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Thread: Living/Working in New Zealand... Where's best??

  1. #1
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    Default Living/Working in New Zealand... Where's best??

    Hey everyone,

    I'm looking to live and work in New Zealand with my boyfriend I have NVQ 2 and 3 in Health and Social Care 6 six years experience and Kev (boyfriend) has NVQ 2 in construction. We hope we will be able to use these qualifications in NZ. Even though construction would be good for Kev in Christchurch we wanted to avoid there due to earthquakes. We are both 27, enjoy the occasional drink/socialising/music/out door activities... We are hoping to settle for a year work and save and enjoy life at the same time.

    What I'm looking for is where is the best place to live/work in NZ and what is the cost of living...

    I've read up on various places i.e. Tauranga, Wellington, Dunedin, Nelson, Hawkes Bay, Hamilton... All beautiful places but where is ideal??

    If anyone could please shed some light I would really appreciate it

    Thank you

    Kelly

  2. #2
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    Hiya Kelly. I've never fancied Dunedin much (no offence Dunediners) but its probably the safest place if your A1 priority is missing natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes.

    From all I hear now if you live in west or norwest Christchuch, there's not much shakyness so if its easy to get work there, you shouldn't write it off. Might find theres more risk of a biggie in Wellington now.

    Tauranga, Nelson, Hawkes Bay get great weather. If I could get work my choice would be Nelson, I'd like to give living there a go. I don't hear much bad about the place. Maybe less chance of drinking/socialising/music that Dunedin or Christchurch but a good place to live.

  3. #3
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    Thanks Little John, yeh there is a lot more construction work in Christchurch which would be handy for Kev (not too keen on fruit picking again after Australia) and I know there is work in care there after just having a look. Eventually we would like to see majority of NZ as it looks such a beautiful country just hard deciding on a place to set up first.

    Do you know what the cost of living is like in Christchurch?

    P.S Good pic

  4. #4
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    Hello.

    Are you aiming to travel over on a Working Holiday Visa?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by KellBells85 View Post

    What I'm looking for is where is the best place to live/work in NZ and what is the cost of living...

    I've read up on various places i.e. Tauranga, Wellington, Dunedin, Nelson, Hawkes Bay, Hamilton... All beautiful places but where is ideal??

    If anyone could please shed some light I would really appreciate it


    Kelly
    It's pretty hard to find construction work in Nelson. Also, the pay compared to the cost of living isn't as good as other places. However, it is central to Kahurangi, Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, Golden Bay, Marlborough Sounds and many rivers.

    Wellington is the hippest city in NZ, imo. The thing that makes it feel less like suburban sprawl and more like an actual city is that it has a relatively decent public transport system. It doesn't try to be a European or North American city but embraces its Kiwiness. This is just the opinion of someone who visits there once a year (my sister in law lives there), I haven't lived there. I can offer no practical advice on the place.

  6. #6
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    North of Auckland is the least seismically active part of NZ.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by JandM View Post
    Hello.

    Are you aiming to travel over on a Working Holiday Visa?
    Yeh planning on WHV unless I find a job before hand in care and go on a trade visa
    Last edited by KellBells85; 19th December 2012 at 08:07 AM.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by kiwieagle View Post
    It's pretty hard to find construction work in Nelson. Also, the pay compared to the cost of living isn't as good as other places. However, it is central to Kahurangi, Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, Golden Bay, Marlborough Sounds and many rivers.

    Wellington is the hippest city in NZ, imo. The thing that makes it feel less like suburban sprawl and more like an actual city is that it has a relatively decent public transport system. It doesn't try to be a European or North American city but embraces its Kiwiness. This is just the opinion of someone who visits there once a year (my sister in law lives there), I haven't lived there. I can offer no practical advice on the place.
    Thanks for your advice We are actually looking at Nelson as has more out doors activities... Is it more expensive in Nelson or pay in work not good?

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by KellBells85 View Post
    Thanks for your advice We are actually looking at Nelson as has more out doors activities... Is it more expensive in Nelson or pay in work not good?
    I can only comment on the construction side of it. Pay is a bit low compared to cost of living. If you are both working and don't have kids, it probably won't matter as much. The variety of outdoor activities that are within an easy drive is excellent. Nelson/Tasman is a craft brew haven. It's pretty laid back here.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dell View Post
    North of Auckland is the least seismically active part of NZ.
    not just - Coastal Otago is the same; check NZS 1170.5!

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