Honest opinion of life in NZ plz...

[burriana500]

I know as, the originator of this topic, that I've been very quiet, but it's all getting read and passed on
Major downside not being able to take the Griff out though

[wedgepilot]

Indeed, all good stuff. I'm currently living in rural Bedfordshire, so I certainly don't intend to go anywhere near Auckland. No offence to any Aucklanders!

[tvrprice]

Don't get me wrong folks, I love NZ, this is my 3rd visit in 6 years, did the big tour in '98 and recently had a fortnight hols in Queenstown and Dunedin. Unfortunately, there aren't too many jobs down there, but the lifestyle and wineries and great.

Where abouts in Beds wedgepilot ? Lived in Bedford for 14 years, know Sandy area very well.

[jamieheasman]

I didn't mean my contribution to sound like I was condemning all of NZ. If I could live anywhere in NZ it wouldn't be Auckland but my profession (good old IT again) dictates the location. I also have a wife and two children to support so there is more pressure on me to bring home the bacon so to speak.

I've toured around the south island and I much prefer it to the north island. In fact a friend and I stayed in Fairlie for a couple of days a few years back and I could quite happily of stayed there!

My main reason for going on about the railway is that if it was better I could probably live further out of town and enjoy more of the benefits of being in NZ.

I'm sure the rules will change one day and we'll all be able to bring in any TVR we want (God I hope so!).

Good to have a lively little thread going in this section again isn't it?

[jamieheasman]

Forgot to say this. I get the feeling that in NZ you can be successful if you really want to be - the country does have that vibe about it. I guess I'm just a bit too scared to strike out!

Actually, has anybody got an ideas of another profession I could undertake where I can earn a six figure sum (excluding the cents!) and live in the middle of nowhere?

[kylie]

jamieheasman said:

Forgot to say this. I get the feeling that in NZ you can be successful if you really want to be - the country does have that vibe about it. I guess I'm just a bit too scared to strike out! Actually, has anybody got an ideas of another profession I could undertake where I can earn a six figure sum (excluding the cents!) and live in the middle of nowhere?

Was in Fairlie two weekends ago, for a rather large booze-up took me all week to recover , half of my relatives live there, small world aint it You may have visited the Old Library Cafe on the corner there, yip relatives own that.

We quite often used to discuss this living in the middle of nowhere and still keeping the business running. Simon went on a course where you impliment a system by procedures into your own Co so you can eventually pop out the top and it will run in theory without you. He has it 3/4 implimented and already has minimal contact with staff.

Friends of mine who immigrated from France, their background is interior design, but they are actively looking for land to plant grapes. I guess capital, would be handy, but I heard of people in IT doing websites, co logos for clients purely through the net and minimal contact with clients, thus being able to live anywhere.
Some other people try their hand at tourism or farming. Just have to think outside the square a bit.


>> Edited by kylie on Friday 21st May 06:54

[Richard Deakin]

Hi there everyone

After my frustrated comments on this thread earlier, I am now a happy chappy with a real job in Wellington. As a work destination, Wellington is excellent for IT with lots of big players, like IBM, GEN-i, Novell, Microsoft etc, as well as lots of insurance / finance companies. So for a computer programmer, there's lots of opportunity.

I like just up the coast in Kapiti, and as Jamie suggests, this gives me the perfect balance of rural NZ and a great 50 min train ride straight into Wellington on clean comfortable and reliable services where I always seem to get a seat.

Also, the view from the train is something like this:

http://a9.cpimg.com/image/7F/DA/15331199-f74d-0200013C-.jpg

I like Wellington and Kapiti as places to live in New Zealand. Like Jamie, I found some excellent places in the south island, but I couldn't have made a living there. So I've found what for me is an excellent balance. House prices are rising here, but I can get much more than in Wellington and I just couldn't afford this lifestyle in Auckland. If you want to know more about Wellington, let me know.
Cheers

Richard

[pawsmcgraw]

if you want a job that pays well and enables you to live in the middle of nowhere then buy a farm!
You need no experience as you can just lease the land out or get a manager in to run it.For the last 15 years and before that with the exception of a few brief periods farming has always paid well.Bare in mind farming is the backbone of NZ and 10% of NZ's workforce are involved in some form or another,so it sin't going to go away!It is probably NZ's greatest asset,loads of top quality land and weather patterns to match.It also has the finest produce anywhere globally.
There is no shortage of farms for sale and no shortage of utterly beautiful places in which to live.
The only down side is you would need a considerable amount of funds to purchase as lending rates here are traditionally higher.As for living in the middle of nowhere,it's one of the best things about NZ for me.
If you just want to live in the middle of nowhere and make an average wage then theres no problem getting work.Theres more job vacancies than there are workers and NZ currently has a record low unemployment level.
Its lifestyle that matters here,not how much cash or material things you have.

[wedgepilot]

tvrprice said:

Where abouts in Beds wedgepilot ? Lived in Bedford for 14 years, know Sandy area very well.

Small world! In that case, you're probably familiar with Biggleswade, where I'm currently living. No offence, but I generally try to avoid Bedford, it's not a nice place these days.

[wedgepilot]

Richard Deakin said:

After my frustrated comments on this thread earlier, I am now a happy chappy with a real job in Wellington. As a work destination, Wellington is excellent for IT with lots of big players, like IBM, GEN-i, Novell, Microsoft etc, as well as lots of insurance / finance companies. So for a computer programmer, there's lots of opportunity.

Congrats on getting the job sorted Richard

I'll be looking for a job in IT myself, and I'll need a steady income initially, so self-employment isn't an option. My first choice would be Christchurch, but I realise Wellington would give me more career options, so it's a close second.

If it had to be Wellington, I'd like to live outside the city, maybe with a 30-40 mins commute to work. Any tips you can pass on would be much appreciated, like nice areas to live, house prices, areas to avoid, comparisons with Christchurch for IT prospects, etc.

Cheers,
Alan

[gtr-gaz]

wedgepilot said:

tvrprice said: Where abouts in Beds wedgepilot ? Lived in Bedford for 14 years, know Sandy area very well. Small world! In that case, you're probably familiar with Biggleswade, where I'm currently living. No offence, but I generally try to avoid Bedford, it's not a nice place these days.

Well, Wedgepilot,
I know Biggleswade very well. I am 5 miles away. I also spent a week in Christchurch a few years ago and to be honest I would take Christchurch anyday!

Christchurch reminded me a bit of Cambridge complete with punts and straw boaters, although I guess they are there mainly for the tourists.

The sky is brilliant blue, the air is clean, there are a lot less people, a lot less cars on the road.
Colours are just more vibrant.
You will need a good pair of sunglasses!

Go for it!
There are no sadder words than "if only"
(Can't remember who said it though)

Gary

[Richard Deakin]

kylie said:

I think during world war II (someone correct me), the American government appraoched our government offering to build a four lane highway from top to bottom of the country, our response at the time was that we will never need it utter crap we are so backward sometimnes!. Its all true about certain parties holding up roading plans to make our roads a better safer place. Apart from that most other things are good.

Yes Kylie, the US Army were using Queen Elizabeth Park on the Kapiti coast for exercises and offered to pay for a four lane up the coast. The govt refused as they didn't want to be "in debt" to the states. Now Transfund are saying that the four lane Transmission Gully route from Wellington is too expensive and it would be 10 years before they could even start. Auckland is already becoming choked with transport and other population centres will follow.

Having said all that - the delays from Kapiti to Wellington are nothing compared to the M25 crawl I used to do everyday, so I just sit back, relax, slip on another CD and enjoy the (slow) drive. Or take the train and enjoy the view.

[Richard Deakin]

kylie said:

Fair enough, Auckland by no means is a reflection of the rest of the country and a shame if you have to look at going home before scouting the rest of the country. Many Aucklanders seem to think that everything is here in the city and never really venture to the south island for a look, plain snobbery and arrogance.

What was it that John Banks said? I think...

"There are two types of New Zealander - those who live in Auckland and those who want to."

Banks, rhymes with...

[kylie]

Yeah I know, he certainly dosent make any easier on the good jafas here. See hes taken the plunge and given the green light for V8 supercar street racing in down town Auckland!!! I think its awesome only cause I live out at Blockhouse Bay (west side of city) dosen't affect me, but the city people are pretty upset about it, down time for business, poor access to their apartments etc. He makes some pretty huge calls.

[Richard Deakin]

I've always wondered where the term "jaffa" came from? Any jaffas like to enlighten me?

[kylie]

Oh sorry It means Just Another F*cken Aucklander. Been branded

Atleast I can makes claims of still being a south islander true to the bone

[Richard Deakin]

kylie said:

Oh sorry It means Just Another F*cken Aucklander. Been branded Atleast I can makes claims of still being a south islander true to the bone

So as a comedienne said on the TV - "I live in Auckland but was born in Christchurch. Which means I have to hate myself." Or something like that.

[kylie]

Yeah not to the point of hate but yes you got the idea.

[Roger A]

Again I'm rather off the pace, but, in response to Burriana,it is just possible to get hold of a Griff here. Some got through before the LTSA got over-prescriptive with us and you do occasionally see one for sale (I know,it's a bit slim)

[kylie]

Yes I have seen a few around too, I mean only "a few", maybey well worth putting a few wanted ads in classic car mag, auto trader etc to source one. Or ring around clubs in Auckland and ask for owners who may want to sell? Sounds a little hard perhaps, but if it were me thats what I would do.
Good luck
Kylie