[Gandalf33]

Originally Posted by Campbells Hi, Well, good on ya! for taking the plunge ! In terms of offering advise I would suggest that if that is what you are looking for, tell us something baout the both of you as the generic stuff is all ready avail on a few sites but I'm sure you are wise enough to have done some sort of homework ? Let me know something about you & what advise you are looking for & maybe I can help Cheers & good luck Campbell

Geeeez, I have been slacking. I am sorry that I am only replying now and thanks for another update.

I am 35 y/o - was a Senior Travel Consultant for 12 Years and then I started my own travel agency (HATED IT) and went to study Interior Architecture. I am in my 2nd Year but I have subsequently quit to due to the fact that we are leaving for NZ in June. I would love to continue my studies in Auckland but they want to charge me 4 times the annual fee and I am not prepared to do that. I will wait until I have my residency permit and pay the fee that residents pay. In the meantime I will work for a Travel Agency. I believe that there is a serious shortage of senior travel consultants so I hope to find work quick (hopefully selling South Africa to the locals).

My boyfriend is 40 - a dentist who has been promised a salary of NZ$10 000 per Month which I now know is more than enough to survive on. He is guaranteed a job and he is also on the skilled shortage list (which helps).

We are a married, gay couple (don't be shocked ) who hate shopping centres and love high street shopping. I believe that downtown Auckland can cater for us and offers a completely different environment as to South Africa's downtowns (which we will not even think of entering). We would like to live in a loft (like the one that we live in in Cape Town) or a large central apartment. I believe that Ponsonby, Parnell and K Road will appeal to us. Have you been there ?

We eat out every night and we would like to do the same in AKL - are restaurants expensive and is there a large pavement cafe society ? Please say yes We also love hiking, walking, photography and cycling. Do you think that we will be happy in NZ ? - I think so

Another thing that we have been thinking about is clothes - should we wait until we are in AKL to buy winter clothes (arriving July) or is clothing cheaper in South Africa ? I don't know if you have been clothes shopping but feel free to tell me that I am expecting too much from you

That is all that I can think of right now and once again I would like to wish you the best of luck and remember that it will take you at least 6 months to settle. Moving from Jo'burg to Cape Town was difficult for us so I am expecting huge mood changes once I am in NZ (my poor Boyfriend ).

Regarding the sense of humour issue - it is all relative, your humour might be difficult to understand or you have met the "wrong" people but I have been chatting to a few Kiwis on various Forums and they are hilarious and rather crazy - just like us Just some food for thought.

Byeeeeee.

Hello!!!

Good on ya for coping yourself a dentist.. I think they are the most highly paid profession in NZ.. you'll be quids in!

Sorry.. I'll go away now.

Gud Luck!!!
Deb

[Gandalf33]

Originally Posted by Deb+Chris Hello!!! Good on ya for coping yourself a dentist.. I think they are the most highly paid profession in NZ.. you'll be quids in! Sorry.. I'll go away now. Gud Luck!!! Deb

LOL - My mother always said that I must marry a Dr, a Dr of anything she said, so I spun my web (bleached teeth, gym 5 times a week, tanned) and voila, I caught one. After 5 Years the web is looking rather tatty but I still have my Dr Now I need to convince him that MY credit card functions better when he is paying the bill - HA HA.

Thanks for the reply and take care.

[newkiwi]

Originally Posted by Campbells Greetings all, Tis been a while since I contributed to this thread but has been hectic. I guess the honeymoon is over! There are some issues that I observe that offer a clearer understanding of why the threads in “NZ scary story” were written. Perhaps I am going to have to eat humble pie so go on, tell me I told you so! I must first state that I am still determined to make it work in here in NZ but have to say that some of the Kiwis do have some quirks. As I have always said that I do not believe in fairytales or utopia but I am going to mention a few discoveries not as a negative dig at Kiwis in general but for other folk to read, digest and consider. One of the issues is the Kiwi’s reactions to South Africans. Like it or not South Africans are VERY hard working, determined and are some of the top earners in NZ as well as London. The medical doctors in NZ are 25% South Africans, blah blah blah. My point: The NZ gov are very good at offering hand-outs to certain strays that land-up on their shores who can not even speak English. Most S Africans have something to offer and generally bring a fair amount of $ into the country. I am totally amazed that so many Kiwis make it VERY clear that they do no like South Africans. Perhaps Columbians or Nigerians are better? Exploring this Kiwi dislike to South Africans, it jumps out that SArs are deemed as aggressive, true we are in terms of business we get out there and do it and quickly. I find a few NZ contradictions such as employment advertising positions such as, are you a go-getter if so we want you. Closing date four weeks from now & another two weeks to go through CVs and then we can indicate what salary the position offers. My experience is that if you push the Kiwi it scares them completely and this is deemed as aggressive. I am talking from experience! A lot of Kiwis have expressed their dislike for SArs as they “come here & take our jobs”; well I guess that is why Aus owns most of the NZ businesses? Salaries: Yes well, me thinks that the so-called lack of hierarchy system in NZ is just a good sales job by the rich so as to keep the poor happy because there is a huge class gap. It’s obvious, just look at the cars & house prices and then sit in front of a potential employer, explain that you expect to earn (through performance) a $100 k salary and see the reaction. Okay, so what now? I still believe that this is a great place and offers a great lifestyle. I think if the Kiwis don’t get off their tree-hugging soap boxes the beggars that they are trying to protect are going to bite them in the arse. I see opportunity here and quite frankly I am very disappointed with our immigration agent otherwise we probably would have considered a business visa and gone that route (although much longer) as I think with a bit of vooma there is potential here to make a buck, not in a paid salary job. In my mind the Kiwi has done a great marketing job of the “we are a totally honorable nation”, I have experienced several unethical tactics in the business place and just like most other countries, you will get played if you are not street wise. My advise if you are considering / moving here is don’t fall for that as you can just as quickly get short-changed here as in London or NY. I have been here nearly seven weeks now & it is still not enough time to really get a handle on the job hunt thing due to the time frames involved in the process. Again, on hindsight I should have come here with my family and been prepared to come to stay. It can be done that way and takes the stress of dividing the family unit which I think is totally unnecessary as it can be quite daunting on it’s own to be away in the unknown zone for a long strech like this. The one thing I will say, that if we didn’t have a wee nipper (two) I would not seriously consider NZ as I think the attitude here can get to one if you have half an ounce of vooma in you. I have friends here who have held down some serious global positions for really big multi-nationals and they have been told here that they don’t have NZ experience and therefore are not a player in the local NZ market. That’s another good sales job, but if we really look at that it does have a reverse effect and that is that it shows the Kiwi (not generalizing) has the attitude of being different to the global player perspective and actually see themselves removed from the global playing fields. My take on that is that it is seriously detrimental to the NZ economy and the attraction of overseas investors as well as attracting the right kind of people into the country. I have met several Kiwis that have welcomed me and quite openly said that NZ needs more folk like us who have something to offer (& NZ has something to offer us, a norm relationship scenario) as well as bringing a decent amount of $ into the country. Unfortunately these have not been situations where sitting in front of a prospective employer. In conclusion: Difficult one to offer a solution to the job scene as Kiwis do not take applications too seriously if you are not here and once you are here you don’t have NZ experience so we’ll pay you a pittance. Kinda chasing potential contributors away or perhaps some form of protection scheme? The whole PC thing here can get to you as there are just so many contradictions in that area that it too can be quite off-putting. I haven’t experienced working here in NZ yet but that could drive a few nails home. I certainly feel a lack of sense of humor around as just trying to strike a laugh with waiters / waitresses etc is quite a task. The Brit SOH is certainly not here. I see Auckland as a first world city restricted by a small-town attitude and all being worried about being PC whilst the big issues (drugs) are being ignored. Not sure if this all comes from the PM or what? Okay I am now preparing to get a whole heap of flak so go right ahead. I still want to move here! :scared: Campbell.

Hi
Not heard from you for a while, was wondering how u were getting on. i must say after 7 weeks the honeymoon is probably over and things start to irritate, thats normal. I can relate to a lot of what you are saying, not all mind you. But that has just been my experience. I have not come across the dislike of South Africans you are describing, apart from jibes about the rugby. However, I will agree that Kiwis perceive some SAfricans as arrogant, in NZ its all about contributing to the team environment. Thats just the way their mindset is here, and its probalby better to accept it that try to change that.

A salary of 100k plus is very dfficult to negotiate straight away, even if you are worth it. Anything around the 70-80k mark is considered high. Again, thats a fact and you will probably need to start there and work up to a higher salary once you have NZ experience. I would not say overseas experience counts for nothing, but it doesnt count as much as you may think it should. I just think jobs at 100k plus are few and far between, youre up against stiff competition who know the people in the business and thats why its hard for somebody out of NZ to get in at that level. Its not the drive or skills you lack, its the network of contacts. Comes back to the team attitude; if you know the people in the business that counts for a lot.

I agree some job adveritisements do run over quite a long time, which is frustrating. Have you been in contact with employment agencies here? My worse experience in the job huinting front was when I applied for a position around Christmas, it was march before i even heard that I passed the shortlisting phase and could I please come in for an interview. I politely declined....lol. Dont know how to get around this, it might pay to tell empolyers you have a limited timeframe in NZ, heading back to SA to finish with preparations for a move etc.

I must say i have not encountered unethical business practices, but thats just been my experience.

Im still trying to get my head round their sense of humor. i dont think they dont have one, i just dont get it yet. NZ is PC, but probable not as bad as Aus.

THanks for the post, it makes for interesting reading to see how your perceptions of a place are formed.

Do you qualify for PR based on attaining 100 points. You will be in a much stronger position job hunting wise if you had PR, you may have to return to SA to have that application processed etc. Some big employers actively discourage applications from non PR/ WP holders. I would say that you might get more luck applying to companies on the Talent Visa Scheme, not sure abouyt the age criteria though.

Keep us up to date, and good luck finding a job, even if its going to be a lesser paying one!

Originally Posted by Gandalf33 LOL - My mother always said that I must marry a Dr, a Dr of anything she said, so I spun my web (bleached teeth, gym 5 times a week, tanned) and voila, I caught one. After 5 Years the web is looking rather tatty but I still have my Dr Now I need to convince him that MY credit card functions better when he is paying the bill - HA HA. Thanks for the reply and take care.

Now you've got me thinking!!! what's the cheapest way to have my teeth bleached? not sure about the gym though.. god.. you really went for it!! post us a pic laddie!!

Take care of those lovely teeth and those tanned pecs

Hi Campbells,

Good to see you back on the forum. Your postings are informative and enlightening. I'm glad you've still decided to make a go of it despite the unfamiliar employment practices. You appear to approach it all with a stoical attitude which is admirable. I just wondered whether you could clear a few things up for me:

My point: The NZ gov are very good at offering hand-outs to certain strays that land-up on their shores who can not even speak English. Most S Africans have something to offer and generally bring a fair amount of $ into the country. I am totally amazed that so many Kiwis make it VERY clear that they do no like South Africans. Perhaps Columbians or Nigerians are better?

Who are you referring to? Is it asylum seekers? I was under the impression that NZ had quite strict regulations regarding English speakers.That's one of the things that appeals to us. Working in the public sector I find it increasingly frustrating dealing with people that speak no English. It's also a disadvantage to the non-English speaker as they find it near impossible to be of any use or make use of their full rights of decent employment. I'm second generation black African so I know what I'm talking about (in case anyone of a liberal persuasion was about to start...)

I have been here nearly seven weeks now & it is still not enough time to really get a handle on the job hunt thing due to the time frames involved in the process. Again, on hindsight I should have come here with my family and been prepared to come to stay. It can be done that way and takes the stress of dividing the family unit which I think is totally unnecessary as it can be quite daunting on it’s own to be away in the unknown zone for a long strech like this.

What's it like for families? Is it child friendly? I've heard good things about ChCH

I have met several Kiwis that have welcomed me and quite openly said that NZ needs more folk like us who have something to offer (& NZ has something to offer us, a norm relationship scenario) as well as bringing a decent amount of $ into the country. Unfortunately these have not been situations where sitting in front of a prospective employer.

I'm quite shocked,I'd have thought that it would be more encouraging

The whole PC thing here can get to you as there are just so many contradictions in that area that it too can be quite off-putting.

Could you tell us more about this? We met a representative from a teacher recruitment agency in Auckland at an emigration exhibition in Surrey and he went on about the PC thing which he found annoying. He said that I'm not allowed to call my husband 'my husband' he's supposed to be 'my partner'. Now you'll find no greater advocate of feminism than me but when it becomes a crime to refer to your husband or wife as such then...well stop the world I want to get off. That kind of namby pamby behaviour serves no useful purpose, it does no favours to women (I don't think, anyway).

I haven’t experienced working here in NZ yet but that could drive a few nails home. I certainly feel a lack of sense of humor around as just trying to strike a laugh with waiters / waitresses etc is quite a task. The Brit SOH is certainly not here.

That's one thing I think I'll really miss about the UK. I love our self-deprecation and sense of irony. I met the author Terry Pratchett once and he said the 2nd largest market for his books is Czechoslovakia because they have a similar SOH to us Brits. No disrespect to the Kiwis or anyone else but I've noticed in cosmopolitan London that our SOH doesn't translate very well to all foreigners.

I don't think anyone will give you any flak, it's very noble of you to eat humble pie, I've had to do and it has quite a restorative effect. Best of luck to you Campbells and I wait with bated breath for the next instalment.

Phyllis

[Roger]

Gandalf will be glad to know that the is a great 'Cafe' culture in NZ. Certainly better than the UK, but then the weather is a great improvement.

Kiwi humour isn't the same as the Brits. Being 'whingers' certainly helps, and they're not as vulgar. Can't recollect any Kiwi comedians.

Kiwis are lovely folk and I thought I'd make a real effort to socialise with the locals. With almost two years experience I find that I am becoming drawn to socialising with expats - it's a better laugh and we have a shared experience.

Now I know why Indians/Chinese congregate. Bit sad really.
Roger

[kiwijetpilot]

OK I tried really hard not to respond, but Phyllis pushed me over the edge!

This is not personal Campbells, so don't take it as such. It is a response from a Kiwi who has worked in sales and marketing in NZ (before my airline days).

The medical doctors in NZ are 25% South Africans, blah blah blah.

That says more about South Africa than it does about NZ. South African doctors naturally want to leave ( ), and NZ is an easier destination for them than, say, the UK or the USA.

The NZ gov are very good at offering hand-outs to certain strays that land-up on their shores who can not even speak English.

Who?

I am totally amazed that so many Kiwis make it VERY clear that they do no like South Africans.

You wouldn't be if you knew a little history. Back in the days when white Zimbabweans were arriving on our shores in large numbers, they quickly gained a reputation as being loud, arrogant and intolerant of their new hosts. They wanted everything and they wanted it now. They made it very clear that New Zealanders were inferior to them in terms of work ethic and productivity, they said so loudly, and generally made a bad name for themselves. In short, they made the standard expat mistake of not assimilating their new surroundings. The attitude that Campbells seem to have picked up is a legacy of that. Many Kiwis have not forgotten, particularly if they had anything to do with these immigrants.

It is interesting to me that NZ still takes a large number of Zimbabwean farmers and helps them get back on their feet, despite this history.

Exploring this Kiwi dislike to South Africans, it jumps out that SArs are deemed as aggressive, true we are in terms of business we get out there and do it and quickly.

Well, we don't. We work to a different set of imperatives. If you try and apply South African standards to NZ, you will commit the second standard expat error. This is NZ - you are now in a different system. The smart expat will work within that system if they want to get ahead, not push and shove their way to what they want. We don't work like that, we don't WANT to work like that; if you do, you are probably in the wrong place.

My experience is that if you push the Kiwi it scares them completely and this is deemed as aggressive.

It doesn't "scare" them, it just annoys the crap out of them.

well I guess that is why Aus owns most of the NZ businesses?

Untrue.

I think with a bit of vooma there is potential here to make a buck, not in a paid salary job.

Which is why I have started my own business!

Having said that, salaries in NZ are based on supply and demand. If you are the best thing since sliced bread, guaranteed to make milllions for your prospective employer, you will earn accordingly. If you are coming from outside NZ, with no idea of how NZ works, who is who, where the lines are drawn, you are unlikely to command a giant salary TO START WITH.

I have friends here who have held down some serious global positions for really big multi-nationals and they have been told here that they don’t have NZ experience and therefore are not a player in the local NZ market.

Yeah. it doesn't matter what you might have done overseas, if you are selling into a NZ market, and you don't know that market, you are unlikely to be effective. Selling in a country the size of NZ has MUCH more to do with who you know, than who you knew in the US or SA or wherever.

Even if it was just an example of a parochial local practice, the fact is that that is the way it works here, so either get on with it or head offshore to a country that might "appreciate" your experience more.

he Kiwi (not generalizing) has the attitude of being different to the global player perspective and actually see themselves removed from the global playing fields. My take on that is that it is seriously detrimental to the NZ economy and the attraction of overseas investors as well as attracting the right kind of people into the country.

New Zealand is one of the most evangelistic nations on earth when it comes to promoting trade overseas, as we have seen in the past with stuff like Kiwifruit (otherwise known as a Chinese Gooseberry until the Kiwis got hold of it and turned it into a global brand). However, the last thing we want on our international trade missions is non-Kiwis! Especially in markets like China, this sends a confusing message. Kiwis are VERY active in China.

Difficult one to offer a solution to the job scene as Kiwis do not take applications too seriously if you are not here and once you are here you don’t have NZ experience so we’ll pay you a pittance. Kinda chasing potential contributors away or perhaps some form of protection scheme?

Neither. What they are saying is "prove yourself". If you have the right qualities, you will earn a commensurate salary, because at the end of the day NZ businesses are like any other - they want a competitive advantage, they want the best people, and they want to make piles of money. To say that NZ companies ignore expats as a matter of routine is laughable. If you are as good as you imply you are, you will be worth an appropriate amount on the open employment market - once you have some NZ experience. Why do you need that? Well, pretty obvious if you are trying to operate in a NZ market.

And why is it that some companies are less than impressed by qualified expats? Because NZ companies have been burnt many times by immigrants who either a) go home after nine months, b) shift companies at the earliest opportunity, or c) turn out to be less talented than was first suggested.

Good luck in your search, but I think things might go a bit more smoothly if you pack away your preconceptions and learn to adapt to the NZ way of doing things.

Damages

What's it like for families? Is it child friendly? I've heard good things about ChCH

It is child-friendly. Christchurch is nice, but cold and can be smoggy.

He said that I'm not allowed to call my husband 'my husband' he's supposed to be 'my partner'.

You can call him what you want! No such rule.

No disrespect to the Kiwis or anyone else but I've noticed in cosmopolitan London that our SOH doesn't translate very well to all foreigners.

NZ used to be very much British in terms of SOH. Over the years we have tended more to the US type of humour. We do have our own type of humour here, Brits may not understand it though...

[Tayberry]

Originally Posted by kiwijetpilot NZ used to be very much British in terms of SOH. Over the years we have tended more to the US type of humour. We do have our own type of humour here, Brits may not understand it though...

It's difficult to understand if you can't find it in the first place..

[jocalla]

Originally Posted by Tayberry It's difficult to understand if you can't find it in the first place..

made me laugh

[kiwijetpilot]

Made me laugh too, coming from a Scot...

[Campbells]

Hey Biggles,

No problem mate, it takes a lot more to offend me and I do sincerely hope that my post has not offended you for that matter.

I am a married bloke so therefore understand the term “difference of opinion”! (Bit of SOH)

I am not going to try to start a whole new topic on its own here but where I am coming from mate is thinking out of the box. The bottom line in the whole discussion is exactly that, don’t generalize. I may just be the best thing (in terms of employability) since sliced bread but the fact that I do not have NZ experience or for that matter, “proven” myself here counts for nothing really.

From my experience, which includes running my own business, it all about risk, if you are not going to take risks you are not going to get rewards, simple recipe? I would imagine that anyone sitting on the other side of the desk from me right now should pretty much understand that I have taken a huge risk in coming here to NZ and therefore displayed my ability to work outside the comfort zone whilst embracing the risk.

Bottom line in any business is people, how you deal with your staff, clients, existing & potential blah blah blah and then there’s the bottom line $. Personally I see it as a limited vision to say that a global performer can not work in NZ because NZ is so different to anywhere else. Are the Kiwis so different? From my experience I have learnt two very important factors and you will probably agree with:

1. Never underestimate anyone
2. Don’t generalize
3. Don’t let fear limit your achievable

The third one I threw in cause I’m a big Yoda fan.

In my experience companies pay people large amounts of money to perform risk analysis and are the day-to-day responsibility for certain level management, whether the risk is employing new staff or a new merger. So perhaps I am seem as risk in terms of non NZ experience, my point, NZ experience I can get up to speed with quickly, the twenty odd years sales, marketing, management experience should outweigh the scales on that one.

Bottom line mate, I didn’t come to NZ to make money (working for a boss), I am certainly aware of the acclimatizing into a new country & culture (I’ve done it before) but I do think that people can restrict their potential by thinking inside the box, I don’t and I’m certainly not on a mission to prove anyone wrong ( I gave up after marriage !) but there are the FEW that do just spring one on us whilst others are remain and say “ that was lucky”. Lucky is winning the LOTTO, succeeding in the business world requires determination, vision, drive and people skills. I got those ingredients so I just got to bake the cake.

It may take a while but I WILL get there.

In closing I must just share with the readers that if I do get into a situation where I experience frustration with regards to NZ in any way I just simply hop in my car take a ride into Auckland along Tamaki drive and bingo, I remember why I came here in the first place “lifestyle”, as they say, “don’t sweat the small stuff”.

Hope you all have a great long weekend and may the force be with you.

To really put the SOH to test:
I thought dentists didn’t prescribe to fudge!

Have a blast

Campbell

[kiwijetpilot]

Ah yes, sense of humour this one has! The Force is strong in him...

Nah, couldn't offend me if you tried. Leave that to the Mancunian.

I think there are two different perspectives here.

I have taken a huge risk in coming here to NZ and therefore displayed my ability to work outside the comfort zone whilst embracing the risk.

Sure... but many would just see you as an economic migrant, especially coming from South Africa. They would assume that the real risk was staying there, and that coming here represents an easy choice. It is a well-trodden path, you see. Kiwis are well aware of the lure of NZ, and the relative problems of SA, so to many we are simply doing you a favour. Correct or not, that would be the perception of many.

Personally I see it as a limited vision to say that a global performer can not work in NZ because NZ is so different to anywhere else. Are the Kiwis so different?

It isn't a matter of difference. It is more to do with connections. NZ works very much on the "it's not what you know, it's who you know" principle. I found this out the hard way, when I moved out of my original sales area to a new trade altogether (in the printing industry). It was still sales, but because I didn't have the network in place, I couldn't penetrate the market very well. I didn't lose accounts, gained a few new ones, but my performance wasn't stellar - largely because the managers didn't trust me, as I wasn't from the trade. They trusted my competition, who they knew from various trade shops before they got into sales.

Now, when it comes to using "global players", NZ has a long record of headhunting such people - our larger companies are full of Brits and Americans. Take the Warehouse for example, run by a Scot. Most of the insurance companies have Brits in senior management, etc. However, that is a different process altogether.

So perhaps I am seem as risk in terms of non NZ experience, my point, NZ experience I can get up to speed with quickly, the twenty odd years sales, marketing, management experience should outweigh the scales on that one.

I agree, and I am sure that your salary potential, after say a year, will reflect that.

I do think that people can restrict their potential by thinking inside the box

Once again I agree, but I also have to say that NZ'ers tend to lead the way when it comes to thinking outside the box. Our entire export and tourism industries are built on that principle. Who would have thought that people would pay to jump off bridges with a rubber band tied to their leg? Who would have thought you could take 20 people in a boat, and run them through water 2 inches deep at 60 mph? Who else could take an unknown fruit and turn it into a worldwide phenomenon? And so on. Even in terms of our history - first to give women the vote, leading the world in the treatment of indigenous peoples, etc. By the way, that is another reason why white South Africans sometimes get a frosty reception - we all remember apartheid, which was a bitterly opposed doctrine in NZ.

Anyway, as you can probably tell, from my perspective the glass is half full.

You will get there. Unlike so many others who post here, you can see past British TV, or British shops, or British papers, etc. You have recognised the most important part of being an immigrant - it isn't like home, don't expect it to be.

Have fun - I'm off to have a blast, as ordered!

[Campbells]

Hi mate,

Good on ya!

Glad we can agree to disagree. Yes, the force is strong & I do like Yoda’s saying , “we have come to do, try not or do not”.

In real terms there is a whole heap of things we can disagree on due to our own personal perspectives of things and in that sense I really admire your loyalty to your country. I just wish the Scots had shown more of that and perhaps we wouldn’t have gotten such a rough ride from the English.

Oops, look out for a whole new topic ! :scared:

I don’t agree with you the whole nine yards in terms of Kiwi’s being the pioneers of tourism or exporting certain commodities but I will give credit where due. Personally I think that NZ should be attracting a whole lot more tourists than it does and there are some areas that are open for improvement there. I refer, went to Britomart Centre in Auckland (where the trains & busses leave from) and it took me around forty minutes to find someone that knew anything about the trains running from Akl to outside Akl.

Going to various ticket offices at the Harbour (after the station)and getting a blank response didn’t give a whole heap of oozing with motivation outlook. Me being the determined character I am didn’t give up & found the information center in Princess Building (on the quay) and found a very helpful & knowledgeable Kiwi lady.

My point:
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or a Scotsman) to work out that that info should be available at the station that the trains leave from, well at least in the rest of the world. So perhaps New Zealand experience with openness to constructive criticism (as well as the solution) is the way forward ?

I do believe that what really takes big boots is to point the finger back inwards and ask if there is room for improvement and there always is.

Personally I think you have an A1 country here & I do not detract from any of my previous postings and being the realist I am I can guarantee you & the other readers that if I thought that NZ did not have lots to offer us I would change our flight plan accordingly.

Just for the record, I do term myself as South African but still a Scot really. I (and many South Africans) did not engineer or agree with Apartheid and the whole system of it. You ever met some decent Germans?, I have and lots of but yes, the few arrogant, painful ones but I chose to remember the nice ones that had dumped the chip on their shoulder and moved on to the present time status.

I am certainly not running away from South Africa but have the luxury to consider my options because I have these available to me being the holder of an EU passport as well as my brother in Canada whom offered to sponsor us to immigrate there, brrrr too cold. So NZ is not really doing me any big favours and I would hope that Kiwi’s would not adopt that attitude to any immigrant as the whole deal should be a win-win relationship as with any relationship, even employer / employee !

This is not an easy task to perform with a family, not quite the OE backpacker’s vibe. I don’t see the way forward as NZ offering me anything rather that NZ and us forging a relationship that offers the best for both parties and both parties do not use or abuse the situation.

Anyways mate to conclude, this is an awesome country and we will contribute to it and we will get something out of it. Hopefully that includes that get together for that beer we discussed previously.

No hard feelings I hope !

Enjoy your long weekend & I bid you & yours a good one!

Cheers

Campbell.

[kiwijetpilot]

I just wish the Scots had shown more of that and perhaps we wouldn’t have gotten such a rough ride from the English.

Yeah I can't believe you gave them all that oil. Wallace had the right idea.

I don’t agree with you the whole nine yards in terms of Kiwi’s being the pioneers of tourism or exporting certain commodities

We aren't THE pioneers, but my point was that we aren't slow about thinking outside our borders either.

it took me around forty minutes to find someone that knew anything about the trains running from Akl to outside Akl.

That's because we Kiwis exploit our leading-edge WiFi technology and get that stuff from the web via our PDA's... you want a printed timetable? Ha!
The state of Aucklands transport infrastructure is a well-known problem. The cereal guy may fix it... but then John Banks couldn't, so who knows. I sense a tax rise...

Just for the record, I do term myself as South African but still a Scot really.

In the same way that I am a Kiwi, but English really...

I (and many South Africans) did not engineer or agree with Apartheid and the whole system of it.

Sure, but the common perception outside SA is somewhat less charitable. Right or wrong, people form opinions based on generalisations.

Hopefully that includes that get together for that beer we discussed previously.

Sounds good to me.

No hard feelings I hope !

Nah, a bit of spirited discussion is good fun, not a reason to take offence. I am pretty hard to offend.

Enjoy the weekend!