This weekend I'm going to a viewing for a seemingly really nice house in Ravensbourne right on the harbor. It's been renovated and it's double glazed. What is it like living there?

My husband drives but I would have to mostly take the bus to get to work in town (3 days a week) - I see that the number 14 goes by every half hour and the bus stop is right in front of the house. We're in our mid 30s and are planning to have a child in the next year. Would appreciate any advice!

Kia ora ki a r/dunedin!

A few months ago I made a post asking for advice about moving to Dunedin. I really appreciated all the thoughtful advice I received, so I thought I’d share an update.

I’m excited to say… I did it! I’ve moved! Still very early days but I am absolutely loving it - especially this storm and cold weather. Once the weather settles down and my finances have recovered from the move, I can’t wait to try all the wonderful food suggestions. The few things I’ve tried so far really are SO much better than anything I’d had in the North Island!

I just wanted to give you all a heartfelt thank you. I was feeling overwhelmed trying to make this big decision alone, and too scared of the unknown to even make a start on constructive steps in the decision making process, despite hating where I’d been for more than a decade. The information and kindness from you all really meant a lot, and helped so much with the anxiety I was experiencing. The people here really are so much kinder in general and Dunedin has such a nice vibe - a kind stranger even asked if I needed help while I was looking lost trying to figure out the bus hub! I have also already made a friend after just happening to sit next to them at a professional development event. This was definitely the right decision, and it wouldn’t have happened without the help of this sub.

Ka mihi maioha ki a koutou 🫶🏻

As an outsider I do wonder about that guy. Did you guys elect him? He appears to be very litigious, unhelpful and narcissistic. Will you vote him out? Edited to add Benedict not Benjamin.

Y'all weren't kidding. It's cold, and I know it's going to get a lot colder. I feel very unprepared for the winter, and I'd love your advice.

What are your essential cold-weather clothes (femme/women's), and where do you actually shop for decent quality at a reasonable price? I know I need a better coat and probably boots, but I'd love to hear what else I'm not thinking of.

Hi guys! I’m from Auckland and recently got a job offer in Dunedin. Just want to ask some few stuffs. How bad is winter in Dunedin? Should I buy winter boots …. or wearing shoes is okay? I’m really confused when I read some reviews coz some says “no need” but some says “there’s snow”.

Any helpful tips too when living in Dunedin would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Hi all,
I’ll be starting my study in I.T very soon however I wasn’t aware until now that they would need a second computer such as an old desktop with a hardrive to disassemble and assemble for a practical test. If there is anyone that can help me in any way who may have an old computer that they dont want anymore that fits the criteria I would be happy to take it, also if you have a second hand one for a low cost would be amazing too, thanks!

This time of year is a great time to pause and think "can I chop some trees to give my neighbours more light?".

Lots of Dunedin homes could do with more sun, and often people are too polite to ask for their neighbour to chop a tree or lower a hedge. So we just live in gloom.

Last year I chopped a tree on my relatively newly bought, sh***y first home, to give my elderly neighbour a whole heap more sun. It's been a game-changer for her. Then my neighbour on the other side said we could top his crazy-high hedge, giving me three more hours of sun in winter. What a legend.

Is there anything you can do to help your neighbours get more sun? We're all in this together, and the more considerate we are to eachother, the nicer this city becomes.

Sorry for the long post and to be a downbuzz and post something not really Dunedin centric but I’m at the end of my tether.

My long term relationship ended quite abruptly and traumatically recently. I thought this person was supposed to be “the one”, and I envisioned us growing old together.

They were all I wanted to put my heart and soul into.

The reason I posted this here is because Dunedin is so small that my work is connected to them and their friends, or colleagues, and so I have to professionally interact with people I kind of know but that definitely know them, and I keep running into my ex’s friends, or them and their new partner when I go out.

Everyone says to move on, to focus on myself or do things that make me feel joy and happiness, but without them; I don’t have any focus or anything I care about.

Nothing brings me joy anymore. Not even spending time with family - and that’s because my ex and I used to spend time with each of our families, and I just keep reminiscing about when they were with me and how much I love their family and miss them too.

I’ve lost all hope in life and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know who to reach out to or what to do with my time. I don’t have hobbies. I don’t have interests. I’ve lost the one meaningful thing I had in my life and now I’m alone, in Dunedin, where everyone I know knows my ex, or is connected to them in some way, and there’s a high chance of seeing them and their new partner down the street or at a bar because there are so few and far between, and I have no real passions or things that make me feel happy.

How do I break away from that in such a small town?

Is there anything in Dunedin that I could become part of that gives me purpose?

Where do I find clubs, or groups, or some sense of community here that might save me from what I’m going through?

And before you ask “what are your interests so we can suggest some clubs or groups for you to get in touch with?” the answer is that there aren’t many. As I said; my life and soul was dedicated to my ex. I didn’t have any interests other than spending time and enjoying myself with them.

I go to work, I come home, I lie on the couch, sometimes I’ll go for a run or to the gym, but mostly I just corner myself in my apartment and go to sleep and wake up and go back to work. Rinse, repeat. I have nothing to do. I have nothing that interests me.

I just need help, but Dunedin is so fucken small and I can’t move on when every aspect of my life somehow connects to them, and that I never seem to have had my own sense of identity or place here without them anyway.

Does Dunedin have anything to offer for a single, traumatised, lonely and isolated person in their 30s?

I don’t know why I’ve posted this here. I guess I just have nothing left to lose anymore, and I don’t have any other community to reach out to, and the anonymity feels like a protective barrier.

Sorry.

I'm considering Jane Robinson and Marla Dickinson. Originally my choice would have been Gina Glass, Marla's practice partner, but she isn't available for my due date.

Please share your experience, it would be really helpful!

need help finding a psychologist who won't take me for $2000

Did a quick milk & bread run at Pak'n'Save on the way home from work this evening and noticed heaps of the shelves, especially canned stuff seemed to be a bit empty.

I am really anxious in general but I've been trying to stay calm and not stress out. And I'm trying not to panic and hoard (I didn't during covid and was fine but that's because I did after the CHCH Earthquake's and had to get a little bit of professional help to settle down)

Basically what I'm asking is, should I actually do a bulk shop or should I just keep my head in the sand and continue as I am? (Doing a weekly shop with an occasional milk& bread run?)

Hello all

I have a job offer that would require relocation to Dunedin and just wanted to get a feel for the place-

I am a 38yo father of 2 boys (7 and 3) who live in the bushy reas of rural victoria, so the outdoors and nature around Dunedin look super appealing. My wife works in health which I believe is a fairly big industry in Dunedin also?

I guess i would like any advice/wisdom from people who have relocated, what they love, what they miss etc, also any info on schools etc, my eldest boy is quite autistic so any information about what kind of support is available for that in NZ would be good (in Australia we have the NDIS which subsides some speech/OT/physchology for him which has made huge improvements in our family life). What to expext etc.

I am hoping i can take the job based where i am for a while, maybe do some trips to Dunedin to scope it out but I would love any info from other young familes who have moved there (especially from Aus it would be good to hear about the good and bad differences)

Cheers all!

Hi everyone 👋

We’re moving to Dunedin soon with our baby and are trying to decide which suburb would be best for our family. We’d love local advice — especially around sun, warmth and dampness.

Our priorities:

• Good sunlight (to help reduce damp/mould)

• Warm and reasonably sheltered (not freezing or extremely windy)

• Safe and family-friendly

• Reasonable commute to the city

We’ve applied for places in:

• Mornington

• Kaikorai

• Roslyn (seems great but a bit expensive for us)

• North East Valley

• Pine Hill (we like few properties but worried it may be colder/windier?)

• City Centre (more snug-fit but affordable options but concerned about damp/lack of sun)

• Mosgiel/Abbotsford (nice options but unsure if public transport is reliable)

• St Kilda / St Clair / Andersons Bay (love the idea, but are they colder or damp?)

We’ve heard some areas of Dunedin can be quite damp depending on aspect and elevation. Our main concern is mould, especially with a baby.

For those living in shadier or damper areas:

• Are moisture control systems (uHRV/DVS/positive pressure ventilation or dehumidifiers) actually effective long-term?

• Or is natural sunlight still the biggest factor in keeping houses dry and mould-h?

Would really appreciate honest opinions/experiences.

Thanks so much!

I'm an Otago alumni who got burnt by a couple of bad flats so decided to build something to help future students before they sign.

It's called Flatchat (flatchat.co.nz). It has:
- 2,500+ tenant reviews across Dunedin properties
- Average rent, ratings, and warmth scores by suburb (flatchat.co.nz/dunedin)
- Property pages with rent history so you can see how prices have changed

Would genuinely love some feedback from anyone, good or bad. And if you've lived somewhere memorable in Dunedin, leaving a review helps the next person avoid your mistakes.

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read.

I am an American midwesterner who might be moving to Dunedin soon. This city in particular caught my eye thanks to the cold weather alongside nature and research being within reach of the city. I've been trying to do my basic research on Aotearoa and the Dunedin area, but I could always use helps to fill in the gaps.

What kind of culture shock should I be expecting, comparing USA Midwestern / South Aotearoa cultures? How is the work culture specifically? Are there any social differences or specific manners I should keep in mind?

It may also be important to know that I am somewhat of a quiet, anxious shut-in. Working on improving that, but specific tips and thoughts about the communities in Dunedin could give me an extra leg up.

Is there anywhere in Dunedin that you can hire people to come and help dig some land for you? I'm trying to build a studio and I can't get a digger onto the land. I've carved it all out of the clay, but I'm struggling to actually move the clay away from the building site.

I checked with some gardeners but they were wanting around $70 to $110 per hour, which is more than I can currently afford. I figured manual labour would be more expensive than minimum wage but I don't know what to expect.

Any help or ideas gratefully received!

Dunedin is awesome. I do have a soft spot for it because I studied here and have some close family here. But I've now lived in a few places around the world (and had some kids along the way) but I still really enjoy coming back to Dunedin for holidays. Here are some highlights from our trip (this'll be particularly useful to people with small children!)

- The Botanical Gardens. The playground is awesome. The toddlers loved the train. Feeding the ducks is great. And Beam Me Up bagels is literally across the road and absolutely slaps.
- Waldronville/Ocean View/Brighton beaches. Ocean View we found best for swimming, although Brighton was the only beach with lifeguards. White sand, beautiful surf, lovely.
- The Esplanade. A nice place to have a beer while watching the swimmers/surfers brave the cold water.
- The Farmer's Market. Holy shit this is one of the best markets in NZ. Actual farmers! Incredible produce! We ate stuff we never get in Wellington, like pluots and white cherries, plus went nuts on insanely big blueberries and incredible crepes and it was all just pretty dreamy. Loads of live music for the littles to jive to while you drink your very good coffee too.
- BIG LIZARD. Good lord Dunedin, you are lucky to have this place. The cardamom pull-apart is INSANE, and don't even get me started on the strawberry custard tart.
- The op shopping! Special mention to the big op shop on Vogel Street - cool stuff and some of the loveliest staff ever.
- The kids science-y part of the Otago Museum, and the Butterfly enclosure - had the kids in awe, even if we were sweating our tits off in there.
- MacAndrew Bay playground is worth the drive, and you might as well keep going up to Larnach Castle/the penguins etc if you have the time/means/inclination.

We also spent a tonne of time in the garden and local parks and walking through the university grounds. It helped that the weather was beautiful pretty much the whole time. But yeah, Dunedin is awesome.

I'm new to Dunedin and looking for advice on the barbers with the best beard shaping/management skills set. Who is the best beard barber in Dudders?

Hi everyone. I am on a working holiday visa in NZ. Loving it so far. Currently I’m on my own, but my girlfriend will join me in November. I’m living on North Island currently.

Myself and herself are trying to choose places to live on the South Island, and we’re considering Dunners. She doesn’t drive, I do. What is the job market like in Dunedin? I have experience in logistics and supply chain and plenty of retail experience , but I suppose I will take what I can get; if needs be. She will likely be looking for hospo work.

Is the rental market / quality of the houses really that bad? I am reading that houses can be cold, damp etc.

For context, I was looking at CHCH also. I do prefer access to nature over city living. Im also definitely not the “Ford Ranger big gaff” type. I like a laidback atmosphere and friendly people who I can get to know. Herself is not impressed with the somewhat racist reputation(?) of Christchurch.

Would you recommend Dunedin to live for a few months or a year? Apologies if this has been posted a billion times already. Thanks.

Would you like to see Polyphia come to New Zealand?

I’m trying to find out how much interest there is in getting Polyphia to come to NZ for a show!

If you’d be interested in seeing them live, please take a moment to fill out the form. Every response helps show there’s a demand for a NZ show.

Please fill out the form and share it with anyone else who might be interested!

Thanks so much for helping make this possible!

hi there! i was just wondering what self-defence weapon i could own in NZ and where to purchase them in Dunedin. i noticed that a guy had been standing in front of my window at night, trying to peek inside my room and sometimes knocking on my windows, too.

as a woman with a small stature, i feel the need to have something that could make me feel safer, especially since i have to walk to uni which is a bit far from my flat. i know that i sound paranoid but i am really scared for my safety — so if anyone could give me advice on this, it would be very much appreciated. thank you in advance and hope you all have a lovely day! 🙇🏻‍♀️

EDIT/UPDATE: thank you so much for all the advice and suggestions 🙇🏻‍♀️ i'm heading to the Campus Cop today to report the issue and seek further assistance. after more thought and your advice, if this happens again, i'll call the campus watch/police. i won't try to fight and just run instead as he’s much bigger than i am so i don’t think i’ll stand a chance. i'm also getting a personal alarm to carry everywhere. again, thanks a ton for the input 🙇🏻‍♀️

Hi everyone, today is the last day to enrol to vote this year, since the government changed the rules and removed the ability to enrol up to and including election day!

Here’s a collection of useful tools in the post link to help with voting and deciding which parties align with your values and interests and those you care about.

Hey Dunedin!

We're Tablecraft Games, a small independent board game studio based in Queenstown, and we're putting out an open call for playtesters for our latest game, Yáng, this Labour Weekend!

If you find yourself in Queenstown this long weekend and are into D&D, tabletop RPGs, board games, or just enjoy a bit of fantasy and storytelling, we'd love to have you join us.

Yáng is a cooperative fantasy adventure about a flock of wandering, sheep-like spirits searching for a promised land. The game combines exploration, roleplaying, storytelling and a little strategy. It's still in development, so we're inviting people to come along, try it out and help us shape the game before it's release.

We're hosting the playtest at Gantley's Tavern in Arthur's Point on Saturday 24 October, from 4:30pm.

As usual, there'll be prizes, a generous grazing table for everyone taking part, and a chance to meet some fellow tabletop enthusiasts from around the region.

You don't need any previous experience, just a willingness to give something new a go!

More details and tickets:

https://events.humanitix.com/tablecraft-games-playtest-yang

If you have any questions about the event or more generally, fire away! If you know anyone who might be interested, send it around.

Would love to see a few people from Dunedin make it along!

Hi

Im after any ideas or recommendations for getting a POA set up. Im on a pension with community services card.

Very limited funds.

I need it done as I have no one who could act on my behalf if something happens to me.

Very grateful for any help.

Thanks heaps

Hi,

Update: Thanks everyone for the advice, I have again decided to stick with decision of keeping him inside. I am getting him a cat tree and gonna make him some toys and stuff to play with. Gonna keep going with the harness training, until I have enough to make or buy a catio for him. Thanks for everyone's input, my friends and family keep telling me to just let him outside and it always makes me feel conflicted about whether I'm doing the right thing keeping him inside. So thank you again for your words 😊

I'm sorry if this isn't the right page post this, I've tried searching for a page, but I can't seem to find one that doesn't involve buying or selling. I am just wondering if anyone has any experience letting their ragdoll cat (1 and 8 months old) outside in Mornington? It's been about 7 months since he's lived in this house. But I am just wary since most searches indicate that I shouldn't let him outside. But is Mornington a relatively safe neighbourhood to let him be an outside cat?

Again sorry if this isn't the right page, if someone knows of a page where I can ask it would be most appreciated. I am just terrified that he will be taken, become lost or be hurt if he's let out. However it is becoming harder to leave him inside since he spent the first part of his life being an outside cat before we moved. Any advice would be deeply appreciated even if it's just to direct me to the right place to ask this question.