Best to visit before deciding on location?

Yes, Thankyou very much for that info and your own experience Hafi.
we're really looking forward to life there... sounds great for the kids!
Deb

No worries Mother Bear and Debd... as long as my 'insights' are helpfull....

I just had another thought for you Deb... for the kids... I hope you're not expecting the same kind of school conditions as back home... Don't get me wrong... the facilities such as playgrounds, parks, activities are really fantastic... There's always something to do for very little money with young children... It's just that I noticed that the class rooms (even buildings) in schools often look not as 'modern/comfortable' as you would hope them to be...? (if you get what I mean...)

But there's hope as the government's new budget is out and I heard that there's some planning in spending a little on children's education (incl. accommodation)...

And be warned... life is NOT that cheap here in NZ... (once you're here, you really need to stop comparing prices with UK asap...!!)

(...I'm not putting you off, am I?...)

Sorry, I thought I'd replied earlier!
No Hafi, you haven't put me off yet, ha! Sounds great for the kids too. My oldest is only nearly 4 so I haven't told him yet about our move.... September/October is years away to him!
How or what did you find 'not that cheap' living there?
Thankyou from Deb

Hi
I live just 30 minutes from Auckland on the North Shore. You can find houses to rent in that area and it is near to the country side and beaches. Great schools too. Let me know if you need any help.

No worries Mother Bear and Debd... as long as my 'insights' are helpfull....

I just had another thought for you Deb... for the kids... I hope you're not expecting the same kind of school conditions as back home... Don't get me wrong... the facilities such as playgrounds, parks, activities are really fantastic... There's always something to do for very little money with young children... It's just that I noticed that the class rooms (even buildings) in schools often look not as 'modern/comfortable' as you would hope them to be...? (if you get what I mean...)

Hafi, I have school age kids and I really don'[t care whether the schools are a little bit tatty as long as they're not shoving kids through them with no consideration for their individuality like they do in UK, a sausage factory in other words!