where to live in new zealand

jelly bean · 2010-03-21T16:06:08+01:00

Explore family-friendly areas in New Zealand ideal for beach lovers and outdoor activities. Get insights on education options for aspiring police officers.

jelly bean Member

Member since 21 March 2010

jelly beanMember21 March 2010 14:06:08

we are hoping to be in new zealand really soon but are awaiting the sale of our house. we are not worried about anything at the mo just finding the right area to live for our family. Myself, my hubby and my 7 year old are quite easy to please but feel that it is more difficult for our 16 yr old son. We all want to live close to the beach, not in the middle of a major city and we want a more outdoor way of life ie walking, biking, camping etc. My eldest son wants to go into the police force and over here in england he could do a public services course for 2-3 yrs at college. I dont really know if there is anything similar over there as I dont want him to give up on his dream. Any ideas of anywhere that will fit the bill for us? Any info would be great from somebody who is the know and already there or been there.

Artaz Member

Member since 08 March 2010

ArtazMember23 March 2010 19:59:59

My family and I have lived in Wellington going on three years now, so I can pretty much only speak for this part of New Zealand. I am not sure where you are wanting to live.
We too did not want to live in the city as we love the country, although I work in the city. It聮s great to travel the 31km back to our house in the hutt valley every day, out of the city. Our boys are both doing extremely well at school, and have adapted well coming from South Africa.
Houses can be a bit tricky, the older houses that are located near to streams or the hutt valley river, tend to get quite cold in the winter as most do not have proper insulation. Wood burners seem to be the preferred choice of heating although heat pumps are starting to take off. There are a lot of new areas springing up, and these houses have all got solid insulation and resemble those of the UK, boasting double insulation, double glazed windows etc. These houses generally have no problem at all in the winter and are quite easy to heat. You can have a look at to get a better idea of house pricing, rentals etc.
Concerning your son, a good place to start would be this web site:
I don聮t think there is anywhere else he could study, but I am sure you will be able to contact the authorities at the above web site to find this out.
I hope you find what you are looking for, and feel free to ask anything!