Moving to NZ...what do I need to organise that I might have forgotten about?

[beansmum]

Following on from my thread about being in love with a guy I went to school with...(here)

I have realised that part of the reason I feel so strongly about him is that I really don't want to live here anymore and would be happier in NZ. So...I have decided to move before, or soon after, ds starts school in 2010.

What do I need to know? And where should I go? I will complete my degree with the OU before I go and then would like to do primary teacher training over there. I have no idea which unis are best and don't know how to find out. I would rather be based in the north island.

[beansmum]

Ok, here's what I have thought of so far, what is missing?
Shipping stuff over, but would it be cheaper/easier to buy new.
The dog, not sure what to do there.
Areas to start looking, Auckland possibly?
Schools, how do I work out which ones are good?
It doesn't really seem like there is that much to think about, which makes me think that I have left something major out.

[SSSandy2]

could you move a year before he would have to start school so you can check out the schools etc on the ground? Do you have family there still who could give you a hand getting set up?

I'm wondering about ds' father, is it possible he'd try and prevent you taking ds overseas and could he do that?

[HairyMaclary]

I'm sure others can answer your questions better but we moved over for 4 years and came back 2 years e loved it and would have loved to have stayed but circumstances meant we couldn't. Anyway shipping - we shipped everything out - pre children, so less stuff. i would advise it, I think it is much cheaper in the end although it is one big expense althogether. All electrics just need the plugs changing and they are fine. We also found our bog standard furniture was better quality than the bog standard furniture we bought over there iyswim. If you are in Auckland there are basically 2 unis to do teacher training at. Auckland Uni and Massey, would recommend Auckland. I was a teacher over there but in the private sector so know a number of schools but can't really help too much.
If you can move before your son starts school, it will give you time to settle in, look at schools and move to where suits you both. Provided the dog has passport and rabies jab there should be no problem with moving him too, I have friends who did it from NZ to UK

[HairyMaclary]

oops - pressed send before I meant to, baby crying so better go - sorry about typos and reallyt bad grammar!

[beansmum]

hadn't even thought about ds's father! I don't think he could stop us moving could he? I suppose I would have to tell him? I don't know where he is...

[SSSandy2]

oh well if you don't know where he is, doesn't sound likely he'll cause problems. Let's think positive! They can if they feel like just being a pain and obstructing you or because they love their dc and seriously worry they won't see their them enough (as the case may be). I don't know if it is only when you've been married that they can prevent you moving abroad with the dc though

How about medical things? If you can get things done cheaper/faster in the UK (don't know if it is the case), I'd get those things done first - dental work etc. Maybe NZ is better for that kind of thing, dunno.

[beansmum]

no idea. but I don't really need anything doing.

How do people manage shipping all their stuff over. It takes ages! do you have no stuff at this end and have it there when you arrive, or arrive before your stuff and rent somewhere furnished for a while? I probably wont be buying.

HairyMaclary - did you live in Auckland? Am I right in thinking that I should steer clear of south and west auckland if poss?

[HairyMaclary]

We lived in West Auckland and it was lovely! I'd steer clear of south though. House prices have gone up massively so central is very pricey. I would get dental stuff done here, we had a fab dentist in Akl but she was expensive, it's free here! Medical is similar, better quality in NZ but you do pay for Gp level stuff. We stayed with friends of friends for a while on our way out and stuff took about 8 weeks, on the way back it only took 3 weeks though!
Do think it through carefully though, it's very expensive to do and a massive upheaval, friendships can be hard to forge again and while I think our quality of life was better over there it's not all amazing!!

[AnnainNZ]

Just waking up over here in NZ.

I'm in Auckland, Beansmum. I'd agree that south Auckland mostly dodgy. Some of the west is too but I'm in a nice bit. Most of east and north is fine. Central is nice but ironically the only people I know who've been burgled all live in central Auckland - maybe because those are the richer areas.

www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-me-property/index.htm will give you an idea of rental (and buying) prices.

I pay about 30 bucks at the GPs for a visit but I always get in teh same day and get excellent service. Dentists cost me about 120 bucks for a filling last time I had one.
Just trying ot think what else you might need to know...my dd not school age so don't know about them yet.

[beansmum]

I will think it through. It'll take a while to work out how I can afford it and when would be the best time to move. I think I will graduate around oct 2009, I'll have to work out whether to apply for my teacher training place starting 2010, I think the deadline would be about dec 2009(possibly?) which wouldn't give me much time to get over there if I needed to go to interviews. It might be better to find a job for a while first then go back to uni in 2011, then ds will be settled into school as well.

I think it's the right thing to do. I definitely want ds to grow up in NZ and I miss pretty much everything about the place. The people especially but also the weather, the food, the scenery, pies, rugby, weetbix, mini pizzas with spaghetti on, burger rings, proper milo, drinking in woolsheds, meeting people you know wherever you go...do they still have squiggles over there? ok it's mostly the food I miss.

It's a big move though.

[kjaysmum]

hi Beansmum, just to say, sounds like you know what you want, which is just fantastic. I love it over here in NZ I've been here for a couple of years, moved here with my Kiwi Partner and our Ds, we live on the coast just north of Wellington.
Have been racking my brains for you...my advice is bring 'nice' things...outlets are a bit limited here, not a great deal of selection and quality is expensive, that includes clothes/shoes for you and your ds...erm we don't have Ikea...sorry it's not much, will get back on if I think of anything else, good luck

[kjaysmum]

oh yes, Make sure you come winter to summer, doing winter to winter is absolutely hideous!!

[beansmum]

good advice, thanks.

now I just need to know where I can get enough money to do this from! I have a bit saved and a bit in NZ but not a huge amount, I might have to borrow some from ds.

[Sibble]

Quickie as getting ready for work/school run.

DH had to sign offical release papers through a lawyer when his ex wanted to take his ds from UK to Oz. It may be worth your while calling citizens advice or some other help line to find out early on in the process.

I'd definately recommend bringing all your furniture. It's expensive and not as good quality here (unless you can buy at the top end!). Ours took the bog standard 6 weeks, we hired packers well worth every penny and it was easy. We rented a short term furnished place. Ds1 was very excited when his boxes and things arrived. We also found that heaps of people were willing to lend us toys and things for him until his bits arrived.

As for south Auckland ladies please I live here don't let my fellow polo Clevedon lot hear you call us dodgy. OK many parts are a bit dodgy! Same for West Auckland (where it rains alot imo we looked at Titirangi it's not green and lush for nothing ). Pick your area in the south and it's great , cultural diversity easy access to town without navigating the bridge. Anyway, I'll stop the tourism Manuakau bit and suggest you just look near where you may be training. Rent to start and be prepared to trawl areas and move if need be. We did and it worked for us.

Will post more as I think of it.

[meep]

Titirangi is lovely!! (DH from near there - I have seen the mullet pictures from his youth proving he is a real Westie!)

[beansmum]

I wasn't married to ds's dad and he doesn't have parental responsibility so it might not be a problem. Also he hasn't been bothered about seeing ds when we live in the same town so I don't think he will be worried if I move to the other side of the world!

I'll be training in epsom if it all goes to plan. is it expensive around there? I grew up in the middle of nowhere and don't really know auckland at all, other than the touristy things.

[AnnainNZ]

Ooh no Sibble, I didn't mean where you live is dodgy - Whitford/Clevedon etc are lovely. We looked at Clevedon/Kawakawa Bay but realised we couldn't afford much . I'd happily move to Clevedon tomorrow if we had a few hundred K more...You know the bits I mean by dodgy!

I live near Titirangi and dd (5 months) is already cultivating a fine mullet to cement her westie status.

[AnnainNZ]

And sorry but yes Epsom is pretty pricey! To buy anyway but maybe OK to rent. It's a great area though, some lovely big old houses there. And close to Newmarket which is one of the better shopping areas in Auckland

[Sibble]

lol. dh has started working in Henderson. He's off to the V8's in Hamilton tomorrow and has been winding the blokes he's going with up saying now he's a Westie he's grown a mullet. I did point out the only place he could grom a mullet is on his chest cos there's not much going on up top. Unless he grows one of those rather stunning ones that start mid scalp

[AnnainNZ]

Ye, I doubt there'll be any males left in west Auckland this weekend, they'll all be putting on their best black jeans and T-shirts and vrooming off to Hamilton listening to "The Rock's Greatest Driving Songs" or whatever.

[beansmum]

another quick question...
If ds starts school here (scotland) in august 2009, and then we move to NZ in early 2010 would he have to start all over again, and if so would it matter? I can't work out what would be the best timing for him, it doesn't really matter to me when we move (as long as it's SOON).

[Sibble]

Not sure how old your ds is but they usually start school here on their 5th birthday so there's a continual stream of children starting throughout the year rather than set intake times. He wouldn't be out of place starting when you arrived. Legally they don't have to start until they are 6 (I think it's 6 and not 7!)

I know they usually start earlier than that at home so if it were me and we were definately coming I would wait until you arrived.

CHildren here usually, although not always, start either government kindy or private day care before they start school which imo teaches them similar things to UK reception year. Number, colour, letter recognition, counting, social skills etc... I would say if you were doing this with him or he goes to day care he would not be missing out.