bondipom

No Blue Bottles at Bondi, apparently they hang out at Manly when the water is 21c and there is an offshore wind.

Australia has a piss head element in politics. Someone in the NSW parliament had the temerity to suggest politicians turn up sober to vote on important issues. That one got soundly defeated yet they resist supermarkets having in store bottle shops.

Pollster

Sorry PP but- hang on!

So 'they' (those who live differently from the likes of you and me) are OK to live that way but when it comes to governing the country only 'normal' people like us are good enough for the job?

Now I am not political so won't argue about individuals effectiveness and so on but frankly I feel that an ex prossy who had a sex change has got a hellva lot more life experience to bring to the job than me and has every right to stand for election. Same goes for the skateboarding fella - but I suppose if he had a haircut and went about by car, he would be OK in your book too?

bondipom

Being a prozzer she'll have plenty of political contacts.

bondipom

Here we get developers on local councils instead.

jad n rich

Sounds quite exciting really, all we get is blokes in suits offering cash bribes

Pollster

wombat42

That mad communist lesbian woman, Helen Clarke does'nt care if she sends New Zealand bankrupt with her insane fairy land economic policies because she knows Australians are such suckers that we would bail out New Zealnd with some Billion dollar aid package like we do with PNG to stop it going bankrupt and like we do with other third world pacific countries.

jad n rich

Very true.

One of our councillors left and set up a skip cleaning business no body could work out why, 8 weeks later new laws been passed all building sites must have a skip on site, $200 a week for a single residential dwelling.

podgypossum

No, no..that is not what i meant, and i knew thats how someone would see it.

I agree that they have every right to be there. What i dont agree with is some of their whacky, liberal, tree hugger views!! I only posted their description to give those in here who have probably never heard of them a vague idea of who they are.

And lets be honest, whilst their alternative lifestyle does not bother me (as i had already said) or you, you cannot deny that those of us used to a more conventional type of politician would find it a little amusing!!! I often used to watch NZ parliament and laugh to myself wondering what people in UK would make of it all if it was transferred to the house of commons. By the same token i guess they laugh at ours!!! And no...some grey suit who drives a car is certainly not ok with me ...in all honesty no politician is ok with me...they are all a bunch or liars and misfits!!!

BritboyNZ

The problem with government in NZ is that we have too many bloody political parties. For a country of 4 million people (less than the population of Sydney!) we have:

Labour party, led by champagne socialist Helen
National led by good ol Don Brash
Greens
ACT
United Future - homophobic right wing bible thumpers
NZ First - anti immigration, can be thought of as the National Party in drag
Progressives - who the hell they are I have absolutely no farkin idea

and of course there's now the Maori Party.

No less than 8. yes EIGHT parties who have seats in Parliament. Our ballot papers at election time (by the time you've included all the crackpots who stand) are like War and Peace. There is very little difference between the minor parties, who do nothing but bang on about 1 or 2 issues. Eg for NZ first, it's immigration and law & order. ACT constantly drones on about 'tax cuts for all' the Greens tell us we're all in mortal danger from the perils of GE. As for United Future I am sure they are the Nazi party resurrected and would exterminate all gays and lesbians given half the chance.

We need to get rid of the crap (United future, the Progressives, NZ first spring to mind) have fewer parties.

Confused? you should be. And to add to the confusion we have MMP so you get 2 votes at election time, a constituency vote and a party vote :scared:

Russ

babybella

Going back to 1st post. 6 months is really not enough time to settle in any new place. I hated the UK for the first year, until I discovered Italy and how easy it was to get there. Aust and NZ are very different countries and in a lot of ways aus is much more conservative, eg no wine in supermarkets (Brisbane).
Now to the investment bankers, maybe you should of tried Wellington. It has a great night life, nice and compact, easy to get around. Fantastic bars, resturants (even very good Indian ones).
Coming back to the UK, If you don't have kids, maybe.
Personally I am sick of my teenagers being robbed or chased because they refuse to give up their mobil phones, money etc.
We now have a curfew in the area we live, the other night my 15 year old had his name taken by the police (he was at the local shops getting lollies before being driven to the movies).
Now before you all think we live in some getto, you can't by a average, small 4 bed house for under £300,00 here.
I just have to get my kids through to a point in there education till we can leave. Hopefully with all of them still intact.
Before I get ripped to shreads with England bashing, what are we doing here you ask, EARNING YOUR POUNDS.
ps somebody mentioned leaving Aus for more opportunities in England, what like the great weather and taking your kids on a weekend trip to the next sale, seems to be a very popular option for entertainment.

podgypossum

Know Wellington quite well as my husbands family come form Wanganui and his brother lives in Wellington (Lower Hutt) Yes it is a much better city entertainment wise, but i couldnt stand the weather!!..they dont call it windy Welly for nothing....plus its full of Pollies!! :scared:

ginni

PMSL

hubbard

We did consider Wellington but as Podgy Possum states the weather is atrocious, terrific gales and driving rain. Not for me, again if it was a life in Wellington or my life in London - I would take London anyday.

babybella

Let me see each to his own but :
Wellington with it's sometimes windy weather, often clear blue sky with no wind. Wonderful resturants and friendly people.
London with it's traffic, rubbish filled streets, crowds, terrible and expensive resturants, eastern european gypsies begging on the undergrown.

Not much of a choice in my book.