel for both rail and road from the city. Also they're planning a cycle lane and walkway over the bridge.
The pace of life is a lot slower and way more chilled out here. Nobody really stresses out and you seem to have a lot more time to do fun things like sports, outdoor adventures, beaches, BBQ's. My dad visited me over Christmas and definitely noticed this.
The roads are ridiculously over-policed here and they're obsessed with you sticking to the very sloooooow speed limit yet they have pretty relaxed punishments on drink driving compared to the UK but this is set to change this year or next. Auckland drivers are absolutely terrible, probably the worst i've experienced in any westernised country.
PM me if you want more details / advice.
Cheers
Matt
Property prices are astronomical in Auckland, one thing I wish I would have done 7 years ago when I came here from Manchester was buy property but unfortunately I wasn't in a position financially to do that back then. You seem to get a lot more bang for your buck buying property on the north shore, i'm looking at buying in Northcote Point within the next year. Prices will rise on the north shore if and when they build a tunnel for both rail and road from the city. Also they're planning a cycle lane and walkway over the bridge.
The pace of life is a lot slower and way more chilled out here. Nobody really stresses out and you seem to have a lot more time to do fun things like sports, outdoor adventures, beaches, BBQ's. My dad visited me over Christmas and definitely noticed this.
The roads are ridiculously over-policed here and they're obsessed with you sticking to the very sloooooow speed limit yet they have pretty relaxed punishments on drink driving compared to the UK but this is set to change this year or next. Auckland drivers are absolutely terrible, probably the worst i've experienced in any westernised country.
PM me if you want more details / advice.
Cheers
Matt
As an ex Mancunian myself, now been here 20 years, I have to say I never fancied Auckland or its surrounding areas, and decided to go to Wellington instead, and now live in Wairarapa. It's a hell of a lot cheaper to buy property here, that's for sure !!
It just seemed too much like moving from one big city to another, but with warmer weather....
So ST150HB, make sure you see the rest of NZ before deciding where you would love to live.
There are some truly beautiful bits.
There are nice spots in/around AKL too, I'm not saying it's all horrible, just that it's a pretty big urban spawl, as NZ's largest city.
About the only thing I would do differently is to reconsider whether I should have brought my 2 TVRs, as parts can be a royal pain in the a**s to source and import sometimes. But then again, I love my TVRs (Wedge and Tuscan V6) , so perhaps not !
NZ is still pretty "English" at the end of the day, but it's less formal, even in most work environments, but still very easy to get used to.
I worked in Govt IT dept in a fairly big development section (about 50 people) and we called our IT manager by his first name, and would go regularly for a beer (and a joke) with him. Due respect when required, but much less 'status' ridden than a typical UK office (at least when I left a while ago - may have changed now).
And me neither, I wouldn't go back to UK.
Remember it's winter in July, Akl won't be frosty, but can still be chilly when a strong wind blows
It just seemed too much like moving from one big city to another, but with warmer weather....
So ST150HB, make sure you see the rest of NZ before deciding where you would love to live.
There are some truly beautiful bits.
There are nice spots in/around AKL too, I'm not saying it's all horrible, just that it's a pretty big urban spawl, as NZ's largest city.
About the only thing I would do differently is to reconsider whether I should have brought my 2 TVRs, as parts can be a royal pain in the a**s to source and import sometimes. But then again, I love my TVRs (Wedge and Tuscan V6) , so perhaps not !
NZ is still pretty "English" at the end of the day, but it's less formal, even in most work environments, but still very easy to get used to.
I worked in Govt IT dept in a fairly big development section (about 50 people) and we called our IT manager by his first name, and would go regularly for a beer (and a joke) with him. Due respect when required, but much less 'status' ridden than a typical UK office (at least when I left a while ago - may have changed now).
And me neither, I wouldn't go back to UK.
Remember it's winter in July, Akl won't be frosty, but can still be chilly when a strong wind blows
Edited by RCK974X on Monday 7th April 06:03
Many thanks for the useful replies. We are set on that area as that is where she will be working. Looking to house share for the first few months as there seems to be some good deals out there. We're fortunate to already have a house deposit that we have had stashed for a house here. Provided we're happy (I should imagine so!) then we would look to buy in the near future.
We're both excited to be coming out, and will no doubt take up the offers of PMing for a bit of advice or help.
Another point, you mention the slow speed limits- what is it like for a petrol head out there? I can appreciate city driving being crap as that is what I've endured for the past few years. Are there tracks and events where you can legally let your hair down? I'm definitely one for the work /life balance and want to make the most of this opportunity.
We're both excited to be coming out, and will no doubt take up the offers of PMing for a bit of advice or help.
Another point, you mention the slow speed limits- what is it like for a petrol head out there? I can appreciate city driving being crap as that is what I've endured for the past few years. Are there tracks and events where you can legally let your hair down? I'm definitely one for the work /life balance and want to make the most of this opportunity.
Edited by ST150HB on Monday 7th April 21:09
Despite the comments above - I still reckon NZ isn't that much worse than UK for its "speeding costs lives" obsession, just that here it's enforced more by cops than static cameras, probably because there's fewer people. I haven't driven around AKL for a long time (years), and I understand there are static speeding cameras around now, but none here where I live, and I don't think you'll see any around rest of NZ.
100km (60mph) does seem slow, especially in a TVR ! and the obsession with fines when only 4 kms over the limit is ridiculous IMHO, but that's governments for ya.
There's still lots of car clubs, rally enthusiasts, events, stock car and race tracks, etc. so you won't go short, and there's proper classic US muscle cars here too as NZ has had a mix of US,UK, and Oz cars and engines in its time.
NZ also has some great gravel roads too, perfect for events !
Given the beautiful scenery it's very easy to cruise along, enjoy, and relax.
100km (60mph) does seem slow, especially in a TVR ! and the obsession with fines when only 4 kms over the limit is ridiculous IMHO, but that's governments for ya.
There's still lots of car clubs, rally enthusiasts, events, stock car and race tracks, etc. so you won't go short, and there's proper classic US muscle cars here too as NZ has had a mix of US,UK, and Oz cars and engines in its time.
NZ also has some great gravel roads too, perfect for events !
Given the beautiful scenery it's very easy to cruise along, enjoy, and relax.
Don't worry, you can still be a petrol head over here. Track days are cheap and regular for cars and bikes plus there is quite a bit of lower level motorsport.
Expect terrible standards of driving on the road though and a lack of motorways means journeys can be long.
Will you be transferring with the armed forces or looking for work ?
Expect terrible standards of driving on the road though and a lack of motorways means journeys can be long.
Will you be transferring with the armed forces or looking for work ?
NNK said:
Don't worry, you can still be a petrol head over here. Track days are cheap and regular for cars and bikes plus there is quite a bit of lower level motorsport.
Expect terrible standards of driving on the road though and a lack of motorways means journeys can be long.
Will you be transferring with the armed forces or looking for work ?
Good to hear guys, really looking forward to getting over there, however the preps before hand are mounting up pretty quick! However i'm sure it will be worth it.Expect terrible standards of driving on the road though and a lack of motorways means journeys can be long.
Will you be transferring with the armed forces or looking for work ?
I will be looking for work, but won't be transferring forces, as i'm after a better QOL, something I feel the AF does not provide! Being able to plan stuff with out it being cancelled last minute for an inane reason is definitely a plus point!
Also regarding a previous post, I wouldn't mind cruising at 60 in a TVR, it's a TVR
I strongly agree with earlier comment above over the frustration of getting TVR parts out here, I waited 6 months for an AP racing clutch, lightened flywheel, master and slave cylinder for my T350C.
Although to a petrol-head, I find driving even in 40KPH speed limits an absolute pleasure, cruising in 1st gear isn't all bad in a Speed 6 engine!
Oh BTW, a lot of people who don't live in Auckland will slag it off, the rest of the country refer to Aucklanders as JAFAS (Just Another f
king Aucklander) due to the 1.4 million people here. My advice, ignore these comments! It's a beautiful city any time of day and night, there's always something good to do and in recent years the bar / restaurant scene has got so much better. IMHO of course, it's much easier transitioning from one big city to another and Auckland has almost everything you'll be used to and offer more. Not many places I know of where you can travel 4 hours and snowboard down a volcano or travel 40-60 minutes North East or West and be soaking up the sun on some of the worlds nicest beaches (Tawharanui, Muriwai, etc) with turquoise seas.
Although to a petrol-head, I find driving even in 40KPH speed limits an absolute pleasure, cruising in 1st gear isn't all bad in a Speed 6 engine!
Oh BTW, a lot of people who don't live in Auckland will slag it off, the rest of the country refer to Aucklanders as JAFAS (Just Another f
king Aucklander) due to the 1.4 million people here. My advice, ignore these comments! It's a beautiful city any time of day and night, there's always something good to do and in recent years the bar / restaurant scene has got so much better. IMHO of course, it's much easier transitioning from one big city to another and Auckland has almost everything you'll be used to and offer more. Not many places I know of where you can travel 4 hours and snowboard down a volcano or travel 40-60 minutes North East or West and be soaking up the sun on some of the worlds nicest beaches (Tawharanui, Muriwai, etc) with turquoise seas.ST150HB said:
Well good news, job is secured! Will be looking to live near Takapuna as that's where she'll be working. Looking at Jul/Aug time. Lots of planning & preperation!
Well done, I'm sure you'll love it - I've been over for 7 years, in Wellington and don't regret it at all, except missing family, friends and traditional pubs.If you do get stopped by police don't be surprised by their familiar accent, so many Brit cops come over.
Dan
This is the best resource for surveying housing options. You can tailor your search and view results in list or map... http://www.realestate.co.nz
Takapuna search... http://www.realestate.co.nz/residential/search/sub...
If your wife is working in Takapuna you will find anywhere on the North Shore won't be too much of a commute.
Or there are always buses. (Check the last 2 maps of this PDF... http://www.maxx.co.nz/media/110607/ng_northern_gui... )
Takapuna search... http://www.realestate.co.nz/residential/search/sub...
If your wife is working in Takapuna you will find anywhere on the North Shore won't be too much of a commute.
Or there are always buses. (Check the last 2 maps of this PDF... http://www.maxx.co.nz/media/110607/ng_northern_gui... )
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