Is New Zealand boring?
Discussion
I am thinking about what to do after I graduate in a couple of months and one thing I thought of was about trying to find work in New Zealand where some of my family live.
But I'm a bit worried about it being a bit boring. I've heard stories that the pace of life is reeeally slow and nothing much goes on, which is a bit stereotypical, but there must be a bit of truth to it surely?
The places I'd be looking at are Tauranga where we own a house and Auckland which I'm guessing will have the most cosmopolitan feel (which is what I'm after really)
So, is it a boring place?
For the record, I'm living in Sweden at the moment and it scores pretty high on the boring factor. If New Zealand is anything as reserved and non-impulsive as here then it'll be a no straight away.
But I'm a bit worried about it being a bit boring. I've heard stories that the pace of life is reeeally slow and nothing much goes on, which is a bit stereotypical, but there must be a bit of truth to it surely?
The places I'd be looking at are Tauranga where we own a house and Auckland which I'm guessing will have the most cosmopolitan feel (which is what I'm after really)
So, is it a boring place?
For the record, I'm living in Sweden at the moment and it scores pretty high on the boring factor. If New Zealand is anything as reserved and non-impulsive as here then it'll be a no straight away.
I have done quite a bit of research on New Zealand as i was seriously considering moving the family out there to emigrate.
Reading between the lines, the scenery is fantastic, weather in the north is pretty good all year round. You will earn a little less than in the UK but the cost of living will average this out. You will get alot of space wherever you live.
However, reading between the lines once/if you get bored of the beaches and the scenery you will prbably end up coming home. It can, for some, be very very boring. I beleive 20% of natuve kiwis move to OZ to spice it up a bit.
AS with everything it is a perfect place for certain people, the best way to find out is to spend an extended holiday there and try to get under the skin of the culture and how the country ticks.
Reading between the lines, the scenery is fantastic, weather in the north is pretty good all year round. You will earn a little less than in the UK but the cost of living will average this out. You will get alot of space wherever you live.
However, reading between the lines once/if you get bored of the beaches and the scenery you will prbably end up coming home. It can, for some, be very very boring. I beleive 20% of natuve kiwis move to OZ to spice it up a bit.
AS with everything it is a perfect place for certain people, the best way to find out is to spend an extended holiday there and try to get under the skin of the culture and how the country ticks.
loads to do, check my response to this thread for some clues.
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Yes.
Or no?
Its a fantastic place to visit, but after 6 months I had seen enough. Queenstown is probably the best place to go, mainly because it has 1 place which sells alcohol for every 130 permanent residents, and an every changing throng of young, attractive, backpackers.
There are things to do there as well; skiing in winter, biking, paragliding, etc in summer.
As for the rest of the country, once you've got past the incredibly beautiful scenery then you've kinda done it. Auckland is a crap city, Wellington is nice, but nothing overly special. Nightlife, even in the cities is limited, and outside of the cities doesnt exist. Its expensive to live and the wages are nothing special. As for the weather, okay its warmer than here, but it can be boring. It also gets very humid when it gets warm - not a nice heat at all. Australia is a better bet if you want to emigrate.
Or no?
Its a fantastic place to visit, but after 6 months I had seen enough. Queenstown is probably the best place to go, mainly because it has 1 place which sells alcohol for every 130 permanent residents, and an every changing throng of young, attractive, backpackers.
There are things to do there as well; skiing in winter, biking, paragliding, etc in summer. As for the rest of the country, once you've got past the incredibly beautiful scenery then you've kinda done it. Auckland is a crap city, Wellington is nice, but nothing overly special. Nightlife, even in the cities is limited, and outside of the cities doesnt exist. Its expensive to live and the wages are nothing special. As for the weather, okay its warmer than here, but it can be boring. It also gets very humid when it gets warm - not a nice heat at all. Australia is a better bet if you want to emigrate.
Auckland may get humid when warm, Christchurch certainly doesnt! Though the Norwesters are something to experience.
I think I get paid more here now than I would in the UK for a similar job now, given the current exchange rates.
It all depends on what you want out of life though. I personally wouldnt recommend living in Auckland as I dont see the point.
I think I get paid more here now than I would in the UK for a similar job now, given the current exchange rates.
It all depends on what you want out of life though. I personally wouldnt recommend living in Auckland as I dont see the point.
Before you go watch Once were Warriors.
Then flip the vowel's around and you'll fit in.
"Fush" = "Fish"
"Sex" = "Six" (this one can get embarrassing when you order beers)
"Chook" = "Chick" (see above)
"Aye" = "Yes", "No", "Maybe"
"Crowded House" = Australian band
Oh. And don't go to Rotorua when you're hungover.
Oh and don't try and run round a horse track naked while full of Beer.
Then flip the vowel's around and you'll fit in.
"Fush" = "Fish"
"Sex" = "Six" (this one can get embarrassing when you order beers)
"Chook" = "Chick" (see above)
"Aye" = "Yes", "No", "Maybe"
"Crowded House" = Australian band
Oh. And don't go to Rotorua when you're hungover.
Oh and don't try and run round a horse track naked while full of Beer.
i have a Kiwi pal with dual UK & NZ nationality. Born in Scotland, family emigrated when he was young. He came for a visit in his late teens, stayed a few years and went back to NZ. He got itchy feet mid 20's and came back to Scotland, met and married a lass. They took of on an around the world year out before settling in NZ (not sure where, sorry)
Less than 2 years later they moved back here. He hated "home" thought the UK was a far better place to live. She loved NZ and wanted to stay but is now glad they didn't.
Probably not helpful, but go try it. You can always come back if it doen't work out
Less than 2 years later they moved back here. He hated "home" thought the UK was a far better place to live. She loved NZ and wanted to stay but is now glad they didn't.
Probably not helpful, but go try it. You can always come back if it doen't work out
I've some Canadian friends who had lived in the UK, moved to NZ, went back to Canada (BC) for 'family reasons' then moved back to NZ (now live in Dunedin). It takes all sorts.
You wont know if it suits you till you try, either with an extended holiday or longer, nothing stops you from going back.
You wont know if it suits you till you try, either with an extended holiday or longer, nothing stops you from going back.
Depends on what you want. The kind of job you might want as a graduate (ie. not farming or tourism) is likely to limit you to one of the bigger cities, and as city life goes they're not that exciting. If you like doing outdoorsy/boaty things in your spare time then it's a pretty good place to do it, although again if you live in the cities then you're looking at driving for a while to get to where you want to be, much like the UK really.
My GF is a city dweller through and through and left Auckland pretty much as the ink dried on her last uni exam. Apart from a stint in Germany, she's been in London ever since (11 years and counting) and doesn't have any real desire to go back permanently.
My GF is a city dweller through and through and left Auckland pretty much as the ink dried on her last uni exam. Apart from a stint in Germany, she's been in London ever since (11 years and counting) and doesn't have any real desire to go back permanently.
What a bizarre topic. Anywhere can be boring. Entirely depends what you want out of the place. Tauranga is a smallish beachside city with great weather. But yes, if you don't like the outdoors, you won't find much to do. Auckland is a large city with plenty to do. Good nightlife if you head to the right places, and great food.
guffhoover said:
I beleive 20% of natuve kiwis move to OZ to spice it up a bit.
No, those people are idiots, thinking they will get a better quality of life with the dream of higher pay, which alot of the time, proves to be completely wrong.It looks like a bit of a rude question now that its been moved to the New Zealand forum, but it wasn't meant to be. Just wanted to know if New Zealand was a bit more laidback and 'safe' than other places I could go to.
Anyway, thanks for the comments everyone. Its like a personalised tripadvisor on here!
Anyway, thanks for the comments everyone. Its like a personalised tripadvisor on here!
Hmmm... how to give a fair answer......
Well, as an ex-pom from Manchester, which is a pretty big provincial city but not anywhere like London, I can only say there's no way I'd go back to UK. Of course, it depends what you want.
Things that I notice are -
There's no real history - after all NZ as we know it is only about 150 years old. I think the oldest buildings are about 100, whereas in UK, there are still Roman structures well over 1000...
Most people are more friendly, more laid back, more open, more honest, and less formal, particularly at work. You can (mostly) call your boss by his or her first name, have a joke with them, go for a pint with them. The people I worked with still cared more about the job than the money, and that was in IT section of a Govt department in Wellington. But of course if you are unlucky, there are closet Nazis and 'jobsworths' just like everywhere else.
The scenery EVERYWHERE outside (and sometimes inside!) the cities is good, and the South Island is simply bloody awesome.
The driving standard is quite poor, and too many people drive like idiots, and don't observe what's going on around them. They wouldn't last 5 seconds in London rush hour. But not like India or places like that of course. And we drive on the left, just like UK.
I'm not convinced it really is any more expensive than UK to live - Auckland probably is (high property price), but not so much in Wellington, depending upon where you choose to live.
NZ is a pastoral economy despite what others may say, our chief exports are dairy and meat, and outside the cities can be very provincial, but still friendly.
Yes, the samll towns can be pretty boring if you're a nightlife person, so I guess if you're still in your twenties, it's a bit boring...
Well, as an ex-pom from Manchester, which is a pretty big provincial city but not anywhere like London, I can only say there's no way I'd go back to UK. Of course, it depends what you want.
Things that I notice are -
There's no real history - after all NZ as we know it is only about 150 years old. I think the oldest buildings are about 100, whereas in UK, there are still Roman structures well over 1000...
Most people are more friendly, more laid back, more open, more honest, and less formal, particularly at work. You can (mostly) call your boss by his or her first name, have a joke with them, go for a pint with them. The people I worked with still cared more about the job than the money, and that was in IT section of a Govt department in Wellington. But of course if you are unlucky, there are closet Nazis and 'jobsworths' just like everywhere else.
The scenery EVERYWHERE outside (and sometimes inside!) the cities is good, and the South Island is simply bloody awesome.
The driving standard is quite poor, and too many people drive like idiots, and don't observe what's going on around them. They wouldn't last 5 seconds in London rush hour. But not like India or places like that of course. And we drive on the left, just like UK.
I'm not convinced it really is any more expensive than UK to live - Auckland probably is (high property price), but not so much in Wellington, depending upon where you choose to live.
NZ is a pastoral economy despite what others may say, our chief exports are dairy and meat, and outside the cities can be very provincial, but still friendly.
Yes, the samll towns can be pretty boring if you're a nightlife person, so I guess if you're still in your twenties, it's a bit boring...
Edited by RCK974X on Thursday 15th March 23:04
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