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Think about the reasons why you went for the job at Taita in the first place. Weight those up (pro and con list - seriously!) against the reasons you want to leave Ohakune. Expense wise if it is better for your santiy and health and the kids, then it's worth it. Although, I completely understand about the budget too ... when there's no money, there's no money!

Make sure, areaa for area (as in Taita/Hutt area vs Ohakune) that you're not jumping from frying pan to fire ... the impression I always got of that part of the Hutt is that it is possibly not a better place than Ohakune, just different. Will you end up with the same problems in a different place? Not suggesting you will, but it's worth thinking about.

What will Nat's working environment be like? Demographic for demographic. That can be important too.

Oh, and how does the salary offset the increased expenses? Don't forget that male teachers (primary or secondary?) are a rarity. Have you thought of looking in places like Gizzy? PLaces that are warmer, sunnier etc which would help the fight against depression. Silly as it sounds, a sunny environment vs a gloomy one. DH's aunty is a primary teacher in Gizzy Vegas and it seems there is a bit of a shortage of male teachers down there. It's a lovely place too!

Good luck making the decision - it's a tough one.

ginger wrote: Think about the reasons why you went for the job at Taita in the first place. Weight those up (pro and con list - seriously!) against the reasons you want to leave Ohakune. Expense wise if it is better for your santiy and health and the kids, then it's worth it. Although, I completely understand about the budget too ... when there's no money, there's no money!

Nat applied for the position out of frustration. He's had enough of the "but that's the way we've always done it" attitude that is through the staff... things aren't working, and the staff admit it, but they don't want to do anything about it. It is a good career move to get him out of there - he's frustrated and getting cynical, and admits he's becoming a lazy teacher because the students don't want to learn so there's very little point in teaching more than the basics. Nat said yesterday that he was almost in tears at one point during one of his classes because of the sheer amount of disrespect a student was showing him - and this particular student is the head boy!

ginger wrote: Make sure, areaa for area (as in Taita/Hutt area vs Ohakune) that you're not jumping from frying pan to fire ... the impression I always got of that part of the Hutt is that it is possibly not a better place than Ohakune, just different. Will you end up with the same problems in a different place? Not suggesting you will, but it's worth thinking about.

My biggest problem with Ohakune is the isolation. I hate being so far away from anything... I'm not an outdoorsy person, and while there is lots to do here everything revolves around the mountain (Mt Ruapehu) to some degree or are not appropriate to do with children as young as ours.

ginger wrote: What will Nat's working environment be like? Demographic for demographic. That can be important too.

The school is a similar demographic to here, but bigger and has better policies in place so the students actually respect the teachers and want to be at school (as much as any teenager really wants to )

ginger wrote: Oh, and how does the salary offset the increased expenses? Don't forget that male teachers (primary or secondary?) are a rarity. Have you thought of looking in places like Gizzy? PLaces that are warmer, sunnier etc which would help the fight against depression. Silly as it sounds, a sunny environment vs a gloomy one. DH's aunty is a primary teacher in Gizzy Vegas and it seems there is a bit of a shortage of male teachers down there. It's a lovely place too! Good luck making the decision - it's a tough one!

Nat will get a raise just before Term 3 starts, regardless of where he will be. We've worked it out on our current expenses and an approximate rent, and it will be tough but managable. I've actually just got off the phone with our bank, looking at debt consolidation. We would end up paying less per month and have all our hps and cc/store cards paid off so it looks like it might be worth doing that as well.

Thanks for the suggestion... male teachers (and Physics teachers!) are rare but there aren't actually that many jobs being advertised at the moment... can't go where there isn't a job! and there's something about Wellington that is very attractive to both of us.

Taita College is one of the best public colleges around in this area at the moment,  so goodluck to your DH if he excepts the job. As for prices for rental properties the whole of the Hutt valley (Lower/Upper) are pretty much all the same at the moment with the exclusion of Eastbourne, western hills and Petone where their prices are horrendious (sp?) Goodluck Becca with your guys decision