Batty

Haha - that's made me laugh. 1967 we moved to the village where my mum still lives. 1993 I walked into the local with a woman who'd just recently moved back to the village after 40 years in London. She met a man she'd been to school with and said 'you know Norah?' - his reply... 'ah, she's just a blow in!' After 26 years!!!!!!! I'm not patriotic towards my county but am definitely towards my country.

benultimate

I would say its totally up2 you, once your in ethier country you can always travel to the other fairly easily, so check out both if u are serious about a move my friend. Nz has a smaller and ultimately lower earning economy than ozzy, so relative to the uk nz would be worse off than oz for money earnt/bills paid, but relative to say the world- nz's a very rich wee nation we have no idea what true poverty is mate be thankful.
I think you mayb becoming a little over alarmed on account of 'everyone leaving nz' issue, total migraition(in vs. out) still increases every year in nz. Kiwis are big travellers, so us travelling is no sign of trouble at home, but rather a sign of a well travelled bunch of people, most do return home, its no drama mate. Alot of us live in Oz for a few years for the simple fact its close and similar to nz, and that we can, ozzy's the only country in world we can live and work in outside nz without immigrating....so we do, always have mate. But again most kiwis do the ozzy thing, live in the big cities, sit at the beach in winter and after a few years go lets get outa here and head home. Both are awesome country's mate u wont be disapointed and if yr into yr surf'n, snowboarding,boating and camping both are great. nz has equally beautiful beaches-try the coromandel, bay of plenty and nelson/abel tasman they're as good as oz bro. And lets be honest, if the money in the uk wasnt awesome no-one would do thier OE here, because its a cold, grey and depressing place with up tight people and with stones where there should be beaches, no wonder they left aye.
take care man

Buttercracks

Thanks for the input Ben. What language is that by the way? Are you a native "KUWUEE" if that is how you pronounce it.

You said that most kiwis do the ozzy thing, as in Australia. Do you like Australia? Most NZers go to Australia for a few years - what is that for? Does it have more job opportunities, or is it the weather or just something different?

Also about the state of the economy there it sounds from your post that you have a great country - no poverty as you say. I recently saw a documentary about some of the native peoples there "Maoris" that were conquered by the British and it didn't exactly paint a perfect picture about equality in society but I guess that you never get real equality anywhere.

I am more interested in what the average Kiwi is interested in - Beer or art? Footy or music? Beaches or culture? This will have an impact on my decision.

Thanks again.

Apple12

www.herald.co.nz www.stuff.co.nz www.trademe.co.nz (message boards)
This should give you a bit of a start in what kiwis are interested in.

Besides how would you define what the average Brit is interested in? Beer or art? Footy or music? Beaches or culture? Your question is just a tad ridiculous.

thebears

and most red bloodied kiwi men have this on their minds

benultimate

hey mate, i gave a few reasons as to why some nzer's live in oz for a few years so refer to those mate. namely, its close and 'big' relative to nz, and u can live 'overseas' but still be only 2.5 hrs from home, alota young ppl finishing uni will go live in sydney for a while then go 'overseas' for a few years, the mentality is that oz isnt a whole new different country but a kinda start out point for more serious travels.
australia is a great place-we lived in sydney for a year, we're keen surfers so since beaches are there major highlight it was great for us. but every country has its up's and downs, the big cities have alot more crime and violence than nz, u wont own a home in sydney as the median house price is $550,000 AUD and that wont buy u something great ethier probibly a place an hour or so out the city. but overall its neat, do try. weather wise we come from the bay of plenty which is known for its sun and mild weather year round, so we didnt find weather alot different in oz but compared to the s.island id imagine you'd notice the difference.
I said nz's economy is not as wealthy as the uk's or australia's and i never said thier is no poverty-so what are u on about?, i said relative to the world none of us in the west have any idea of true poverty mate. perfect equality does not exist anywhere although kiwis are pretty good, moari's are not 'natives' but fellow kiwi's that sounds a bit pompus bro and its not nz's fault the british treated them like shit when they got here, luckly we dont have any ties with the uk anymore aye. in terms of interest's you cant generalise an entire society, some like art others enjoy sport, some like footy and music and beaches and culture so bizzare question mate, each to there own.

take care my man.

ladylisa

I think you will find Bali is to the Ozzie's and NZ ers what Benidorm is to the British. It certainly was when I was there!

Am Loolah

I met my hubby in London, he was born in Wellington and lived there until he was 7, then moved to Birmingham. His father is a Maori. He had never wanted particularly to move to NZ, more to do with bad relations with his father than the country itself. From the moment I met him, knowing his citizenship, it was me who has bugged him about why on earth he would choose to live in the UK when he could live there. 19 years later this bugging him has paid off!! After a 3 week visit in the Spring we're off there for good, all being well, with 4 kids in tow.
We are also well aware of the fact, that as the children reach adulthood, it is highly likely they will do their OE and travel far, far away. But we remember reading somewhere that 98% of New Zealands return to NZ to live at a later date. So it can't be all bad!!

ladylisa

I dont think NZ is bad at all. I actually wasn't criticizing NZ, I spend 6 weeks there a few years back and thought it a beautiful country. Incidentally from your post it sounds like your children could also return to the UK one day something you may have to gear yourself up for.

Am Loolah

Yes, absolutely, they'll have both UK and NZ passports. The world will be their oyster!! That's a huge factor in our decision to move. Give them more opportunity.

Buttercracks

I do try my best. I sure will try anyway.

Interesting insight Ben, and appreciate your comments.

Have you always lived in NZ, ie went to school there?

thebears

Think you should check the facts

On no part were they "conquered". Hone Heke was far from in shackles It was only an agreement to spare further bloodshed (mainly English) by wise Maori Chiefs.

rugbymatt

The Maori Wars were really an internal civil war that the British had to get involved with since they had sped up the killing by supplying muskets to the Maoris, and this just escalated after the Treaty of Waitangi but there were also peaceful protests including the one at Parihaka that just showed the British governors they were dealing with a very different foe.

Apple12

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maori_war

rugbymatt

I'm pretty sure your point is to back up what i said, is it?