[ICE]

If you could live in any place in New-Zealand, where would you move to and Y?

[Sparklechick]

I'd probably want to move to the Bay of Islands (Paihia) because I spent my childhood there out on the boat and I loved it.

Of course I'd have to have a boat as well so I could go out and enjoy the Islands.

I'd quite like a holiday home in Queenstown as well. I LOVE Queenstown. It's so beautiful.

[ICE]

Thanx Sparkle!

The reason I'm asking is that in the near future we'll be moving to NZ, and I would like to get to grips with all the places, weather wize, hours sunshine and how much people enjoy living in the particular area......

[Sparklechick]

The only problem with the Bay of Islands is that there aren't too many career opportunities up there. Auckland is probably your best bet if you don't mind fighting with a zillion other people on the roads to get to/from work.

[ICE]

Over the week-end I was told that it rains constantly in NZ, about the same as in the UK......

I must say that the people who told me that, tried to get to NZ, but was rejected, but accepted by Australia.......

[Sparklechick]

You have to be part Arab to get into NZ without any questions asked

Yeah it does rain here a bit, although we've been told that this winter it's going to be cold but not as wet. AND some parts of the country hardly ever get rain so I guess it depends on where you live. I think Auckland gets more rain that it should.

[ICE]

Originally Posted by Sparklechick

You have to be part Arab to get into NZ without any questions asked ...

Would it count if I've seen Lawrence of Arabia?

[Sparklechick]

Probably

*nods*

[busyness53]

Try Pukahina, ICE, it's beautiful bit of a rich man's place though,
you have an estuary on one side of the road, and the sea on the other.
Rotorua is 1hr away, Tauranga is the same, so jobs would be no prob,
In the estuary you get oysters, pipis, cockles, flounders and other fish, the other side
you can go out on a boat and deep sea fish. the weather is loverly same old same old
so Ice look it up.

[nih]

As busyness said, it depends how much money you have to spend. If you're intending to come here as a 'better place to raise the kids' and are taking a pay hit to do it, chances are you're going to need to assimilate in with the rest of the kiwis and live in Auckland.

If you're not particularly bothered financially (and it's goddamn cheap to live here compared to the UK) you can pretty much go anywhere you like. I'd suggest somewhere close to Auckland but with rural coastline. My folks have a place on the cliffs at Maraetai beach. All the charm of a very small town, with the convenience of Auckland nearby.

Seeing as you're doing the second half of the "kiwi goes to the UK to earn big money then come back to cheap old NZ to spend it" thing, I'd suggest following in their footsteps. While you're in the UK and have a much higher earning potential put aside as much as you can, as it'll go further here.

[ICE]

Thanx, Busy & Nih!!

That is my intention. We have 3 little girls, and I would like to give them the kind of outdoor life I had as a youngster.

We'll be making a huge profit on our house when we sell it.

I love the idea of the seafood being on my doorstep!