[hatter5]

It is hard to find a property with a good sized garden especially a flat one in Wellington. We rented a back section house with a small strip of garden surrounding it and a driveway and our kids were fine running around the house and we all adapted in no time.

Schools don't seem to be a problem - even those with a lower decile rating are good.

A contractor at work stated he happy to use state schooling for his kids and didn't see the need for a private education which he could have afforded.


"For a house in the Northern Suburbs of Wellington you can expect to pay anything from $400K to $600K. If a 20 minute train commute into CBD isn't too off putting then certain suburbs of lovely Porirua are worth considering - a new build 4 bedroomed single level house for around $500K. In the not so lovely suburbs then an ex state house would cost around $300K."

Kapiti coast is another option and is commutable - Paraparaumu/Raumati are 40 minutes on the train (fast train) to CBD but longer if driving.

The weather is also better than central Wellington.