Auckland , New Zealand - The Good, Bad & The Ugly

[GT0132]

After 30 years living in Sydney and with both my and my partners kids now left home we're thinking of moving elsewhere and may even contemplate a move back to NZ.

Although originally from Wellington , Auckland has always been a city that has appealed to me, even as a kid going there for holidays in the 60's/70's

I guess the only thing not in our favour, apart from the weather, is the adverse AUD/NZ exchange rate at the moment. ($1.06) compared to what it was like when I moved here in 1984 ($1.75…ouch!). For that reason we may not sell any real estate we own in Australia yet and possibly rent for a while once we got over there.

Just after some advice from Aucklanders on the forums for some advice on

- best areas to live. The inner east and inner west as well as the north shore areas of Takapuna , Birkenhead and Northcote seem to appeal. It seems the real estate market is hot there. Suburbs like Remuera, St Heliers, Parnell and Herne Bay appeal but would probably be a tad out of our price range.

- the job market . I'm a CPA qualified accountant and work as a CFO in a professional services firm and by the look of it I may need to lower my salary expectations a bit if I moved to AKL. Not a lot of work there for folks like me it seems

- any other things good or bad about the city....cost of living etc

Cheers guys

[brennan.]

Auckland is great, if you come over please bring that sweet GT with you.

[nuthin' fancy]

Of course you take your car:

From here: http://australianmusclecarsales.com.au/about/nzbuyer

Importing an Aussie Muscle Car into New Zealand ?
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What Do I Need To Know ?
This information is provided as a guide to buyers. We strongly recommend you obtain complete and up to date information on the importing process at http://www.ltsa.govt.nz prior to finalising the purchase of your new car. Additional customs information is available at http://www.customs.govt.nz

Before You Buy
If the vehicle to import is over 20 years of age then you can import the vehicle without any LTSA (Land Transport Safety Authority) restrictions. The vehicle will be subject to the Entry Certification process once imported (see below) to register it for use on NZ roads.

If the vehicle is less than 20 years of age then it must NZ's frontal impact requirements. The vehicle must either carry a ADR (Australian Design Rules) compliance plate to verify this, be listed on the LTSA's Front Impact Lists or require a Statement of Compliance from the vehicle's manufacturer listing the standards to which the vehicle was certified. Without this certification the vehicle will not be able to be registered for use on NZ roads.

Also note - If you can't prove that the vehicle is legally yours, you won't be able to register it for use on New Zealand roads. Original documentation relating to the sale and de-registration of the vehicle in Australia is therefore very important.

Shipping
Shipping your new car starts from around AU $500 for a 'roll on , roll off' service from the east coast of Australia to main New Zealand ports. Prices vary for delivery from greater distances or if the vehicle is to be shipped in a container. Timetabling and demand also influence pricing. Contact us for advice on your shipping needs.

On Arrival
Once your new vehicle has arrived it will need to clear at the port of entry quarantine inspection, border check and Customs clearance. Providing the vehicle is clean and tidy the MAF inspection fee will be less than NZD $100. Buyers should allow between NZD $100 , NZD $300 for miscellaneous port and other expenses.

administration charges
NZ Customs will charge GST on the full purchase price of the vehicle plus shipping costs. This should be factored when buying your new car. GST is chargeable even though the transaction has been conducted offshore and the purchase price may already incorporate a local value-added or sales tax component.

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Getting It On The Road
The final step is to have your vehicle inspected by an Entry Certifier (such as AA Inspection or Vehicle Testing NZ). They will verify that the vehicle met the required standards (see Before You Buy), carry out an inspection to verify it is still in good condition and issues the VIN plate, Form MR2A and a new Warrant of Fitness. Form MR2A allows you to then register the vehicle for NZ roads and receive new number plates. You should budget approximately NZD $400 for this process.

If you have any questions or for AMCS to find your dream car get in touch!



Why such a hurry to buy?

[GT0132]

GReat info, thanks mate


Yes, If I go she'll be coming . Thank god its not a daily driver as the fuel bill would kill me..

lol

[fordomatic]

You hear of alot of New Zealanders coming to Australia, you dont hear of many Aussies going to NZ. Out of my 4 mates that are originally from NZ none of them want to move back. Sure they miss the place but they love the quality of living here in AUS

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

You hear of alot of New Zealanders coming to Australia, you dont hear of many Aussies going to NZ. Out of my 4 mates that are originally from NZ none of them want to move back. Sure they miss the place but they love the quality of living here in AUS

Yes I know what you mean. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky and sick of living in the rat race they call Sydney having done it for so long and get sick of taking 30 minutes to drive 5 kms out of peak hour.

As far as differences in quality of life, I'm not so sure. If you take out the climate, which is far superior in most parts of Australia, then each country has its share of good and bad.

Maybe I should move to QLD.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by GT0132

Yes I know what you mean. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky and sick of living in the rat race they call Sydney having done it for so long and get sick of taking 30 minutes to drive 5 kms out of peak hour.

As far as differences in quality of life, I'm not so sure. If you take out the climate, which is far superior in most parts of Australia, then each country has its share of good and bad.

Maybe I should move to QLD.

Yeh totally understand, i really could never live in Sydney myself. I got stuck in traffic for 15 minutes this morning, all i kept thinking was how the hell people put up with it for 2 hours each day too and from work in Sydney and Melbourne.

I'm Australian obviously but i have visited NZ a few times and absolutely loved it. Nice slow pace. Don't move to QLD, it's too hot. I lasted 13 years there and only because i had to.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Don't move to QLD, it's too hot. I lasted 13 years there and only because i had to.

No such thing as too hot!

People in the ACT would think Tas was too hot

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by GT0132

Yes I know what you mean. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky and sick of living in the rat race they call Sydney having done it for so long and get sick of taking 30 minutes to drive 5 kms out of peak hour.

As far as differences in quality of life, I'm not so sure. If you take out the climate, which is far superior in most parts of Australia, then each country has its share of good and bad.

Maybe I should move to QLD.

Maybe instead of heading back to NZ go look at some rural towns maybe up to 100km or so out of the capital cities, decently priced land/house packages and a slower lifestyle out regional then in the cities but still within reach if you need to go into the city for something.

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by GT0132

Yes I know what you mean. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky and sick of living in the rat race they call Sydney having done it for so long and get sick of taking 30 minutes to drive 5 kms out of peak hour.

As far as differences in quality of life, I'm not so sure. If you take out the climate, which is far superior in most parts of Australia, then each country has its share of good and bad.

Maybe I should move to QLD.

Be a lot cheaper coming here !! If your over the rat race stay well away from Brisvegas, Gold and Sunny Coast.......... Move further up north where you can have permanently sweaty undies and jock rash.............

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

You hear of alot of New Zealanders coming to Australia, you dont hear of many Aussies going to NZ. Out of my 4 mates that are originally from NZ none of them want to move back. Sure they miss the place but they love the quality of living here in AUS

I know of lots that are returning to NZ or planning to.

[Franco Cozzo]

Come down South instead and live in Melbourne's rural fringe, no sweaty undies.

[MR REKLAW]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Come down South instead and live in Melbourne's rural fringe, no sweaty undies.

Just brass monkey issues

[brennan.]

Don't move all the way to Auckland if you're sick of traffic, or if you do move here try and find work on the North Shore, its not as bad as it is across the bridge, then find a place to live that is close by. If you're just renting for a while then that shouldn't be a problem, there's plenty of rental options around.

[smoo]

Auckland? More like Mumbai or Beijing.

What is the appeal, out of interest? You want to escape the rat race then you're looking at the wrong place ;)

The pros,

Weather
Job opportunities
Proximity to other areas so you can gtfo of the joint for a day/weekend - Coromandel, Bay of Islands, West Coast beaches, Rotorua/Taupo etc.

But have you seen what $5-600k will (or wont) buy within a 20km radius of the CBD...
Any further, then consider commuting times to/from CBD, or to the other side of akl before making a decision. And not just peak hour, you're pushing it if you need to go anywhere in the middle of the day, even worse on the weekends.
Yet people are falling over themselves to move there, it rates highly as one of the most liveable cities, and I'm ****** if I know why.

I do like Devonport-Takapuna-East Coast Bays, but moved from there end of 2011. Daily commute was from there to Wiri and I spent up to 3.5hrs in the car each day.
Have since bought a house in wlg city and a couple of acres rural Cambridge... for about the same price as an average ECB 4bd house. If I were to go back to my old job it would be quicker and cheaper for me to commute to Manukau from Cambridge than my old slog from the Shore (now that the Waikato expressway is going as far south as Karipiro), and in fact a lot of Aucklanders have relocated down there, and still work in akl. Undeniably better value for money and a better lifestyle, but rural/small town isn't for everyone. In that case I'd take Melbourne over Auckland anyday.

[BradEL]

Originally Posted by smoo

Auckland? More like Mumbai or Beijing.

********** aye it is

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by smoo

Auckland? More like Mumbai or Beijing.

What is the appeal, out of interest? You want to escape the rat race then you're looking at the wrong place ;)

The pros,

Weather
Job opportunities
Proximity to other areas so you can gtfo of the joint for a day/weekend - Coromandel, Bay of Islands, West Coast beaches, Rotorua/Taupo etc.

But have you seen what $5-600k will (or wont) buy within a 20km radius of the CBD...
Any further, then consider commuting times to/from CBD, or to the other side of akl before making a decision. And not just peak hour, you're pushing it if you need to go anywhere in the middle of the day, even worse on the weekends.
Yet people are falling over themselves to move there, it rates highly as one of the most liveable cities, and I'm ****** if I know why.

I do like Devonport-Takapuna-East Coast Bays, but moved from there end of 2011. Daily commute was from there to Wiri and I spent up to 3.5hrs in the car each day.
Have since bought a house in wlg city and a couple of acres rural Cambridge... for about the same price as an average ECB 4bd house. If I were to go back to my old job it would be quicker and cheaper for me to commute to Manukau from Cambridge than my old slog from the Shore (now that the Waikato expressway is going as far south as Karipiro), and in fact a lot of Aucklanders have relocated down there, and still work in akl. Undeniably better value for money and a better lifestyle, but rural/small town isn't for everyone. In that case I'd take Melbourne over Auckland anyday.

Thanks for your post mate.

I guess my thinking was that Auckland has all the good parts that Sydney has without the bad. For example, good beaches, good for boating and water activities (as mentioned by Magpie) , reasonable climate but not with the large population that Sydney has.

Also compared to my hometown of Wellington, far superior weather (particularly wind) , easier access to international flights , better employment prospects in my area .

I didn't realise the traffic hassles were the same if not worse than here. I've done some further research and the consensus seems that Auckland public transport is pretty poor which probably explains its traffic problems as people have to rely a lot more on cars to get around . I also learned that you can't walk or catch a train over the AKL harbour bridge unlike Sydney.

I haven't been to AKL since 93 so it's probably changed a lot since then.

As for house prices being high there , having experienced the Sydney market , Auckland is cheap by comparison. I'm 23kms out of Sydney (South) and house is valued at $1.2M, so to pay $800k NZ for a place 20 kms out seems reasonable.

I like your idea of acreage in Cambridge. I took your reference to wlg to mean that you bought a place in Wellington.

[GT0132]

double post

[CJR09]

yeah cant really see auck as a positive move from sydney - just rated one of the most expensive places to live in the world and traffic issues just as bad - auckland is way too spread out - sydney easier to get around

[MAGPIE]

Positives of Auckland (just of the top of my head)

North Shore & Norwest Rural lifestyle
West Coast Beaches
East Coast Beaches (polar opposite to West Coast)
Waitakere Ranges
Hauraki Gulf & Islands for sailing/boating/fishing/diving etc
Good access to Coromandel & Northland
Heaps to do cultural & sporting
Multicultural (yes that is a positive unless your a redneck)


The Shore is the best place to live & work imo, and if you work on the Shore you can live rural and have an easy commute (although that applies to the South as well).

If you have any inclination towards marine hobbies then Auckland is the best place in NZ to live bar none, followed by Tauranga.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

The Shore is the best place to live & work imo, and if you work on the Shore you can live rural and have an easy commute (although that applies to the South as well).

Have you seen the prices in rural North Shore/Rodney?! Bloody madness and that's before comparing it to a similar property anywhere else in the country.

Hey GasOlane, no such thing as too hot you reckon... You should come truckin in the Pilbara, might have to jump in a real truck as who wants to pump the cab tilt on the old Volvo when she ***** herself in this heat.

[DBourne]

What about Adelaide?

Whilst I've never been, it seems like it would tick off all the items on your list.

- quieter than Sydney
- Good beaches etc
- No Sydneysiders

[JTFG]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

What about Adelaide?

Whilst I've never been, it seems like it would tick off all the items on your list.

- quieter than Sydney
- Good beaches etc
- No Sydneysiders

Adelaide is worth a look.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

What about Adelaide?

Whilst I've never been, it seems like it would tick off all the items on your list.

- quieter than Sydney
- Good beaches etc
- No Sydneysiders

Agree with this. Been there a few times and love the place.

Just don't speed!

Have you considered Tasmania? Very nice as well, relaxed pace, clean air, beautiful scenery.

And, you would be technically moving 'overseas'....

[BradEL]

Auckland is no where near as good as most people seem to think

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by BradEL

Auckland is no where near as good as most people seem to think

HI Brad. Why is that?...Just after your opinion.

Cheers

[smoo]

GT0132, you're right in that there is no pedestrian/cyclist access to the North Shore, but there is a reliable ferry service at the bottom of Queen St that services Devonport, Bayswater (near Takapuna) and Birkinhead and leaves every 15mins I think. So if you manage to get a job in the CBD then disregard mentioned traffic issues (except weekends).
Yeah I meant Wellington, and don't remind me about the wind, my utes torneau cover stitching came apart last night as the 100k or so wind got under it. Spewing. That said I prefer Wellington city to Akl.

[BradEL]

Originally Posted by GT0132

HI Brad. Why is that?...Just after your opinion.

Cheers

I've always lived here cause I still live at home currently, but theres lots of reasons I don't like it, I would far prefer a smaller town like Cambridge as has been mentioned already. from my perspective getting around the place is a big issue, a few years ago before I got my first car I could hardly get round on my own as public transport is so unreliable, slow, inconsistent and very expensive. Once I got my first car and started driving it was good, until I got down the road and was stuck in traffic. Always traffic in Auckland anywhere and everywhere. Traffic and road systems are very poorly designed and wherever you move to in Auckland congestion won't be far away. Also from my perspective a young guy if I want to live in Auckland I will probably be 35-40 realistically before I can buy a house. Not such a problem for you but just mt opinion. The beaches arnt great, ones close to central Auckland are dirty and polluted from the harbour, and the ones on west coast are very picturesque but so dangerous. There's some good beaches around but nothing great that's close by to town. Harbour is good though if your into boating/ fishing.

[UKXR8]

I'm headed back to Auckland after 17 years in the UK.

Would rather live elsewhere in NZ, but due to work reasons I don't get a choice. Luckily my commute will be short.

Auckland house prices are insane, can't help but draw parallels with the Irish property market a few years ago. At some stage the bubble will burst and I think it could be quite messy.

That said I do look forward to not having to chip ice off my windscreen before I go to work..

[CoupeKing]

Just pick a location where the 4WD mums havn't discovered yet, that'd be the best bet. Never been to Auckland (doesn't sound as good as the adverts on T.V judging by this thread).Melbourne's CBD is basically a miniature version of Honk Kong, and even some country towns now are nothing but a shiny new supermarket with houses around it.