Expat Community > New Zealand

Mellie
Joined 2003
Posts: 2

Moving to Christchurch from USA

21 years ago

Hey y'all!

We're moving to Christchurch next month from USA - would really welcome the chance to communicate with anyone, American or otherwise, who has moved from USA to NZ and/or can help us with certain mundane details like figuring out what to and not to bring bearing in mind incompatibility of appliances, and difference in sizes (i.e. beds!), and comparing costs of various items (i.e. used cars and furniture) so we can plan for expenses and such.

Also would be REALLY helpful to discuss with anyone the exchange rate at the moment - when we first applied for Permanent Residence for NZ the exhange rate was NZ$1 = US$.48. Today's rate is NZ$1 = US$.554. What should we do??? Wait? Exchange now before it gets even worse for us?? Wanted to buy a house, but our money is worth a LOT less now so thought about renting a while as we watch the exchange rate. However, have seen recent news articles about skyrocketing house prices, spurring on major rises in rental prices, causing a major shortage of rental property in Chch at the moment. Have we chosen a bad time to move to there or what?!

Love to ask about schools and best areas to live in Chch as well - have tried to investigate this and have come up with what I THINK are some of the nicest areas with reasonable house prices (lower hills areas for instance and near the river), but I still haven't been able to figure out which are the 'best' or most popular primary and middle schools. ('Best' high schools seem to be Chch Girls and Boys, Cashmere, Burnside?). Obviously we could find this all out once we arrive there, but we will have to rent short-term accomodation BEFORE we arrive and I want to be sure it's in area with a good primary school for my 6-year old.

Enough questions for now - thanks for any help, ideas,suggestions...

Mellie

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