Originally Posted by mazi

yes i know this - but my gripe was that the home owner still has to pay the 4% - it makes no difference where it goes in the end - the home owner still loses a wad of dosh

Originally Posted by mazi

Probably not the ideal career, no

Originally Posted by uk+kiwi

Afternoon (UK time). Nora why aren't you in bed? Have you been out/entertaining and having fun in NZ?? Or did the sandfly itch wake you up?

Originally Posted by Batty

Hiya. I've an ear infection and on antibotics and thought I'd it wouldn't do any harm to 'just have one wee vodka before going to bed' and 'I'll just have a lookesee at BE for a minute' Bad call. You've all got an extra hour this morning haven't you? Lucky - I could do with an extra hour today seeing as I only woke up at 12!!!!

Originally Posted by mazi

I agree with much of what you're saying - but remember I am basing what I think on my experiences there too, how I was treated, the things I saw etc. I think it's wonderful that you like it there - and I have apologised in advance for offending anyone in other areas of this site. Many people don't like pizza, I think they're mad, but I don't care if they tell me they don't like it, even when they say they hate all pizza and they clearly haven't tried all pizzas. Similarly, I wasn't too bothered when everyone I met in NZ told me how cr*p England was, until I started discovering they had never been there. Having been to NZ (for a long time) I am qualified to talk about the things that annoy me.

I have a couple of Kiwi friends who didn't mind me not liking sport too - I have mentioned one of them on the 'great' thread. No one's life is 100% perfect (well, i don't think - maybe there are people out there who think theirs is) but it so happens that my life was about 99% away from being 100% in NZ so I had to leave - I stuck it for three years as I would hate to be someone who didn't try, but for three years (barring the odd day here and there of course) I was miserable and as a result, ill.

Yes I am enjoying talking about all the bad things - you will see from my first entry the relief I expressed about finally being able to say these things when i have previously had to keep my mouth shut. If you don't want to read bad things, don't look at the neg thread. I have added some positive things too on the "everything's great' thread- I also like to think I am fair and when i see/experience something good I make no bones about saying I think it's good. But ditto bad.

I have added a nice photo for you to look at on the 'great' thread. Actually it's not one of our best of that particular view but I can't be bothered to trawl through them all to find a better one.

We'll have to agree to disagree about our feelings about NZ, but truly, I am happy you are happy. It's nice to hear.

Get a new job! What do you do?

Originally Posted by kev&sarah

Got some Nurofen if it'll help , or try a hot water bottle for the ear!!!

Hope you feel better

Originally Posted by Batty

the hangover head is sort of negating the earache
Ah no, I do feel a bit better actually - sometimes you just need a good blowout!

Originally Posted by brussels_sprout

Sounds like we will be losing plenty of weight in NZ , then. I will probably start dreaming of the Cote D'Or and Neuhaus delights of Belgium after ooooo 24 hours. Does anyone else think the chocolate in NZ is poor ? Do they put loads of sugar and vegetable fat in it like in England ?

Originally Posted by mazi

And what the hell do they cook the chips in? I am not being dramatic when I say I almost vomited the first time I tried them. I tried them several times after too, from different dogburger-beetroot shops and they were always the same. I did stop eating them in answer to those of you who may be about to ask me why I continued in vain to stomach the things. And what kind of devil's stomach lining is that fish terakihi?

like the snapper though - I'll get me to the positive things thread right away!

Originally Posted by sky

Onion dip

Originally Posted by soulflour

The agents don't get to keep the 4% for earnings, of that they'd get maybe 2% (less tax) if they've both listed AND sold the property, or 1% if they've listed or only sold. The commissions are high because REAgents work purely on comission, they're not salaried like in the UK. The office I work in has looked into this, but there just isn't the stock levels/buyer levels that there are in the UK (surprising, but then we have to remember that NZ ISN'T THE UK) ha ha ha

So all real estate agents are self-employed working under the banner of a branded business.

I'm lucky enough to be sat in a real estate agency right now, on a sunday, lucky lucky lucky ( )

Originally Posted by SecretSquirrel

done that one already sky (they called it kiwi dip in the circles i mixed in)...... but your are dead right - it is just wrong isnt it?

Originally Posted by Jack Daws

Mmm.. I wanna try this

Originally Posted by sky

Don't do it :scared: