Originally Posted by dannigirl

If I didn't have a 14 week old baby in my arms I could write a longer response, but I can't.

If you think where you live and how great it is solely down to you then that is really sad. Who made the area you live in great, the neighbourhood fairies?

I am not saying that the NZ government is perfect by any means, nor that we don't have any social problems, but the way you skew things is really beyond belief.

Pretty much the entire world is in a terrible financial state, the UK did not have the proper financial regulation in place which is why millions in the UK have lost their entire pensions and there are huge austerity measures in place. Was that my fault? No, was it the government....depends who you talk to. Was it the bankers fault? Maybe? I too could write you an entire book of incompetence in my everyday life, it doesn't just happen in NZ you know.

I totally agree with Catchafire, the issues you state are not unique to NZ. I am sure I can find stats to match every link you put in. There are worrying elements in every country. I work in social services (in the UK), believe me I see the scum of the earth in this country day in day out, does it colour my whole view of this country? No, because I know and respect the fact that there are many great things about this country and I feel very priveleged as an immigrant to work and raise my family here despite all of the problems I could choose to dwell on. I try my hardest everyday to be a good citizen and feel I do my bit with the job that I do, hopefully contibuting to making social problems less of an issue. When and if we leave this country it will be a very sad day.

Just remember you are raising your children in NZ, they are kiwis (albeit with strong connections to Britain and other countries).

They are growing up in the environment, culture, governance and around the people you apparently so despise.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

Sometimes i feel like Dannigirl's nemesis which I don't like but here goes..

I actually agree with quite a few of Genesis's points.

It's not true that the entire world has gone down the financial crapper...Canada hasn't nor Australia. Why? Because it has a properly regulated banking system, something apparently sadly lacking in the UK or the US. What happened in NZ with the financial companies was such obvious fraud i find it amazing that the NZ government didn't clue in sooner. I'm with G on that one...the NZ government should have created a better regulatory environment.

I also agree with what he says about the bullying culture there. That I thought was normal until I left. And let's not get into the recent report on the rubbish management practices that are considered ok in NZ...I need to find that link. Again, thought that was normal until I left. In fact there are some examples of it on ths very board. I feel for anyone trying to stand up and point out the craptacular unprofessionalism of the NZ working culture at times...NZers don't take criticism well.

yes there are lots of positives about NZ but it could be much better and is frankly lagging the rest of the west in terms of attitudes.

Sorry Danni! haha

Originally Posted by dannigirl

Actually Canada doesn't even register on the world radar really, just the poor American cousin. Australia is buoyed by a their natural resources but good on them for not being affected by the downturn. Let's not forget China or India....care to live in either of those countries?

No one country will fit all - but the generalisations on here are quite amazing. I'll bow out now thanks. Oh and ha ha - how very mature of you (or was I not picking up on your superior sense of sarcasm?)

Originally Posted by Genesis

Despise is way to stronger word. AND I did not at any point speculate that all the crap I spoke about does not happen elsewhere and that NZ is unique in all the problems I mention (it is in some I will add). But it IS happening here. It IS relevant to me. This is not about comparisons it is about my views on NZ for others to see and make their comments and may be even their own judgements.

Originally Posted by Genesis

Monetary policy in NZ is another issue. The Reserve Bank sit back and simply allow the NZ dollar to go ballistic value wise. Great for those spending kiwis abroad and GREAT for all the greedy importers who are making a fortune. Strangely the ONLY benefit that the average punter in nonsense land gets is cheap flat screen TV's...which is ironic as the NZ TV has to be the worst in the world!! Do we see our fuel at the pumps any cheaper..it's all imported gas you know? No. Any other breaks for the poor beleagured average bod in NZ? NOPE! They could easily print some cash to bring the value down or interevene in the currency markets (it can be done but can be risky) the former is the best bet.

Again, way too many 'clever' people have ALL said how STUPID STUPID STUPID it is to allow the kiwi to get so high...primarily because of our export base. No not the milk..that is in such demand they will pay whatever to get the white gold. I speak of all the other exporters..Racal for one who are being squeezed to death as their products are way too expensive as a result of the kiwi$s value. This is not about market forces, it is about poor policy.

Thousands of jobs are being lost as a result of this. A big order for trains has just gone to China or some such place because the kiwi company that was tendering could not compete because of the kiwi. Other companies have simply ceased trading again because their exports have been pushed to the side because they ARE TOO PRICEY!!!!!

The kiwi has to come down. If they wait for a natural devaluation it could be years. How many kiwi exporters will be out of business by then I wonder??

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

It's not true that the entire world has gone down the financial crapper...Canada hasn't nor Australia.

Originally Posted by Vikkichic

I had hoped that the various powers that be in NZ would take on board or learn from other developing or developed countries. In my naivety I mean economic r&d, encouraging NZ companies to be created thus increasing employment for the growing population & therefore all the other social kit & caboodles that go with it.
They learn alright, look at the phenominal amount of unproductive quangos, councils constantly using private consultants to set their policies & financial structures. the old boy network & with an existing government made up of gamblers (oops or should I say futures/stock market experts) Sadly they've learnt the take it now & bugger the future mentality.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

Meh, i'm not with you on that. I don't think printing money leads anywhere good....

Originally Posted by Bo-Jangles

Indeed, it never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is and how many levels of authorities and organisations, people, time, effort and money it requires to manage 4.4 million people. It is absolutely staggering!!

This place could to all intents have a very sleek and be a model structure, but no we prefer to add layer upon layer of utterly useless and costly bureacracy.

If I had my way I would scrap the lot of them and start again, instead of 'restructuring', shifting bodies around, bolting things together and spending millions on re-branding, making people redundant and re-employing them as Consultants.

Originally Posted by Genesis

But that is how tin pot, two bit places like NZ work eh? Jobs for the boys and all. We know best attitude? Bloody joke!! And I have one major aspiration for my kids, that they leave NZ as adults and go somewhere else for their careers. Unless of course NZ Inc. smells the coffee in the coming years and trys to 'grow up' a bit.

Originally Posted by Catchafire

This is the attitude I really fail to understand Genesis. You are so contradictory. NZ is great place to raise your kids, except when they are 18 they will wake up and realise, that it is a shit place to live and they are better off living "somewhere" else.

I hope my kids will grow up and be proud of being Kiwi's.