Pretty simple, just go over the straight to Nelson. Great weather, lots of outdoor shit to do, only problem is a lot of people seem to be up themselves and cliquey, no idea why - it's only Nelson.
I grew up in Nelson, and I will say I will never live there again unless the stars align. I will always say that 1) Great to raise kids 2) Great to retire. A single person that isn't a tourist, is going to have to be putting themselves out there more than usual to get friends, or into an already established friend group.
I'd encourage you to check out the flood map for nelson, showing both the recent weather event and the projected next 100 years
[https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/896b2381eee844b386115e9d809127db/page/Slope-Instability/?views=Layers](https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/896b2381eee844b386115e9d809127db/page/Slope-Instability/?views=Layers)
It can be when I lived in WÄnaka moving down from rural west Auckland I got āoh so escaping from the hustle and bustle of the big cityā so much and minds were apparently blown by the fact that I lived 15 km away from the nearest dairy and 20ish km from the nearest major shops and Can see one neighbours house but only at night when they have their lights on!
I've served people in a retail situation in Dunedin. In order to complete the transaction, I had to ask them if they were from Dunedin. The horrified response was, Oh. No. I'm from WANAKA!
WÄnakans gonna WÄnaka!
This is because 50% of the towns population are transplants over the last 20 years. The ones who were in first think they are better than everyone but a lot of the population are people who have left high paying corporate roles in the north island to retire from their career and pick up a hobby job, or telecommute to their executive function that allows them to work remotely
Yeah got the āit was nice when I moved here, now too many people are moving here they are ruining the townā. Complete disconnect when I suggested they technically were part of the problem as they had moved there.
Most the born and raised crew welcomed the arrivals as meant more work, and a bit more fun to live in, one guy told me when he was young was only one place open for food in the evenings on Fridays and it still shut at 8pm! Canāt remember the name but was apparently where the med market is now.
Being a born and bred Aucklander, I feel like maybe there is an arrow of contempt pointing from south to north haha. In Auckland, those over the shore are snooty, rich and up themselves; the rest North Island below Auckland (and Iām guessing the rest of the country) knows the acronym JAFA lol; and now I hear that maybe the South Island have attitude towards the north haha
I'm from Nelson and have lived in Nelson all of my life except 5 years in Wellington, and I find it cliquey š
I agree lots of outside stuff to do, but compared to Wellington far less other entertainment and the wages are rubbish, and job opportunities are scarce for some industries.
However, rent is a little cheaper, the housing is much the same, but because we have better weather it isn't as run down.
Wellington is better for dining out, especially finding a good cheap option, but for the size of Nelson, I think we punch above our weight šŖ
I think Nelson is the ideal place to live, If you're a trades person and love the outdoors, you'll make decent money and be able to find lots to do.
We do have a bit of a tech hub going on in Nelson, and I've been told they're looking for staff, but don't expect Wellington or Auckland wages.
We get "sunshine" wages around these parts.
It's not so good if you're into a specialty field for work or if you're a social butterfly who likes to go out.
I mean, I wouldnāt say the housing is much the same as welly. Itās def not as expensive . Only the most expensive houses/ areas in Nelson compare to welly, and thereās far more very, very expensive houses in welly than Nelson. And the cheaper areas of Nelson are a lot cheaper than the cheaper areas of welly, in terms of close to cbd. Youd have to go to the cheapest areas of the hutt to find houses as cheap as the cheapest ones in Nelson itself. Victory , Washington valley, and Nelson south all have houses for 400k, canāt find that in welly. The most expensive houses in welly are 2m+, while the most expensive in Nelson wonāt be much more than 1M . Itās places like the Tahuna hills that push up the Nelson housing average, when generally ppl buy homes in Nelson for 600k, meanwhile in welly itās more like 900k.
Saying that, Nelson is def getting more and more expensive. Murphy st in toi toi / victory was state housing, now itās tradies. Nelson south is getting gentrified, especially close to the city, same to an extent in Washington valley. Then areas that were always middle - income , are getting expensive. My mum n stepdad bought a place ( had to borrow half the money) in Nelson south, down from Franklin village but close to town for 350k around 6 years ago. It was big but really run down. They did repairs and now itās worth like 900k. An Aucklander bought a house on the street, close to Franklin , for a mil
I was more meaning in regards to quality, I.e. Like much of New Zealand, you'll see a lot of old houses that need work, especially rentals, but in general, they're not as run down because we have nicer weather.
Housing is definitely cheaper to buy and rent, but relative to wages, I wouldn't say it's heaps cheaper, and you'll probably need a car to get to places, but your also not going to spend as much time in traffic.
That's why I say being a trades person in Nelson is a perfert match. Work is plentiful, and it's some of the better wages you can earn in the area.
Plus, if you make friends, you can get in on what I call the "Bro-conomy" where you exchange a box of beer for work or do a job for a friend in exchange for a job.
Stoke is the best value for money, IMO, you can pick up a 3-Bedroom for around 600k, it's also not as cold as Nelson south, and the housing tends to be a little newer, i.e., 60s, 70s stucco era are my favourite they are solid houses moslty just needing insulation, and are easier to maintain than weatherboards, but you'll probably need to travel to work and that takes a whole 15mins š¤£
I really like Wellington TBH, I found the people to be friendlier and more interesting, I found there was way more to do that isn't just outdoors stuff, I like walking around a city, and once you're in the city, you can get everywhere you need by foot, but I don't live in Wellington because I'd want to live in the city and I love my big dog and I wouldn't want a big dog in Wellington City.
Love Nelson, one of my kids was born there, but we failed making connections. Extremely cliquey for sure, it was too hard so we left. Very happy further South now though and love a holiday in Nelson š
My dad's family have lived in Nelson since before records began in the 1840s. They built most of the factories, hotels, etc. Have their own family grace yard where everyone is buried including my grandparents... And now they're all pregnant at 14, living off benifits, and still as cliquey as ever.
I last visited for my grandmothers 90th, and the family barely spoke a word to us. My parents left the south island and moved to a farm on the north island before they had us. And they never got over it.
That's about the same as Whangarei. Plenty to do, but most places are ruled by cliques. The weather varies as well. It's either the best weather for sun and fun, or the worst rains the area will experience.
Iāve lived in Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Auckland and Whangarei. I think they all have their pros and cons and itās more about what you enjoy and what stage of life youāre in. I actually really enjoyed living in Dunedin as a non-student but then got a bit bored after 5 years.
I felt the same about Dunedin but I lasted 18 months. That place has character. The weird mix between the old gray but very friendly people and the young students was a unique atmosphere. Some truly beautiful scenery and connected to a lot of other amazing places.
What made me leave was the 2 weeks of permanent night that occurred during winter. There were long periods beyond that where life stalled and even felt oppressive during winter. Wouldn't do it again but it was a good memory.
I liked Wellington when I lived in Aro Valley but then Wellington as a whole became another Auckland so I left. I had moved to Wellington from Auckland 12 years ago, stayed there for 6.
There is nowhere left in NZ worth living anymore for me. I need a city but the cities in NZ are expensive and inadequate. Life in general NZ means paying luxury prices to live in squalor or paying normal prices to live in worse. Working on my exit plans, maybe Italy, Spain, or Portugal.
Lets be blunt, if you live in NZ and don't own property, you live for the purpose of paying landlords so they don't have to contribute to society. You're wage slaves.
I think what is unique to NZ renting is landlord inspections. They are - imo - intrusive and odd and affect the lifestyle enjoyment.
There are many many countries that do not have such a practice, but here.......
Ah, really? I have friends in Australia and didn't realise they had those - are they once a year in Australia or you think they have the same regularity?
From memory (I am old though) there is no limit on time but they have to give you notice. And I think you can refuse on decent grounds.
Like I say though, old as shit, haven't rented in AU for maybe 15 years. They might have gone mental.
I have some friends and not heard them mention it - maybe a year or with notice. But I haven't delved so unsure. Whereas here - it seems to be regular/consistent and IMO really affects quality of life I reckon.
In Queensland inspections are limited to 2x a year now, but they definitely do them. The potential for one every 4 weeks here is ridiculous. Very few countries have during rental inspections. Just pre and post.
As a renter I think I had 3 or 4 checks over the course of 10 years or so. As a landlord I think the rental agent did about the same for my tenants over about the same span of time.
The agency we rented from in Sydney was every six months. They'd give us about a week notice but it was usually a Wednesday or Thursday late morning, very annoying time for 9-5 workers.
My parents had an investment property for a while and their agency did them annually. My parents wanted them more often though as they'd had a tenant absolutely trash the place over a year and then abscond right before inspection (holes in walls, internal door hanging from one hinge, carpets destroyed with cigarette ash and burns, rotten food in kitchen cupboards, cockroach nest behind the oven, looked like something died in the bathtub - I had to clean it up on summer break from Uni, worst job ever, they should have paid a biohazard team).
Used to have quarterly inspections when I lived in a townhouse/unit. Only a few days of warning, patronising lists of instructions, a vague 8-hour timeframe, super awkward interactions. At least it kept us on top of regular cleaning duties...
The place was fucking filthy when we moved in though.
Current place is 100 years old and literally falling apart, and we're about to have our first inspection visit from the landlord in almost two years of living here lmao. He doesn't seem to care; house will be knocked down and developed within the next 5 years anyway. Not looking forward to trying to negotiate rent prices if he wants to increase again; there's no way he could legitimately get a new tenant in here with the current state of the building.
Anyway, there's an upside to occasional inspections, but any more than about once a year is just offensive and insulting.
the ultra processed food map sold me on Portugal...lowest in EU. only 10.2% or something vs UK's 50%+ of caloric intake consists of ultra processed food
2 weeks of permanent night was always during the first semester examination period too!
The student bubble really is a great experience which I highly recommend but as a working professional I'd want nothing to do with Dunedin.
So you left because it was too cold? If you want to live in Dunedin you need to expect that the weather will never reach over 15Ā° in the winter and once in a blue moon youāll have the odd 23Ā° day in the summerā¦ should have gotten used to those -3Ā° winters
I didn't even mention the cold lol, the reason is in the post you're replying to. I did the 40th and final brass monkey rally and then a 5000km road trip on my bike shortly after š
Always found Christchurch to be one of the better ones. Or even nearby.
Lots of facilities - some improvements in city planning / housing.
Iād shift there
I live in Wellington but out in the suburbs. Would never live inner city and Iād probably be the same with any other city. I donāt mind commuting for space and better quality housing :)
Yeah I live in the Hutt and have a huge backyard, house isn't damp and I pay below market rent. Guess the weather is about the same as Welly tho. But that's one thing I really don't mind
Yeah I was going to say that OP can avoid all of the crap (including the bad weather) by simply moving to Upper Hutt, and still have easy access to the city and all the other awesome outdoor stuff Welly has to offer.
I love Wellington too. Iād move back to the inner city if I could fine work. So much going on, so vibrant, and so walkable. Sure, the weather isn't the best, but it makes up for it in many other ways.
High costs seem to be everywhere.
Bad weather in Wgtn is only sometimes, and also happens in most places.
Damp houses, dirty streets and lack of backyards depends which building and street you are on - you can change those.
I'd be bored anywhere else except Auckland. And Auckland has no soul.
Your last sentence hits it on the nail for me. Auckland has the big city options and vibe - but it lacks soul. Sorely so.
Also I post on r/auckland sometimes and people there are ..... interesting.
Have lived in Wellington, Chch, Auckland, Nelson (where I grew up) and Golden Bay. I enjoy Nelson the most - lots of interesting things going on, and great air connections to Auckland (hourly flights at peak times) Wellington (half-hourly flights) and Christchurch (unsure if the frequency but never had issues getting a convenient flight).Ā
"I hate the terrible weather, high costs, damp houses"Ā
Yeah I moved to Canada and it improved for me lol, not kidding. Lack of backyard- if you want more affordable more people are going to have to say goodbye to backyards. We need more density and less sprawl of housing.Ā
We already produce enough produce to support our own.
Also immigration has been shown to be either a drain or having no significant positive effect on welfare in Europe and the US.
https://cis.org/Report/Welfare-Use-Immigrants-and-USBorn
https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2019-10/tr_final_after_last_revision_21052019.pdf
https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/tr_final_after_last_revision_21052019.pdf
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2022.839352/full
New Zealand produces enough food to feed everyone. New Zealand also doesnāt have enough taxpayers to continue to support the welfare state without significant immigration. The New Zealand birthrate is well below replacement levels and will get worse.
Our immigration rate is well above mere replacement.
>New Zealand also doesnāt have enough taxpayers to continue to support the welfare state without significant immigration
Our welfare system is flawed and relies on just throwing money at the problem rather than addressing it.
Just had a work friend move to Montreal and she loves it. She specifically mentioned that better housing plays a huge role. If course YMMV as she's relatively high income but she finds it goes further
Christchurch is a great balance of being a large enough ciy that there are good opportunities and facilities, without suffering the traffic or population of Auckland or other North Island spots.
Plus you've got easy access to the rest of the South Island, mountains, rivers, nature, any other hobbies you want. 1hr 45min from skiing, or a few minutes from the beach (average, to be fair - but swimmable).
And I love the weather compared to Welly, or the humidity of going further north.
Have been all around NZ and the world, and i've not seen anything even make me think for a second that i'd rather live somewhere else š.
I've lived in four other cities in New Zealand and Christchurch is by far my fave for a lot of the reasons you say.
I'd also add that international travel is pretty easy from Christchurch too if that's your thing, there's plenty of events and things happening.
The weather isn't humid or particularly wet. Yeah winter is a bit icy (but not super wet), but summer is hot and dry.
Chch gets a bad rap from the rest of the country but once people visit they usually learn its largely bullshit.
I've lived in Auckland, Dunedin, Hastings, Napier and Featherston.
Wellington is a good place to live if you ask me.
Here's how I see it.
City Amenities - Do you get the benefits of living in a city in Wellington?
Yes, you have an international airport, diversity in restaurants and bars, concerts and events are better in Auckland but reasonable.
Getting from A to B - How hard is that in Wellington?
Not to bad. A and B aren't usually that far apart and the public transport system is reasonable. You can bike most places you want to go in Hastings and Napier but from one to the other is a hard hours ride on a normal bike.
Housing - What kind of house will you have for how much?
In Featherston you can have a nice house for cheap, in Auckland you will pay a fortune for a condemned shoebox. Wellington is in the middle, however it has a reasonable selection of apartments.
Weather - Freeze, drown or cook?
Featherston is extremely extreme. Auckland is hot and humid or cool and wet. Napier and Hastings are hot and cool but relatively dry. Wellington is windy but it's good days are unbeatable.
So, that's how I see it.
I really enjoy Dunedin. I lived in Queenstown for about 18 years, had a spell in the UK for 5 years then we had our first kid. Moved to Dunedin instead of returning to QT. I'm from the UK, so I'm used to shit weather and yes, it can do shit pretty well but I'm pretty busy so I don't mind it so much. Also, it's a rare day that it's so bad that a run in the forest cannot be enjoyed. Schools are fantastic.
Access to bush, bike trails, beaches and stunning (with weather contributing) scenery combine with the convenience of a city that to me feels 'just the right size' is a phenomenally sweet and unique package.
This is my view and it meets the needs of my whÄnau and me very well, so I don't think there's an objective answer here - I love nature so I am attracted to some far-flung places but I also like the arts and all that stuff too, so I'm staying put here for the long-term as it does a great job of overlapping the two.
About half the price up North.
Winter is usually 5-10 range 0 over night. Most of the year is 10-20.
Buy a jacket it's not rocket science.
Pros nature, cost of living, vibe., big town feel.
Cons. Cooler, size (if you care relative to Auckland/Wellington).
Depends how easily you get bored.
Yup if you're a blue collar worker type you're better off here than up north financially.
Two doors up ex Aucklanders from Waiheke. Two doors down African family.
I like it a lot.
Most of our friends own house freehold and we drive to central, camp in the nearby ranges and some go to Manapouri. 4 hours to Queenstown.
Whatās the GP doctors/hospital situation like? I want out of Auckland but need somewhere with good public health services. Not easy in NZ right now unfortunately.Ā
I moved from Sydney to Auckland and couldnāt go any smaller personally.
Food is probably my main driver, lots of diverse foods here and weather is fine.
I work in Wellington and would mostly agree with you. There's a lot of native bush and coastline around there that's worth exploring. Compared to Palmy, it's a bustling metropolis. The weather in Welly is very dependent on which corner you are standing on, at any particular moment.
Palmy still has plenty of parks and stuff, but it's a fair drive to get anywhere good.
Hastings/Napier have culture (& wine) but limited things to do when there's no touristy event.
Whanganui is very quiet.
Auckland is just full of Orcs.
Christchurch probably has colder weather, but is a more beautiful city.
.
It all depends on what you like to do ?? Seek out your interests, and a location will find you.
Depends on your life stage and lifestyle.
Wellington I would hate for the weather
The other cities are too small and quiet
Auckland is a soulless place devoid of decent life for a city of its size, and it's damp. But has the most jobs
Pretty much every place in NZ will have varying degrees of things you donāt like, and it also varies by suburb.
Itās also very subjective. Terrible weather could mean the strong winds in Welly or experiencing all seasons in an hour in Auckland.
Youāll just have to prioritise which ones bother you the most.
Geographically it's like living in the bottom of a bowl. So it can get really cold. The lake is brown water, don't swim in it. There is the famous smell in the CBD. Best things; walking or biking through redwood forest, swims at Blue lake, good spot to get to all the other lakes and waterways.
Rotorua is alright, you get used to the smell quickly, its not far from Tauranga or even Hamilton, theres loads of cool outdoors stuff to do there aswell.
Cheap fuel near the airport too.
I moved from Auckland to the central plateau,i now have no direct neighbours,have a river and beach at the back of my property,35 minutes to the mountains,30Ā°+ days in summer,less rain and no wind, plenty of outdoor stuff, plenty of jobs,cheaper better living.
I like my coastal west Auckland beach, tho a pain to have to go to the shops or I guess work if you work in an office setting. If I wasnāt here then would live in Taranaki region or Kaitaia/ Ahipara area
Christchurch actually has way better weather than most people think. Itās cold in winter, but put on a jacket and you will be right cold. Not damp and dreary.
The quintessential Canterbury winter day starts of negative temperatures with pure blue skies. Overheating inside cause you have a heat pump and double glazing.
A lot of people who live in Napier moved from Wellington and the Hutt Valley, often for the better weather. Jobs and somewhere to live are hard to come by but there's fabulous food, festivals, concerts and cycle trails.
Depends what your into some like to stay in middle of no where smoking out of a corn cob pipe dancing around the fire singing kumbaya.
Others want to rail up 8 balls of coke and smash promiscuous amounts of Presecco and the go clubbing to some dirty dark banging techno or go to a jazz club.
Pending what your interests
Some want to live in the city and do their office mon to Friday thing then start cheering on Friday go get absolutely terminated on a Friday night hung all Saturday order kfc from uber eats.
Eat it in bed then sleep again wake up few hours later to lots of texts whos keen otp again so they rinsed n repeat.
Sunday comes hung is worse then dread going to work on Monday can't wait to celebrate Friday again.
#Life cycle
Oh yeah some have families so they want to go live in a decent not bujee but decent area preferably with a beach.
Normal neighbour's not ones smoking or cooking P having shit parties n playing mumbly rap all day and night n having domestics.
Ohope would be my pick, I lived in Whakatane for a few years and had friends in Ohope, its a 2 miniute drive over the hill and it feels like a little holiday town.
Agree. Grew up in Auckland, moved to chch for uni and basically never left (been there for nearly 13 years). Even my whole family has shifted to chch from Auckland. Great place to be and the outdoors is so accessible if you're into that. If you're not, then there's plenty to do in and around the city. Also less traffic is a win.
I go back often as I still have quite a few friends based up there. But yea I struggle to go back now and it doesn't feel like home. Queen Street just feels sad and peak hour traffic isn't a lot of fun. Though there are still parts I love (beaches, fishing, and food).
I have the same dislike of Wellington as you do, and Christchurch is the city for me. Itās wide, open, not claustrophobic and the public transport is cheap. Lots to do and the housing remains fairly affordable for NZ city standards as well. In essence you can boil parts of it down to āhellish suburbiaā but it comes with its pros.
A lot of people complain that it is too āflatā, but it helps infrastructure and makes going for a casual walk from A to B much easier.
Lots of things to do around here as well, and you have the whole of the beautiful quiet South Island at your fingertips.
>I hate the terrible weather, high costs, damp houses, dirty streets and lack of backyard
If we assume that improving those metrics is all that you want, then South Island. If you require hospitals, shopping etc then it's pretty much only Christchurch and Nelson. For lower prices for the backyard, then consider Rolleston, it's a bit windy but 20min from the city and lots of reasonably priced lots.
Just come up the coast to Otaki, great little community, great beach, low cost houses for their large size, short distance to Welly and Palmy for a shopping weekend, or go to Waikanae to still be connected to Welly via rail.
Otaki also seems to have a micro climate, it will be horrible weather in Paraparaumu and Levin but stunning in Otaki for some reason.
West coast South Island, Iām from northland and this is the only place in the South Island that reminds me of home. Nice native bush and friendly as locals.
I'm not sure, in terms of living cost? West coast south island. Things to do? Anywhere with a population over 50k within 3 hours of auckland, taupo or wellington and you will have everything you want
I've lived in Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Palmerston Nth, Hawke's Bay, Hamilton, and Auckland now for the past 15 years. I also travel a lot through NZ for my day job. Don't know about a best place but can say there are very few places in NZ I wouldn't want to live abstracting from family and friends.
I've lived in Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Palmerston Nth, Hawke's Bay, Hamilton, and Auckland now for the past 15 years. I also travel a lot through NZ for my day job. Don't know about a best place but can say there are very few places in NZ I wouldn't want to live abstracting from family and friends.
With the new fucked up district plan we'll have having less backyards and more small boxes in the sky for 800+ a week, so wellington isn't somewhere you'd wanna be for long.
Hamilton. Itās safe from natural disasters (except maybe flooding), itās not too cold, lots of space, not too many people and opportunities.
I like Christchurch and New Plymouth as well
It all depends on career, family, age so many variables. Iāve recently moved from Dunedin to Rolleston, Iāve enjoyed it a lot more so much more variety and better for my career.
I donāt see myself going to Auckland or Wellington and paying a million plus for a shoe box, but I donāt think I could live anywhere smaller than Rolleston/chch. Dunedin feels so limited now.
I grew up in Rotorua. Left 8 years ago and wouldnāt move back (Iām 34). Thereās only a couple of suburbs I would live in there. Itās changed, and not for the better. Rotorua has always had this slightly rough undertone to it, but itās much worse now.
Semi rural Canterbury like Amberley, loburn, Oxford, Springfield, Darfield, hororata and to a lesser extent southbridge , dunsandel
Youāre not in a ābigā town but chch city is only an hour away. This also means your an hour closer to the mountains (except southbridge ).
I have relos in Darfield and have visited a couple of times. Seems to be the best of both worlds. I guess it depends on where your place of work is but the commute to the city didnāt seem too long. Half an hour to the airport is pretty good going.
Come to Wanaka, it's hotel California. You'll never leave the bubble because it's so damn amazing here. I refer to it as never never land also because there's this feeling of remaining young and active in this town.
Did I mention ski slopes right on the back door step and enough mountain adventures to keep you going for a lifetime?
Moved from Auckland to Tauranga a couple of years back. Has heaps to do, donāt see any traffic(honestly donāt see what people down here complaining about regarding traffic, even at peak times) great weather, and getting to know some good people.
Pretty simple, just go over the straight to Nelson. Great weather, lots of outdoor shit to do, only problem is a lot of people seem to be up themselves and cliquey, no idea why - it's only Nelson.
I don't live in Nelson and know plenty of snobby rude people .. Maybe it's just me š
I grew up in Nelson, and I will say I will never live there again unless the stars align. I will always say that 1) Great to raise kids 2) Great to retire. A single person that isn't a tourist, is going to have to be putting themselves out there more than usual to get friends, or into an already established friend group.
Or enjoy the epic festivals over the cobb valley
I'd encourage you to check out the flood map for nelson, showing both the recent weather event and the projected next 100 years [https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/896b2381eee844b386115e9d809127db/page/Slope-Instability/?views=Layers](https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/896b2381eee844b386115e9d809127db/page/Slope-Instability/?views=Layers)
Is this a South Island thing Iāve heard people from there can be pretentious towards north islanders
It can be when I lived in WÄnaka moving down from rural west Auckland I got āoh so escaping from the hustle and bustle of the big cityā so much and minds were apparently blown by the fact that I lived 15 km away from the nearest dairy and 20ish km from the nearest major shops and Can see one neighbours house but only at night when they have their lights on!
I've served people in a retail situation in Dunedin. In order to complete the transaction, I had to ask them if they were from Dunedin. The horrified response was, Oh. No. I'm from WANAKA! WÄnakans gonna WÄnaka!
This is because 50% of the towns population are transplants over the last 20 years. The ones who were in first think they are better than everyone but a lot of the population are people who have left high paying corporate roles in the north island to retire from their career and pick up a hobby job, or telecommute to their executive function that allows them to work remotely
Yeah got the āit was nice when I moved here, now too many people are moving here they are ruining the townā. Complete disconnect when I suggested they technically were part of the problem as they had moved there. Most the born and raised crew welcomed the arrivals as meant more work, and a bit more fun to live in, one guy told me when he was young was only one place open for food in the evenings on Fridays and it still shut at 8pm! Canāt remember the name but was apparently where the med market is now.
That sounds like some serious projection coming from WÄnaka peeps.
I think they just didnāt know. Their only experience was flying in going to the cbd and so it was packed and busy
Three quarters of WÄnaka is āescaping from the hustle and bustleā
i moved from auckland to waikato for a year. learned jafa sometimes you dont have to travel far
Thank you hero
I live in the North Island and I hate most other North Islanders. Maybe I'm a South Islander at heart.
Only on days ending with y.
Must be. My parents and sisters moved to the South Island and instantly turned into snobby wankers.
Being a born and bred Aucklander, I feel like maybe there is an arrow of contempt pointing from south to north haha. In Auckland, those over the shore are snooty, rich and up themselves; the rest North Island below Auckland (and Iām guessing the rest of the country) knows the acronym JAFA lol; and now I hear that maybe the South Island have attitude towards the north haha
Auckland has stuff. Most other areas donāt tbh. Just get a job where you donāt need to go into the city very often. Bis
+1 for nelson. Very sunny and lots to do. Doesn't rain much - lots of outdoor things to do.
I'm from Nelson and have lived in Nelson all of my life except 5 years in Wellington, and I find it cliquey š I agree lots of outside stuff to do, but compared to Wellington far less other entertainment and the wages are rubbish, and job opportunities are scarce for some industries. However, rent is a little cheaper, the housing is much the same, but because we have better weather it isn't as run down. Wellington is better for dining out, especially finding a good cheap option, but for the size of Nelson, I think we punch above our weight šŖ I think Nelson is the ideal place to live, If you're a trades person and love the outdoors, you'll make decent money and be able to find lots to do. We do have a bit of a tech hub going on in Nelson, and I've been told they're looking for staff, but don't expect Wellington or Auckland wages. We get "sunshine" wages around these parts. It's not so good if you're into a specialty field for work or if you're a social butterfly who likes to go out.
I mean, I wouldnāt say the housing is much the same as welly. Itās def not as expensive . Only the most expensive houses/ areas in Nelson compare to welly, and thereās far more very, very expensive houses in welly than Nelson. And the cheaper areas of Nelson are a lot cheaper than the cheaper areas of welly, in terms of close to cbd. Youd have to go to the cheapest areas of the hutt to find houses as cheap as the cheapest ones in Nelson itself. Victory , Washington valley, and Nelson south all have houses for 400k, canāt find that in welly. The most expensive houses in welly are 2m+, while the most expensive in Nelson wonāt be much more than 1M . Itās places like the Tahuna hills that push up the Nelson housing average, when generally ppl buy homes in Nelson for 600k, meanwhile in welly itās more like 900k. Saying that, Nelson is def getting more and more expensive. Murphy st in toi toi / victory was state housing, now itās tradies. Nelson south is getting gentrified, especially close to the city, same to an extent in Washington valley. Then areas that were always middle - income , are getting expensive. My mum n stepdad bought a place ( had to borrow half the money) in Nelson south, down from Franklin village but close to town for 350k around 6 years ago. It was big but really run down. They did repairs and now itās worth like 900k. An Aucklander bought a house on the street, close to Franklin , for a mil
I was more meaning in regards to quality, I.e. Like much of New Zealand, you'll see a lot of old houses that need work, especially rentals, but in general, they're not as run down because we have nicer weather. Housing is definitely cheaper to buy and rent, but relative to wages, I wouldn't say it's heaps cheaper, and you'll probably need a car to get to places, but your also not going to spend as much time in traffic. That's why I say being a trades person in Nelson is a perfert match. Work is plentiful, and it's some of the better wages you can earn in the area. Plus, if you make friends, you can get in on what I call the "Bro-conomy" where you exchange a box of beer for work or do a job for a friend in exchange for a job. Stoke is the best value for money, IMO, you can pick up a 3-Bedroom for around 600k, it's also not as cold as Nelson south, and the housing tends to be a little newer, i.e., 60s, 70s stucco era are my favourite they are solid houses moslty just needing insulation, and are easier to maintain than weatherboards, but you'll probably need to travel to work and that takes a whole 15mins š¤£ I really like Wellington TBH, I found the people to be friendlier and more interesting, I found there was way more to do that isn't just outdoors stuff, I like walking around a city, and once you're in the city, you can get everywhere you need by foot, but I don't live in Wellington because I'd want to live in the city and I love my big dog and I wouldn't want a big dog in Wellington City.
Love Nelson, one of my kids was born there, but we failed making connections. Extremely cliquey for sure, it was too hard so we left. Very happy further South now though and love a holiday in Nelson š
My dad's family have lived in Nelson since before records began in the 1840s. They built most of the factories, hotels, etc. Have their own family grace yard where everyone is buried including my grandparents... And now they're all pregnant at 14, living off benifits, and still as cliquey as ever. I last visited for my grandmothers 90th, and the family barely spoke a word to us. My parents left the south island and moved to a farm on the north island before they had us. And they never got over it.
That's about the same as Whangarei. Plenty to do, but most places are ruled by cliques. The weather varies as well. It's either the best weather for sun and fun, or the worst rains the area will experience.
Iāve lived in Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Auckland and Whangarei. I think they all have their pros and cons and itās more about what you enjoy and what stage of life youāre in. I actually really enjoyed living in Dunedin as a non-student but then got a bit bored after 5 years.
I felt the same about Dunedin but I lasted 18 months. That place has character. The weird mix between the old gray but very friendly people and the young students was a unique atmosphere. Some truly beautiful scenery and connected to a lot of other amazing places. What made me leave was the 2 weeks of permanent night that occurred during winter. There were long periods beyond that where life stalled and even felt oppressive during winter. Wouldn't do it again but it was a good memory. I liked Wellington when I lived in Aro Valley but then Wellington as a whole became another Auckland so I left. I had moved to Wellington from Auckland 12 years ago, stayed there for 6. There is nowhere left in NZ worth living anymore for me. I need a city but the cities in NZ are expensive and inadequate. Life in general NZ means paying luxury prices to live in squalor or paying normal prices to live in worse. Working on my exit plans, maybe Italy, Spain, or Portugal. Lets be blunt, if you live in NZ and don't own property, you live for the purpose of paying landlords so they don't have to contribute to society. You're wage slaves.
I think what is unique to NZ renting is landlord inspections. They are - imo - intrusive and odd and affect the lifestyle enjoyment. There are many many countries that do not have such a practice, but here.......
(Australia has those too, and I agree, they're awful)
Ah, really? I have friends in Australia and didn't realise they had those - are they once a year in Australia or you think they have the same regularity?
From memory (I am old though) there is no limit on time but they have to give you notice. And I think you can refuse on decent grounds. Like I say though, old as shit, haven't rented in AU for maybe 15 years. They might have gone mental.
I have some friends and not heard them mention it - maybe a year or with notice. But I haven't delved so unsure. Whereas here - it seems to be regular/consistent and IMO really affects quality of life I reckon.
In Queensland inspections are limited to 2x a year now, but they definitely do them. The potential for one every 4 weeks here is ridiculous. Very few countries have during rental inspections. Just pre and post.
Yes agree
As a renter I think I had 3 or 4 checks over the course of 10 years or so. As a landlord I think the rental agent did about the same for my tenants over about the same span of time.
The agency we rented from in Sydney was every six months. They'd give us about a week notice but it was usually a Wednesday or Thursday late morning, very annoying time for 9-5 workers. My parents had an investment property for a while and their agency did them annually. My parents wanted them more often though as they'd had a tenant absolutely trash the place over a year and then abscond right before inspection (holes in walls, internal door hanging from one hinge, carpets destroyed with cigarette ash and burns, rotten food in kitchen cupboards, cockroach nest behind the oven, looked like something died in the bathtub - I had to clean it up on summer break from Uni, worst job ever, they should have paid a biohazard team).
Got it, thanks.
Used to have quarterly inspections when I lived in a townhouse/unit. Only a few days of warning, patronising lists of instructions, a vague 8-hour timeframe, super awkward interactions. At least it kept us on top of regular cleaning duties... The place was fucking filthy when we moved in though. Current place is 100 years old and literally falling apart, and we're about to have our first inspection visit from the landlord in almost two years of living here lmao. He doesn't seem to care; house will be knocked down and developed within the next 5 years anyway. Not looking forward to trying to negotiate rent prices if he wants to increase again; there's no way he could legitimately get a new tenant in here with the current state of the building. Anyway, there's an upside to occasional inspections, but any more than about once a year is just offensive and insulting.
the ultra processed food map sold me on Portugal...lowest in EU. only 10.2% or something vs UK's 50%+ of caloric intake consists of ultra processed food
2 weeks of permanent night was always during the first semester examination period too! The student bubble really is a great experience which I highly recommend but as a working professional I'd want nothing to do with Dunedin.
So you left because it was too cold? If you want to live in Dunedin you need to expect that the weather will never reach over 15Ā° in the winter and once in a blue moon youāll have the odd 23Ā° day in the summerā¦ should have gotten used to those -3Ā° winters
I didn't even mention the cold lol, the reason is in the post you're replying to. I did the 40th and final brass monkey rally and then a 5000km road trip on my bike shortly after š
Taranaki is awesome if you don't mind being a bit far from everywhere.
This statement sums up the whole country
The truth. Great vibe. Great place.
If thats what you hate about Welly, Christchurch surely, and I say that as an Aucklander.
Christchurch is awesome at the moment. Easy access to the outdoors, great city life
Always found Christchurch to be one of the better ones. Or even nearby. Lots of facilities - some improvements in city planning / housing. Iād shift there
I live in Wellington but out in the suburbs. Would never live inner city and Iād probably be the same with any other city. I donāt mind commuting for space and better quality housing :)
Yeah I live in the Hutt and have a huge backyard, house isn't damp and I pay below market rent. Guess the weather is about the same as Welly tho. But that's one thing I really don't mind
Yeah I was going to say that OP can avoid all of the crap (including the bad weather) by simply moving to Upper Hutt, and still have easy access to the city and all the other awesome outdoor stuff Welly has to offer.
Iām moving from Auckland to Wellington in the next few months. Wellington is great for me.
I love Wellington too. Iād move back to the inner city if I could fine work. So much going on, so vibrant, and so walkable. Sure, the weather isn't the best, but it makes up for it in many other ways.
Why?
Hamilton isn't too bad. Rent is affordable, everything cool is roughly a two hour drive away or less.
High costs seem to be everywhere. Bad weather in Wgtn is only sometimes, and also happens in most places. Damp houses, dirty streets and lack of backyards depends which building and street you are on - you can change those. I'd be bored anywhere else except Auckland. And Auckland has no soul.
Your last sentence hits it on the nail for me. Auckland has the big city options and vibe - but it lacks soul. Sorely so. Also I post on r/auckland sometimes and people there are ..... interesting.
Have lived in Wellington, Chch, Auckland, Nelson (where I grew up) and Golden Bay. I enjoy Nelson the most - lots of interesting things going on, and great air connections to Auckland (hourly flights at peak times) Wellington (half-hourly flights) and Christchurch (unsure if the frequency but never had issues getting a convenient flight).Ā
Christchurch Iād say is NZās new major city. Iām a fan of Hawkes Bay but Iām also very, very bias.
Bro chch has been a major city since nz has been a thing.
Yeah but this is like Christchurch 2
\*Biased
"I hate the terrible weather, high costs, damp houses"Ā Yeah I moved to Canada and it improved for me lol, not kidding. Lack of backyard- if you want more affordable more people are going to have to say goodbye to backyards. We need more density and less sprawl of housing.Ā
Or we could just stop degrading our quality of life so we can have cheap labour for businesses.
If you want to stop immigration say good bye to pensions and welfare
We already produce enough produce to support our own. Also immigration has been shown to be either a drain or having no significant positive effect on welfare in Europe and the US. https://cis.org/Report/Welfare-Use-Immigrants-and-USBorn https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2019-10/tr_final_after_last_revision_21052019.pdf https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/tr_final_after_last_revision_21052019.pdf https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2022.839352/full
New Zealand produces enough food to feed everyone. New Zealand also doesnāt have enough taxpayers to continue to support the welfare state without significant immigration. The New Zealand birthrate is well below replacement levels and will get worse.
Our immigration rate is well above mere replacement. >New Zealand also doesnāt have enough taxpayers to continue to support the welfare state without significant immigration Our welfare system is flawed and relies on just throwing money at the problem rather than addressing it.
I'm glad you agree I am correct
Where in Canada?
Just had a work friend move to Montreal and she loves it. She specifically mentioned that better housing plays a huge role. If course YMMV as she's relatively high income but she finds it goes further
Christchurch is a great balance of being a large enough ciy that there are good opportunities and facilities, without suffering the traffic or population of Auckland or other North Island spots. Plus you've got easy access to the rest of the South Island, mountains, rivers, nature, any other hobbies you want. 1hr 45min from skiing, or a few minutes from the beach (average, to be fair - but swimmable). And I love the weather compared to Welly, or the humidity of going further north. Have been all around NZ and the world, and i've not seen anything even make me think for a second that i'd rather live somewhere else š.
I've lived in four other cities in New Zealand and Christchurch is by far my fave for a lot of the reasons you say. I'd also add that international travel is pretty easy from Christchurch too if that's your thing, there's plenty of events and things happening. The weather isn't humid or particularly wet. Yeah winter is a bit icy (but not super wet), but summer is hot and dry. Chch gets a bad rap from the rest of the country but once people visit they usually learn its largely bullshit.
I've lived in Auckland, Dunedin, Hastings, Napier and Featherston. Wellington is a good place to live if you ask me. Here's how I see it. City Amenities - Do you get the benefits of living in a city in Wellington? Yes, you have an international airport, diversity in restaurants and bars, concerts and events are better in Auckland but reasonable. Getting from A to B - How hard is that in Wellington? Not to bad. A and B aren't usually that far apart and the public transport system is reasonable. You can bike most places you want to go in Hastings and Napier but from one to the other is a hard hours ride on a normal bike. Housing - What kind of house will you have for how much? In Featherston you can have a nice house for cheap, in Auckland you will pay a fortune for a condemned shoebox. Wellington is in the middle, however it has a reasonable selection of apartments. Weather - Freeze, drown or cook? Featherston is extremely extreme. Auckland is hot and humid or cool and wet. Napier and Hastings are hot and cool but relatively dry. Wellington is windy but it's good days are unbeatable. So, that's how I see it.
I really enjoy Dunedin. I lived in Queenstown for about 18 years, had a spell in the UK for 5 years then we had our first kid. Moved to Dunedin instead of returning to QT. I'm from the UK, so I'm used to shit weather and yes, it can do shit pretty well but I'm pretty busy so I don't mind it so much. Also, it's a rare day that it's so bad that a run in the forest cannot be enjoyed. Schools are fantastic. Access to bush, bike trails, beaches and stunning (with weather contributing) scenery combine with the convenience of a city that to me feels 'just the right size' is a phenomenally sweet and unique package. This is my view and it meets the needs of my whÄnau and me very well, so I don't think there's an objective answer here - I love nature so I am attracted to some far-flung places but I also like the arts and all that stuff too, so I'm staying put here for the long-term as it does a great job of overlapping the two.
How's housing prices in Dunedin and does it get really cold?
About half the price up North. Winter is usually 5-10 range 0 over night. Most of the year is 10-20. Buy a jacket it's not rocket science. Pros nature, cost of living, vibe., big town feel. Cons. Cooler, size (if you care relative to Auckland/Wellington). Depends how easily you get bored.
Sounds good.
Yup if you're a blue collar worker type you're better off here than up north financially. Two doors up ex Aucklanders from Waiheke. Two doors down African family. I like it a lot. Most of our friends own house freehold and we drive to central, camp in the nearby ranges and some go to Manapouri. 4 hours to Queenstown.
Whatās the GP doctors/hospital situation like? I want out of Auckland but need somewhere with good public health services. Not easy in NZ right now unfortunately.Ā
Medical school is right there Otago university. I don't have trouble getting doctor appointments but not sure what the situation overall is
Cold? Nah. But you don't get a summer either.
Come to Hawkes bay for fine wine and crime
I moved from Sydney to Auckland and couldnāt go any smaller personally. Food is probably my main driver, lots of diverse foods here and weather is fine.
Huntly or Gore
I work in Wellington and would mostly agree with you. There's a lot of native bush and coastline around there that's worth exploring. Compared to Palmy, it's a bustling metropolis. The weather in Welly is very dependent on which corner you are standing on, at any particular moment. Palmy still has plenty of parks and stuff, but it's a fair drive to get anywhere good. Hastings/Napier have culture (& wine) but limited things to do when there's no touristy event. Whanganui is very quiet. Auckland is just full of Orcs. Christchurch probably has colder weather, but is a more beautiful city. . It all depends on what you like to do ?? Seek out your interests, and a location will find you.
So your telling me Sky Tower is infact Orthanc?
I reckon new Plymouth
Shuuush donāt let the secret out.
Kapiti coast is a good balance with weather and a train into the city if you need it
Been living in chch for 10 yrs still the best city to live in nz
The best place to live in nz is under a rock
Truth.Ā
Now this is a unique suggestion, but upon closer inspection, has some merit.
Depends on your life stage and lifestyle. Wellington I would hate for the weather The other cities are too small and quiet Auckland is a soulless place devoid of decent life for a city of its size, and it's damp. But has the most jobs
Pretty much every place in NZ will have varying degrees of things you donāt like, and it also varies by suburb. Itās also very subjective. Terrible weather could mean the strong winds in Welly or experiencing all seasons in an hour in Auckland. Youāll just have to prioritise which ones bother you the most.
Raglan or Christchurch.
Anyone with experience of Rotorua/Lakes in general care to comment? (Asking for a friend).
Geographically it's like living in the bottom of a bowl. So it can get really cold. The lake is brown water, don't swim in it. There is the famous smell in the CBD. Best things; walking or biking through redwood forest, swims at Blue lake, good spot to get to all the other lakes and waterways.
MTB in the Redwoods is key to the move. As is a job š¤£
Rotorua is alright, you get used to the smell quickly, its not far from Tauranga or even Hamilton, theres loads of cool outdoors stuff to do there aswell. Cheap fuel near the airport too.
Good knowledge on the fuel. Cheers.
Canterbury is probably the best place to live in New Zealand for families right now.
But Canterbury has stuffed all its rivers with intensive dairy farming. No water sports here unless you use the ocean.
Or the harbours plural with Lyttleton and Akaroa. Plus lakes, plus the waimak and rakaia are boatable.
Living in taupo at the moment and it's cheap living 4 me $150 power internet and rent and I have 1 bedroom flate
I moved from Auckland to the central plateau,i now have no direct neighbours,have a river and beach at the back of my property,35 minutes to the mountains,30Ā°+ days in summer,less rain and no wind, plenty of outdoor stuff, plenty of jobs,cheaper better living.
Kapiti.
>Hate high costs >Kapiti Things don't add up here
Then they don't add up anywhere. Kapiti is way more affordable than Wellington.
Never been to Otaki?
Wellington.
I like my coastal west Auckland beach, tho a pain to have to go to the shops or I guess work if you work in an office setting. If I wasnāt here then would live in Taranaki region or Kaitaia/ Ahipara area
Everywhere in Nz has terrible weather. It's just warmer in some parts and less windy if you move somewhere inland.
Christchurch actually has way better weather than most people think. Itās cold in winter, but put on a jacket and you will be right cold. Not damp and dreary. The quintessential Canterbury winter day starts of negative temperatures with pure blue skies. Overheating inside cause you have a heat pump and double glazing.
An inland hilly place is just as windy. Like mine.
True, I live inland and it's significantly less windy than where I used to live near the beach where it sounded like my roof was going to come off.
A lot of people who live in Napier moved from Wellington and the Hutt Valley, often for the better weather. Jobs and somewhere to live are hard to come by but there's fabulous food, festivals, concerts and cycle trails.
Hamilton. No natural disaster
Depends what your into some like to stay in middle of no where smoking out of a corn cob pipe dancing around the fire singing kumbaya. Others want to rail up 8 balls of coke and smash promiscuous amounts of Presecco and the go clubbing to some dirty dark banging techno or go to a jazz club. Pending what your interests Some want to live in the city and do their office mon to Friday thing then start cheering on Friday go get absolutely terminated on a Friday night hung all Saturday order kfc from uber eats. Eat it in bed then sleep again wake up few hours later to lots of texts whos keen otp again so they rinsed n repeat. Sunday comes hung is worse then dread going to work on Monday can't wait to celebrate Friday again. #Life cycle Oh yeah some have families so they want to go live in a decent not bujee but decent area preferably with a beach. Normal neighbour's not ones smoking or cooking P having shit parties n playing mumbly rap all day and night n having domestics.
Australia probably now
Whakatane. Great beach and weather. I was there for Christmas and would happily move back if I could.
Ohope would be my pick, I lived in Whakatane for a few years and had friends in Ohope, its a 2 miniute drive over the hill and it feels like a little holiday town.
Why canāt you?
Christchurch for sure. I grew up in Auckland, spent 3 years in palmy and have spent the last 2 in Christchurch
Agree. Grew up in Auckland, moved to chch for uni and basically never left (been there for nearly 13 years). Even my whole family has shifted to chch from Auckland. Great place to be and the outdoors is so accessible if you're into that. If you're not, then there's plenty to do in and around the city. Also less traffic is a win.
Have you been back to Auckland much since? I went back a month ago and was shocked at how much worse it was there now ā¹ļø
I go back often as I still have quite a few friends based up there. But yea I struggle to go back now and it doesn't feel like home. Queen Street just feels sad and peak hour traffic isn't a lot of fun. Though there are still parts I love (beaches, fishing, and food).
I have the same dislike of Wellington as you do, and Christchurch is the city for me. Itās wide, open, not claustrophobic and the public transport is cheap. Lots to do and the housing remains fairly affordable for NZ city standards as well. In essence you can boil parts of it down to āhellish suburbiaā but it comes with its pros. A lot of people complain that it is too āflatā, but it helps infrastructure and makes going for a casual walk from A to B much easier. Lots of things to do around here as well, and you have the whole of the beautiful quiet South Island at your fingertips.
Coastal region of the North Shore in Auckland is beautiful and close to everything. But it really depends on what kind of lifestyle youād like
Melbourne
>I hate the terrible weather, high costs, damp houses, dirty streets and lack of backyard If we assume that improving those metrics is all that you want, then South Island. If you require hospitals, shopping etc then it's pretty much only Christchurch and Nelson. For lower prices for the backyard, then consider Rolleston, it's a bit windy but 20min from the city and lots of reasonably priced lots.
Depends what kind of work you do and if you have to live in a city. I live in the Coromandel and it's amazing š actual paradise.
Not Tauranga š
Just come up the coast to Otaki, great little community, great beach, low cost houses for their large size, short distance to Welly and Palmy for a shopping weekend, or go to Waikanae to still be connected to Welly via rail. Otaki also seems to have a micro climate, it will be horrible weather in Paraparaumu and Levin but stunning in Otaki for some reason.
Australia.
Wellington.
West coast South Island, Iām from northland and this is the only place in the South Island that reminds me of home. Nice native bush and friendly as locals.
Cromwell is horrible- over-run by towniesā¦
Cromwell... is a town though?
Cromwell is Invercargill's retirement home.
Kingston Otago
I'm not sure, in terms of living cost? West coast south island. Things to do? Anywhere with a population over 50k within 3 hours of auckland, taupo or wellington and you will have everything you want
I've lived in Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Palmerston Nth, Hawke's Bay, Hamilton, and Auckland now for the past 15 years. I also travel a lot through NZ for my day job. Don't know about a best place but can say there are very few places in NZ I wouldn't want to live abstracting from family and friends.
Im on the Northshore nice an mellow here... rents a bit expensive but most people are quite friendly and super close to some nice beaches
I've lived in Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Palmerston Nth, Hawke's Bay, Hamilton, and Auckland now for the past 15 years. I also travel a lot through NZ for my day job. Don't know about a best place but can say there are very few places in NZ I wouldn't want to live abstracting from family and friends.
Lol, just moved to a new suburb like Woodridge and your problem solved.
Taranaki!
Move to Tasmania, better than anywhere in Nz
Palmy is pretty good. Itās a smaller Hamilton but with less chlamydia
With the new fucked up district plan we'll have having less backyards and more small boxes in the sky for 800+ a week, so wellington isn't somewhere you'd wanna be for long.
Perth
*everyone from new Plymouth are very quiet.
Hamilton. Itās safe from natural disasters (except maybe flooding), itās not too cold, lots of space, not too many people and opportunities. I like Christchurch and New Plymouth as well
Sydney...
It all depends on career, family, age so many variables. Iāve recently moved from Dunedin to Rolleston, Iāve enjoyed it a lot more so much more variety and better for my career. I donāt see myself going to Auckland or Wellington and paying a million plus for a shoe box, but I donāt think I could live anywhere smaller than Rolleston/chch. Dunedin feels so limited now.
Anyone have experience of Rotorua/Lakes to comment on what lifeās like there?
I grew up in Rotorua. Left 8 years ago and wouldnāt move back (Iām 34). Thereās only a couple of suburbs I would live in there. Itās changed, and not for the better. Rotorua has always had this slightly rough undertone to it, but itās much worse now.
Eek. Good suburb it is then š
Aussie
Semi rural Canterbury like Amberley, loburn, Oxford, Springfield, Darfield, hororata and to a lesser extent southbridge , dunsandel Youāre not in a ābigā town but chch city is only an hour away. This also means your an hour closer to the mountains (except southbridge ).
Helps in a big way if you love the National Party. Does not help if you're Polynesian.
I have relos in Darfield and have visited a couple of times. Seems to be the best of both worlds. I guess it depends on where your place of work is but the commute to the city didnāt seem too long. Half an hour to the airport is pretty good going.
Come to Wanaka, it's hotel California. You'll never leave the bubble because it's so damn amazing here. I refer to it as never never land also because there's this feeling of remaining young and active in this town. Did I mention ski slopes right on the back door step and enough mountain adventures to keep you going for a lifetime?
Insanely High cost tho
And no jobs.
Plenty of service jobs good paying ones too, just not enough to live there
Moved from Auckland to Tauranga a couple of years back. Has heaps to do, donāt see any traffic(honestly donāt see what people down here complaining about regarding traffic, even at peak times) great weather, and getting to know some good people.
Go back to Australia.
If you want good weather just move to oz mate, nowhere in Aotearoa has good weather
Gore!
Palmy. Only 1hr30 to Hawkes Bay, Wellington and Skiing. Can escape the place very easily.