emmigrating to New Zealand

[Marksteamnz]

Had to smile about that one!
I hate rugby and fishing as well. I'm living in a very small town in Northland, Waipu which should be insular as they are big on which Scottish line you came from plus I'd prefer be in Auckland (I'm a city boy). We don't have kids so there is no automatic in to the community.
So I've MADE AN EFFORT and put my hand up and been really welcomed. Back stage for a wearable art show. Part of the crowd for the Pagent (see country calender this weekend) Met people who made in Waipu the emergency backup for James Cameron's Submersible trip to challenger deep. Linked up with Whangarei steampunks so I can weird out every week, etc etc. Most of the people I have had casual conversations with here have travelled.

The theme from those who have commented is you might want to look at your attitude and effort

[quote=REMF]

Kiwi civil society is impenetrable, ask yourself why most immigrant communities in NZ are drawn to one another? It's like that everywhere though as a rule but the size of NZ's population makes it all the more noticeable though. If my Gran didn't go to kindy with your Gran then I'm not worthy of interaction with. My kids were in school here, that made it easier but I found I had nothing in common with the average Kiwi who's never been anywhere or fine anything, I hate rugby, I don't like fishing and I don't own a boat, end of conversation with most other Kiwi males.

[Caractacus]

GravelBen said:

REMF said:

How about robust debate instead of flaming?

Yes, how about it? Seeing as you've shown minimal interest in acknowledging or discussing any views other than your own, it didn't seem worth the effort of writing another intelligent response for you to ignore.

Apparently all you're here for (with 24 or your total 40 posts on PH) is to repeatedly spout the same verbiage with the sole intention of starting arguments, and to be honest I can't be bothered with it.

Grow up, GB.

I support the fella's posts and I'm an expat living in the UK. Admittedly I'm not in a population centre, but I love it here and could never, ever, live back in NZ. REMF has hit the nail on the head so many times there's very little nail left to hit.

[GravelBen]

Marksteamnz said:

I'm living in a very small town in Northland, Waipu which should be insular..

Change Northland to Southland and you've got my town as well!

Marksteamnz said:

So I've MADE AN EFFORT and put my hand up and been really welcomed.

Same here. Get involved, play sport (not rugby in my case though I don't mind it), basically just engage with people. Small town and farming folk are generally friendly and down to earth, but have little patience for pretentious 'superior' types.

My brother has recently moved to a lifetyle block on the edge of a small Canterbury town, a big change for a city-dwelling programmer who thinks of himself as a progressive, cultured intellectual. Interestingly enough it was travelling around UK, Europe etc that seemed to motivate him to leave the city life and move to a rural area.

Farming neighbours have welcomed him with open arms because he's willing to talk, relate, learn and get involved - except for the ex-pat brits across the road, but apparently they have no interest in being part of the community and don't talk to anybody else either. Life is what you make it.

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 9th May 02:07

[Steve*B]

Caractacus said:

love it here and could never, ever, live back in NZ.

This makes me happy.

Now for everyone else who is pro NZ, shhh.....you might just start convincing people and we wouldn't want that would we

[GravelBen]

Steve*B said:

Now for everyone else who is pro NZ, shhh.....you might just start convincing people and we wouldn't want that would we

Valid point sir, valid point.

[NNK]

Marksteamnz said:

. I'm living in a very small town in Northland, Waipu

I have only been there once but regularly deal with a company there, great people and excellent quality.
NSP (Northern Steel Products)if anyone ever requires excavator buckets, hitches, etc.

[Caractacus]

Steve*B said:

Caractacus said:

love it here and could never, ever, live back in NZ.

This makes me happy.

Now for everyone else who is pro NZ, shhh.....you might just start convincing people and we wouldn't want that would we

NZ has am immigration problem, mainly in the NI...just wait, it'll get down south, too. NZ is a dead end backwater of a place, or at least it is when you've actually had an opportunity to open your eyes to what's available elsewhere. By all means, do stay there.

[CR6ZZ]

Caractacus said:

NZ has am immigration problem, mainly in the NI...just wait, it'll get down south, too. NZ is a dead end backwater of a place, or at least it is when you've actually had an opportunity to open your eyes to what's available elsewhere. By all means, do stay there.

It really depends on whether or not you find what is available elsewhere appealing Caractacus. I've been all over (Europe, Asia, the Pacific, Oz and the US) and have lived for a time overseas, and personally, I'd much rather live here in NZ than anywhere else I have been. I love traveling to experience other cultures, soak up history, enjoy new scenery and experiences, lap up cultural pursuits not available here, but it is always a joy to come home. Each to their own I guess.

[GravelBen]

Caractacus said:

NZ has am immigration problem, mainly in the NI...just wait, it'll get down south, too. NZ is a dead end backwater of a place, or at least it is when you've actually had an opportunity to open your eyes to what's available elsewhere.

So its a dead end backwater, which is why enough people want to move there to give it an immigration problem?

While I make no claims as to being well travelled (so far) myself, like CR6ZZ plenty of my friends have travelled and lived in other countries quite extensively and the majority of them (80-90% at a guess) were more than happy to return to NZ afterwards, or are planning to once they save x amount of money from their mining/oil etc jobs in Aus.

You prefer things where you are and thats great for you, but don't assume that everybody shares your preferences.

[uncinqsix]

GravelBen said:

So its a dead end backwater, which is why enough people want to move there to give it an immigration problem?

And what is going to stop the place being a dead end backwater? Immigration.

[REMF]

GravelBen said:

So its a dead end backwater, which is why enough people want to move there to give it an immigration problem?

While I make no claims as to being well travelled (so far) myself, like CR6ZZ plenty of my friends have travelled and lived in other countries quite extensively and the majority of them (80-90% at a guess) were more than happy to return to NZ afterwards, or are planning to once they save x amount of money from their mining/oil etc jobs in Aus.

You prefer things where you are and thats great for you, but don't assume that everybody shares your preferences.

If you come from China, India, or other such places, then it's probably a nice place to live. People from more traditional Western countries came because the exchange rate allowed them to purchase a lifestyle, that just isn't the case now. Emigration from these countries has accordingly dropped off. From my own point of view, for someone to think NZ is a good place to live only highlights how bad where they are originally from is. And do you know what, everything that's preposterous about your position is there in your post, 'I make no claims about being well travelled.'

Are you seriously suggesting that because you know a few people who come back (which is entirely normal if most of your family are still here) that any opposing view of why this isn't a nice place to live is suddenly invalid?

Mate, seriously!

[REMF]

uncinqsix said:

And what is going to stop the place being a dead end backwater? Immigration.

Indeed, one still needs skills to emigrate here because all those locals, with the skills, emigrated somewhere else themselves!

Frankly, the best thing for NZ would be to flood the place with over qualified Asian worker drones and monied Europeans, Asian work ethic, European enlightenment!

[uncinqsix]

REMF said:

Are you seriously suggesting that because you know a few people who come back (which is entirely normal if most of your family are still here) that any opposing view of why this isn't a nice place to live is suddenly invalid?

Mate, seriously!

Pot. Kettle. Black.

[GravelBen]

REMF said:

From my own point of view, for someone to think NZ is a good place to live only highlights how bad where they are originally from is.

Guess that says something about the UK then given how many ex-pat Brits I know who love NZ and have no interest in returning to the UK (despite still having family over there).

REMF said:

Are you seriously suggesting that because you know a few people who come back (which is entirely normal if most of your family are still here) that any opposing view of why this isn't a nice place to live is suddenly invalid?

More than just a few, I also know what they said about why they came back, how they found the various places they lived/visited, and so on. I find it hilarious that you seem to think I should regard your opinion as carrying more weight than people I've known and respected for years, for all I know you might just be a sad attention-seeking 14 year old who's never even been to NZ and has been gathering arguments from trawling news websites.

And I'm not suggesting that any opposing view is invalid (though I think some of your arguments are), but I am suggesting that you fail to understand the difference between you personally not being suited to a place and that place being bad in some fundamental absolute way.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 10th May 07:03

[WhereamI]

This is a bizarre thread.

People are different, they like different things.

Some people like what New Zealand offers, others do not.

Personally it's not a place I'm going to go and live, but I know people there, and they like it.

The only valid point worth making is before anyone seriously considers moving anywhere they should spend time there and evaluate it carefully, don't leap in thinking that moving anywhere is a magic solution to all your problems. For some people it might be, for many it isn't.

[uncinqsix]

WhereamI said:

This is a bizarre thread.

People are different, they like different things.

Some people like what New Zealand offers, others do not.

Personally it's not a place I'm going to go and live, but I know people there, and they like it.

The only valid point worth making is before anyone seriously considers moving anywhere they should spend time there and evaluate it carefully, don't leap in thinking that moving anywhere is a magic solution to all your problems. For some people it might be, for many it isn't.

That's it in a nutshell, and IMO it's a good note to end the thread on.

[GravelBen]

WhereamI said:

This is a bizarre thread.

People are different, they like different things.

Some people like what New Zealand offers, others do not.

Personally it's not a place I'm going to go and live, but I know people there, and they like it.

The only valid point worth making is before anyone seriously considers moving anywhere they should spend time there and evaluate it carefully, don't leap in thinking that moving anywhere is a magic solution to all your problems. For some people it might be, for many it isn't.

Well put. I would add that if you're considering a place based on the opinions of others, make sure they are people who like the same sorts of places as you.

[Penguinracer]

Live wherever makes you happiest. Pursue a vocation you enjoy.

Be the change you want to see in others!

We all have the power to make our lives whatever we want them to be.

Happiness is the road, not the destination.

Success is getting what you want, contentment is being happy with what you've got.

Why spend time in a place which makes you unhappy - either change place or change the attitude your project.

A few simple observations which can help in finding some inner peace.

[REMF]

GravelBen said:

More than just a few, I also know what they said about why they came back, how they found the various places they lived/visited, and so on. I find it hilarious that you seem to think I should regard your opinion as carrying more weight than people I've known and respected for years, for all I know you might just be a sad attention-seeking 14 year old who's never even been to NZ and has been gathering arguments from trawling news websites.

And I'm not suggesting that any opposing view is invalid (though I think some of your arguments are), but I am suggesting that you fail to understand the difference between you personally not being suited to a place and that place being bad in some fundamental absolute way.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 10th May 07:03

Once again, rather than debate the POINT, you are insulting the man, what a shame that you've grown up in a society where you are conditioned to believe that this is a valid way to interact with your peers. I didn't need to be suited to the place, I simply worked here, I had no invention of settling here so I was able to look at it objectively. Your argument precludes the FACTS that there has been a mass exodus of Kiwis from New Zealand over the last 10 years, a MASS EXODUS. If its so good, why? There are one million Kiwis living offshore. That about 1 in 4 people, why?

The golden period of emigration for Brits is behind us, you need to wind your neck in now and accept that Brits came here ostensibly because of the exchange rate and the fact that cash could buy a perceived lifestyle, using your example, I know hundreds of cops, soldiers, sailors, civil servants who did it because they got $3 to the pound, they live here cheaply because they don't have a mortgage. It's really as simple as that but almost to a man/woman/child they hate it, the hate the stupidity of trying to reason with people like you, the red tape, the get fined for everything mentality, the workplace bullying, the racism and all the other things I've tried to raise in this thread, and you're still there waving your little flag for New Zealand, I don't object to your opinion but I do object to your attempts to lower it to your level of basic comprehension.

I don't care if you agree with me or not, you completely missed the point, and that's why it's funny to keep replying to you because you lack self awareness, seriously mate, go and get yourself a passport and see the world, you may even come back here one day (I'm off home on Wednesday, can't wait) but at least you'll come back with your eyes open and some of your aggression knocked out of you because you'll see the lie you've been fed for years for what it is.

I really didn't want to get into the politics of personalities because I don't want to insult you personally, so I'm going wish you well and agree to disagree. You agree that you are disagreeable, ok?

Lol.

Good luck to you!

Edited by REMF on Friday 10th May 19:05

[REMF]

uncinqsix said:

Pot. Kettle. Black.

Not at all.