New Zealand - British Expat Forum

Hi everyone,
I just found this forum - I am doing as much research as I can into the possibility of moving to New Zealand. I would really value any advice you might be able to give me.
I am married, 2 kids - both my husband and I are in IT. Boys are 12 and 9.
So far Christchurch looks a good place or possibly Wellington - although the idea of it being so windy bothers me. My husband would be moving his business to NZ but I would need to work (at least part time) - there does seem to be more IT jobs in Wellington - is this really the case or do you think there would be a reasonable chance of working in Christchurch. At the moment I freelance and would be happy to do this or take a permanent job.
My big concern is education. It is very hard to find information on quality of schools etc from such a long way away. Our local state schools here are poor and we would be hoping to move to an area where the boys would get a good education. They are both sports mad - football, cricket, rugby, golf and would need a sporty school. Any ideas how to track down the information I need?
I've read throught the forum and noticed a few comments on house prices. What kind of money would we expect to pay for a good sized family home with some garden (ideally a view and a pool aswell) in the outskirts of Christchurch or Wellington?
I won't go on too much (if I haven't already) - hope you can help.

Minnie

Hi Minnie - I lived in Christchurch for ten years before moving to New Plymouth. It does have a lot going for it and it is very beautiful - it's more English than anywhere else in NZ. As far as schooling is concerned they are pretty much sport mad down there so I am sure your family would fit in!
A home which would fit your want list would probably be around $400,000 mostly because you want a view and Christchurch is flat as a pancake so you would have to go up the Cashmere Hills which is one of the most expensive areas!! Not too sure about the schools up there tho. I suggest you check out the real estate web sites - go to NZ Stuff web site first and you can find out all sorts there. Also, check out the daily newspapers, also on the NZ Stuff site.
I am not familiar with Wellington except to say that is windy as you say and also very, very hilly . You would find out the same info for there on the Stuff site too.
Letme have some specific questions - will try to answer those. As far as education is concerned all schools follow the same system and they only differ in that if you live in a good area, [expensive] the pupils will act accordingly!

If you live in the right zone for a school will the kids get a place even if the school year has already started or do you need to apply by a certain date to get a place?

I have been doing quite a bit of research and have identified a couple of schools which look very good - Burnside High and Christchurch boys High. For my boys to attend these I think we would have to live in either Burnside or Fendalton. What are these areas like? I have looked on some of the realtor sites and see property is pricey but wonder if it would be worth it to get the good schools.

Both of these areas are expensive but there are always bargains to be found in any area if you are prepared to have the worst house in the best steet and do some renovations.....kiwi national pastime!
Burnside High is also very musically minded.
There is another alternative - Christs College is a private one - if you live in a less expensive area that would free up the dollars to be able to pay the fees which are high.
If you get onto the schools' websites or the NZ Govt.education website they will give you full details of the actual area you need to be residing in.
Having said all of this, there are other schools which have excellent reputations. Some which I suggest you avoid - Lynwood, Bexley,Aranui but other good areas are Somerfield, Beckenham,Cashmere.
New Brighton - a changing area, used to be cheap housing but I think it is now improving. Another place, Sumner is right on the beach and quite expensive. Both these places are a short drive to the City...
Check out some more schools and let me know..............

Hi, we live in Cashmere in Christchurch. Our children went (2 still go to) Cashmere High which they all think is just as good as the school they went in the UK which was one of the top 100 state schools in Britain - Lady Manners in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Burnside is the largest school in the southern hemisphere and some children find it a bit daunting.
Schooling here is not pressured. The facilities are mind boggling especially for extra curricular stuff and there is little impediment for children who want to work hard or diligently. But if they don't, they will not be pushed by the system. They are more interested in producing a 'whole person' here rather than getting off on academic targets and results.
Private schools are not as far apart from the state system as they are in the UK and I personally see little point in going to one. Fendalton is a very expensive suburb and suffers from all the disadvantages of the flat - no views, smog in winter and frosts. On the hills there are views, no smog and far fewer frosty mornings (not that there are that many anyway) Sumner is now hideously expensive - anywhere with a sea view is now - and a fair travel into town. The rush hour only lasts about twenty minutes though. Chch is a software hotspot and they are pushing to develop it into a centre of excellence for IT development.
Sorry, i can't write more now but it is late here and I only just discovered the forum. I will help if I can. You have to live in Zone, by the way, for your children to go to a particular school. They are very strict about it. Any school will fax you a zone map if you email them. They all have websites.
BFN
Steve.

Thmks for that Steve - I used to live in Somerfield - we used to 'look up to you'!
I was wondering if the local law had changed to ban open fires yet? I used to hate the smog in the winter - one reason for my moving from Christchurch....I know when I left in 2000 that this was on the agenda.
Still miss Chch tho - Art Centre, Riccarton Market, Hagley Park etc. but New Plymouth, although smaller has heaps going for it too and I love it here.
I notice you came from Derbyshire - my family originated from there - Aldersley Manor? Do you know it, I believe it is also spelt Alderwasley.

Steve,

Thanks for that information. My two boys are at a private school in the UK - it is an excellent school and that is one of the reasons I am so keen to get to grips with the NZ education system as it is really important to me that they still get a good education. I am happy for them to go to a state school (in fact I would prefer it) but where we are it is not a good option as the local catchment school doesn't have the resources and certainly not a good sports approach which is also very important to the boys.

I like the look of Cashmere and would much prefer not to live right in the city if it is at all possible so am delighted to hear that the school there is so good. I am after some clean air and a much more laid back lifestyle.

At the moment I just need to get as much info as possible so when we come over to look around we can at least narrow it down a little. I like the idea that it is not so pressured - I think children in the UK are pressured far too much. The 'whole person' concept is a much much better approach to the 'exams at all cost' approach which is becoming the norm over here.

We are taking this whole thing pretty slowly at the moment. Phase 1 - information gathering is under way but we have no immediate plans to rush over. Looking to the longer term - say 1 to 2 years time.

Thanks for all your help.

Sounds a wise move - get the info first! When my husband and I decided to move to NZ we got a Shell Guide to NZ out of the library, found a place we liked the look of, sold the house, booked the flights and just arrived.....actually it worked out extremely well and we had both found jobs, bought a house,car and furniture all within the first three weeks.....that was in '73 in Nelson.
Just to clarify something, Cashmere is a suburb of Christchurch - just a few minutes drive to the city. When we say city its pretty much the whole place.... I suggest you check out maps.........if you want to live outside of the city then check out Oxford, Rangiora, Templeton just to mention a couple of places. No idea what the schools are like tho. Maybe Steve could help there?

Hi - Kay has recently discovered an excellent book which would give you some more food for thought - check out the site from the first topic in this forum for NZ.
Have you got any further with your plans for NZ?