People & Places
Classic Christchurch
With ski fields down the road, beaches a ten minute drive away and “t-shirt weather” for eight months of the year, Christchurch is a world away from South London for the Bell family.
"Life is very different for us here," says Tammy Bell, mother of three and CEO of her very own company to help fellow Brits settle in New Zealand from her new home town of Christchurch, the biggest city on the South Island.
"We own a house, something we could never afford to do in London. We are all members of a tennis club – we are a lot more social here, there are always events of activities going on."
Tammy says Christchurch, where the Bells moved to in 2000, is "a fantastic place to follow your dreams" – like starting a business.
"Due to the population size there is more chance you will get somewhere or come up with an idea or product that doesn't exist in NZ," Tammy says.
The Bells, who lived in Orpington, Kent before making the big move Down Under, had never been to New Zealand before they arrived to start a new life.
Tammy says the family, which includes husband Mike and their children Emma and Natalie, both 16, and Rebekah aged 14, researched Christchurch on the Internet and thought it sounded like the right place for them.
Christchurch is on the Canterbury Plains on the South Island's east coast, bordered by the stunning Southern Alps to the west and the Pacific Ocean in the east. Christchurch is largely flat and has a distinctly English feel to it, mostly thanks to its gothic-style architecture and the Avon River which runs through the central city. The city is known as the Garden City for its many beautiful parks, reserves and other landscaped areas.
"We knew we wanted a city and also the South Island for its distinct seasons. I also had a Kiwi friend based in Christchurch that we met in London back in 1993," Tammy says.
"We love the location of the city and there is so much to do – you can never say you're bored here."
This includes skiing just an hour and a half away by car, the beautiful Banks Peninsula 15 minutes away, the city centre ten minutes away and a huge number of parks, leisure centres, clubs and activities including kids' holiday programmes.
Tammy says that despite the south being cooler than northern cities such as Auckland, the climate suits her fine.
"I love the frosty blue sky days of winter," Tammy says, adding that usually it doesn't rain much – though this year has been an exception as the South Island's east coast has suffered widespread flooding.
She has also learned to cook and shop according to seasonal produce supplies and absolutely loves having an entire beach to herself at times – basically she enjoys the slower pace of life in Christchurch which is surrounded by rich, fertile farmland.
"The weather is nicer for more of the year which means you can get out and do things – something we call T-shirt weather lasts about eight months."
Tammy has plenty of tips for people hoping to move to Christchurch and other places of New Zealand. She says it is important to integrate with New Zealanders: "Become Kiwi rather than staying as expats."
Tammy also advises that it's important to do something or go somewhere at least once a month to explore your new country which in a place like Christchurch is easy. Within a two-hour drive you can get to the hot springs of the alpine Hanmer Springs, go for a day of top-class skiing at Mt Hutt or go whale watching or swim with the dolphins in Kaikoura.
email: tammy@move2nz.com
web: www.move2nz.com