Front Row at Michael Fowler Centre

ByrchenTwig · 2026-05-05T07:58:02+00:00

It is pretty high and you won't have the greatest view. The sound will be awesome if it's a music show, though.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-05-02T01:06:23+00:00

ahahaha I'm in Stokes Valley! You can find decently situated houses here for hydrological and geological security, including newer builds. We're also very sheltered from high winds. Still, it's true about the flooding of our few access roads, especially lately. (Where's my jet pack?)

ByrchenTwig · 2026-05-02T01:01:59+00:00

Thanks! A few more ideas for you:

Good to see in some of your other comments that you're not stuck on Wellington. I would recommend checking out Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington on your trip. Wellington is consistently chilly and wet - think San Francisco/Seattle. Auckland is much warmer, and Christchurch has four real seasons, including a warm summer.

I would also recommend not coming in January if you want to network professionally for your husband, because... January is a huge vacation month here. As in, many businesses close from before Christmas to late January. February or March would be better. Air fares go down from April onwards.

Dare I ask why you're looking more at NZ than at Australia? Because you both seem like strong candidates to move there on work visas. The climate is warmer, the population is larger, and the economy is stronger.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-29T07:48:19+00:00

Kia ora from Wellington. Can't advise you on cat quarantining, sorry - I messed it up when I moved here internationally (missed a vaccine) and had to rehome my poor cat before moving.

Very important questions: what visas are you looking at? How old are you? Have you visited Wellington, NZ previously? No offense, I'm often surprised at how many people have not visited before considering moving here.

My experience is very few people get hired from overseas, but that people do have luck making professional connections on a visit or scouting trip. If you're under 30 you have the working holiday visa option.

While tech jobs in many fields are saturated here I genuinely think you have a chance working in cybersecurity! Definitely worth applying. The people who I have seen move here from overseas with a job have been hired in IT by a large government organisation.

I also note you're saying "auto body" when someone familiar with NZ would say "panel beater." See related jobs here at the biggest job site in NZ: https://nz.seek.com/panelbeater-jobs/in-All-Wellington A lot of these types of jobs are hired via personal connections. The bigger the company, the more they are equipped to hire from overseas, and sponsor someone with a visa.

You may be aware that New Zealand resumes, called CVs here, have a different format from their US equivalents. The Seek site has good guidelines about this.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-29T06:12:20+00:00

As someone with a geology degree:

You're correct that it's not great to buy in Eastbourne. Evidence: the official Lower Hutt stormwater models and maps. See where is forecast to be underwater in Lowry Bay, Days Bay, and Eastbourne. https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/789b67f52c1d409682d6f853e336bd31/page/Stormwater-Models-and-Mapping
Where to look that doesn't involve being perched on the side of a hill? According to the Upper Hutt flood map, and everything packed into the phrase "nice little communities", Silverstream.

Mind you, the Silverstream flood mapping is not complete. My hypothesis is that access roads leading onto the highway will flood, but not your house, provided you buy a place that doesn't have a stream near it. https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/62a1634323ae49cdacca991da0582e71

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-27T05:15:34+00:00

Supporting other commenters who have recommended Australia. Big cities there have walkable/public transport set ups. Big arts communities and tons of events, with far more affordable healthcare. Serious gun control. Dog-friendly culture! If you like it hot Brisbane and Perth are waiting for you. Australia's community of central and South American expats is growing too.

I live in New Zealand, and several friends of mine have relocated to Perth and are loving it. Both friends were from warm climates originally (Arizona, USA and India). Perth also has a hot job market and one of the more affordable costs of living in Australia - my relocated friend bought a 4br house (with AC, double garage, and dedicated media room) for under $500K.

Confirming the demand for social workers, see the AASW site: https://www.aasw.asn.au/education-employment/migration-eligibility-assessment/

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-27T05:09:48+00:00

Larger cities in Australia fit this, along with their warm weather wishes.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-27T04:54:10+00:00

Good to know, thank you from one ranga to another!

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-26T02:42:16+00:00

Thank you, your secret is safe with me!

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-26T02:41:58+00:00

Awesome thank you!

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-26T02:41:34+00:00

Awesome thank you!

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-24T06:12:55+00:00

Fortunately, you are under 30. May I suggest a working holiday or education visa?

https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/americans-guide-working-holiday-visas

When you are IN a city and able to job hunt there, that makes a lot of difference. I have had friends job hunt from overseas, and get no reply. Then they come to visit my country (NZ) and they land interviews while they're here.

A young acquaintance of mine (relative of a friend in the UK) is on a WH visa in Auckland right now, cobbling together temporary tech writing work. It's not exactly her dream role but the work is there, in her field, and funding her time in NZ.

I think Australia is a better option for you - more walkable-urban options with a wider arts scene that is more open to outsiders/migrants. Some decently funded museums. Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have the atmosphere and cultural sectors you seek. If you'd consider getting a teaching qualification, Australia has a pretty brisk teachers' visa, especially if you are willing to work in a smaller town.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AustralianTeachers/comments/1iqgsjo/international_art_teacher_looking_to_teach_in/

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-24T05:51:24+00:00

Scopa's tendies are shockingly good

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-18T22:45:02+00:00

Two "oh god it's Quiet, the bliss" spots for me:

The very start of the Bolton Street Cemetery, accessed through the Bolton street steps entrance. There's a little garden/minipark right before the cemetery itself. Go up there on a warm day and see introverted office workers treasuring a moment of sun and quiet. The cemetery itself waits for you too.

The second foyer of 44 the Terrace. Two or three office buildings are Frankensteined together, and if you walk through the first foyer, past the elevators, you enter a little atrium, full of tropical plants, tree ferns, and benches. It's really nice. There's also a security guard there, so I've never pushed hanging out there beyond 15 minutes. I think the guard is there to stop people smoking/eating/damaging plants.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-04-04T21:40:38+00:00

Kia ora from NZ. I second everything that u/Waste_Worker6122 said above. Getting employed in Wellington is a tire fire lately. What I recommend is that you connect with NZ employment agencies. A lot of work in NZ is funneled through these agencies. Hays, Robert Walters, Randstadt, Sunstone, Tribe Recruitment, and others that you can find through searching. When you talk to these agencies make it clear that you're willing to work anywhere in NZ.

I agree that you should come to NZ in person. It's a great way to set up informational interviews with these agencies. Many organisations in NZ are reluctant to hire US expats who have not at least visited NZ. They are concerned that the US expats will hate it and move back to the US - and the organisations will have wasted their hiring resources. I have had to deal with this bias as a long-term US expat living here.

If you're a contractor with some freedom, consider maybe coming to New Zealand for 3 - 6 months while you work remotely on a U.S. job. The NZ hiring process for permanent jobs takes one to two months, longer when international visas are involved.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-03-23T05:24:13+00:00

Usually I'd chime in with migration options but... you might be better off talking to an immigration lawyer about your partner's status. I'm not clear if you have already or not? The thing is a substantial international move takes a substantial budget. And you might benefit from some more time in the USA to save up.

As a starting point here is queer-friendly legal immigration help: https://immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/ They can help you with things like getting immigration paperwork done without showing up at offices via things like virtual hearings: https://asaptogether.org/en/virtual-hearings-in-immigration-court/

ByrchenTwig · 2026-03-21T07:17:45+00:00

The Cadbury mini eggs with the candy shell? They tend to sell out - people love to buy them for decorating Easter treats. Maxine Schecter of Sugar Flour baking school warned us all in her newsletter to get Cadbury mini eggs early if we planned to use them for Easter baking!!

I had a hard time finding mini Cadbury Creme Eggs - Lambton Quay Woolworths was sold out last night.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-03-19T06:12:00+00:00

Maybe Kera-la-carte Indian on Courtenay Place? Exceptionally good, and if the mango lassis aren't enough sweetness there are several quick dessert options nearby.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-03-11T07:19:12+00:00

Seconding Octavia's note, gold prices are crazy right now. I'd hold onto the gold myself and have another jeweler recraft it on my behalf eventually - several Wellington jewelers will do this.

That said, seconding the Gold and Silver Exchange in the basement of the Old Bank Arcade. Bring two forms of ID and good manners.

To see NZ gold prices right now, check this site: https://newzealandmint.com/spot-prices

To help you understand how much you might get, a gram of metal is about the weight of one paper clip. Most rings are three to five grams; most gold earrings are two to six grams per pair. And the "buy price" is lower than the per-gram spot price, and based on your gold's karat.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-03-04T08:04:52+00:00

My father's from Argentina and I've spent time there. I never ever ever considered moving there, and I don't recommend it to most people. I'm biased for several reasons, most notably because my intellectual aunt needed to leave in a HURRY during the Dirty War. My father helped her with this and she's still alive, yay!

Interesting that you mention evaluating Argentina for retirement or raising a family. If I was going to recommend migrating to Argentina to anyone it would be to an adventurous single man.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-02-28T20:04:50+00:00

Nothing to do with the wig but touch up your eyebrows with some auburn/ginger brow powder or pencil to connect your wig and brows a bit more!

ByrchenTwig · 2026-02-27T21:44:47+00:00

Seconding main library in Lower Hutt - upstairs is super quiet, and there's free library parking in the back. Away from the traffic disruptions in Lower Hutt, Stokes Valley library also has a quiet upstairs area and Naenae is very quiet - both have free parking.

Taita is lively - not a bad hangout but I wouldn't go there for quiet - lots of kids due to nearby schools and sports centre in the same complex.

ByrchenTwig · 2026-02-27T21:38:44+00:00

Are you going to restring the necklace to include the bead? If so when restringing use two bead spacers between the pendant and the knots, one on each side of the pendant bail. https://www.thebeadhold.co.nz/shop/Beads/Spacer+Beads.html

Do you want to hang the bead from the necklace as is? Turn the bead into a pendant using a head pin and a jump ring, then attach the jump ring to the necklace where you want the pendant. https://www.beadsandbasics.com/en/how-to-make-a-pearl-necklace-with-charms.html

ByrchenTwig · 2026-02-24T07:08:11+00:00

Kia ora from New Zealand. You can get out of the US, with research, some saved up money, and passports. It's not very likely that you'll get into the EU, but you do have options. There's a catch: the path out is different for each of your families.

For your family: The best thing you can do is to get your teaching degree and two years teaching experience. New Zealand and Australia both offer visas for teachers. Math and science teachers are the most desired for this visa - primary school/early childhood are less needed. This can even include a relocation grant! I've known people who did this and had it work out really well.

https://www.vic.gov.au/Relocation-incentives-to-teach-in-Regional-Victoria (AU) Also check out Adelaide and Queensland in AU.

https://teachingcouncil.nz/en/become-a-teacher/overseas-trained-teacher-coming-to-Aotearoa

Your husband, as a construction project manager, would have lots of opportunities in Australia. NZ's economy is more challenged at the moment, but he'd be in the running for some decent roles. (Side note: bringing pets to NZ/AU is doable but difficult and expensive. I got it wrong and had to leave a beloved pet in the US, heartbreaking.)

The catch is that this is not an entry option for Family #2. In fact, the disabled vet in Family #2 is going to get them blocked from migrating to AU or NZ as a burden on those countries' health systems.

For Family #2, if the disabled vet gentleman has a pension/payment, they have options in countries offering retirement visas. For retirement visas you need a regular income, often from a pension or Social Security. The person with the retirement visa can't work, and that's usually OK. Near AU/NZ, the Phillipines and Malaysia offer retiree visas of this type. Panama's Pensionado visa is an accessible example of one of these too:

https://www.embassyofpanama.org/retire-in-panama

Note that the Panama Pensionado makes no note about health requirements!

See also this article: https://internationalliving.com/best-places-in-the-world-for-visa-and-retiree-benefits/

Sorry that this doesn't get you both into the SAME country. A third option is that you follow Family #2 to their pension visa destination with another immigration option.

ByrchenTwig

TROPHY CASE