Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Following on from this thread, what would you really have liked to have known when you came to NZ?

Dreamfish suggested knowing the following:

• How the ambulance service works
• What those funny grey boxes are kerbside (they're mailboxes)
• What the emergency number is (111)

I would like to add:

• When is rubbish collection day and where do you get bins or bags from?
• How does the ACC work?
• Where are the emergency centres? (they have a proper name, can't remember it right now)
• Website links to the various schools
• Names of the main supermarket chains
• Names of the main home stores (Bunnings, etc.)
• Where are the area's major shopping malls?
• Where are the swimming pools? ('cos there aren't exactly too many to list ;) )
• What procedures need to be followed when I buy a car - tax, WOF, etc.?
• What are my rights as a consumer?
• Which beaches are dogs allowed on?
• When are the public holidays?

This goes for Hutt Valley, Wellington, and Porirua. I don't honestly think it would take too much effort to pull it all together... what say you?

What would you have liked to have been told when you first got here, that would have helped with settling in, the emotional part as well as the practical part?

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

What the immigration requirements for Australia were.

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

You had to start a bun fight ;)

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

I'm too lazy to go look, but do you two actually post in the Oz forums? :p

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Yep just have ;)

Why, arnt we allowed to post on here :D

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Yep, me too.

Nz and Oz are secretly the same place anyway - just don't tell the kiwis ;) because they'll want more pay

Sorry to disrupt your thread Maz, which was a very worthy one and if you get some good replies it would merit being condensed into the Wiki or made a sticky.

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Did I say that? NO. Stop trying to bait me, it ain't workin'. :p :rofl: :D

:rofl: Cheeky! :rofl:

Yeah it might be good to get a comprehensive guide going. :)

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Me ........................no ;)

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

I say, put the questions & answers all into the BE Wiki.

It's about time we did better than nothing and took on Canada :o

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

ACC was certainly a mystery to me (but then most things were) when we first arrived so I think I did something on healthcare for the Wiki.... once.... long time ago.

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Most New Zealand as far as I can remember.

You don't see that many dog's on beaches over here........most of the ladies are very fit :thumbsup:

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Ya right :p :rofl:

Alrighty then! ... I just need to learn how to update it. :o I honestly do think it would be a good thing for the NZIS to hand out too, though. :)

I got a really fantastic crash course in what the ACC is and how it works when I met with my local rep for Southern Cross when I signed up with them. :thumbup:

:rolleyes: :rofl:

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

mmm... along those lines and off the top of my head......

• recylcling collection times, protocol - you can usually get that from a council addie in the local blue phone directory, although in ChCh they seem to put this on the TV ads.......nice people that they are!
• who is likely to try to rip me off as a "cashed-up Pomm"
• where the nearest Citizens Advice Beuraux is - as they can help with all sorts of problems
• how Work and Income can help me - nice people that they are
• how to get an IRD no
• that the Bank needs a letter from your employer to authorise the receipt of wages into a bank account......weird one, eh?
• how to join Flybuys
• the tiimes of day I can walk my dog (if I had one) or drive my car on the beach without breaking local byelaws (usually well posted)

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Good ones about the financial stuff, thanks Ian! :thumbup:

Re: Upon arrival, what would it have been really useful to have known?
 

Thanks Maz, couple more:

• I wish that I had truly understood the visa situation in more detail - so that I would have got the PR application geed up more and be closer to IRRV and being a passport-carrying Kiwi (well the kids anyway....)
• Oh yeah, that MAF don't always give you a hard time - our moved messed-up and I was worried about the inspection, but the MAF guy was fine - nike bloke....