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Post by Alanović on Jun 26, 2020 10:19:31 GMT
Well, yes. Almost. The Caversham of NZ is what I'm looking for. Actually there is a Caversham in NZ, probably not a direct comparator with this one of course.
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WDB
Full Member
Posts: 7,356
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Post by WDB on Jun 26, 2020 10:21:31 GMT
You could probably create your own Caversham there. A couple of upside-down prams, a shopping trolley or two...
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Post by dixinormus on Jun 26, 2020 10:40:29 GMT
It’s an odd market in NZ. Around a third of the country’s population live in greater Auckland, and whether through cause or effect that means that most jobs are in Auckland, sucking more people in... The housing market totally overheated in 2016-18 and today you’d probably want around half a million quid to buy something you’d actually want to live in.
For a far better bet for a better work-life balance, and with some corporate job vacancies, and slightly cheaper housing you’d probably be looking at Wellington or Christchurch (pop. 350,000 each).
You’re close to nature and the Great Outdoors wherever you live here. And at first glance most houses seem noticeably bigger than the UK average: spacious 3-4 bedroom bungalows seem to be becoming the norm in the ‘burbs. But on closer inspection many of them are built as cheaply as possible (minimal insulation, cheap aluminium windows,...). I think it reflects the Make do and Mend mentality that is/was a national trait. Plus, to the Kiwis’ credit, many people would rather have a few bucks in their pocket to get the boat out and go fishing with a box or 2 of beers and their mates at the weekend!
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Post by Alanović on Jun 26, 2020 10:48:30 GMT
Sounds a bit too large a price to pay, to end up utterly cut off from the rest of the world. I think I'll stick with my France/motorhome plans.
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Post by dixinormus on Jun 26, 2020 10:48:39 GMT
Important footnote.
Christchurch: flat, great for you cyclists. Also close to the Alps for wintersports. Can be hot in summer, cold in winter. Had a big earthquake a few years ago;
Wellington: very hilly, can often be rainy and blustery. Supposedly due for an earthquake...
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Post by Alanović on Jun 26, 2020 10:49:54 GMT
Christchurch sounds like the pick out of those two...but I'd need some heavy, heavy duty convincing given the property prices you speak of.
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Post by dixinormus on Jun 26, 2020 10:58:59 GMT
Mate of mine lives 45 mins drive north of Christchurch, in a quiet village near the beach recently sold his spacious 4-bed bungalow with a half-acre garden for 300k quid. So in hindsight I have probably over-inflated the average house price down there. Auckland is the real killer.
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Post by Alanović on Jun 26, 2020 11:06:19 GMT
Well lovely though it sounds, I've just remembered my children are 15 and 12. Absolutely the wrong time to move across the world. And when they're away to University, that's when I want to sell up and bugger off. But I think France/motorhome around Europe is the plan then. I don't think I want to be retired and in NZ, I'd come to regret that massively I think.
If we were going to do it, 10 years ago was the time.
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Post by dixinormus on Jun 26, 2020 11:28:19 GMT
Yep, I did it 11 years ago..! It is remote here, and currently almost totally isolated. Goodness knows what airfares will be when the current crisis is over. Certainly can’t pop over to Blighty or anywhere in Europe for a long weekend anyway.
It can mess with your brain.
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Post by Alanović on Jun 26, 2020 11:55:33 GMT
The place I really loved on my brief visit to Oz 2 years ago was Brisbane. But too hot in the summer. It was absolutely perfect late July/early August. I hope during retirement that I'll be able to afford "holidays" there, and around Hervey Bay/Fraser island etc, during the European summer.
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Post by tyrednexited on Jun 26, 2020 12:29:58 GMT
There are few places in NZ we didn't like a lot, though choosing somewhere to live with decent employment prospects (and not entirely overrun by the tourist trade) narrows things down a bit.
Christchurch is well-positioned, but it needs the post-earthquake reconstruction finishing before you could really judge it. The approach they're taking in re-inventing is encouraging.
We liked Auckland, but all things must be put in context; it is less NZ than much of the rest of the country, and not particularly well rated by the indigenous population.
We didn't make the centre of Wellington, but it is certainly well-set, and I believe more fondly regarded than Auckland by NZ'ers? It is well placed for access to both Islands.
I could happily settle in many of the smaller places, but of those that potentially had employment prospects, Napier attracted via its atmosphere (though the volcanic sand beach does it little favour.
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Post by Humph on Jun 26, 2020 12:43:46 GMT
A friend moved to Melbourne a couple of years back. ( yes I know that's in Australia! ) Anyway, he and his family love it, they rented out their UK house and initially rented there, but they recently bought a property in Oz without selling their UK house, so they have a ball breaker of a mortgage, but seem to think it's worth it. As he was over 40 he had to meet certain conditions, but he was in a position to open a branch of his UK business and employ Australian staff so that got him round that.
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Post by Alanović on Jun 26, 2020 12:46:36 GMT
Yeah, Australia's out of the question over 40 unless you've got several millions or can offer something like your mate. I'll be very happy if I can pop over as a tourist a few times in retirement.
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Post by Humph on Jun 26, 2020 13:54:52 GMT
We genuinely would love to retire to the South of France one day if we can. Potential political restrictions notwithstanding, French is probably my worst "other" language and Mrs H doesn't speak any French. If we are ever in a position to take the notion seriously, I'd have to at least try to improve my French and be happy that my wife could at least get by in it.
I'd hate to be that sort of ex-pat who expects everyone to speak English, or worse, the type that only mixes with other ex-pats. Friends of my parents fell into both of those categories when they retired to Spain in the late 70s and became entirely dependent on, and addicted to, alcohol.
Which might sound like a bit of a joke, but it really wasn't. Their lives ended miserably.
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Post by Alanović on Jun 26, 2020 14:13:37 GMT
I'm all good on the language front. I'm more inclined towards the Vendee or the Poitou-Charantes/Limousin area than the South, for climate reasons. And for reasons of there being less concentrated Brit migrant numbers there. The whole point is to get away. I've no interest in socialising with Brits over there.
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