It's official- IM MOVING!?

Question

Hey. The past 3 weeks at work for me have been very bumpy and incertain. I have been offered a job up in Auckland which pays a very large amount of money and I get a free car! I did get offered jobs in Wellington, Christchurch and even in Sydney but I like the sounds of this one the most.

SO WERE MOVING TO AUCKLAND! I don't mind Auckland, but I don't like the things that go with it like traffic, etc.

I'm really exitied but there is one problem, where to put my kids! This has been really sudden so we will spend most of the holidays shipping stuff up there. My job is in the city. I was looking for a nice area around 25 mins at the most from the city. I was interested in the North Shore. A good place to bring up kids?

What's it like there? Also schools are another issue for the kids. I was looking for something like a good private college. I was hoping it to be really friendly and good so does anybody out there go to one in and around auckland? Thanks

Answer 1

I live on the North Shore and work in the city so all the info below relates to the North Shore. This is the easiest place to get to the city from in all of Auckland because of the ferry services, there is one from Devonport, Bayswater, Northcote & Birkenhead & they all take only 10 minutes so no traffic hassles (costs $35 for a 10 ride ticket or $115 for a monthly pass). A beautiful, peaceful way to get to work, especially in summer & in winter not so bad as the ferries are big so they don't rock around in rough weather like you think they would & they are rarely cancelled due to the weather (only once last year & once the year before during storms to my knowledge). I don't have kids but my friend recommends Westlake College (they have a separate school for girls & boys) & one of her kids is going to be a doctor so the education must be good. She also likes it that her 2 boys turned out so polite & respectful through going to Westlake Boys (just as well for her as she is a single mother). There is also Takapuna Grammar for boys only which I think is the only private school on the North Shore. I have also heard Rangitoto College is good. Rangitoto and the Westlake School's are not private ones but Westlake is apparently as good as a private school. Bear in mind kids from private schools can turn out snobby & you may not want your kid to turn out like that. Avoid living in Birkdale & Beach Haven as those are the bad area's (although Coastal Beach Haven is fine & parts of Birkdale are fine. Don't live in Northcote unless you're Asian or you won't fit in (it's pretty much a Chinatown & also there are some bad area's there where the state houses are with alot of unemployed people, drug sales, etc, but nothing like the ghetto areas you get in your country or course). The North Shore is mostly white people so not very multicultural like the rest of Auckland (which is a bad thing I think). Alot of South African's live on the North Shore, particularly around Browns Bay. Takapuna, Devonport & Milford are expensive area's. There are great parks/bushwalking area's on the North Shore like Centennial Park (lots of Kauri tree's & tui's (awesome native birds) & other birdlife, the Kauri forest there is right on the shoreline with views of the city skyline & there's even a beach to walk down to. Also apparently Le Roys Bush has glow worms at night time (a local secret - have never been so can't verify it). Beware of the parks & bushwalks in Beach Haven though as there is a criminal element there sometimes (but nothing like the USA though you understand). You can contact the education department (just google it on google.co.nz) to find out more info re the school's though. Re the guy above recommending Sydney, it depends what you're after, if you have kids you'd probably prefer here. I lived in Sydney for 3 years & yes the nightlife is good but I think it's the same nightlife as Auckland's quite frankly. Sydney was way hot & humid with huge bugs & dangerous spiders, etc & we don't have that here. Also more crime there & people aren't polite & can be quite aggressive (pushing ahead in line, etc) & you might get smart **** comments re being an American (they are very outspoken & tactless there). Go there on holiday while you're here & you decide (although living in Sydney is vastly different from just visiting as when you visit there's not much time to notice the daily things that can irk you when you live there). The down side of Auckland is it rains alot & February is the only reliably good weather month if you're having visitors want to come from overseas.

Answer 2

I think you're doing the right thing by leaving him, and I know things are going to be hard, but look on the bright side. Would you rather live in life of peace, or a life of abuse? I don't blame you for wanting to leave because you really are doing the right thing. I've known or heard a lot of people staying together for the kids..but who's actually suffering? The kids. But you have to remember, your son deserves to have his father in his life. As for your soon to be ex, sometimes it takes sooo much time and energy to have the wake up call. Only now does he realize that its too late because you've told him time and time again that you don't want to live in a marriage like that. Well guess what? You're packing your bags, and it sounds like you're not going to look back. You want to begin a new life, and I commend you for that. You seem like a headstrong person that wants the best possible life for herself and her son. Do me a favor..stay strong, and begin to enjoy your life again. God Bless and here's to your new life :). This is just the beginning.

Answer 3

lawls no boasting, but I'd suggest my school: St Cuthbert's College, because we have some of the highest-rated pass marks in the country; 90something% pass mark, 30something% excellence NCEA and IB. That's in epsom, on this side of the bridge. on the other side, north shore, the well-known safe private school is Kristen College, i think it's near Albany. Westlake highs and rangitoto are VERY well known among students for their promiscuousness, half of the stories probably aren't true, but lots are, and we all use NCEA.

Takapuna Grammar is quite good, public.

a very good public school for highschool boys is Auckland Grammar. It uses cambridge and NCEA. VERY competitive.

The well-known private schools in Auckland are as follows:
St Cuthbert's College (girls), Epsom
St Kentigerns College (co-ed), Pakuranga
Kings College (boys, co-ed yrs 12-13), Otahuhu
Diocesan School for girls (girls lawl), Epsom/Remuera
Dilworth school, which is right beside Diocesan. This school is for boys, who are all on financial scholarships. If you have a job which is paying quite well, you're probably not quite in the right financial barrier for this school.

hope that helps!

Answer 4

What ! Nelson is the sunniest place in NZ - why oh why ?........ oh the money OK.

I don't know Auckland suburbs at all .. just want to say Congrats on your new job and happy moving!
Good Luck.

Answer 5

You poor thing! You'll miss the lovely weather and sunshine in Nelson! Oh well a free car and more pay =]

Answer 6

It may be hard at first but later on you and your family can adjust to new environment.

Why dont you visit the place first look for the better place before bringing your family. just my opinion.

Answer 7

hey, i wanna let u know from my experience, no offense i m not trying to discourage u or anything just frendly advice that, from experience, auckland isnt that gud a place to work, try moving out of new zealand, go to australia, they have heaps less tax, and stuff is so much cheaper there, u ll love it there, auckland isnt a lively place, its too quiet and no night life or anything, so u wont have much fun there, try sydney its a much betta place, so lively and fun, so thats my advice to u, that keep ur options open, try out auckland if u want to, but don't reject other jobs especially the one in sydney! i have lived in both places and i wud prefer sydney over auckland any day even though i have lived in auckland most of my life! but then again its ur descision, best of luck!

Answer 8

good luck