Kiwi open for questions

Hi Dave!
What kind of insight have you (or anyone else, for that matter) on the Hamilton area? So far it tops my list of desireable destinations. Any words of wisdom?
Thanks,
Brian

Hello Grinch :D

Here's a link www.hamiltoncity.co.nz

Lisa :D

Hi Grinch

We are emigrating early next year and we are starting out by living in a small town call Matamata, which is about 40 minutes south east of Hamilton. We really love the Waikato region and while we are not city people, we find that the closeness of Hamilton a bonus. It is not our intention to work when we get there and that has some bearing on where we wish to live. However I feel the Hamilton area is an ideal location for all sorts of reasons. Firstly it is near enough to Auckland for travel purposes, without "suffering" from Auckland prices. In fact property prices in the Matamata/Piko district are extremely good.

Hamilton is also ideally placed between both the east and west coast and near enough to all the major resorts ( both inland and on the coast). Can't give you a great deal of info on Hamilton City as I have only made a couple of quick visits. Suffice it to say that it has everything we want and certainly does not suffer from the traffic congestion like Auckland.

There are many small towns in the area and they all have all the facilities you need. The region is very green with rolling hills and plenty of great walks, thermal pools and sport. The population is very mixed and crime seems much lower than some regions, with a good detection rate.

We have researched the area and it is certainly tops for us. In fact we researched and visited most of New Zealand as my mother lives there. She lives on the southern part of South Island and that did not make our list. Our short list was Matamata/Piko region, Blenheim and Napier.

Napier seems too far out on a limb for us and when we were last in NZ there was a growing problem with youth gangs in that area. Blenheim is very nice, with plenty of sunshine, but again it is a little out on a limb. So Matamata/Piko region it is and this time next year ( if not sooner) we will be there.

Of course we haven't looked at the job front as we both intend to retire (one of the reasons for going as it allows us to do so). Nor have we looked as schooling as it is not necessary for us. That said there seem to be plenty of schools.

Hope this has been some help; let me know if you want any detailed infom


Dave

Thank You SO MUCH, Dave!
The web site Lisa offered was fine, but I really wanted to hear things like what you've posted. I won't be retiring any time soon (not quite old enough yet), so I have to look at the employment picture... and I do have to consider schools... but from your description, it's sounds like I'm looking in the right area. From population reports, it looks like Hamilton is about the same size as the "city" I currently live near in the States. Does anyone have input as to the relative size of Hamilton City? Something I might compare it to?
Thanks again!
Brian

OK, folks.... please forgive my less-than-worldly knowledge... I've been looking at Real estate offerings in NZ. I keep seeing the phrase "Residential and lifestyle". Can someone enlighten me as to what is meant by "lifestyle" in this context? :oops:
Thanks,
Brian

Hey Grinch

A Lifestyle block, as far as I know, and what I saw when I was in NZ, is usually something in the region of 10 - 20 acres, with house, that you can cultivate however (I think) you choose - vines, olives, livestock, etc.

Just a house with a lot more land than usual.

I think Hamilton has a population of about 110 thousand, NZ cities tend to sprawl, but i can't give any comparisons to US cities :?
Lisa :D

This link should be helpful - 2001 census so three years old but Hamilton looks good.

http://www.stats.govt.nz/domino/exte...2001+Area+data

Hi Brian

Yes Stu is right to a degree about lifestyle properties. We are looking to buy a lifestyle property which generally is a rural property with 4 plus acres of land. Often you will find that the house and garden has paddocks attached or some bush land and often a number of outbuildings. It is possible that the land already has a small business capability with a number of fruit trees etc.

Saw one for sale on a website recently with a tractor, lawnmower and 1000 chickens thrown in !!

The down side of lifesytle properties is that often they are not on town water supply ( mains) or sewage ( cesspits instead).

If you like the rural live and perhaps a little self-sufficiency, than lifestyle is ideal. Of course there are numerous "residential" properties in a rural setting.

Regards


Dave

Hi,
Was wondering if some kind soul could tell me what secondary teachers wages are like in NZ? We'd like to settle in Whagarei or somewhere in the Bay of Plenty. Do wages vary regionally?
Also, do teachers over there get a pension?
Have emailed the NZ goverments teaching website but they havent replied :icon_frown:
I plan to do my teacher training over there too. I understand I have to pay to this, in the UK I would be paid a bursary ?6000!!!
If anyone has done this or planning to, or has any tips or advice on teacher training/teaching in NZ I would be most grateful.
Thanks so much
Claire xxx