Whiners welcome
Oct 16th 2006, 9:09 am
#31
Give us a kiss
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Peka Peka - Kapiti Coast - Nice!
Posts: 3,140
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by SarahB
LOL.... 
I wouldnt have even thought about having another bub back in UK. I'm getting too old for a start!!
Oooooh, can you imagine having nooky on the beaches here.... lol.... sand in all kinds of places and sandfly bites could be MOST painful!!
I wouldnt have even thought about having another bub back in UK. I'm getting too old for a start!!
Oooooh, can you imagine having nooky on the beaches here.... lol.... sand in all kinds of places and sandfly bites could be MOST painful!!
Oct 16th 2006, 10:49 am
#32
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,038
bugger, bugger and even more buggers!
Bugger……….just as I have left, they all come out again!
Can’t offer free lifts to the airport anymore, bugger, bugger and thrice bugger!
Can’t offer free lifts to the airport anymore, bugger, bugger and thrice bugger!
Oct 16th 2006, 7:04 pm
#33
By name and by nature
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,852
Re: Whiners welcome
Hey Nice Guy! How's it going? Are you missing NZ?
Personally, I have no problems with the Kiwis - I think they're the same as people anywhere. Most are lovely, some not so lovely.
On the books front though - check out Trade Me. Especially the bulk lots - I've bought loads for very little money. If you're an avid reader like me I think it is a bit worrying before you get here or when you've just got here that 1. books are expensive 2. you're not sure if you can get your favourite authors. BUT.. I've discovered so many new authors here that I'm having a ball. I've never had such a pile of unread books in my life Notwithstanding the fact that SOME people go to the library and have none to swap 
I just keep getting piles of them
Personally, I have no problems with the Kiwis - I think they're the same as people anywhere. Most are lovely, some not so lovely.
On the books front though - check out Trade Me. Especially the bulk lots - I've bought loads for very little money. If you're an avid reader like me I think it is a bit worrying before you get here or when you've just got here that 1. books are expensive 2. you're not sure if you can get your favourite authors. BUT.. I've discovered so many new authors here that I'm having a ball. I've never had such a pile of unread books in my life
Notwithstanding the fact that SOME people go to the library and have none to swap I just keep getting piles of them
Oct 16th 2006, 7:07 pm
#34
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
Re: Whiners welcome
I think I might be skiipping over Budowsky's posts in future... 
Everyone keeps saying, though, how expensive stuff is, compared to the UK. I find the UK very expensive, compared to the US. Is there anything that you (general "you") find cheaper, on the whole, than the UK?
Everyone keeps saying, though, how expensive stuff is, compared to the UK. I find the UK very expensive, compared to the US. Is there anything that you (general "you") find cheaper, on the whole, than the UK?
Oct 16th 2006, 7:42 pm
#35
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2006
Location: Auckland
Posts: 1,631
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by Genesis
poor driving and crappy sausages. (D
Oct 16th 2006, 7:59 pm
#36
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,010
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by kwprwn
oh god yes, I agree with both of those, we did find nicer sausages at the butchers rather than those sizzler things in Pak'n'save
So far you're not scaring me about NZ. Come on, give it your best whingeing shot.
K.
Oct 16th 2006, 9:01 pm
#37
Banned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 125
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by kwprwn
oh god yes, I agree with both of those, we did find nicer sausages at the butchers rather than those sizzler things in Pak'n'save
There is a butchers in Island Bay Wellington who specialises in sausages. Can get all English sausages. Yum!
Oct 16th 2006, 9:10 pm
#38
Banned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 125
Re: Whiners welcome
Hmm havent put you off?
In answer to your questions :
How easy is it to get a job? Depends on what you do, and where you come from (UK or elsewhere).
Exchanging driving licence? Easy? Easy.
Signing up to a doctor? Easy.
Getting car insurance? How expensive? Depends on the car - not really.
Getting credit cards? Do banks whine about local credit history? Nope.
Qualifications recognized by Government/employers? Again, depends where you come from. UK is easy.
Phone service good? Broadband availability? Yeah its ok.
This is not exactly a third world country!
In answer to your questions :
How easy is it to get a job? Depends on what you do, and where you come from (UK or elsewhere).
Exchanging driving licence? Easy? Easy.
Signing up to a doctor? Easy.
Getting car insurance? How expensive? Depends on the car - not really.
Getting credit cards? Do banks whine about local credit history? Nope.
Qualifications recognized by Government/employers? Again, depends where you come from. UK is easy.
Phone service good? Broadband availability? Yeah its ok.
This is not exactly a third world country!
Oct 16th 2006, 9:14 pm
#39
Banned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,467
Re: Whiners welcome
Fruit and veg is cheap when in season.
Salvation Army is cheap ... I go there lots now
Garage sales are mega cheap and it's amazing what you find.
Some electrical goods are cheap but they usually break after one use so I'd wouldn't recommend buying them.
Metal stuff seems cheap, you know like metal tubular beds and shelving, shids etc, etc.
Cars compared to three years ago are cheap.
I'll think of more in a bit.
Salvation Army is cheap ... I go there lots now
Garage sales are mega cheap and it's amazing what you find.
Some electrical goods are cheap but they usually break after one use so I'd wouldn't recommend buying them.
Metal stuff seems cheap, you know like metal tubular beds and shelving, shids etc, etc.
Cars compared to three years ago are cheap.
I'll think of more in a bit.
Oct 16th 2006, 9:19 pm
#40
Banned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 125
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by Maz
I think I might be skiipping over Budowsky's posts in future...
Everyone keeps saying, though, how expensive stuff is, compared to the UK. I find the UK very expensive, compared to the US. Is there anything that you (general "you") find cheaper, on the whole, than the UK?
Everyone keeps saying, though, how expensive stuff is, compared to the UK. I find the UK very expensive, compared to the US. Is there anything that you (general "you") find cheaper, on the whole, than the UK?
At first when you arrive and you come with pounds, everything seems cheap. It's only when you start earning $$ that you start to get a feel for it.
On the whole I think it's cheaper to live. Houses are cheaper in most areas. Areas like Ponsonby, Parnel, Oriental parade, Mount Vic are expensive but nowhere near what you'd pay for a similar house in the UK. I bought a 3 bed 1900 villa in Berhampore, Wellington with a garage, garden etc in 2004 for 350K. I live about 15-25 minutes from the cbd in rush-hour. Cars are cheaper I think. Activities are cheaper - stuff like diving, ski-ing etc.
For me the expensive stuff is going back to England. But then places like Fiji, OZ, Samoa are cheaper...
Roundabouts....
Oct 16th 2006, 9:28 pm
#41
Banned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 125
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by Budowsky
Just being honest.
At first when you arrive and you come with pounds, everything seems cheap. It's only when you start earning $$ that you start to get a feel for it.
On the whole I think it's cheaper to live. Houses are cheaper in most areas. Areas like Ponsonby, Parnel, Oriental parade, Mount Vic are expensive but nowhere near what you'd pay for a similar house in the UK. I bought a 3 bed 1900 villa in Berhampore, Wellington with a garage, garden etc in 2004 for 350K. I live about 15-25 minutes from the cbd in rush-hour. Cars are cheaper I think. Activities are cheaper - stuff like diving, ski-ing etc.
For me the expensive stuff is going back to England. But then places like Fiji, OZ, Samoa are cheaper...
Roundabouts....
At first when you arrive and you come with pounds, everything seems cheap. It's only when you start earning $$ that you start to get a feel for it.
On the whole I think it's cheaper to live. Houses are cheaper in most areas. Areas like Ponsonby, Parnel, Oriental parade, Mount Vic are expensive but nowhere near what you'd pay for a similar house in the UK. I bought a 3 bed 1900 villa in Berhampore, Wellington with a garage, garden etc in 2004 for 350K. I live about 15-25 minutes from the cbd in rush-hour. Cars are cheaper I think. Activities are cheaper - stuff like diving, ski-ing etc.
For me the expensive stuff is going back to England. But then places like Fiji, OZ, Samoa are cheaper...
Roundabouts....
You have to figure out what your income is as well. Are you getting 12-15$ an hour? That is a typical wage for lots of people. A coffee and a sandwhich from a cafe will set you back about $10.
I generally make about 65K a year, so it's all relative. At one point last year I made about a 1000 quid a week before tax :-( on a good contract. I was laughing then!
Oct 16th 2006, 9:55 pm
#42
Banned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,467
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by Budowsky
You have to figure out what your income is as well. Are you getting 12-15$ an hour? That is a typical wage for lots of people. A coffee and a sandwhich from a cafe will set you back about $10.
I generally make about 65K a year, so it's all relative. At one point last year I made about a 1000 quid a week before tax :-( on a good contract. I was laughing then!
I generally make about 65K a year, so it's all relative. At one point last year I made about a 1000 quid a week before tax :-( on a good contract. I was laughing then!
Oct 16th 2006, 10:02 pm
#43
Banned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 125
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by sky
Bet you were (jealous smiley)
Yeah, it was good until the taxman got hold of me. :scared:
Oct 16th 2006, 10:16 pm
#44
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,208
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by Budowsky
Yeah, it was good until the taxman got hold of me. :scared:
Oct 16th 2006, 10:39 pm
#45
Banned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 125
Re: Whiners welcome
Originally Posted by Am Loolah
This $12-15 an hour is that unskilled like waitressing? Can you confirm the minimum wage is it $10 an hour and what sort of jobs pay that? Shelf stacker, waitress, buxom barmaid, pole dancer etc? Generall all unskilled?
No such things as unskilled in NZ. You need a diploma to pull a pint.
I saw a job advertised in the local subway fast food store where they wanted a CV!!!!! 
Yeah, stuff like waitressing, barmaid, retail is all around $10-15/ hour.
Tough to live on a wage like that!
Which is why so many kiwi's end up going to Australia. There is ALWAYS a thread about this on trademe each week (Im going to Brisbane! yay!) etc
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00421.htm
Last edited by Budowsky; Oct 16th 2006 at 10:45 pm.