Hi everyone.
I'm looking for some advice. I've been offered a job in Wellington and initially I was pretty excited, because I visited it last year (albeit briefly) and loved it.
But I've been doing some research and now have some doubts, largely related to my family, who are not quite so thrilled. Appreciate if anyone can offer advice on the below.
1) I have a 13 year old daughter. She liked Wellington too when we visited but is now saying she is afraid it will be too small and isolated. We have always lived in big cities. How do other teens coming from big cities find it?
2) I'm a little worried about the schools. It seems that the schools that offer international qualifications like IB and Cambridge are all single sex and my daughter is adamant she doesn't want to go to a girls' school. Does the NZ certificate offered by the state co-ed schools allow kids to apply for university in the UK, US etc? I mean, she might want to stay in NZ but I'd like her to have the choice. The NZ exam board says it is recognised abroad but is that in fact the case? Anyone have experience of this?
3) Is Onslow College a good school - open minded, no bullying, outward looking etc? What are class sizes like? How about the private schools like Queen Margaret, which seems to the only one doing IB? Much difference? I heard there was a private co-ed out in Whitby, but that sounds like too much of a commute each day, right?
4) Daughter has done some movie auditions and wants to do more (I know, I know). I know Wellington is quite a creative city with a movie industry but does that translate into opportunities, even for small parts? If I can give her good news on that front I am more likely to win her over...but obviously I want to tell her the truth!
5) I also have a trailing spouse....he has trailed before, and always got a job, but again those were large cities. He works as a claims adjuster at the moment and has various kinds of legal type experience. English is his second language. He's not really keen to be a homemaker and too young to retire. Anyone else been in that position? Is it tough to find professional work in Wellington, assuming you have the visa in place and are in the city already?
Many, many thanks for any help!