emmigrating to New Zealand

[Pothole]

grand cherokee said:

Pothole said:

t's also closer to North Korea.

i really fail to see the relevance of that comment?

you live in the UK anyway?

You appear to have cited it as a reason to move:

In the OP you said:

not forgetting Iran/North Korea

[vetrof]

Pothole said:

t's also closer to North Korea.

Seriously?

grand cherokee said:

i really fail to see the relevance of that comment?

Or the accuracy.

Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 12th March 12:21

[Pothole]

vetrof said:

Pothole said:

t's also closer to North Korea.

Seriously?

grand cherokee said:

i really fail to see the relevance of that comment?

Or the accuracy.

Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 12th March 12:21

Well you learn something every day. As you were, OP.

[vetrof]

Pothole said:

ell you learn something every day. As you were, OP.

Yep, that NZ really is a bloody long way from the rest of civilisation.

FWIW, I grew up in NZ (emigrated when I was young) and it really was a great place to grow up in the 80's. But I haven't lived there for over 20 years so probably can't comment on the current state of play.

I would probably still agree that for an outdoors, no-frills, plenty of space and fresh air lifestyle , it's probably hard to beat. But from discussions with a recently returned friend, it can be a hard transition back after living in European capital cities for a while. I think some of the negative comments here have some validity.

[REMF]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Why would you want to see out your dotage in the most boring country on earth?

Its basically a slightly up-market Wales - moderately attractive country-side, interspersed with small, ugly, dull towns full of backward, bigoted in-bred people who can't decide to use a first class stamp without state approval

Yes, this.

I've lived in NZ, the outdoor stuff is ok until you realise the sun will give you cancer in 4 minutes, the people are witless, humourless and dull conversationalists unless rugby is your thing. Casual racism abounds, alcohol and family violence issues are common occurrences, there is no intellectualism, no culture unless the regularly whipped out Haka floats your boat, the driving there is appalling and the politicians seem intent on flogging all the family silver. It's expensive, houses are crap and there's no infrastructure. It's third world compared to many other alleged first world countries.

Avoid.

I hated it.

[uncinqsix]

REMF said:

the people are witless, humourless and dull conversationalists unless rugby is your thing. Casual racism abounds, alcohol and family violence issues are common occurrences, there is no intellectualism, no culture unless the regularly whipped out Haka floats your boat,

Yeah, you're right. EVERYBODY in NZ is exactly like that



Just substitute the words "Rugby" with "Football" and "Haka" with "TOWIE" and that would apply equally as well to your average industrial town in the UK. However, most people would be intelligent enough not to assume that was representative of the entire populace.

[REMF]

uncinqsix said:

Yeah, you're right. EVERYBODY in NZ is exactly like that



Just substitute the words "Rugby" with "Football" and "Haka" with "TOWIE" and that would apply equally as well to your average industrial town in the UK. However, most people would be intelligent enough not to assume that was representative of the entire populace.

I take your point, I was probably a bit harsh but this was my experience. I was sent there by work, they didn't want to experience what I was sent to deliver, they weren't open to new ideas and I've never met so many utterly unmotivated people in one place, this was a reciprocal governmental thing so it should have been well organized and to the point, it was in the UK but not in NZ. Did the usual touristy things while living there but then struggled to find anything to engage me after that, I don't do hunting, shooting or fishing. The spoken and written media are just appalling and the simmering tensions between Pakeha and Maori are obvious.

The easiest Kiwi's to engage with are the ones who emigrate and realize that the rest of the world is as good, if not better, than the land of the long grey cloud but by definition, they aren't in NZ. The stuff Kiwi's, who don't travel, are spoonfed, by govt and media in NZ about the 'awesomeness' of New Zealand is right up there with the excesses of Comical Ali and the North Korean dude - sorry if that offends but tried it, hated it and packed my bag like so many of your countrymen. The country is on it's ass, welfare bill out of control, brain drain, crumbling infrastructure, ChCh, the Asian invasion are changing NZ at a pace that the locals can't cope with at all. The NZ Pure thing is laughable, the country is a putrid playground for farmers who have no respect for the land and whom all bend over backwards for the mighty Fronterra - how can a land of dairy production only produce three types of cheese and they all taste the same!

Sorry, it could be so good there but it just isn't.

Edited by REMF on Sunday 7th April 09:23

Edited by REMF on Sunday 7th April 09:28

Edited by REMF on Sunday 7th April 09:28

[Omerta]

What a load of bigoted drivel. I can just imagine what your government counterparts here made of a know it all tt like you.

[REMF]

Omerta said:

What a load of bigoted drivel. I can just imagine what your government counterparts here made of a know it all tt like you.

Sorry if it offends, that's the way me, and 3 others, felt. Good luck to you regardless. Bigot was how I found many of those I met to be, closed to outside influence even when the evidence of benefit was overwhelming, that's fine though, it's their prerogative. Like I said, NZ could be great but there's got to be a reason why everyone is pisssing off to Aus!

Edited by REMF on Sunday 7th April 11:19

[JumboBeef]

grand cherokee said:

thinking very seriously about this - in my view this country is on the decline and no sign of it getting any better - Europe/Islamification/EU migrants etc etc

not forgetting Iran/North Korea

anyone here done it?

i'm 59 yrs old - single - and enough money to support myself over there (yes, i know about the investment/maintenance sums)

main attractions - shooting/fishing and 'nature' - can take my Range Rover without import duty and good dealer network - plus they drive on the 'proper' side of the road!

i may retire or may invest in a fishing venture?

good and bad comments appreciated

thanks

You don't need NZ, you need Scotland. Seriously.

[ClaphamGT3]

I'm absolutely with you - shocking place

[Atom Johnny]

grand cherokee said:

been looking on Trademe at car/house/fishing prices - very interesting

Trademe is very good but there are other alternatives. Some even better.

Especially try this for homes/property... http://www.realestate.co.nz/

You'll find everything from... http://www.realestate.co.nz/1748285 to... http://www.realestate.co.nz/1879407

There are other links at the top of the page that also may be of interest. For example... http://www.primebusiness.co.nz/business/search/key...

Here's another site for cars too... http://www.autotrader.co.nz/

[uncinqsix]

REMF said:

I take your point, I was probably a bit harsh but this was my experience. I was sent there by work, they didn't want to experience what I was sent to deliver, they weren't open to new ideas and I've never met so many utterly unmotivated people in one place, this was a reciprocal governmental thing so it should have been well organized and to the point, it was in the UK but not in NZ. Did the usual touristy things while living there but then struggled to find anything to engage me after that, I don't do hunting, shooting or fishing. The spoken and written media are just appalling and the simmering tensions between Pakeha and Maori are obvious.

If you don't mind me asking, what government dept were you working with, and where in the country where you?

[Esprit]

REMF said:

I take your point, I was probably a bit harsh but this was my experience. I was sent there by work, they didn't want to experience what I was sent to deliver, they weren't open to new ideas and I've never met so many utterly unmotivated people in one place, this was a reciprocal governmental thing so it should have been well organized and to the point, it was in the UK but not in NZ. Did the usual touristy things while living there but then struggled to find anything to engage me after that, I don't do hunting, shooting or fishing. The spoken and written media are just appalling and the simmering tensions between Pakeha and Maori are obvious.

The easiest Kiwi's to engage with are the ones who emigrate and realize that the rest of the world is as good, if not better, than the land of the long grey cloud but by definition, they aren't in NZ. The stuff Kiwi's, who don't travel, are spoonfed, by govt and media in NZ about the 'awesomeness' of New Zealand is right up there with the excesses of Comical Ali and the North Korean dude - sorry if that offends but tried it, hated it and packed my bag like so many of your countrymen. The country is on it's ass, welfare bill out of control, brain drain, crumbling infrastructure, ChCh, the Asian invasion are changing NZ at a pace that the locals can't cope with at all. The NZ Pure thing is laughable, the country is a putrid playground for farmers who have no respect for the land and whom all bend over backwards for the mighty Fronterra - how can a land of dairy production only produce three types of cheese and they all taste the same!

Sorry, it could be so good there but it just isn't.

While I agree with you UP TO A POINT on some things, being a Brit, you have to admit that many of the things you list are equally if not more prevalent in your own country:

• Rubbish media (Barring a few bastions of good journalism, the tabloids are a joke)
• Simmering racial tensions (2011 London riots anyone?)
• Land of the long grey cloud? Really? An Englishman criticising New Zealand's weather? (As I type this it's mid autumn, probably about the 10th blue-skied, warm, calm day in a row)
• Welfare issues (Didn't I read that a bloke in England just went to jail for burning his 6 of his 17 kids alive to keep his gargantuan welfare payments coming in?)

Other things are just plain wrong (I've got more than three varieties of Fonterra-produced cheese in my own fridge).

Yes, NZ is no paradise, NZ is not without its issues. However on balance, it's a far, FAR better place to live than the UK is at the moment with all of its issues.

[cheddar]

REMF said:

Yes, this.

I've lived in NZ, the outdoor stuff is ok until you realise the sun will give you cancer in 4 minutes, the people are witless, humourless and dull conversationalists unless rugby is your thing. Casual racism abounds, alcohol and family violence issues are common occurrences, there is no intellectualism, no culture unless the regularly whipped out Haka floats your boat, the driving there is appalling and the politicians seem intent on flogging all the family silver. It's expensive, houses are crap and there's no infrastructure. It's third world compared to many other alleged first world countries.

Avoid.

I hated it.

REMF said:

I take your point, I was probably a bit harsh but this was my experience. I was sent there by work, they didn't want to experience what I was sent to deliver, they weren't open to new ideas and I've never met so many utterly unmotivated people in one place, this was a reciprocal governmental thing so it should have been well organized and to the point, it was in the UK but not in NZ. Did the usual touristy things while living there but then struggled to find anything to engage me after that, I don't do hunting, shooting or fishing. The spoken and written media are just appalling and the simmering tensions between Pakeha and Maori are obvious.

The easiest Kiwi's to engage with are the ones who emigrate and realize that the rest of the world is as good, if not better, than the land of the long grey cloud but by definition, they aren't in NZ. The stuff Kiwi's, who don't travel, are spoonfed, by govt and media in NZ about the 'awesomeness' of New Zealand is right up there with the excesses of Comical Ali and the North Korean dude - sorry if that offends but tried it, hated it and packed my bag like so many of your countrymen. The country is on it's ass, welfare bill out of control, brain drain, crumbling infrastructure, ChCh, the Asian invasion are changing NZ at a pace that the locals can't cope with at all. The NZ Pure thing is laughable, the country is a putrid playground for farmers who have no respect for the land and whom all bend over backwards for the mighty Fronterra - how can a land of dairy production only produce three types of cheese and they all taste the same!

Sorry, it could be so good there but it just isn't.

You make some valid points but:

I'll see your cynicism for New Zealand life and raise you the absolute abject misery of the UK.

Stuck in rain on the M25 under that never ending grey sheet of low level cloud on your traffic clogged 2 hour, 5mph daily commute after leaving that tiny $1,000,000 box you call a house, hoping that the car that costs you $2000 a year to insure that's parked on the street, because your box doesn't have room for off street parking, hasn't been keyed, stolen by Romanian gypsies or blocked in by your irate neighbour who hates you, doesn't ever talk to you and has laid claim to the single prime pavement parking space.

Avoiding eye contact with all the other overworked, stressed out commuters doing the same thing as you, struggling to pay off massive mortgages whilst reconciling their negative equity, high taxes and rapidly diminishing quality of life.
You could take the train instead of course and pay $100 to stand in an aisle for an hour on a dirty, delayed, overcrowded commuter that rattles along antiquated tracks at walking pace - remember, head down, no eye contact.

Work your 10 hour day, reverse the hideous commute process and hope that dole bludging neighbour Brian hasn't stolen your parking space when you get home to your box at 9pm.

There's always the weekends to look forward to right?
Brilliant, queueing up at Tesco's - just to get in the carpark - pop into B&Q on the way home to get served by an uneducated teenager with an attitude problem. Stuck in more traffic, more miserable weather, more miserable people.

At least Europe's on the doorstep...........oh, hold on......might not a good thing after all.

Still, the UK doesn't have cataclysmically serious immigration issues undermining the rich culture eh, oh............

And the GBP isn't worth half its historical value against the NZD......

Did I mention the weather?

Or the misery........



We have space here, time, time for neighbours, people, fun, ourselves.

The weather's brilliant, only 3 days of rain this year (where I live), bright sunny Winters, long Summers, a million beaches, warm water and as much Winter skiing as you can handle.

The roads are well paved, almost deserted and meander through some of the world's best scenery.

Houses are expensive here? My 4 bedroom, 1 acre house in the foothills of the Alps, half an hour from a major city cost £150,000 and it's only that much because of your diabolical exchange rate between UK/NZ currency - a solid reflection of the dire state of the British economy.

Esprit said "It's no paradise". I disagree, it's magnificent.

You wrote well REMF and while some might find your posts inflammatory I think you made some astute points - but, I think your experience was Auckland/work based and not a truly accurate portrayal of daily life here.

[King Herald]

REMF said:

Omerta said:

What a load of bigoted drivel. I can just imagine what your government counterparts here made of a know it all tt like you.

Sorry if it offends, that's the way me, and 3 others, felt. Good luck to you regardless. Bigot was how I found many of those I met to be, closed to outside influence even when the evidence of benefit was overwhelming, that's fine though, it's their prerogative. Like I said, NZ could be great but there's got to be a reason why everyone is pisssing off to Aus!

People all over the world don't want to be told 'better' ways to do things by visitors from the other side of the world.

I've tried it where I live, and no amount of education or experience on my part was going to change the way anybody thinks. It can be utterly frustrating when you watch them do/use/apply the same dumb/stupid/slow/inefficient/inaccurate/methodology when you simply know you can show them a better way.

EG, a machine shop that would take all afternoon to make 8 pieces of steel spacer. I showed them a way to make 8 in a half hour. They were reluctantly impressed. Next day I went back round there, to get something else done, and they were back using the same old method as before. Nobody would look me in the eye.

That's probably at a different level than your operation was, as I earn my crust as a humble grease monkey, but the frustration is probably the same.

[mark387mw]

cheddar said:

lots of good stuff

A good reminder why I'm still here. I often think about if I were to return to the UK, what would it be like, and that sums it up.

Any place in the world has its good and bad points but it's down to you to make it the best place to live, wherever in the world you are.

[REMF]

Esprit said:

While I agree with you UP TO A POINT on some things, being a Brit, you have to admit that many of the things you list are equally if not more prevalent in your own country:

• Rubbish media (Barring a few bastions of good journalism, the tabloids are a joke)
• Simmering racial tensions (2011 London riots anyone?)
• Land of the long grey cloud? Really? An Englishman criticising New Zealand's weather? (As I type this it's mid autumn, probably about the 10th blue-skied, warm, calm day in a row)
• Welfare issues (Didn't I read that a bloke in England just went to jail for burning his 6 of his 17 kids alive to keep his gargantuan welfare payments coming in?)

Other things are just plain wrong (I've got more than three varieties of Fonterra-produced cheese in my own fridge).

Yes, NZ is no paradise, NZ is not without its issues. However on balance, it's a far, FAR better place to live than the UK is at the moment with all of its issues.

The OP asked for an opinion of NZ, not the UK, one assumes he has his reasons for leaving some of which may reflect your comments. The UK, unlike NZ, doesn't hold itself out as an emigration destination of choice, people generally come for a reason be it family or business, NZ markets itself quite differently, the reality is very different to the dream being pushed..

[REMF]

King Herald said:

People all over the world don't want to be told 'better' ways to do things by visitors from the other side of the world.

I've tried it where I live, and no amount of education or experience on my part was going to change the way anybody thinks. It can be utterly frustrating when you watch them do/use/apply the same dumb/stupid/slow/inefficient/inaccurate/methodology when you simply know you can show them a better way.

EG, a machine shop that would take all afternoon to make 8 pieces of steel spacer. I showed them a way to make 8 in a half hour. They were reluctantly impressed. Next day I went back round there, to get something else done, and they were back using the same old method as before. Nobody would look me in the eye.

That's probably at a different level than your operation was, as I earn my crust as a humble grease monkey, but the frustration is probably the same.

It was them who invited us! That's the funniest bit, in the end, we treated it like an extended holiday that goes on just a bit too long.

[REMF]

cheddar said:

You make some valid points but:

I'll see your cynicism for New Zealand life and raise you the absolute abject misery of the UK.

Stuck in rain on the M25 under that never ending grey sheet of low level cloud on your traffic clogged 2 hour, 5mph daily commute after leaving that tiny $1,000,000 box you call a house, hoping that the car that costs you $2000 a year to insure that's parked on the street, because your box doesn't have room for off street parking, hasn't been keyed, stolen by Romanian gypsies or blocked in by your irate neighbour who hates you, doesn't ever talk to you and has laid claim to the single prime pavement parking space.

Avoiding eye contact with all the other overworked, stressed out commuters doing the same thing as you, struggling to pay off massive mortgages whilst reconciling their negative equity, high taxes and rapidly diminishing quality of life.
You could take the train instead of course and pay $100 to stand in an aisle for an hour on a dirty, delayed, overcrowded commuter that rattles along antiquated tracks at walking pace - remember, head down, no eye contact.

Work your 10 hour day, reverse the hideous commute process and hope that dole bludging neighbour Brian hasn't stolen your parking space when you get home to your box at 9pm.

There's always the weekends to look forward to right?
Brilliant, queueing up at Tesco's - just to get in the carpark - pop into B&Q on the way home to get served by an uneducated teenager with an attitude problem. Stuck in more traffic, more miserable weather, more miserable people.

At least Europe's on the doorstep...........oh, hold on......might not a good thing after all.

Still, the UK doesn't have cataclysmically serious immigration issues undermining the rich culture eh, oh............

And the GBP isn't worth half its historical value against the NZD......

Did I mention the weather?

Or the misery........



We have space here, time, time for neighbours, people, fun, ourselves.

The weather's brilliant, only 3 days of rain this year (where I live), bright sunny Winters, long Summers, a million beaches, warm water and as much Winter skiing as you can handle.

The roads are well paved, almost deserted and meander through some of the world's best scenery.

Houses are expensive here? My 4 bedroom, 1 acre house in the foothills of the Alps, half an hour from a major city cost £150,000 and it's only that much because of your diabolical exchange rate between UK/NZ currency - a solid reflection of the dire state of the British economy.

Esprit said "It's no paradise". I disagree, it's magnificent.

You wrote well REMF and while some might find your posts inflammatory I think you made some astute points - but, I think your experience was Auckland/work based and not a truly accurate portrayal of daily life here.

I broadly agree with you funnily enough.