emmigrating to New Zealand

[Condi]

WhereamI said:

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

I agree, I first went to NZ expecting to like it and found instead a place I can't wait to leave. It's remote, insular and boring, unfortunately I have to go there in a couple of weeks time.

I wouldnt go that far, as a place to visit its fantastic, but living there wouldnt suit me.

[WhereamI]

Condi said:

WhereamI said:

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

I agree, I first went to NZ expecting to like it and found instead a place I can't wait to leave. It's remote, insular and boring, unfortunately I have to go there in a couple of weeks time.

I wouldnt go that far, as a place to visit its fantastic, but living there wouldnt suit me.

Not for me it isn't, but each to their own. Better to visit on holiday than to be there on business or live there perhaps.

[cheddar]

I emigrated to NZ.

It has its downsides, it's not dynamic (not where I live) the pubs are rubbish, building quality is poor, car culture is 'basic' and people won't come out to play.

But I fking adore it here.

Life's so easy, the climate is brilliant (where I live) and it hasn't really rained at all for the last two months.
I swim in the sea in Summer, ski in Winter and have half a dozen skifields within 30 minutes of me, I play golf everyday on deserted courses for tiny money, hunt almost right out of my back garden and drive on quiet twisty roads surrounded by epic scenery.
Business is easy, anyone can make money if they're prepared to get stuck in and you can still buy a detached house 1 minutes walk from the beach for under £150,000.

The city's aren't really exciting, they're functional and Christchurch is ruined but you adapt, use the country for it's massive benefits, become a part of it, take off your suit, put your shorts and flip flops on and become aghast at the misery and cynicism of Europe.

There's time here, time for life, friends, family (if they're here) hobbies and play.

South Africa? Mental.

[sday12]

grand cherokee said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Have you actually been to New Zealand?

It has its problems too with immigration, crime, the Nanny State and suffocating political correctness.

been there - have friends living there

nothing like the UK - immigration rules are so strict you don't get economic refugees/EU dross like the UK

to 'retire' i'd have to invest about £350K for two years/£250K in maintenance fund/£30K pa income from pensions etc - thats what this country should do - how many Eastern Europeans could meet that criteria?

It's st, but I would gladly recommend it to such as hateful rascist like yourself, fill yer boots.

[GravelBen]

grand cherokee said:

...red deer/sika/roe/english style pheasant shooting etc etc - seems like heaven to me?

Don't forget fallow, sambar, whitetail, wapiti, moose , chamois, tahr, goats, rabbits, hares, wallabies, possums, ducks, magpies and so on... no shortage of things to hunt here!




PS it sounds like ClaphamGT3 has visited Auckland rather than NZ.

[mark387mw]

cheddar said:

put your shorts and flip flops on and become aghast at the misery and cynicism of Europe.

I have been wearing shorts for over 5 years now - summer and winter.

I find winters here are less gloomy - still bright days and even if it's raining, you don't get the dark, grey and miserable 2 months of winter gloom.



The OP could buy this business, even got a Grand Cherokee as part of the deal. http://www.trademe.co.nz/business-farming-industry...

Or more likely for the business visa, this one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/business-farming-industry... or for shooting/fishing/boats: http://www.trademe.co.nz/business-farming-industry...

I'll sell him my motel if it helps him get into NZ

[cheddar]

mark387mw said:

cheddar said:

put your shorts and flip flops on and become aghast at the misery and cynicism of Europe.

I have been wearing shorts for over 5 years now - summer and winter.

I find winters here are far less gloomy - still bright days and even if it's raining, you don't get the dark, grey and miserable 2 months of winter gloom.

Same here

I've got to the stage where the only long trousers I own are ski pants.

And, when I needed some 'longs' for a meeting I had to attend the mayor of Christchurch leant me a pair - you couldn't make it up.

ClaphamGT3 said:

small, ugly, dull towns full of backward, bigoted in-bred people

Top irony Clapham

[mark387mw]

cheddar said:

And, when I needed some 'longs' for a meeting I had to attend the mayor of Christchurch leant me a pair - you couldn't make it up.

You wore Bob Parker's trousers!

[cheddar]

mark387mw said:

cheddar said:

And, when I needed some 'longs' for a meeting I had to attend the mayor of Christchurch leant me a pair - you couldn't make it up.

You wore Bob Parker's trousers!

Before 'Gameshow Bob' became the mayor I'm afraid.

It was Gary and they were too small and too long. We were drunk and folded them up and put two staples in each leg, he told me to keep them.......

[Bapple]

Having grown up in Nz but with most of the last 10 years in the U.K. And being on our second stay in NZ I feel I have something to contribute to this thread.

My first reaction to the negative comments of some was patriotic indignation, having thought about it though and having drawn on the experiences of myself and my Brit wife, I can see merit in some of the points, although my nationalism is still affronted.

1) visiting is different to living. Food is more expensive and generally wages are a bit lower than the uk, although my job is actually better than the one I had in the uk, on balance living is likely to cost more.

2) it can be difficult to make friends initially. If you have kids it's much easier, likewise work social and sports clubs and charities help you get involved. If you are willing to put the time in you will make true and lasting friends, if not you might be lonely very quickly.

Many people have travelled but like a lot of places around the world others won't have. Sadly some people are still where they went to school and just don't need more friends, they don't mean to be nasty but it can seems that way.

3)NZers generally hate show offs and people who think themselves better than someone else.

4) It's not Europe, you can't jet to Paris for the weekend for 20 quid.If you are considering coming, remember this and that instead of so much travelling internationally, you should be ready to take advantage of the brilliant outdoors.

We came back for the better education system and quality of life (10 minute walk) instead of 1.5 hours each way into London every day, we also have family support which is a plus. We know there are downsides but on this second experience back in the country we are far better mentally prepared and proactive.

Will we stay forever, maybe not. But for now it works for us.

All the best in your decision O.P. and if you want any specific advice feel free to message me.

Oh yeah, if you are buying anything with chicken in it, there is a better than average chance that cranberry will be involved!

Edited by Bapple on Sunday 10th March 06:15

[uncinqsix]

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

To be fair, that does sum up a fair few of the smaller towns/cities and their banjo-strumming inhabitants. Doesn't bother me, as I don't live in them and seldom have any call to visit. Life in Wellington is worlds away from, say, Palmerston North (John Cleese made some very scathing, but very fair, comments about that town). Odd statement about the stamps though: I found the "nanny state" in the UK much more more pervasive than here and the bureaucracy is pretty efficient (at least compared to any other country where I've had to deal with it).

As for the NZ being boring, I have this to say: If you're a boring person, you'll find it boring. Like any country, it's what you make it.

[ClaphamGT3]

uncinqsix said:

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

To be fair, that does sum up a fair few of the smaller towns/cities and their banjo-strumming inhabitants. Doesn't bother me, as I don't live in them and seldom have any call to visit. Life in Wellington is worlds away from, say, Palmerston North (John Cleese made some very scathing, but very fair, comments about that town). Odd statement about the stamps though: I found the "nanny state" in the UK much more more pervasive than here and the bureaucracy is pretty efficient (at least compared to any other country where I've had to deal with it).

As for the NZ being boring, I have this to say: If you're a boring person, you'll find it boring. Like any country, it's what you make it.

Maybe my expectations were raised too high - first time I went, I was expecting to see the fabled "8 gauge wire mentality" at every turn, instead I found stupefying H&S legislation, ridiculous speed limits and plodding risk aversion pretty much everywhere

[grand cherokee]

sday12 said:

grand cherokee said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Have you actually been to New Zealand?

It has its problems too with immigration, crime, the Nanny State and suffocating political correctness.

been there - have friends living there

nothing like the UK - immigration rules are so strict you don't get economic refugees/EU dross like the UK

to 'retire' i'd have to invest about £350K for two years/£250K in maintenance fund/£30K pa income from pensions etc - thats what this country should do - how many Eastern Europeans could meet that criteria?

It's st, but I would gladly recommend it to such as hateful rascist like yourself, fill yer boots.

got bad news for you - if by those comments i'm a hateful racist so are at least 80%+ of Brits!

[grand cherokee]

many thanks for most comments

please keep them coming

special thanks to those who have invited me to email them - will certainly take you up on your generous offers

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

looking into legislation for owning shotgun/hunting rifle (would sell mine in UK) - seem to see that a referee needs to have known you for two years in NZ? - are there exemptions or can you still hunt with a NZ permit holder and use one of their guns?

[Bapple]

grand cherokee said:

many thanks for most comments

please keep them coming

special thanks to those who have invited me to email them - will certainly take you up on your generous offers

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

looking into legislation for owning shotgun/hunting rifle (would sell mine in UK) - seem to see that a referee needs to have known you for two years in NZ? - are there exemptions or can you still hunt with a NZ permit holder and use one of their guns?

Shouldn't be a problem to "accompany" someone who holds a licence.

Out of interest, what field are you in and does a particular part of the country interest you?

[grand cherokee]

Bapple said:

Shouldn't be a problem to "accompany" someone who holds a licence.

Out of interest, what field are you in and does a particular part of the country interest you?

thanks - im now retired with a dodgy hip (will get replacement before emigrating - i hope)

i trained as an architect but left the profession and became a 'sporting agent' in Scotland - basically leased 2.5 miles of the River Tay - i also arranged shooting/stalking - and did deer control (culling)

though with no 'formal' qualifications i'm an experience fishing guide/casting instructor in trout and salmon fishing - also experience in boat handling on large/rapid stretches of rivers

also i'm an experienced 4x4 offroad driver/demonstrator using 'standard' road vehicles - and have 'manual' skills in repairing and renovating traditional wooden fishing boats (not trawlers - lol)

no particular area as yet but Taupo has its obvious plus points!

Edited by grand cherokee on Sunday 10th March 08:40

[uncinqsix]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Maybe my expectations were raised too high - first time I went, I was expecting to see the fabled "8 gauge wire mentality" at every turn, instead I found stupefying H&S legislation, ridiculous speed limits and plodding risk aversion pretty much everywhere

The "number 8 wire" mentality is, I think, the source of a great many problems we have here. Although it has led to some pretty clever innovation over the years, it's more commonly used as an excuse to do a half-arsed, unprofessional job on the cheap rather than doing it properly. Exhibit one - our housing stock.

There is actually very little in the way of prescriptive H&S legislation - just a basic requirement that the employer or whoever must take "all practical and reasonable steps" to avoid an accident. Hardly stupefying or over the top. Here's a little example for you:

http://kiwitravelwriter.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/w...

That is a (rather high) diving platform that the council (yes, the council) has just put up on the waterfront for the public to use. It's completely unsupervised and people use it at their own risk. Completely OK under our H&S legislation.

The speed limits are actually entirely appropriate for the types of roads we have and the condition they are in, and they are for the most part no different than what you'll see elsewhere in the world (if you plonked parts of our main state highway into Germany, they'd put an 80 km/hr limit on it at best). The only bits of road that might justify a higher limit are the occasional sections of divided motorway, and there's hardly enough of that to be worth the bother (goes back to that bloody #8 wire mentality again). The rigid enforcement of those speed limits is another matter entirely, and not something I'm going to try to defend.

(Interestingly, "stupefying H&S legislation, ridiculous speed limits and plodding risk aversion pretty much everywhere" pretty much sums up my experience of the UK. Funny how perceptions differ )

[uncinqsix]

grand cherokee said:

thanks - im now retired with a dodgy hip (will get replacement before emigrating - i hope)

i trained as an architect but left the profession and became a 'sporting agent' in Scotland - basically leased 2.5 miles of the River Tay - i also arranged shooting/stalking - and did deer control (culling)

though with no 'formal' qualifications i'm an experience fishing guide/casting instructor in trout and salmon fishing - also experience in boat handling on large/rapid stretches of rivers

also i'm an experienced 4x4 offroad driver/demonstrator using 'standard' road vehicles - and have 'manual' skills in repairing and renovating traditional wooden fishing boats (not trawlers - lol)

no particular area as yet but Taupo has its obvious plus points!

Edited by grand cherokee on Sunday 10th March 08:40

Check out Central Otago. It'll be right up your alley. Kind of like Scotland, but the temperature gets into the high 20s/early 30s in summer.

[cheddar]

uncinqsix said:

Check out Central Otago. It'll be right up your alley. Kind of like Scotland, but the temperature gets into the high 20s/early 30s in summer.

Taupo is pretty but Central Otago is, well, another world.

It's difficult to choose your final destination when you move here but take the step and give it a try.

I lived in Auckland, Nelson, Christchurch and now the foothills of the Southern Alps. It takes adapting to, there's almost never another village just up the road with a quaint country pub to visit.

You make your bed here, then you move house........

[grand cherokee]

uncinqsix said:

Check out Central Otago. It'll be right up your alley. Kind of like Scotland, but the temperature gets into the high 20s/early 30s in summer.

had a look - very enticing - particularly the presence of Chinook salmon - seems like most NZ fishers spin for them and heavy sinking fly line fishing is still in its infancy - maybe an opportunity as its an 'area' in which i'm very experienced

interestingly been watching the cricket from Dunedin and noted how beautiful the countryside looks