It was the rain and the humidity. Auckland seems to get more rain than much of the north island in the winter. Coupled with very few living situations having central heating and poor insulation; it can really wear on you. Hamilton was becoming very appealing from a weather and cost of living standpoint(it's also just nice down there too).

Constant weather is a bummer, but the cold and snow doesn't really bother me. As long as I can control the environment of my home without going broke from space heaters and dehumidifiers.

I have a very nuanced opinion of the life style :)I do miss the road trips and coffee. You're right about the opportunities; I may end up back in NZ some day when that's less of a concern.

> Constant weather is a bummer, but the cold and snow doesn't really bother me.

I might be misunderstanding what you're saying, but it doesn't snow in Auckland.

I've lived here in Auckland since 2010, being originally from the north of England. I am yet to see a 'winter' in Auckland. Every year it gets a bit more rainy in the winter months and the temperature drops to around 3 or 4C at night...that's it, it's still in double digits in the daytime. Although I am coming from a place where it rained all year and had snowy -10C winters. I remember not long after I arrived in NZ there was one freak weather day where there was sleet in the city for about 60 seconds and everyone lost their minds as it hadn't snowed in 50 years or something.....those who had never left the city were experiencing snow for the first time....it baffled me how much of a big deal it was. I haven't worn a coat for the past year and I've downgraded to one pair of jeans as I'm always in shorts and jandals. This place really is part of the 'winterless-north'.

I meant generally, in regards to the comment about places in the US having colder/wetter winters.

Perhaps they mean they wanted a more traditional winter than what Auckland offers?

I grew up there (and Christchurch) and remember being excited when their was a frost - it was the closest to snow we ever got.

It's an amazing place for sure but everytime I look at moving back to NZ I just get depressed about housing costs.

> everytime I look at moving back to NZ I just get depressed about housing costs.

How does it compare to bay area housing costs?

Probably comparable. I'm in Minnesota though where the cost of living is low but IT wages are relatively high.

I think Minnesota is underrated. Great place to live.

> I think Minnesota is underrated

Shh. The locals like it that way.

Apparently. The last few jobs I tried to get in the twin cities was met with resounding silence.

As a New Zealander, I can't afford a home in Auckland. I have 0 desire to ever move back to NZ.

If you can't afford a home in Auckland, you can't afford one in the bay area either.

Christchurch winters are rough because it is pretty humid there and most people don't have central heating. It isn't so cold temperature wise but It feels more cold in general than other places I have lived in The Rockies.

I live in Minnesota now. My wife was born and raised here but has spent a couple of winters in Christchurch. She has always maintained that a winter in Christchurch is worse in some ways that one in Minnesota because of how damp the cold is.

Of course winter is a shorter duration in Christchurch!