Hmm, dental can be expensive (for adults, kids go free, except you have to pay for stuff like braces here, in Sweden they are free), but it is expensive in Sweden too, despite being social democracy and welfare territory. We didnä t find it cheaper there, actually. A visit to the Dr is about NZD50 (ca 37 USD) for us, I think, because we're in the one age group that isn't subsidised: parents. Middleaged people are subsidised, as are people in their twenties, kids and retires, so it is abut half price for them, less for kids, some drs treat the for free.
Naturopaths aren't subsidised, the one I went to (before DD was born) charged NZD80 for an initial visit, and NZD70 for subsequent ones. But as is quite common here she understood that we couldn't afford to pay for many visits, so after the initial one, she let me be in touch with her via e-mail, and she gave recommendations, answered questions etc., and I could ask her to order more of a supplement I'd run out of.
A lot of things are subsidised in various ways. You can get a community services card if you're income is very low, and then drs visits and plenty other stuff is heavily subsidised. And it isn't unusual that if you tell them you can't afford it, they may be able to arrange a lower fee, our play group teacher does, for example, and I know schools do too.
For humidity I'll have to ask my husband when he gets home. I think NZ is just quite a humid climate. But, on the other hand, I've been to Florida in winter, and it isn't anything like that, no oppressing, heavy air. The wind around here actually makes it better - even in mid-winter you can dry your clothes outside, if it isn't raining! The only ways you notice humidity is in houses that aren't well ventilated (especially closets and bathrooms) and warm. And I notice it because my straight hair gets flatter and heavier here.
Wellington is windy. If you go up into Wairarapa, and inland, there will be less wind. But they suffer from droughts on the other hand (and a lot of Wairarapa is defined between fashionable small-towns and down-and-out areas). Lots of vineyards. Kapiti coast, not sure if that is any less windy, possibly. It is usually slightly warmer.
Good and bad neighbour-hoods. Yes there are bad neighbourhoods, mostly in the Hutt and Porirua. (And up in Wairarapa). There are some areas that might be best to avoid, because they have a strong gang presence (crime, weapons and drugs). With schools it is very divided, a lot of schools have a high reputation, others have bad one, many are in-between. And some schools, especially primary schools, may be very low decile (government ranking, due to lots of immigrants, Maoris, low-income and low education parents), but be fantastic schools. I volunteered for several years at an inner city school that was like that. Though some "bad" areas are just areas with high unemployment, and not necessarily bad. You're welcome to ask me specifically if you have a look around, and wonder about a particular area, and I'll find out.
The teen I've met in the un-school group seemed to be the opposite to "full of testosterone", gentle boys who are happy to help my 3 yo on the Flying Fox, a bit shy some of them, and passionate about things like playing the violin. Generally in society, sport is big here, most families with school age kids seem to spend their weekends on the sports field. But schools also encourage non-sport ativities, cultural clubs, music, drama, and as far as I understand, it is fine to excel at that, not sport (as long as you support the NZ teams, especially against Aussie! - very important to NZ kids, I've found!)
