Bo-Jangles

I'm sure there's somewhere you can get a claim form for that.

Justcol

well where would you suggest in nz. i've been to auckland which has very little
to offer and wellington which has more but i wouldnt live there due to the wind.
so come on, give me some ideas

Wilester

There are many products on the market that you can get to help with your Wind problem...

Remember you are not alone

Stormer999

Suppose you asked for that one....

BEVS

.. put a Sock in it

Rolfie

. . .Now that's conjured a mental image I'd rather not linger with

Stormer999

Would that be a Windsock........

BEVS

Wilester

Well it would seem that i may have hijacked this thread a little

Rolfie

. . . . . . . . .only in passing. . . . .

JohnThePom

Give us a list of the top 5 requirements.

WP

Justcol

affordable housing
nice area, plenty of green close by.
nice atmospher.
close to a vibrant, fashionable colourful city.
no farmers within a 50mile radius

Expat Kiwi

The central coast of New South Wales?

jmh

To be honest I would probably have to write a book about this and I'm sure others have already done so. I'm really talking about learning the history, customs and cultures of the people, both Maori and Pakeha. As children this is taught in schools in a number of ways, and it permeates the world around you so that you almost don't notice. Learn about how the Maori settled in the country, the tribal warfare, European settlement, the land wars, the country's experience during the two world wars, the 1981 Springbok tour that many say forced NZ to grow up, the anti nuclear policy and the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. These are just some that spring to mind right now and it does no justice to the experience many kiwis have had growing up in NZ. I was talking to my dad about when he was growing up on a farm. His dad lost out on the sale of a farm and had to support a family of 5 on a truck drivers wage until he could save up to buy a new one. Life was tough for many people, so it could be argued that the country has come along way, even if some think it has a way to go (assuming that would be progress).

That's all - I'm not here to argue. If you don't like where you are living then do something about it. Either change your expectation or change your location.

One thing I would mention that I think is sometimes not noticed by Brits. Kiwis are not likely to be critical to your face so when you think they have no opinion on a subject they probably do, but they just don't tell you about it.

londonescapee

Another great post I particularly agree with your last two paragraphs which are spot on.

Just on the anti nuclear thing which I've always thought was fantastic hubby bought me David Lange's autobiography which was a great read and quite an eye opener into a particular snapshopt of NZ psyche and the relationship with Maggie. I recommend it as a very good read.

Hubby still talks about Rainbow Warrior too and how distressing he found that as an incident - and what life was like growing up in a small village on the West Coast looking after 10 chickens and a goat That way of life is still ingrained into him despite having lived here for 12 years - it's a certain attitude and outlook that he has as a New Zealander which is different and I don't know if I could ever quite understand it (but I am a city girl!).

He also bought me some Barry Crump which, try as I might, I just couldn't get into