Lived In New Zealand?

Question

Have you ever lived in or been to New Zealand and if so what did you like about it and why? What's there? How expensive are things, pay... so on ?

Answer 1

Yes, I flew first during my airline days as a Flight Attendant for Continental Airlines and met, married a Kiwi. We lived in a suburb of Auckland.
I worked for the Four Seasons Hotel downtown and in a popular mall as a cosmetic mgr for Dior. The weather stinks. It is often refered to as the land of the long black cloud. Expect alot of cold weather and rain reverse from American seasons. That was the worst of it, except of course learning to drive there. Round abouts and the other side of the road and all that goes with it. Imagine going fast and road rage is somewhat an issue and you don't know where the heck u are...

Best part. The people. They were lovely. Had respect for Americans and others. Australian's they have a sport issue with. Men are usually bold and fight , drink a bit. Beer is stronger there.
Depending on the exchange rates money is better spent there. But groceries are the same everywhere. You can find cheap housing and good jobs. especially in electronics and computers. Clothes and shoes are no way cheap. It is an island any all is imported. Cars, I found 3 all inexpensive. Bank loans easy if you have credit elsewhere.
Immigration. Not so easy. You have 3 mos work and then you have to file for permenent residency. Their requirements are brutal. Make a game plan that includes an exit if u do not qualify. Things like how much money u can bring to NZ are important. Get the job ASAP.
It is absolutely beautiful and I wish I stayed. But my ex husband was no fun once our Hawaii base was closed and I left my Barbie job. Men are like that there so beware.
Travel the island and get too both. From Bay of Islands to the South. It is fantastic and I loved it for years. Saw alot of changes and Auckland city is totally fun. Boats, niteclubs, restaurants. Loved it! Good luck mate.
PS. You will speak alittle different in a short time :))

Answer 2

I've lived in many different countries, e.g. the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, India, Paraguay, and a few others. I have made New Zealand my home now because it can do all the things the other countries did well for me just as well - and in one spot.
What I like about this country is that it represents a truly polyglot environment and mentality. It's the least stuffy, the least complacent, the least ignorant country I've ever been to. Kiwi mentality means to have an open and active mind which discounts nothing without previous testing, and as a result of it, you'll meet people here who are unusually knowledgeable about a lot of things that happen on the other side of the world, and even manage to be masters of them.
I like the generally conscientious, cutting edge, refined attitudes of Kiwis especially at work (they sure are great to work with), and their definition of what a good life is like.
In a way, I consider New Zealand the single most attractive country in the world to live in IF you are an anglophile who likes the outdoors, doesn't mind improvising now and then, and is generally meek and open-minded, as that rather Scandinavian trait is what it takes to be happy here.
This is very much a northern European country in many ways, and can well be likened to Norway and Ireland, in my opinion.
Salaries are neither high nor low, but they afford an attractive lifestyle in breathtaking scenery with high rates of home ownership, good shopping, surprisingly low car prices (E.g. Mitsubishi Outlander base price NZ$ 32.000, that's 50% of its European base price), nice nightlife and great food.
I keep telling people NZ is like a mixture of the San Francisco Bay Area with North Wales and Oregon, populated by people who could be Canadians or Welsh or Swedes or Dutch (and very often, they are, in fact).

Answer 3

Ok I'm a local, but I lived in the UK for a while and was able to compare a few things.

I guess most things in New Zealand are more expensive to buy than in other places....we live so far away and have a small population that we
a) do not have the range of things elsewhere eg in supermarkets there are less products and in things like cell phones compaies you have choice of 2, both cost a lot compared to the UK ( and in fact we have some of the highest rates in the world!!!!)

B) things cost more in general. eg books, food

I did find that some things...this is comparing things NZ$ to GBP that there were comparable, like some electronic equipment and some clothes ( in cheap shops)......the pound definately goes further than the dollar, but its not THAT expenisive...I guess you get used to paying more ( as I found when I went to the UK and found lots of things cheaper)