ok, so now I have decided to move to NZ, where are the best places to live?

Question

Choices are somewhere in Bay of Plenty around Taurana to be near in-laws, though employment-wise probably Auckland would be better - heard Titrangi was nice. Have kids aged 3 and 5 and good (or the best schools) are a must (state schools please - too poor for private) Many thanks

Answer 1

As far as your kids are concerned, best and safest place would be Tauranga. Auckland is not a good place to bring up kids (that is just my opinion).

Tauranga has a great beach area (Mt Maunganui), there are lots of young people flocking there all the time. The place is focussed on natural environment, there are lots of crafts, plenty of things to do, places to go. If I had my way, I would move there tomorrow (I live in Hawkes Bay). Too much crime where I live - getting as bad as Auckland.

Answer 2

Go with the Bay of Plenty, this is a great place to bring up kids. This is where I was raised and I think I turned out OK. Tauranga is growing really fast so employment there would not be a problem. Auckland is just a big city like anywhere in the world. If you want a lifestyle as well definitely stick to the Bay. There is too much crime in Auckland, and it's only Aucklanders that would tell you otherwise.

Answer 3

NZ is still suffering from mass export of our brain talent to Oz. Its a long standing debate that many kiwis are looking at and the NZ government are stuffing up. We have recently had a housing / mortgage rate explosion which has put many people in some questionable situations. Such as paying over 50% of their earnings to maintain a mortgage. Pay rates are lower and there is less tax back benefits in NZ. But more benefits to non working people. Some of these things I think may change in the future and whilst we have our share of crime here. The NZ way of living offers its own benefits that can not be measured in wealth. And boring... no, def not. Some similarites to Oz and kiwi's seem to specialise in originality, creativity and natural beauty. I've lived a few places round the world. I just had to come back to NZ. I felt everywhere else was far too politically correct.

Answer 4

The harbour-side city of Auckland is New Zealand's true area and the vivid financial heart of the nation, know it with hotelbye . Auckland can also be known as the "City of Sails" and it sprawls out in helter-skelter style between Manukau Harbour (to the west) and Waitemata Harbour (to the east) with the lightweight central town section correct beside the waterway. For most readers to New Zealand, Auckland is the idea of birth, and a couple of days washing up the national and outside attractions here should be on every tourist's to-do list. The monuments, museums, and artwork galleries listed here are a number of the best in the country. The suburban coastline of the city is speckled with great beaches, and the hawaiian islands of the Hauraki Gulf give a taste of New Zealand's spectacular national park scenery right on the city's doorstep. Auckland is surely a town worth seeing.

Answer 5

Hi there! I go to university in Auckland CBD and live on Auckland's north shore so I can give you heaps of advice!! Being an Aucklander I would have to say Auckland is the way to go - the CBD has heaps and heaps of jobs, and its a beautiful clean city! But obvoiusly with young chilldren you dont want to live in it. So your two choices are either living in the suburbs around Auckland (Remuera, St Heillers, Mt Eden etc) but they are quite expensive, and in my opinion not as nice. Your best bet would be to live on the north shore! heres an outline of the suburbs from furtherest from the city to the closest
-Albany (inland, very spread out, with lots of new developments)
-Torbay (cliff suburb overlooking the sea, with one of the best beaches on the shore Long Bay which is huge surrounded by heaps of parks and reverses, some nice houses and some older ones, another nice beach too called Waiake ,prices around NZ $400,000 to $800,00)
-browns bay ( next to torbay, has a main road by the beach with shops - 3 supermarkets/cafes etc, the beach isnt as nice a bit polluted)
-Mairangi Bay/Rothesay Bay/Campells Bay ( all nice, sunny suburbs with more modern homes, I dont know that much about them )
-Takapuna/Milford/Devonport ( VERY expensive, especially devonport as its on the end of the northshore and the first settlemnt in auckland, the most upmarket suburbs, all coastal, Milford is more retired people, takapuna is very trendy with the cafe culture and bars etc)

so for young children I would recommend either Torbay, mairangi bay , rothesay bay or campells bay. Torbay is the cheapest, but its the furtherst from the city. There are many more suburbs in the north shore- Genfield, Northcote, Beacg Haven, Greenhithe, but they are all inland and are not desirbale areas. My suggested suburbs all fill of very good public primary schools , NZ has very few private primary schools, and there are so many that you wont be more than 3 mins drive from one no matter where you live! Torbay for example has three. If you want any more info just ask! the best realestate website for the shore is www.barfoot.co.nz

Answer 6

Auckland is possibly the best for employment, shopping, nightlife etc. Titirangi is nice but St.Helliers is even nicer (bit pricey though) Personally I would go to Nelson in the south island and fly up to see the in laws when I needed to.

Answer 7

I'd steer clear of Auckland if you have young children. I have nothing against the place, but it's really just a big city, whereas the other places you mentioned are smaller and probably a nicer environment for your kids to grow up in.

Answer 8

My sister and her husband have just move to the pacific island of waiheke. they tell me it is 30 mins away from auckland on the ferry which runs from early morning to 11pm and is quite frequent. there are lots of beaches and a nudist beach nearby. not sure about schools but my sister and brother-in-law must have checked them out before they moved because they have just had a baby. n hope this is helpful

Answer 9

Christchurch on the South Island is, in my opinion, the best city in NZ. I also quite like Blenheim. Real estate prices are better than here in England, if only my wife would agree to move!

Answer 10

try south africa