Hello folks

I was hoping someone out there might be able to offer some advice.

We're expecting to move out to Auckland before the end of the year, from the UK. Now starts the task of finding somewhere to live!

We have two kids aged 9 and 4 and schooling is really important. Currently, the eldest is at private school, purely because all of the schools nearby are poor. I'm hoping to find somewhere around the Auckland area that will save me the huge cost of private school, but still offer my kids a good education, whilst giving us a good quality of life in a nice community..

I'll be working in city centre Auckland but don't mind a reasonable commute (12 miles into Manchester currently takes me at least an hour by car, so anything around an hour is acceptable).

I'm banking on a house buying budget of up to NZ$400,000, which I'm hoping might get me at least 3 bedrooms (hopefully four?) and a sizeable garden. Ideally, I'd like to be in a community, because my wife won't work, but I want to avoid urban and would prefer suburban or semi-rural.

Any ideas gratefully received.

Cheers