dalbatron

Hi Guys,
We've been here just over 3 years and we've only just found you!! Better late than never!!!
So anyone from Blenheim on here... As I say we moved here jan 2006 and to be quite honest have had terrible experience after terrible experience... We cant seem to make any solid friendships ( we had plenty in UK) and have now go to a point where we are thinking about moving back to the UK. I just wanted to know if it is us, are we doing something wrong? How do you guys find it.. I find that unless I am rude then I cannot get anything done. I have, and continue, to try and be nice and approachable but they seem to mistake this kindness for stupidity... Is it me? Is it the South Island, is it NZ???
Can anybody help me out here. I don't want to drag my family back to the UK if what we are experiencing is just us????

Dalbatron

BEVS

Hi there and welcome to this little NZ forum.

I'm sorry to read you've not had a good experience of your lives in Blenheim.
We don't live there , we live outside of Nelson and have done for nearly 5 years now. The first year was a bit of a struggle but we gradually managed to built up our own network of friends and we have some really close friends that I would count as family.

Perhaps a change of location would help. Several folks have done this.
Horrible experiences do tend to taint one's perception of a place . Bit like aversion therapy I spose.

Anyway, here is hoping that you find a solution to all this.

If you are thinking of returning to the UK, BE also has the Moving Back to the UK forum ( click the link) which you might also find helpful and supportive.

P2L

Hi Dalbatron

We were in Blenheim ( well Renwick) for 2 years and have just moved to Christchurch, because of work.

Blenheim does take some getting used to You constantly have to keep making the effort. Lots of people are willing to pass the time of day with you, but friendships such as you may have had in the UK is another matter. Most people in Marlborough have grown up and gone through school together and now their kids are repeating the process, so there are memories and history there that you may never break in to.

I think the majority of our Kiwi friends have come from either kids or hobbies and it took a lot of trying to be accepted, but we didn't give up and got there in the end.

Good Luck.

PM me if you want to anytime




PM if you would prefer to.

Wellington Will

I can't really imagine living anywhere except one of the top three cities.

Here in Welly people are more transient, they have come from other parts of the world or are passing through because of jobs, and everybody accepts new faces all the time. It's easy here to meet new people even in the pubs or at the skate park with the kids.

My understanding is that it's much harder to be accepted outside of the bit commercial centres. The communities are tighter and older and, bless them, many Kiwis are not as friendly as they are portrayed. And the sense of humour is different, less subtle. That makes it hard to spark.

I think P2L has got it about right with his analysis.

Sue

Hi dalbatron

I am not in NZ but wanted to welcome you to the site. We've got loads of members here who have probably gone though similar feelings as yourself and I know they will reach out to you. We started this site so that British expats all over the world could become a support system for each other, because it's often very hard when you move abroad and you don't have your extended family and friends around you. Visit often and post here, and whatever you decide, whether you stay in NZ or are looking to move back, you will find many here who will only be too happy to share their experiences and stories.

Sue

P2L

Blenheim is rapidly turning into a transient town; particularly with the rapid expansion of the viticulture industry, and there in lies the problem.
Blenheims' population has grown by over 300% in under 15 years
and what was once a small farming comunity is now trying to cater for migrants from all four corners of the world. Some are educated folk with specialist skills, however, lots are from the Islands and are employed in the vineyards. Rightly or wrongly ( depending on who you are talking to) these migrants have had a bad press both locally and nationally.

Some locals welcome the migrants and the changes they have bought to the area, but I have to say there is a large percentage ( mostly on the local council!!!) who are fighting tooth and nail to preserve the 'old' Blenheim.

If it's any conselation dalbatron, I know lots of Kiwis who are not local that think that the those who are Blenehim born and bred are a 'funny lot'

Oh and HE is a she

southerner

Go on then - which in your mind are the top 3 cities?

I would hazard a guess that IF as inferred the 'transiency' of a city is something that makes it easier for immigrants to settle in then Queenstown (tourism) and Dunedin (University) would probably top the field alongside Auckland.

love30stm

I thought the top three cities are Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, correct me if im wrong?

Wellington Will

Of course, what I should have said was the "top four" cities.

So that would be, in order: DUNEDIN, Wellington, Christchurch then Auckland.

Though your point about Queenstown is well made.

Wellington Will

"He is a she"

Oh. Apologies, I'm still getting used to all these little symbols and such.

southerner

I guess "Top" means different things to different people. To me it read as best, perhaps to others it read as biggest, and to others iit might be the northernmost (Whangarei, Auckland and Hamilton).

Wellington Will

Ambiguity is the coward's strong opinion.

Frenchy

Been in Blenheim 2 and 1/2 years ago and yes it does take some getting used to!!! However I have just returned from a UK trip back with my 17 year old daughter who reflected on her life here and feels Blenheim has far more to offer her in the way of freedom a sense of free spirit and safety that Birmingham offered!!! She was homesick for Blenheim!!!!

I have made lots f friends via work etc but they still feel almost temporary!! I think it takes years to get that familiarity that you had in the UK if ever you actually manage it!!

Its a country with lots of opportunities and some lovely places to live.

I have sent you a pm... call me

Am Loolah

Hi Frenchy - thank you for your words of wisdom to the OP. As yet they have only made this 1 post and need 3 to access their PM's. Hopefully they'll be along again soon.