Possible move from sunny Wigan, UK to Christchurch?

johntmanic

johntmanic

johntmanic

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Joined
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1,170
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Auckland, New Zealand
Hey people,

Moving to New Zealand isn't something I'd considered before until I received a +64 call from a recruitment guy who is looking for structural engineers to help rebuild Christchurch after the earthquakes.

I don't really know anything about the Country (ignorant I know) but I just wanted to see what opinions had on the move from the UK to New Zealand i.e. cost of living and the general place.

I've been told Christchurch is nothing like Manchester or Liverpool and it's really quiet? Is this true?

Thanks a lot.

John

P.S. He said the positions that are available are between $70,000 minimum up to $150,000 - just to give you an idea on salaries I can possibly expect?
 
Hi there. We moved from the UK to NZ in 2009 and it's worked out fantastically well for us. The cost of living is variable : some things are cheaper, some the same, and some much more expensive.

Christchurch is in a terrible state and whilst this is probably good for you in terms of longevity of work, I can't imagine it being a fun place to live. Even before the quakes it was my least favourite city in NZ as it's the most like the UK. I found the people unduly snobby and cliquey and it just reminded me of a much smaller Surrey. In fact the more I think about it the more I remember just how little I enjoyed the place.

That is a large salary range and works out at somewhere between 35k and 75k GBP. I'd be very suspicious of this range but I'm not familiar with your industry so might be talking out my ass. The $150k would net off to $8,800 per month so about 4.5k GBP

I can't help with rent or mortgages as I know nothing about Christchurch specifically.

NZ is an amazing place and the people in the main are fantastic. The weather will be a significant improvement on the UK and if you're into outdoor things then you'll be in seventh heaven. On the downside you will be literally thousands of miles away from any loved ones you may have and whilst you can get back to the UK in an emergency with 30 hours, it isn't cheap.

If it had been anywhere else other than Christchurch I would have been strongly, strongly urging you to do it. As it is, I'll settle for just strongly ;)

Any questions, just ask :)
 
[FnG]magnolia;22713862 said:
Hi there. We moved from the UK to NZ in 2009 and it's worked out fantastically well for us. The cost of living is variable : some things are cheaper, some the same, and some much more expensive.

Christchurch is in a terrible state and whilst this is probably good for you in terms of longevity of work, I can't imagine it being a fun place to live. Even before the quakes it was my least favourite city in NZ as it's the most like the UK. I found the people unduly snobby and cliquey and it just reminded me of a much smaller Surrey. In fact the more I think about it the more I remember just how little I enjoyed the place.

That is a large salary range and works out at somewhere between 35k and 75k GBP. I'd be very suspicious of this range but I'm not familiar with your industry so might be talking out my ass. The $150k would net off to $8,800 per month so about 4.5k GBP

I can't help with rent or mortgages as I know nothing about Christchurch specifically.

NZ is an amazing place and the people in the main are fantastic. The weather will be a significant improvement on the UK and if you're into outdoor things then you'll be in seventh heaven. On the downside you will be literally thousands of miles away from any loved ones you may have and whilst you can get back to the UK in an emergency with 30 hours, it isn't cheap.

If it had been anywhere else other than Christchurch I would have been strongly, strongly urging you to do it. As it is, I'll settle for just strongly ;)

Any questions, just ask :)
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Thanks a lot for this.

The difference in the wages is because of the $70k is entry level structural engineer and the $150k is for a Director level (I would've thought). But with my qualifications and job history I'd say I was heading towards the $100k region. But even if I based my wage on the entry level structural engineer of $70k at 2 to 1 approx. it would be around £36k over here, which is about £9k more than what I am on now. - I hope all that drivel makes sense?

I wanted to see if that kind of money would see me comfy over there?

As for location I suppose that would be up to me but it is to help re-build the whole of Christchurch so I wouldn't have thought I'd be better off the other side of the Country to it?

The thing that appeals to me is everyone has said it's a lovely country but as I said it's somewhere I've never give any thought to?
 
johntmanic said:
Thanks a lot for this.
Click to expand...
You're welcome.

The difference in the wages is because of the $70k is entry level structural engineer and the $150k is for a Director level (I would've thought). I wanted to see if that kind of money would see me comfy over there?
Click to expand...
Again, not familiar with the industry but $150k is what I pay our Project Managers and it's substantially below what I would consider Director level.

But with my qualifications and job history I'd say I was heading towards the $100k region. But even if I based my wage on the entry level structural engineer of $70k at 2 to 1 approx. it would be around £36k over here, which is about £9k more than what I am on now. - I hope all that drivel makes sense?
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It makes sense and would also put you above the average NZ wage, if that makes any difference to you. Your $100k as a (I assume) single guy living in rented accomodation would be adequate.

Some prices in pounds (based on Auckland, CC may and will vary, let's use 2:1 conversion for easiness) :

95RON petrol is 1.10
Rent for a 2 bed place is 150 - 250 a week
We find most food prices to be similar, generally speaking. It's much more seasonal here so prices do fluctuate.
Utility bills are about the same I think, I can't remember :o

As for location I suppose that would be up to me but it is to help re-build the whole of Christchurch so I wouldn't have thought I'd be better off the other side of the Country to it?
Click to expand...

I think you'd want to live there if you were working there.

The thing that appeals to me is everyone has said it's a lovely country but as I said it's somewhere I've never give any thought to?
Click to expand...

It is beautiful, yes. As for the second part, only you can answer that. Are you married, do you have dependents, are you open to new experiences, can you just up and leave etc etc? There are a load of things to consider but NZ is amazing, yes.
 
One earthquake zone to another /jk.

I would go for the opportunity. But probably only for a couple of years. I have heard people say that NZ is like stepping back 30 years, but Wigan in the 70's was quite hot (another off topic).

Enjoy proper mountains and wild scenery and gain useful engineering in quake zone expertise.
 
[FnG]magnolia;22714046 said:
You're welcome.


Again, not familiar with the industry but $150k is what I pay our Project Managers and it's substantially below what I would consider Director level.

It makes sense and would also put you above the average NZ wage, if that makes any difference to you. Your $100k as a (I assume) single guy living in rented accomodation would be adequate.

Some prices in pounds (based on Auckland, CC may and will vary, let's use 2:1 conversion for easiness) :

95RON petrol is 1.10
Rent for a 2 bed place is 150 - 250 a week
We find most food prices to be similar, generally speaking. It's much more seasonal here so prices do fluctuate.
Utility bills are about the same I think, I can't remember :o



I think you'd want to live there if you were working there.



It is beautiful, yes. As for the second part, only you can answer that. Are you married, do you have dependents, are you open to new experiences, can you just up and leave etc etc? There are a load of things to consider but NZ is amazing, yes.
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Sorry - I didn't mean Director - I meant as a chartered engineer. The last part of becoming a full structural engineer - which would be my next step.

Considering the prices you put - 150 - 250 for rent compared to my 500 a month just on a mortgage is not a bad saving really.
It also looks that fuel is cheaper - it's about £1.42 a litre here for petrol.

I'm not married and I have no children but I do have a partner who would love to go (more than me in fact). Obviously she would try to find work, she can put her hand to anything? And I'm under no illusions that I'm coming over there to become a millionaire! I just want to be comfy with no money issues.

And it appeals to me knowing when I finish work I can have the weather and have a not so long trip to the beach or where ever? :)
 
If you don't have wife/kids etc and have a job offer somewhere awesome like NZ, DO IT DO IT DO IT!

Would love the opportunity to live there :(
 
Lucky you - great to see people able to escape the UK. Christchurch is pleasant - though devastated and rather quiet - if you want staid Scottish check out Invercargill further south!. The countryside within easy access is incredibly beautiful and not to say exhilarating. Queenstown with the steamship Earnslaw on the lake. Everything is still somewhat uncertain at this time in every which way. Naturally Wellington is much busier and busiest is Auckland - the North Island is somewhat warmer too
Try and get emigration status and then citizenship - this offers easy access to OZ
NZ is a paradise. Don't forget the population of both Island (Both have a larger area than the UK) is not much different to that of Sydney - when I drop into Auckland from Sydney I always find it's like coming into a village.
I am an advocate of old ship containers for accommodation emergency or otherwise and have a few in Germany and Oz - more use should be made of them!!
 
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johntmanic said:
Sorry - I didn't mean Director - I meant as a chartered engineer. The last part of becoming a full structural engineer - which would be my next step.
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I imagine having worked in a different country would not be a negative thing to have on your CV. Just a thought.

Considering the prices you put - 150 - 250 for rent compared to my 500 a month just on a mortgage is not a bad saving really.
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Look, that's a guess but it'd be easy to verify on some of the online estate agent sites.

It also looks that fuel is cheaper - it's about £1.42 a litre here for petrol.
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It is cheaper but almost all of the cars here drink petrol like it's going out of fashion which is great if you like fast and/or big-engined cars but not so hot if you don't :)

I'm not married and I have no children but I do have a partner who would love to go (more than me in fact).
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This is hugely important. We could never have made this work if only one of us was pulling for it.

Obviously she would try to find work, she can put her hand to anything? And I'm under no illusions that I'm coming over there to become a millionaire! I just want to be comfy with no money issues.
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What does she do? The job market is good right now, especially in CC from what I understand. Your $100k would equate to 50k GBP which isn't a terrible salary to have whilst you're essentially on holiday.

And it appeals to me knowing when I finish work I can have the weather and have a not so long trip to the beach or where ever? :)
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In summer I get home and walk to the beach. It takes 15 minutes if I take my time and the water temps are normally about 22 or 24 degrees. CC might be a bit colder though. Anyway, I take your point.

TO whoever said isn't the weather the same as the UK? No, it's not. Summer doesn't get crazy hot like Australia but it stays consistent, at least in Auckland. Mid to high 20's is standard but the UV is ferocious so sunscreen is a must even when cloudy. Winter : I haven't seen frost or snow (except when skiing) in three years. Lows this winter were, I think, 4 or 5 degrees in the morning rising to 13 to 17 in the afternoon.
 
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[FnG]magnolia;22714433 said:
I imagine having worked in a different country would not be a negative thing to have on your CV. Just a thought.



Look, that's a guess but it'd be easy to verify on some of the online estate agent sites.



It is cheaper but almost all of the cars here drink petrol like it's going out of fashion which is great if you like fast and/or big-engined cars but not so hot if you don't :)



This is hugely important. We could never have made this work if only one of us was pulling for it.

P.S. I'm not into flash cars - as long as it's decent enough to get me from A + B that's good enough for me

What does she do? The job market is good right now, especially in CC from what I understand. Your $100k would equate to 50k GBP which isn't a terrible salary to have whilst you're essentially on holiday.



In summer I get home and walk to the beach. It takes 15 minutes if I take my time and the water temps are normally about 22 or 24 degrees. CC might be a bit colder though. Anyway, I take your point.

TO whoever said isn't the weather the same as the UK? No, it's not. Summer doesn't get crazy hot like Australia but it stays consistent, at least in Auckland. Mid to high 20's is standard but the UV is ferocious so sunscreen is a must even when cloudy. Winter : I haven't seen frost or snow (except when skiing) in three years. Lows this winter were, I think, 4 or 5 degrees in the morning rising to 13 to 17 in the afternoon.
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Thank you again for your time to post :)

I really need to get into looking into the estate agents over there - like I said to the recruitment guy you are ringing me on a random Tuesday night asking would I be interested in coming over without giving it any thought and to leave it with me.

She doesn't do anything professional - but at the minute she's working in both a before/after school club for children plus doing waitressing, but she used to work in retail for Selfridges so she has that background also. I know her wage wont be sky high but as long as it pays for some of the bills I don't really care! As I said previously I'm on 27k here in the UK and don't do too bad so anything around a 10k and above increase is massive to me!

I know I'll miss my family but as my Mum said if I don't do it I'll fully regret it!
 
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Hey. Estate agents:

http://www.realestate.co.nz/ (This will give you indicative prices for CC.)

http://raywhite.co.nz/ (have used them, pretty good)

www.century21.co.nz/ (never used them, heard good things though)

http://barfoot.co.nz/ (very popular, bought our house through them)

I've just tried searching on these links and it's pretty hard to find anything for Christchurch so either I'm a dummy or there's a reason for that. A bit more searching found :

http://www.realestate.co.nz/rental/search/keywords/christchurch

This will give you an idea of prices and what you get.
 
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[FnG]magnolia;22714758 said:
Hey. Estate agents:

http://www.realestate.co.nz/ (This will give you indicative prices for CC.)

http://raywhite.co.nz/ (have used them, pretty good)

www.century21.co.nz/ (never used them, heard good things though)

http://barfoot.co.nz/ (very popular, bought our house through them)

I've just tried searching on these links and it's pretty hard to find anything for Christchurch so either I'm a dummy or there's a reason for that. A bit more searching found :

http://www.realestate.co.nz/rental/search/keywords/christchurch
Click to expand...
 
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