Read it and weep Jafa's
#17
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
Does it matter how big it is?
It'll still spend half it's life stuck in a Jafajam trying to get over the Harbour Bridge!
It'll still spend half it's life stuck in a Jafajam trying to get over the Harbour Bridge!
#18
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
I guess it's no different than the Brits who get annoyed with Londoners.
The only thing that irritates me is that many people are not living in Auckland because they want to, so it's a bit hard to criticise them. Auckland is where their jobs or families are. I have had several clients over the last few months from out of town who are moving here to get better jobs. The only way around this is to encourage innovative working practices like remote working or having some sort of assisted development in other towns. This is unlikely to happen though.
The only thing that irritates me is that many people are not living in Auckland because they want to, so it's a bit hard to criticise them. Auckland is where their jobs or families are. I have had several clients over the last few months from out of town who are moving here to get better jobs. The only way around this is to encourage innovative working practices like remote working or having some sort of assisted development in other towns. This is unlikely to happen though.
#19
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 0
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
Myself & OH consider that it's all relative. We used to live in Burton-on-Trent & the traffic jams there with only two small bridges to cross the Trent were dreadful. If you left at the wrong time then you were done for time-wise. So it may depend on what you've come from. We never had the choice of catching a ferry up the A38 to Burnaston or Derby. It was the car or nowt.
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
#21
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 13
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
As this is a forum useful for migrants considering a move to NZ, the claim above needs a lot of caveats, most notably climate and weather, local economy, social and cultural opportunities, and locality.
Dunedin was settled by Scots. "We shall found a New Edinburgh at the Antipodes that shall one day rival the old", predicted its Scottish founder, and indeed, for those hardy Scots who love Scotland's wind, rain and cold, it does so rival. It's also a great city for students who live in inadequately heated flats and enjoy the tradition of burning sofas in the streets. Alcohol proves to be the best anti-freeze and is consumed in large quantities. Please take this comment with good humour; we're talking stereotypes here, not reality.
However, Dunedin is not a city, it is a town. It has a population of about 125,000 with rural land around (in contrast with Edinburgh whose surrounding population is closer to a million). It is by NZ standards historic (meaning 19th century). It has its attractions, but for it to be promoted as the "best" would involve many qualifiers.
Auckland at 1.4 million population is larger than greater-Edinburgh, and its growth is probably due to its climate and location. The further north you get in NZ, the warmer, drier and more pleasant the climate. Auckland is the commercial hub of the nation, thus people looking for jobs have more possibility of finding them. People looking to start businesses will find a larger critical mass necessary to turn a profit.
Culturally, it took a back seat to Wellington two decades ago, but that has changed with the complete reinvention of the central business district that now has quadrupled its population with old-town redevelopment that turned backpacker-drunk-slums into trendy districts along the waterfront. Many old Victorian office buildings have been converted into shoe-box sized apartments that enable younger folks to buy a place for $150,000 in the middle of the most trendy part of the country.
Socially, it is the most diverse part of the nation, with many migrants and not the kind of racism found elsewhere - people of late curse Asian drivers but this is a behavioural-based racism (since many Asian immigrants will never have driven a car before they came to NZ, and therefore lack the inherent skills).
Speaking of driving, it is always amusing to hear locals say that New Zealanders are the worst drivers in the world. This is based on a lack of global experience and comparing to how Kiwis used to drive when few of them could afford cars. Try Greece, Boston, etc to experience what bad driving really means. What is notable is the absence of motorways. In countries that build limited access highways, a stock of secondary roads suddenly became lower-trafficked. Here, except for a few in Auckland, the nation still travels on the roads England knew 50 years ago. This means 100 kph limits on roads that require skill to drive at that speed - especially when shared with large log or milk trucks. It means hair-raising bicycle travel and no place for pedestrians (except on NZ's tramping trails which are renown).
The big downside of Auckland right now is the fact that everyone wants to move there, meaning that home prices are bid up. This is driven mostly by migrants who can pay more, and by a change to the Building Act about the time of the global financial crunch that saw a drop in development. It also is aggravated by quantitative easing (what a banker friend of mine calls legal counterfeiting by government) of the major world currencies and the fact that the PM used to be a currency trader. Thus speculators decide that the NZ dollar is a safe place, and the exchange rate is probably 20% higher than it should be.
Having said that, the cost of doing business is lower, taxes are simpler, and the cost of living in many areas is lower. Food costs more, but this in part is because it is fresh and closer to nature. The beef is grass-fed not because the farmers are more enlightened, but because there is a lot of land, a lot of rain in the hinterlands, and feedlot-fed beef makes no sense. Food is fresh, seasonal and flavourful, as well as probably better for ones long-term health.
For the person who wants city life, there is no choice - Auckland is the only city. For the person who loves the climate and local economies of Scotland, Dunedin offers charm, low-prices, and a step back in time. It's cheap, it's surrounded by stunning natural beauty, and it's isolated.
Of course there are other choices as well. Wellington is an awful location propped up by tax money meaning it has a great cultural life for such a small town. Awful refers to the wind - they selected the site on a windless day, without staying long enough to realise it was a natural venturi between the North and South Islands. If you are not bothered by the gales blowing through, or the frequent earthquakes (safe ones) the culture is enriched.
Nelson is an oddity. It attracts a lot of migrants who think it sounds like Paradise, but when they get there, they are disappointed. It has good weather and some nice national parks nearby, but its local economy is limited... primarily blue-collar food industries. As a mayor once said - it's the kind of place people come to die, meaning they made their money elsewhere, then move and live off their proceeds. It's quiet, small-town and best for folks who enjoy the comfort of an old shoe.
Christchurch is the tough one. It is all about the earthquake that destroyed much of its history in a matter of minutes. Many of the young have left, permanently. It is a construction site with plenty of jobs as the government spends billions rebuilding on a swamp that never should have been built in the first place. The devastation was shocking and whole neighbourhoods are redlined - 10,000 buildings bowled over. For any migrant thinking about moving there, buy a return plane ticket first and check it out. Also, note that while the average temperature sounds balmy, this is a product of cold, damp winters and foehn winds that bring a hot summer blow off the Southern Alps... not nearly as pleasant as the statistics would suggest. If you do move to ChCH, look to the hills to stay out of the damp - the flats were built on swampland.
Other than that, NZ is about small towns that for the most part are shrinking as the economy in Auckland sucks up all the resources, people and the challenges that come with growth.
Compared to the rest of the world, NZ offers many "best" places, but it's more like a matrix of what is the migrant values rather than a bold claim based on a particular criteria. If it is low home prices, you can buy homes in the Gore District outside of Dunedin for under NZ-$50,000, but then you have to want to live there. If you want to live in the bush with no electricity or civilisation, try Great Barrier Island where a beach front section can be had for $150,000 and you really will be stepping back to 19th century pioneer life (and some really hermit-like neighbours). If you want upmarket bohemian and beautiful beaches a 35 minute boat ride from the city, look at Waiheke Island, but expect $500,000 as the entry fee (or $22 million for a recent Brit's home by the sea... a long story in itself). The variety in NZ is extreme, but its safe to say that home prices are an accurate representation of what people feel is "best". The higher the price, the more reasons people want to live there.
Dunedin was settled by Scots. "We shall found a New Edinburgh at the Antipodes that shall one day rival the old", predicted its Scottish founder, and indeed, for those hardy Scots who love Scotland's wind, rain and cold, it does so rival. It's also a great city for students who live in inadequately heated flats and enjoy the tradition of burning sofas in the streets. Alcohol proves to be the best anti-freeze and is consumed in large quantities. Please take this comment with good humour; we're talking stereotypes here, not reality.
However, Dunedin is not a city, it is a town. It has a population of about 125,000 with rural land around (in contrast with Edinburgh whose surrounding population is closer to a million). It is by NZ standards historic (meaning 19th century). It has its attractions, but for it to be promoted as the "best" would involve many qualifiers.
Auckland at 1.4 million population is larger than greater-Edinburgh, and its growth is probably due to its climate and location. The further north you get in NZ, the warmer, drier and more pleasant the climate. Auckland is the commercial hub of the nation, thus people looking for jobs have more possibility of finding them. People looking to start businesses will find a larger critical mass necessary to turn a profit.
Culturally, it took a back seat to Wellington two decades ago, but that has changed with the complete reinvention of the central business district that now has quadrupled its population with old-town redevelopment that turned backpacker-drunk-slums into trendy districts along the waterfront. Many old Victorian office buildings have been converted into shoe-box sized apartments that enable younger folks to buy a place for $150,000 in the middle of the most trendy part of the country.
Socially, it is the most diverse part of the nation, with many migrants and not the kind of racism found elsewhere - people of late curse Asian drivers but this is a behavioural-based racism (since many Asian immigrants will never have driven a car before they came to NZ, and therefore lack the inherent skills).
Speaking of driving, it is always amusing to hear locals say that New Zealanders are the worst drivers in the world. This is based on a lack of global experience and comparing to how Kiwis used to drive when few of them could afford cars. Try Greece, Boston, etc to experience what bad driving really means. What is notable is the absence of motorways. In countries that build limited access highways, a stock of secondary roads suddenly became lower-trafficked. Here, except for a few in Auckland, the nation still travels on the roads England knew 50 years ago. This means 100 kph limits on roads that require skill to drive at that speed - especially when shared with large log or milk trucks. It means hair-raising bicycle travel and no place for pedestrians (except on NZ's tramping trails which are renown).
The big downside of Auckland right now is the fact that everyone wants to move there, meaning that home prices are bid up. This is driven mostly by migrants who can pay more, and by a change to the Building Act about the time of the global financial crunch that saw a drop in development. It also is aggravated by quantitative easing (what a banker friend of mine calls legal counterfeiting by government) of the major world currencies and the fact that the PM used to be a currency trader. Thus speculators decide that the NZ dollar is a safe place, and the exchange rate is probably 20% higher than it should be.
Having said that, the cost of doing business is lower, taxes are simpler, and the cost of living in many areas is lower. Food costs more, but this in part is because it is fresh and closer to nature. The beef is grass-fed not because the farmers are more enlightened, but because there is a lot of land, a lot of rain in the hinterlands, and feedlot-fed beef makes no sense. Food is fresh, seasonal and flavourful, as well as probably better for ones long-term health.
For the person who wants city life, there is no choice - Auckland is the only city. For the person who loves the climate and local economies of Scotland, Dunedin offers charm, low-prices, and a step back in time. It's cheap, it's surrounded by stunning natural beauty, and it's isolated.
Of course there are other choices as well. Wellington is an awful location propped up by tax money meaning it has a great cultural life for such a small town. Awful refers to the wind - they selected the site on a windless day, without staying long enough to realise it was a natural venturi between the North and South Islands. If you are not bothered by the gales blowing through, or the frequent earthquakes (safe ones) the culture is enriched.
Nelson is an oddity. It attracts a lot of migrants who think it sounds like Paradise, but when they get there, they are disappointed. It has good weather and some nice national parks nearby, but its local economy is limited... primarily blue-collar food industries. As a mayor once said - it's the kind of place people come to die, meaning they made their money elsewhere, then move and live off their proceeds. It's quiet, small-town and best for folks who enjoy the comfort of an old shoe.
Christchurch is the tough one. It is all about the earthquake that destroyed much of its history in a matter of minutes. Many of the young have left, permanently. It is a construction site with plenty of jobs as the government spends billions rebuilding on a swamp that never should have been built in the first place. The devastation was shocking and whole neighbourhoods are redlined - 10,000 buildings bowled over. For any migrant thinking about moving there, buy a return plane ticket first and check it out. Also, note that while the average temperature sounds balmy, this is a product of cold, damp winters and foehn winds that bring a hot summer blow off the Southern Alps... not nearly as pleasant as the statistics would suggest. If you do move to ChCH, look to the hills to stay out of the damp - the flats were built on swampland.
Other than that, NZ is about small towns that for the most part are shrinking as the economy in Auckland sucks up all the resources, people and the challenges that come with growth.
Compared to the rest of the world, NZ offers many "best" places, but it's more like a matrix of what is the migrant values rather than a bold claim based on a particular criteria. If it is low home prices, you can buy homes in the Gore District outside of Dunedin for under NZ-$50,000, but then you have to want to live there. If you want to live in the bush with no electricity or civilisation, try Great Barrier Island where a beach front section can be had for $150,000 and you really will be stepping back to 19th century pioneer life (and some really hermit-like neighbours). If you want upmarket bohemian and beautiful beaches a 35 minute boat ride from the city, look at Waiheke Island, but expect $500,000 as the entry fee (or $22 million for a recent Brit's home by the sea... a long story in itself). The variety in NZ is extreme, but its safe to say that home prices are an accurate representation of what people feel is "best". The higher the price, the more reasons people want to live there.
#22
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
Yes. New Zealand being renouned globally for it's modern, well planned and appealing cities.
It's not so much a list of "best" but "least shit" isn't it? No one comes on holiday here and says "Well we could have seen the Southern Alps, volanoes, geothermal things, skiing, amazing wild life etc. etc....but you know we just loved the city so much we descided not to bother". When visitors come to cities we lock them inside casinos.
It's not so much a list of "best" but "least shit" isn't it? No one comes on holiday here and says "Well we could have seen the Southern Alps, volanoes, geothermal things, skiing, amazing wild life etc. etc....but you know we just loved the city so much we descided not to bother". When visitors come to cities we lock them inside casinos.
#23
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
Anyone who wants 'city life' has to move to Auckland.
I think that should read.... anyone who wants city life shouldn't move to New Zealand. You never feel that buzz of living in a big city when you're in Auckland, the nightlife is dull, the music scene is patchy at best, there's never really any big sporting events, the shopping is crap and people generally don't visit the city centre as there's very little to do. But with all this in mind you still have to put up with the big city problems like traffic, expensive houses and rough areas.
I love hearing how cold it is down here, with the way people go on about it you think the difference between Auckland & Dunedin is like the Sahara and Siberia when in reality it's a few degrees. In Auckland during the winter our house was cold and needed heating, exactly the same down here. In the summer in Auckland it was hot and I got sunburnt, it's exactly the same here but it rains less down here.
So in summary, we'd all be better off in Australia.
I think that should read.... anyone who wants city life shouldn't move to New Zealand. You never feel that buzz of living in a big city when you're in Auckland, the nightlife is dull, the music scene is patchy at best, there's never really any big sporting events, the shopping is crap and people generally don't visit the city centre as there's very little to do. But with all this in mind you still have to put up with the big city problems like traffic, expensive houses and rough areas.
I love hearing how cold it is down here, with the way people go on about it you think the difference between Auckland & Dunedin is like the Sahara and Siberia when in reality it's a few degrees. In Auckland during the winter our house was cold and needed heating, exactly the same down here. In the summer in Auckland it was hot and I got sunburnt, it's exactly the same here but it rains less down here.
So in summary, we'd all be better off in Australia.
#24
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 184
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
Anyone who wants 'city life' has to move to Auckland.
I think that should read.... anyone who wants city life shouldn't move to New Zealand. You never feel that buzz of living in a big city when you're in Auckland, the nightlife is dull, the music scene is patchy at best, there's never really any big sporting events, the shopping is crap and people generally don't visit the city centre as there's very little to do. But with all this in mind you still have to put up with the big city problems like traffic, expensive houses and rough areas.
I love hearing how cold it is down here, with the way people go on about it you think the difference between Auckland & Dunedin is like the Sahara and Siberia when in reality it's a few degrees. In Auckland during the winter our house was cold and needed heating, exactly the same down here. In the summer in Auckland it was hot and I got sunburnt, it's exactly the same here but it rains less down here.
So in summary, we'd all be better off in Australia.
I think that should read.... anyone who wants city life shouldn't move to New Zealand. You never feel that buzz of living in a big city when you're in Auckland, the nightlife is dull, the music scene is patchy at best, there's never really any big sporting events, the shopping is crap and people generally don't visit the city centre as there's very little to do. But with all this in mind you still have to put up with the big city problems like traffic, expensive houses and rough areas.
I love hearing how cold it is down here, with the way people go on about it you think the difference between Auckland & Dunedin is like the Sahara and Siberia when in reality it's a few degrees. In Auckland during the winter our house was cold and needed heating, exactly the same down here. In the summer in Auckland it was hot and I got sunburnt, it's exactly the same here but it rains less down here.
So in summary, we'd all be better off in Australia.
Last edited by shocked kiwi; Jun 7th 2013 at 12:21 am.
#28
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
mmmm I see it still goes on over there in NZ! The rivalry between the North and South haha!! Nothing changes eh!
#30
Re: Read it and weep Jafa's
I think that should read.... anyone who wants city life shouldn't move to New Zealand. You never feel that buzz of living in a big city when you're in Auckland, the nightlife is dull, the music scene is patchy at best, there's never really any big sporting events, the shopping is crap and people generally don't visit the city centre as there's very little to do. But with all this in mind you still have to put up with the big city problems like traffic, expensive houses and rough areas.