Moving to New Zealand: What I Need to Know

I've been in Wellington about three times ever and never for long, so I'm no use. Sorry.

That seems to be a typical response. Are you telling me I should get out? Of course, I can't really, at least not for a few years at least. It'll be good to get back there and rediscover the country. I remember not being all that taken with Wellington first time around, but it'll have to do job-wise.

yeah, Wellington's OK - it's pretty small & will be a bit of a shock (you're coming from UK right?).

I guess you know that Vic's on top of a bloody big hill? Still, if you live close, everything's within walking distance (tho' I guess that's a little obvious!) Couple of bars with live bands - Bodega (www.bodega.co.nz) & Indigo (www.indigobar.co.nz) & they get a fair proportion of any touring bands through (if they make it to Welli - most just do one date in Auckland)

2 record stores (apart from chains) - Slow Boat (www.slowboatrecords.co.nz)& Real Groovy (www.realgroovy.co.nz - they're a nationwide chain of new & second hand now).

There's not too much going on, but there is a lot of galleries and theatre if that's your thing, and you can get out into the countryside & away from it all pretty damn quickly. And as I sit here looking out of my window on a still spring morning with the harbour sparkling in the distance, it seems pretty good! Email me if you want to know more.

cuspidorian and/or h.n. to thread.

hey so its definite you're moving here geoff? cool!

I'm probably sealing the deal tonight. Have to negotiate salary, establishment funds, etc. I'll be at the IASPM conference next December as well, which happens in Wellington.

Thanks all for the tips. Bill, I'll get in touch in a few days, but appreciate the comments.

(And I'm coming from Montreal, via Helsinki/Berlin).

And I think I got it bad.I'd never plan on moving to New Zealand, or anywhere else out of the country for that matter....

So why is it Guymauve you are moving in the first place?

I'm heading down there to teach at Victoria, Media Studies. I've been to NZ before, about a decade ago. The money's not bad and the department is new and expanding so I have an opportunity to have some say in how it shapes up over the next few years. New graduate program and all, and the teaching load it light and I get to pitch my own courses, with limited core course teaching required. They've been pretty flexible with me and allowed me to negotiate my salary in a reasonable manner. And I need a new place to store my music.