wanting to move to New Zealand

[topcat83]

Originally Posted by carosapien

.... I'd forgotten how cheap it was to eat out a massive ploughmans and streak and ale pie for 8 quid. Simple pleasures but, it's amazing how we took them for granted.

Yip - you've just hit on a few things we do miss. I find the cheapest pub/bar/hotel drink prices in Auckland more expensive than the cheapest we could get in London - but we did frequent Wetherspoons quite a lot Ditto food - but probably for the same reason.

[topcat83]

Originally Posted by Song_Si

just some light humour . . .

not because of the Rainbow Warrior any more - it's because they have the best record of beating the All Blacks at rugby!

Have you seen the pictures of English football fans with their banners: "Stand Up If You Hate The French" at Euro 2012? Long memories, indeed. Freedom Fries?

As for forgetting history - is that a good thing? But keeping it in perspective, is.

Lol! For many an Englishman it's a rivalry that goes back further than the Rainbow Warrior or the latest Rugby World Cup! It goes back to Agincourt! The French are the historical 'enemy' albeit a bit tongue in cheek now. And similarly, as the English back the opposition in any France/XXX match, the Scottish back their old 'allies' the French (and of course they always back England's opposition too).

Put it down to the similar rivalry between NZ and Oz.

[carosapien]

Originally Posted by toojoon

I want to say something about New Zealand attitudes towards U.S. citizens and other immigrants. SOME New Zealanders have long memories and don't forget history. Some are narrow-minded. They might dislike or keep at a distrustful distance French people because once French saboteaurs blew up the Greenpeace vessel "Rainbow Warrior" in the Auckland Harbour. Similarly, international politics can stain the relationship due to ANZUS treaty, nuclear warships, Vietnam, Afganistan etc, you name it. Most New Zealanders are open-minded, I believe and take people at face value. Any foreign arrogance, wrongly or rightly perceived, however, is not well-tolerated. As a small nation, being humble is seen as a virtue.
Most New Zealanders are educated in just one language (English) and some aren't very tolerant of foreign accents. Asian immigrants can find it difficult settling in here, as often "New Zealand experience" is stated as a prerequisite for employment. Some New Zealand employers are rather dim-witted in my view as a well-travelled ex-pat, that they don't realise the extra value that a worldly employee may bring to their workforce.

That may be because they are humble and worldly people make them feel a bit inadequate? I know folk who've lived in the North Island all their lives and haven't even been as far as the South Island, never had a passport or any inclination to travel. Their world starts and ends in New Zealand and whilst they're friendly enough have trouble identifying with outsiders.

[anski]

Originally Posted by carosapien

That may be because they are humble and worldly people make them feel a bit inadequate? I know folk who've lived in the North Island all their lives and haven't even been as far as the South Island, never had a passport or any inclination to travel. Their world starts and ends in New Zealand and whilst they're friendly enough have trouble identifying with outsiders.

Yes true but the vast majority of both Kiwi's & Aussies travel a lot.

Also there's a lot of American that never travel, & in the UK my brother's 80 year old neighbour had had one trip in his life & that was to Stratford on Avon (8 miles away), he was supposed to stay a week but after 2 days decided he did not like it so hopped on his bike & pedalled home. I suppose you would call him one of the Eccentric English.

[Weta]

Originally Posted by anski

I would iot call them tornadoes.

We have strong gusts of winds from time to time. We live close to the water & one bad storm ripped a portion of a picket fence out & tossed it across the road, mind you the fence was very old & rotten so it did us a favour. I put it on trademe for $1 & people bid it up to $150!

There have been a few tornados since I lived here which have taken people's roofs off their hosues and blown down power cables and trees. This one happened only last year 200km/ph wind

Weather warnings lifted after Albany tornado wreaks havoc; one dead - National - NZ Herald News

[Song_Si]

Originally Posted by anski

Also there's a lot of American that never travel

the lowest percentage of passport holders of any developed nation: 30%. Just an indicator, though why have a passport if you're not going to use it?

CNN February 2011
The numbers tell the story: Of the 308 million-plus citizens in the United States, 30% have passports.
That's just too low for such an affluent country, said Bruce Bommarito, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the U.S. Travel Association.
"Americans are comfortable in their own environment," Bommarito said.

Despite the climbing number of American passports in circulation, 30% is still low compared to Canada's 60% and the United Kingdom's 75%.

half full, half empty?
comfortable in their own environment - or uncomfortable in any other environment?

[MrsRose]

Originally Posted by Song_Si

the lowest percentage of passport holders of any developed nation: 30%. Just an indicator, though why have a passport if you're not going to use it?



half full, half empty?
comfortable in their own environment - or uncomfortable in any other environment?

I think for many Americans, it's probably a little of both. It's easy to get really comfortable in American life.
Here in the States, we can go our whole lives without ever learning another language, or being exposed to any other culture, and be totally content with that. I'm afraid this may be the culprit behind the attitude of "superiority and super-patriotism" some Americans carry with them.

But I suppose this can apply to anyone, from any country as well. It's a human thing to desire to stay in your comfort zone and routine.

[Beefhooked]

Better of in LA, I mean just look at the state of the place as the exodus to Australia continues, 40,000 in the past 12 months, with only a trickle coming back the other way and what was it 55, 000 last year?

Aussie, aussie, aussie, oi oi oi-------------)

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Beefhooked

Better of in LA, I mean just look at the state of the place as the exodus to Australia continues, 40,000 in the past 12 months, with only a trickle coming back the other way and what was it 55, 000 last year?

Aussie, aussie, aussie, oi oi oi-------------)

Not everyone wants to live in LA. You really did have a bad experience in NZ didnt you. Horses for courses. Post more constructive reasons tho, its more helpful !

Jo xxx

[Beefhooked]

I'm back here at the moment trying to wind up the family biz in Dargaville & things are a bit economicaly dismal, don't get me wrong I love the country & people, its just the bureaucrats have perfected a policy of stuffing things up with mind boggling sets of rules and regulations that seem to gush from a giant beehive shaped jargon generator.

Check it out, not sure of how it stands now, but I seem to remember a guiness world record for the amount of legislation created by a western democracy! So there you have it, inovation, employment & opportunity killed off by constraints and compliance.