One of the biggest problems affecting NZ
Jul 5th 2007, 11:15 pm
#63
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 217
Re: One of the biggest problems affecting NZ
Im different to a lot of the people on here. I came on a working holiday visa with very little to lose from the experience.
While I had no intention of ever going back to the UK at that time, after the first month in NZ, I was thinking of leaving, to go somewhere else - probably back to South Africa. I know a couple of characters who have done that.
It just didn't have what I was expecting. Bear in mind that I didn't have access to this kind of forum. The only advice I had about NZ was from a mate who had briefly set foot in Wellington with the Navy.
NZ was pretty much of the radar with everyone I knew.
I had my trusty lonely planet guide as the only source of info and it sounded great. I'll have a piece of sub tropical Auckland I thought.
I know this sounds, well, dumb, but one of the reasons I came over was because I had read in Bike Magazine UK, that NZ had some of the best biking roads in the world. And it has. Granted.
But as I travelled around the North and south Island I quickly realised that NZ was not for me.
I know this sounds bloody minded but one reason why I didn't go back to England was because of all the knockers I had. Stuff like "You'll never get a job" blah blah blah.
Well I showed them! I stayed for the next 7.5 years. Did the boy meets girl thing, bought a house, got a job, and tried so fricking hard to settle here, but it is just not meant to be. I could stay here another 100 years and I know I would feel the same as when I first stepped of the plane in Auckland.
While I had no intention of ever going back to the UK at that time, after the first month in NZ, I was thinking of leaving, to go somewhere else - probably back to South Africa. I know a couple of characters who have done that.
It just didn't have what I was expecting. Bear in mind that I didn't have access to this kind of forum. The only advice I had about NZ was from a mate who had briefly set foot in Wellington with the Navy.
NZ was pretty much of the radar with everyone I knew.
I had my trusty lonely planet guide as the only source of info and it sounded great. I'll have a piece of sub tropical Auckland I thought.
I know this sounds, well, dumb, but one of the reasons I came over was because I had read in Bike Magazine UK, that NZ had some of the best biking roads in the world. And it has. Granted.
But as I travelled around the North and south Island I quickly realised that NZ was not for me.
I know this sounds bloody minded but one reason why I didn't go back to England was because of all the knockers I had. Stuff like "You'll never get a job" blah blah blah.
Well I showed them! I stayed for the next 7.5 years. Did the boy meets girl thing, bought a house, got a job, and tried so fricking hard to settle here, but it is just not meant to be. I could stay here another 100 years and I know I would feel the same as when I first stepped of the plane in Auckland.
Jul 5th 2007, 11:47 pm
#64
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 395
Re: One of the biggest problems affecting NZ
Mingus (if I may call you that). IMO, you need gota do, wot you gota do. Well the hell should you stay in NZ if it is not for you!? NZ will never be for everyone. Loads of people find that it does not suit them and for loads of reasons. Where (if you have not already said) are you heading to now, if you don't mind me asking?
Jul 5th 2007, 11:54 pm
#65
Here in Dunedin
Joined: May 2003
Location: Dunedin
Posts: 1,975
Re: One of the biggest problems affecting NZ
I love NZ, but I can see how it can be seen as boring.
Fact is, its a little country, sparsely populated with small, relatively tame cities, and a lot of its own talent is away overseas at any one time.
For many, who are used to having lots of choice in their leisure/career/spending activities, it might seem a bit nice, but boring.
And it won't be changing any time soon, there's no way Auckland or Wellington will ever compete with London, Paris, NY or wherever, and being 3 hours from Sydney is nothing like being 30min from Western Europe.
Fact is, its a little country, sparsely populated with small, relatively tame cities, and a lot of its own talent is away overseas at any one time.
For many, who are used to having lots of choice in their leisure/career/spending activities, it might seem a bit nice, but boring.
And it won't be changing any time soon, there's no way Auckland or Wellington will ever compete with London, Paris, NY or wherever, and being 3 hours from Sydney is nothing like being 30min from Western Europe.
Jul 6th 2007, 12:03 am
#66
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 395
Re: One of the biggest problems affecting NZ
I love NZ, but I can see how it can be seen as boring.
Fact is, its a little country, sparsely populated with small, relatively tame cities, and a lot of its own talent is away overseas at any one time.
For many, who are used to having lots of choice in their leisure/career/spending activities, it might seem a bit nice, but boring.
And it won't be changing any time soon, there's no way Auckland or Wellington will ever compete with London, Paris, NY or wherever, and being 3 hours from Sydney is nothing like being 30min from Western Europe.
Fact is, its a little country, sparsely populated with small, relatively tame cities, and a lot of its own talent is away overseas at any one time.
For many, who are used to having lots of choice in their leisure/career/spending activities, it might seem a bit nice, but boring.
And it won't be changing any time soon, there's no way Auckland or Wellington will ever compete with London, Paris, NY or wherever, and being 3 hours from Sydney is nothing like being 30min from Western Europe.
Bloody whinging pom!
Jul 6th 2007, 4:43 am
#67
Jedi Princess
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 2,089
Re: One of the biggest problems affecting NZ
Judging by many posts on this website, Perth seems to be one of the worst places to live in. Too isolated? Too 'Australian'? People often complained about Japan and I would say "However bad things are, at least it's not Korea"
Should "At least it's not Australia" be my new catchphrase in NZ?
Should "At least it's not Australia" be my new catchphrase in NZ?
What can I say? (I've said it all before on this site, usually getting slagged for it).
It's very,very parochial. They think it's a modern day garden of eden that ends at the NT/SA borders. They think a park near the city (with admittedly good views) overlooking a large river, and an overpriced, overcommercialised small island are state treasures we should all lavish accolades on.
The news and radio here is a joke. The carry on and on and on and on about half arsed, half witted, grossly overpaid AFL players. If world war 3 started tomorrow, the lead news story would be how Ben Cousins broke his thumbnail while trying to open a designer non-alcoholic beverage.
It's a boring,superficial, soulless place, full of the self-absorbed and pretentious. I could go on, but can't be arsed. I've been here way too long!
You might like to know the property market is way overpriced and there is a massive rental property crisis. If you want to move to OZ, Adelaide or somewhere further east would be my pick.
Hopefully that puts some light on it for you Avid. If you want more indepth detail, PM me and I'll try and dig up one of my 'real vents' about the place. This one was quite tame by comparison!
Last edited by kiwi_child; Jul 6th 2007 at 4:47 am.
