Christchurch Advice

[boobee27]

Hi I am a mother of 3 - I am thinking about moving to Christchurch from the UK. Can you tell me anything about the lifestyle - are there many attachment style parents and groups?

I have a 5 year old and we are hoping for him to go to a democratic school. Presently we are homeschooling as there are no schools like that near us. I have seen that there are two democratic schools in or near Christchurch - primary Tamarkiri and Unlimited as a high school.

I want to train as a play therapist and do research in neuroscience and the limbic system - not sure if there are opportunities like that there?

it is difficult for me - but where we live now is safe in terms of there mot being the risks of eathquakes - but then there are a lot of social problems, and a real lack of social cohesion and community so we are living in a very busy area, but at the same time are very isolated, especially due to our parenting and lifestyle choices (I love the work of Pam Leo, RObin grille, Naomi Aldort, ken Robinson).

Would I encounter these issues in NZ?

And my husband seems to think there are "safer areas" in NZ in terms of earthquake preparedness, and that these eventualities can be prepared for?

Sorry if I offend anyone, I know if was an awful thing to happen to the people of Christchurch, but I need to ask these questions.

I have seen the area and it looks stunning - and the lifestyle I can see is much better than where we are - we love eco-living, growing our own fruit and veg, allotments, swimming in lakes and outside, walking, hiking, cycling - being with other oeople who also like to do these things - but in the UK this is a rare thing it seems. We don't watch TV, attachment parent, eat organic etc.

I have tried to set up lots of things - outside exercise groups, compassionate communication courses, mindful parenting courses, community groups for 0-12 years olds where everyone can learn with talks and craft sessions, coffee mornings etc but it doesn't take off due to lack of interest despite a lot of advertising - I think I am out of sync with current trends ;-(

[kiwimonkeys]

Hi,
Wow... a huge decision for you to make as a family !!

I can't help in terms of schools, or the area you wish to train in as I have no knowledge of either of those things.

However I am living here in Christchurch, with my 3 children and husband. We love it here (there is a TNP group based here, and a baby wearing group). But like everywhere I guess you'll find AP is more of the exception instead of the norm (sadly).

In terms of living in Christchurch and dealing with the earthquakes, you can be prepared, you can be sure your house is strong enough, and that you have all the provisions you would need to care for your family for at least 3 days if outside help was unable to get to you (or you to them).

There are places just outside of Christchurch like Rolleston, Pegasus etc which have a lesser risk of earthquakes (or at least seem to feel them less than us).

I will be honest tho, it is very emotionally and mentally draining living as we do atm, with the constant worry of 'another big one' just around the corner, even tho the experts say the risk is low, having lived through it you do still worry.

I do love Christchurch though, and as long as my children remain relatively unaffected by all the shakes, we will stay here!!

I hope this helps, please feel free to ask any other questions you may have, and I'll post a link to your post on the Canterbury TNP FB page.

[Lunachick]

Hi there
I'm a kiwi in the UK (Herts.) & my husbands visa application is with London House atm - we hope to be moving to Christchurch (Chch) in October if the application goes smoothly.
I went to uni at Lincoln, family a few hours drive south, don't want to be too far away from them & our second choice of school for our son (4 yrs) was a Montessori primary in Hamilton.

I've joined the TNP Canterbury page & the Chch BWing page, & I expect to get more active on those once we've got our air tickets booked. There's La Leche League groups in Chch so I figured that's another place I'll start finding like-minded friends. My uni friends still in Chch don't parent in the same way I have chosen.

I was in Oamaru when the Feb '11 quake hit, & was in Chch about a week later, supporting friends & the general support effort afterwards, though I haven't seen the central city.

I'd love to talk to you more so will try to pm you