To be honest, Lou, we've had members living in all of the places you mentioned above and many have loved where they settled. Some haven't though and moved on as soon as they were able and were happy. It sounds like a horses-for-courses situation where what someone else loves, you may hate and vice versa. If we've had people living in (or around) all these cities who have enjoyed their time there, so there must surely be something good in them. It's just not always what someone else wants.
You've had some experience of Hamilton but not of the other cities. It would be very difficult to say for sure that you would like any of them until you've spent some time there in an everyday sort of situation. Personally I'd go for where the jobs are and, if that place doesn't suit, look around at your leisure for another job in another place. At least you will have some NZ experience under your belt by then which might make it easier to move onto something better. If you go for the place that appeals to you most or that folks have swayed you into thinking is the best place, if you can't get a job there it's not a lot of good, is it?
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Mother Bear 
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