Hamilton

OK background....
I have the choice of moving to Hamilton (currently in Auckland) or being made redundant but I have a 13yo, an 11yo and a 2yo, all girls.

Would you move?

What are the high schools like down there?

I've always just said no I'm not going but lately I've been wavering. The pay is good and I'm worried about getting another job that pays so well. But moving a teenager seems so hard. Am I being silly?


edited to add
DH is happy to go but said he will respect whatever I decide, that means if we have no jobs in a couple of year it will probably be my fault

Edited by shaz

Well, I live here and am biased, but I like it here! We live near Hillcrest High, which is meant to be a great school. I work with high-achieving students (from all over the place) and see a lot of great kids who have studied there (or at some of the other good schools in town too). From what I've seen, the good high schools here are on a par with the good schools all over the country.

aWhat does your daughter think about the idea? Have you put it to her?

It's not far from Auckland if you'd miss the hustle and bustle of a city (because to be fair, Hamilton doesn't quite have that).

It's a lot cheaper t live here, so you'd be better of in that respect as well.

What part of town would you be working in, if you don't mind me asking? Based in the city centre?

When i was at high school in Hamilton about 10 years ago (3rd form) i went to Fraser which although there was some controversy about the security cameras around then i found it a really good school. My step-mother taught at Fairfield in the last few years and i have heard not very good things from when i was at school and also from her being there. Melville ive heard mixed reviews about, Hillcrest i have only heard good things, my sister is at Hamilton Girls now and apparantly its improved quite a lot too, then there is St Johns, Sacred Heart, Hamilton Boys, I think thats about it, i dont know too much about the last 3 though.

I really enjoyed living in Hamilton when i did and would probably consider living there again in the future.

I got moved to Hamilton as a teenager and at first wasnt the happiest about it but most kids/teenagers do tend to adjust, one of the biggest things to look at i guess is that we are in the middle of a recession and i have seen a lot of people lose their jobs and are really struggling to get another. Also rent in hamilton is pretty decent, the public transport is, and i could pretty much bike anywhere in hamilton i found things rather close.

Good luck for your decision hun

shaz wrote: Thanks Hopes we've mentioned it in passing but nothing serious so far and both DD 13 and DD 11 have said they don't want to move. I can imagine is hard for a teen to even think of leaving their friends but we have to consider what is best for all of us in the long run. It's a bit scary for me too.

I would explain to your girls that sometimes we have to do things we don't like. also with email it would be easy to keep in touch with their friends? and maybe during school holidays they can take turns visiting each other? and I agree you have to do what is best for your family and especially in these economic times.

best of luck :) oh and we have been in Hamilton for 4 years and love it here.

My sister moved to Hamilton for work 2 years ago and has never regretted it. The change of pace and things like lack of traffic really make a difference. Auckland is only an hour up the road, and realistically it can take you an hour to drive from one side of Auckland to the other anyway

It is always going to be difficult for kids at 11 and 13. But high school is always going to have problems, one week you can have a bunch of friends and next week you dislike them all and want to leave!

good luck in making your decision.

I haven't lived in Hamilton but I quite liked it the times I've visited.

If your two older girls are 11 and 13 is it just your eldest that's already in high school? Schooling-wise, I imagine it's easier to move now (when they're just starting HS or about to) than in a couple of years heading into senior school and major exams.

Auckland - Hamilton isn't REALLY far in the scheme of things so your girls would still able to vsit friends in the holidays etc

Good luck with your decision.

sarahbetha wrote: But there's girls high, dio and the cathilic one that I forget its name.

The Catholic one's Sacred Heart.

They are zoned (like someone mentioned) but if you're working in the city, renting something in Hillcrest (and thus getting your kids into Hillcrest High) would work really well - you're just over the river from town, and it's a nice place to live.