3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Me and kiwi wife moved to nelson Jan 2007, after 18 months realised it wasn't for us. Like a lot of NZ it is cliquey, and remote, not to say expensive.

We now live at Snells Beach about an hour north of Auckland. Beautiful spot great neighbours and for us probably as good as it gets. So why am I bored and frustrated with life here ?

Trying to start a business is much more difficult than the UK, trying to open biz accounts with companies is like pulling teeth.

People NEVER respond to phone messages or emails.

If people are putting a few bucks in your pocket they seem to think that you are their bonded slave !

The food and construction industries are each run by 2 cartels who fix prices across the board I've encountered 900 % mark ups on building materials personally !

Roads are frequented by morons who can't drive but think they can.

The media seem to be in the pockets of big buisness therefore none of the above is ever broached by the likes of 'Fair Go' instead they go for the small fry.

House construction - what a joke, they sell glorified garden sheds for 6 figure sums and they cany even keep the rain out !

Leaky homes - came about because of the greed of big biz and the ineptitude of government - of course everyone is denying responsibility in true kiwi fashion.

Sport - very popular, because there's bugger all else to do !!

Insurance companies - excellent at taking your money and finding ways of not paying out on claims.

Customer service - an alien concept here.

Clean Green NZ - total bulls**t, if there's a buck to be made then it WILL be made just see what happens with the mining.

Fishing - stocks are rapidly decreasing so get out there while you can !

Pig hunting - it's what the hillbillies do when they've run out of relatives to beat up or rape.

Domestic violence - NZ is up there with the best of em.

All Blacks - how can the best in the world never win the world championship ?

I know I sound negative but I've found NZ to be like a dumb blonde, great to look at but very little else.

I'm giving it 2 more years, if it doesn't improve for us then its back to the traffic jams, bombers and civilisation !

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Most of what you say is true. But there are lots of things to do other than sports. There are great libraries, loads of different clubs and other great things to see and do. I know this as I HATE sport other than swimming and cycling solo which I enjoy.

The ins. co thing is the same the world over and I do find ins. cheaper here than in the UK.

Service is total crap in this country..other than bar and restaurant staff. The rest are useless with a few exceptions.

I too love the sound of Nelson but the remotness has always worried me and what I could get for my $$ house wise. What I have in Palmy would be X 2 price wise in Nelson.

Don't talk to me about the govt. Due to their ineptitude and the greed of certain fat cat unmetionables we lost $100k in the finance house **** up. The govt could have and should have protected the average Joe but they could not be arsed. I play the ball and pay every cent of my overseas earnings. I am 100% open and honest yet a huge portion of my family's wealth was stripped bare by what are essentialy double dealing, sleazy, greasy, untrustworthy salesmen. Business men with the morals of a pole cat. Me bitter? Naah. Too right I am bitter. Its all of us average people that have to pay every bill on time or we are threatened with excess charges yet the fat cats can walk away from all their responsibilities with out even turning a glance leaving the lives of 100's of thousands in ruin.

I like NZ inspite of all the shit I have had since I have been here. But it is a country full of issues and problems..just like the UK but I prefer this bucket of shit to the UK one.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I knew I wasn't alone !!
Due to the fact that the wife was out I had to vent to someone, this seemed like a good place. On the whole I like it here but sometimes the greed and lack of professionalism get me down. As I write this I'm in my lounge I'm 200 m from the beach and have a panoramic view of the bay and Kawau island. Not bad for a building site grunt !

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I,m in the building game (sort of) as well and u are right about the mark up,s they are obscene, what i can,t understand why in such a small population some kind of protest hasn,t been organised it shouldn,t be hard to rally the troops there arn,t that many of them
Also just paid $4.80 for 2 litre of milk somebody at Fonterra wants F*****G as well :frown:

Neil

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Kiwi's just take the crap without complaining. You complain or try to change things, the first words uttered are whinging Pom.

The op has stated issues that get under his skin all I recognise so much, we are spending our last week in Chch city center it's like the wild west with cars instead of horses.

I was feeling quiet sad about leaving NZ on Thursday when I visited the kids school. It was great to see how popular and well liked they were, I know it will be hard in the UK for them.

But just a few nights in Chch reinforced the decision to leave.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Yes, because they're conditioned (read 'bullied') from a very early age to do so. "Whinging Pom" is pretty effective conditioning too, wouldn't you say? If too many people didn't "just take the crap without complaining", too many OTHER people's 'Kiwi Lifestyle' would be jeopardized. That famous 'lifestyle' can only exist for the most part at the expense of others.

Ah. What can I say..... ;)

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

This country is very conservative, to many greedy people and far to many people accepting the status quo. Unfortunately things arn't going to change any time soon, being a remote Island, we're at the mercy of the power brokers. Does anyone remember the 'RIP OFF BRITAIN' revelations ? If only they knew !!!!

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

GREAT!!!! Thats what I was gonna say....:rofl:

comparision is bad.. UK vs NZ... but thats what I do every moment. terrible eh? I can't help. My head is full of UK vs NZ... all the time. :rofl: f**king hell I hate this kind of (my) life. Wish I didn't know all the shit about UK/Nz or never experienced both countries or didn't understand English at all... sometimes just being ignorant could be happier.. :eek:

same shit different bucket

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I read this thread with interest, we escaped NZ in Jan I did have a good job but can agree with everything you all have said,

UK is home its not perfect but by god we do not appreciate what its got enough we as a country do not sing its praises enough, ok the weather is not always wonderful but I do not want it hot when I work and then appalling at weekends which is what it was like for the last 5 months we were in NZ, I got fed up of going to the cinema!

For sun I can fly short distance low cost to the Med and enjoy, I can enjoy far more culture and history I can have choice here to
still no job yet but we will get there good luck anyone returning!

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Another thing occured to me recently. I bought a picture book, about 50 images of great places in NZ, milford sound, rotorua etc etc. The only places in the book that I've actually been to happened during the 2 holidays we had here before emigrating. Whats the point in living in 'Gods country' when you're priced out of seeing the good stuff ?
And what's with the architecture here ? Are all kiwi architects on mind bending drugs or what !

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

You don't come to NZ for architecture aye? It's the youngest country on earth..or one of them. Man has only been on the islands for about 1000 years. Developed man for the last 250 odd. Europe has 1000s of year history and development behind it. Mind you the US which is another juvenile country has some lovely buildings aye? So again my theory is wrong. Coat time.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I'm not sure I know what you mean about being "priced out of seeing the good stuff"? Do you mean travelling and accommodation? The places you mention as an example from holiday guides are scenic? I agree that entry to "amusements" and activites seem high, we paid $800+ in Rotorua for the kids to go on 3 things?:eek: But accommodation wise I find NZ reasonable. Especially outside of school holidays if you go self-catering.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I don't expect things to be like Europe, I just can't see how building houses that look like industrial units can be pleasing to the eye. The classic kiwi villa looks great and works well so why abandon it ? THEY NEVER LEAKED !!!

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

According to some research by Oxford University, NZ has only been inhabited for approx 700 years. Wish I could remember where I saw this research mentioned as I'd like to have a read of the full research.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Personally, I like the quirkiness of the architecture in NZ. Yes there are some places that I find as ugly as sin :lol: but at least NZ isn't made up of identical housing estates like England has become.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Strangely I adore Edwardian and Victorian houses and have owned a few in the Uk..however i ended up in one of the industrial units mentioned above in NZ. I love it !!!!!!!! I can see why its not everyones cuppa..different folks different strokes aye? No rights or wrongs when it comes to architecture..apart from the monsterous carbunkle that is Palmy Council's HQ on our wonderful square..what a pile of shite. And no one is ever going to say its not. Typical 1970s style shit concrete rubbish. About as appealing as a breeze block or the plague.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Yeah the great thing is you dont have to remember your mates number of his/her road..virtually every house is different and you will either remember it cos its lovely or shite..or because of the weird letter box. Mine is an old microwave. I have seen in Hunterville an letter box that was a washing machine. Which was nice.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Surely you must be joking, North Shore, Albany, AND Gulf harbour is full of cloned boxes with garden area meterages that can me measured in single figures. It's only going to get worse as the developers love these monstrosities !

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I like you !

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Yes there are areas that have cloned houses but nowhere near as bad as the UK. We've got an excellent-sized section in GH, thanks.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Oh lucky you !

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I live in a 'pleasing to the eye' Victorian Villa in the UK and it's riddled with damp and likely to cost a fortune to fix, I've also lived in beautiful old cottages, also damp. Housing in the UK is not all wonderful, doubt any country in the world is perfect.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I'm not saying that only old is good, what I'm saying is why go for these hideous sheet metal boxes when you could build modern homes with modern materials that complement their surroundings rather than stick out like a sore thumb. To me they are the housing equivilent of a stretch limo, built for attention, impractical, and little more than ego boosters for pretentious snobs !

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Well said!!! :rofl:

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Thanks chuck :lol:

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Thanks! But no luck was involved. We were specific about what we wanted & didn't stop until we found it (private sale in the end). However, I did say to all the real estate agents that I would sue the pants off them if they so much as showed us a leaky home ;)

On a more serious note. I understand some of your frustrations with life in NZ & I'm sorry that it's not panning out for you. The first time we came out here I hated it & lasted 3 months! I just wondered why you were giving it another couple of years. I'm guessing citizenship. I can't see how it's going to change for you & if you're not happy that's a hell of a long time to wait. Those 3 months were the longest in my life.

Just wondering if we share a mutual friend in Singapore called Lisa. Long-shot I know.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Australia has some great old architecture too
My theory...it's amazing what you can accomplish with bonded labour

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

this might help :)
The date debate on the Te Ara website

This confirms your dates, well to the best available knowledge now at least

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

QUOTE................."I agree that entry to "amusements" and activites seem high, we paid $800+ in Rotorua for the kids to go on 3 things?:eek: "



GOODNESS ME !!!!
What on earth did the kids do and how many kids?

There are some really cheap things to do in Rotorua.

Gill

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Thanks for that PK. Much appreciated. :thumbsup:

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

I'm giving it more time because in my heart of hearts I know life here is better, I also have a kiwi wife who wants to stay !!

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Sorry you are not happy here. Ive been here 15 years and still dont like it. The more i see of UK on tv the more homesick i get. Visited there 3 years ago and could happily have stayed. 15 years of crap NZ wages make that difficult though.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

That is the understatement of the century!

:lol:

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Why bother with a bullshit reply like that ?

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Are you feeling any happier? Hope so, though NZ is not the greatest place at this time of year. Have to admit that I'm feeling a little homesick at present, though I know I will pull through. Probably in September!:D

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Why indeed. If it's any consolation, your thread wasn't the only one to be suddenly resurrected from the depths in this unhelpful way.

Here is a timely reminder that BE has two facilities.
1- The Ignore Button
2- A useful report button.

Mod note for billabongbunyip

Whilst you are welcome to join us all here & post about your time and experience in NZ , it is not going to be OK for you to adopt a hit and run method of resurrecting old threads just to plonk down abrasive one liners .

KShurey and englishheaven

I'll echo Vital Big Sticks post and hope you are both feeling a wee bit happier at present.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Because it is more polite than what I could say about such an all out whiny negative whinge from the OP.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

The last post on this subject was on 4th May, my reply was on 14th June – one month is hardly old surely!!!

And I was making a joke.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

This is the NZ main forum and not the OZ Barbie . Please take some time to reflect on your post style and maybe refresh yourself of the BE rules.

Re: 3+ years in and missing blighty
 

Hi janeyk where abouts in Cornwall are you living?Me and my family have lived in NZ for over 6 years and have had enough of the poor wages,bad over priced houses e.t.c and have decided to move to Cornwall or Devon.My husband is a carpenter is there many jobs at the moment for carpenters?Also what is the good and bad areas of Cornwall and Devon?Any information would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards Faye