Would it be stupid to move to Wellington?

Question

My fiancee is a Kiwi and we plan to move to NZ in a few years. She liked Wellington (she's from Auckland) and I like the sound of it, but knowing it's prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, we aren't sure whether it would be worth the risk to move there. Does anyone have any advice or knowledge on the risk-factor involved in living in Wellington? And besides that, what else is good or bad about Wellington?

Answer 1

Hey there.

I live in Dunedin which is in the South Island of New Zealand. Next year I'm planning to move to Wellington.

I can understand why natural disasters would be a concern of yours but I don't believe you've got much to worry about. If you check out this website- http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quak...

It'll show you the latest quakes in NZ and their location and magnitude. If you go to 'quake drums' along the top and choose SNZO you will see plate movement in the last 24hours.

In Wellington (like the rest of NZ) modern buildings are all earthquake proof. This means they have rubber underneith them to absorb the shock.

Many people live in Wellington and if it wasn't safe trust me, they wouldn't be living there!. Remember you are prone to natural disasters where ever you live.

Wellington has a very vibrant feel and is very 'arty'. I'm sure you've both done your reseach but Wellington is very windy!

www.metservice.co.nz!

Goodluck!

Answer 2

Of course it it not stupid to move to WELLINGTON - there are lots of places and things to do down there I.e night life, day life, culture and anything lese you might be into Yacheting and other water activites!

Welliington is windy and that about it I.e you will get used to buying mouses for the hair, but there is no more unusals about wellington, only the people are less judgemental than any other place in NZ I.e you could end up walking up town alongside Jonah Lomu and nobody makes fuss I.e stop him and ask for autographs, mind you the 'stars' down there don't mind if you do, don't mind if you don't. - it's that laid back.

There are lots of places to move to - depending on how close you want to be to the city - the furthest 'suburb" is Upper hutt, heading east, or Waikanae heading north, which both are approx 40mins - 60mins on the train,( lots of public transport available but they run like every fifteen minutes, and in the CBD you can have an apart ment on the water front, or live anywhere in between. Parking sucks in the CBD but is great I.e free out in the suburbs..... for your girlfriend to be from Akld and want to move to Wgtn is a big move on her part, that alone deserves dinner at te Papa - ask her she will tell you!! GO the hurricanes!! ( that's the rugby team there...)

now can you tell me about how I get over to where you are?.. I'm looking for the other way around. I want a publishing job in Belmount

Answer 3

Wellington reminded me of San Francisco, about 50 years ago.  Quaint and pretty.  It is very windy there.  An advantage to it is that it is on the North Island, but is just a 3 hour ferry ride to the South Island or a 30 minute flight to Christchurch.  If I were younger, I'd move in a heartbeat.  It is so clean and the people are so much gentler than in the US.

Answer 4

Lookie---

If you don't like earthquakes, don't go to New Zealand. It's not called "The Shakey Isles" for nothing!!!

Check out the address below for the latest shake.

Driver T

Answer 5

The whole country is at risk of natural disasters, not just Wellington. Auckland is built on 52 volcanoes...

Bad about Wellington: weather, expensive housing

Good: easy to get around, good public transport, enough jobs

Answer 6

Wellington is a really lovely city, lovely harbour, loads of hills.  You can do day trips by interislander ferry to the Marlborough region and sample wines.  Anywhere in NZ is prone to earthquakes - we are on the 'rim of fire' that encircles the Pacific Ocean.  We have between 10,000 and 15,000 each year.  Most of them you won't even be aware of.  The year of the big Tsunami in Indonesia NZ had several earthquakes a few days before Dec 25th that were the strongest in the world.  But being so sparsely populated no damage was reported and no-one killed.

Being the Capital of New Zealand there's a buzz/energy to the place and lots of jobs available in that area.

Wellington isn't a bad choice.  Nice suburbs are Khandallah, Hataitai, Mt Victoria, Oriental Bay.  Why doesn't your fiance want to go back to Auckland?  Other smaller cities are Tauranga, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, Napier - all on the coast.

Answer 7

Wellington is a great place, always something to see and do. They do have earthquakes but hardly ever any that cause damage or anything. It is very windy there though and gets quite grey and horrible in winter. Can be quite expensive to live there. Depends what sort of lifestyle you lead.

Answer 8

Wellington has never had a bad earth tremor.It does get very windy at times. But as far a cities go in New Zealand, it is far nicer than Auckland. The New Zealand way of life is far more laid back than other cities in the world. I don't know  about your part of the world.I live in Napier which is a city which does have bad tremors at times. But I have lived here for 43years. I am still alive and kicking. I lived in Wellington for a short time. I loved it.There isn't any risk in your living there.Plus the weather is good. You can so many things there to.I think you'll like it. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Well yes there are earthquakes in Wellington....but there is also a better chance of a volcano erupting on the main street in Auckland than of you winning Lotto!!!

I live in Marlborough...just across the strait from Wellington...we also get a few earthqukes....I have been in a couple of larger ones when I was living further south too...

You kind of get used to them on the whole.

You can look at this website which is an excellent one in general on New Zealand, but also this one of natural disasters. Its like anywhere, but take heart in the fact that New Zealand has some of the most stringent building standards in the world as a result of earthquake risk.

Wellington is general would be ok...I guess the weather is not up to the standards of Malrborough...you would thing being so close you would have similar weather, but its not known for being windy Wellington for nothing....but on nice days, its a stunner.....fantastic views of the harbour.

As its a main centre there is more access to shopping, entertainment etc.  I have never lived in Welly but visitedonly really.  I like Christchuch better (altho its colder in the winter!) but thats my opinion.

Answer 10

Hi, we live in New Plymouth (West coast - NI) after emigrating from the UK 3 years ago - my daughter is at Uni in Wellington and we visit often, it is a great city - very friendly and the nightlife is superb. We are currently looking at moving closer ourselves - yes it is windy, but the pro's far outweigh the cons. I can understand why you wouldn't want to move to Auckland.