Kiwi open for questions.

[oakuradunn]

Hey Everybody,
I'm a kiwi (with family) in Taranaki NZ, and I thought if anybody wanted some honest feedback & possible answers etc from a kiwi, go ahead and ask.
I can't give any feedback regarding immigration issues, but if you want some non tourism B.S from a kiwi who knows our country (warts and all) very well, then feel free to ask.

Cheers
Mike Dunn

Hi Mike,
Thank you for offering your services to our members :) I'm sure there will be plenty for you to answer in good time!

Regards

[ultimate]

Hi all-

I'll be moving to Christchurch in October of this year. (Going from fall to spring -- I love it). My employers have set me up with a months accomodation upon arrival in Chch. That should give enough time to get to know the city, but I'm anxious to learn the lay of the land before I arrive. I have visited a few websites that list apartment rentals, but not familiar with the villages within Chch to make a proper assessment of whether it is a nice village in which to reside.

My boyfriend will be attending UCanterbury and I'm working in Riccarton.

Any tips?? :?

Thanks!

I have recently been presented with the opportunity to apply for PhD program out of the University of Auckland. I currently live in Kodiak, Alaska USA. Naturally, I have many questions, but I guess I will just start with the basics. Where would be an ideal neighborhood to rent a home (at least two bedrooms) for myself and my husband? We are looking for affordability and commuting distance to the University.Also, my husband is a fisheries biologist. Do you happen to know what sort of employment opportunities might be available for him? If not in his field, would it be easy for him to find a manual labor (like construction) job?
I just found this website, so I'm sure I will be back with many more questions!
Thanks in advance!!

Hi.
Auckland university is right in the central CBD of auckland.
So rentals in centre cbd are high. Close and best areas to look for rentals would be ponsonby/grey lynn (cool), mt eden (cool) and Kingsland (cool.)
All have great cafes, restaurants etc, very hip (without being wanky) and are very close to central auck and university.
Mt Eden has the best bakery on the planet, and kingsland has one of the best chinese restaurants this side of xanadu.

You husbands training could be well needed. NZ is very much a fisheries country (being islands!), and the sciences of food are very developed in NZ, being one of the worlds most advanced primary producers.
But if not, Auckland has a massive amount of construction always going on, so there is always room for another pair of hands on site.

A good job site to register in is www.seek.co.nz

best of luck.
Mike Dunn (ex aucklander)

Hi Mike :)

My family & I are in the process of emigrating to Taranaki in early 2005 if all goes well. We have two teenagers, do you have any advice on schools, collages & leisure time for teeagers? Is there any no go areas around New Plymouth? Do you know of any web sites that the children could visit to talk to other teenagers that live in this area of New Zealand?

Any advice would be helpful

Cheers

Mattyp

[oakuradunn]

Hi,
sorry for not checking in and seeing your posting.
Taranaki is a great place. teenagers if they are into the outdoors and sport will thrive on living here.
Snow on our mountain in winter, surf in the summer, what could be better.
High Schools vary from top of the line to average.
New Plymouth boys high and Francis douglas (catholic) boys are very high performing boys highschools nationally (both produced many All Blacks), girls high and sacred heart for ..girls! both very good
The only Co-Ed school is spotswood, which is also pretty good.

There really isn't any "no go areas' in new plymouth or all of taranaki.

websites, try this http://www.wiredmail.co.nz/

Overall, there is no better place to live than taranaki. New Plymouth whilst a small town has gone thru a real resurgence, good coffee and food, but still a small town.
But it's the beaches and outdoor life that makes it great.

best of luck
Mike

[Raeven]

Hi, Mike,

Very generous offer you've made here! Thanks very much for being willing to put your honest opinions out there for us -- "warts and all."

My own experience in NZ is very limited: Ten days touring around the South Island with sisters-in-law visiting from Australia (but born and raised in NZ) this past March/April, at my Kiwi husband's suggestion that I not move there without at least having laid eyes on the place. Since we are planning to live in either Blenheim or Nelson, depending on available work, that was fine. I saw and fell in love with the scenery and I can see us living there. No small feat, as I already live in Paradise and have been very reluctant to leave it.

My question is this: What's the level of anti-American sentiment in NZ? While I encountered nothing overt during my visit, I can't help but wonder how Kiwis are feeling about Yanks at the moment, given our atrocious and inexcusable behavior on the world stage for the past, ohh, 3 years and 7 months. I've heard there is a general impression that most Yanks are wealthy (they'll be so disappointed with me!!), but that's about it. Any advice that will help me to avoid stereotypical American behavior? I don't talk loudly in pubs or restaurants, so no need to tell me about that one.

Thanks ever so for any help and suggestions! - Rae

[oakuradunn]

Hi rae, don't sweat it.
Kiwis give everybody shit. Doesn't matter whether you're a pom, an aussie, or american. Everybody has some stereotypical trait (including kiwis) that we play on.
Its all comes under us believing that there is one human right we all have.. to give each other stick whenever possible. It's healthy.

You will be judged by what you say, what you do, and how you respect people and our little patch of godzone.
Nothing more or fairer than that , right?!

ps nelson marlborough is a fantastic area to setup shop.
You wouldn't regret it, though real estate prices around nelson are high.

best of luck
mike dunn

[Laurie]

Hi Mike

My daughter spent a year over in New Plymouth back in 2001/2002 and loved the experience. She has passed her love of the country onto us and we are looking to make a permit move if we can.

We are coming down in December to check things out.

My husband is a winery owner and just wondering if you can give us insight into the wine industry in New Zealand. Who does it better the South Island or North Island?

Thanks
Laurie