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AMA

I live in New Zealand - AMA

26 replies

Fantail · 14/09/2018 01:44

Ever wanted to move to the land of the long white cloud? Want to know what it’s like to live in a country with less than 5 million people? Ask me anything.

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JellyBears · 14/09/2018 07:43

One of my best friends is a New Zealander, her instangram feed is full of beautiful pictures!! Makes very jealous.

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Fantail · 14/09/2018 08:44

We do have stunning scenery. Some of the best in the world. But we don’t have buildings that are 100s of years old

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cropcirclesinthefields · 14/09/2018 13:40

I would love to move to New Zealand, I spent a month on a tour back in 2006 and fell in love with the South Island. Is that a good place to settle? I work in pharmacy and dh is mental health.

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FissionChips · 14/09/2018 13:45

What does it smell like?

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InterstellarSleepingElla · 14/09/2018 14:00

Need a lodger?

Looks like an amazing place to live.

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Fantail · 14/09/2018 18:57

@cropcircles like any country it has its issues. I live in Wellington, haven’t ever lived in the South Island, but if I was going to choose a place to live there I would pick Nelson.

Fission - well last night DD wandered to our local pub and it did smell like Fish & Chips

interstella - love one. Unfortunately a down side is expensive housing so I only have a two bed house. I do live a 2 minute walk from the beach though.

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Nandocushion · 14/09/2018 18:59

How are public schooling, healthcare, pubic services like libraries etc? Compared to UK or Canada, say?

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Cleebope2 · 14/09/2018 19:00

Are teachers well treated and paid?

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BeeFarseer · 14/09/2018 19:01

Today is Friday in the UK. It's Saturday for you now, isn't it?

What's it like living in the future?

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bellinisurge · 14/09/2018 19:24

Talk to me about sandflies? Tolerable?

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Fantail · 14/09/2018 19:55

nando - I’ve only lived in the UK and in London so can’t compare to Canada. Main difference in healthcare is economies of scale I guess, especially when it comes to drugs. But I’ve had serious health issues treated in both countries and can’t complain about either. Most adults have to pay to see the GP, but I can normally get an appointment same day or next. Dentists aren’t free for adults either.

Schools - most kids go to their local primary and there’s no application process like in the UK. They start on their 5th birthday but don’t have to enroll until 6. Most regular schools don’t have uniforms at primary.

Libraries are run by local councils, the Wellington one is great.

Cleebope2 - primary & secondary teachers are currently negotiating collective agreements with the government. I think teachers are underpaid worldwide for the important job they do. My daughter’s teacher is actually Welsh so I could ask her about comparison.

Beefraser cloudy with a chance or rain and we’ve cancelled Brexit.

bellinsurge depends where you are I guess. If you are out hiking in the bush then I’d be taking repellent.

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HerRoyalNotness · 14/09/2018 22:13

What do you think about the push to introduce Maori as a compulsory language in schools? I know there is a lot of debate around pupils having choice. I’m all for it personally.

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OrlandaFuriosa · 14/09/2018 22:26

How cold is the sea?

I like classical music as well as sheep and rugger. How easy is it to get the first?

I’m not an outdoorsy person. Would i fît in?

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Fantail · 15/09/2018 06:03

@herroyalnotness - I honestly can’t see what the fuss is about. Te Reo Maori is one of NZ’s official languages.

I don’t know about other schools, but at my DD’s reasonably multi-cultural school Te Reo is already pretty well integrated into the curriculum. The whole school does Kapahaka weekly. There is an expectation that when students leave they will be able to do a full mihi (introduce themselves) and know how to behave on a marae. My daughter knows numbers, colours, body parts and quite a few other words. She also can sound out Maori words phonetically correctly. Her pronouncation is a lot better than mine because she’s been learning for her entire life!

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DelilahandDaisy · 15/09/2018 06:07

Are you bored? I know this is an inflammatory statement, but when you have lived elsewhere is it hard to go back? I know many people who just couldn’t do it.

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Fantail · 15/09/2018 06:08

@orlanda - it depends where you live. Wellington is home to the NZ Symphony Orchestra and we also have a Wellington Orchestra. They are both good. Wellington has a Festival of the Arts every second year. Obviously there isn’t the massive variety that there is in London, but it is pretty good.

Plenty of people aren’t into hiking, camping and adventure sports!

The sea isn’t particularly warm in Wellington. But it’s better the further north you go.

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DelilahandDaisy · 15/09/2018 06:08

I mean they went back, but just could not hack it. They had been living in New York, London and Sydney. (Different people)

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Fantail · 15/09/2018 06:11

@delia - no I’m not bored. I have a child and that keeps me busy. I have a great job and still get to go to the ballet, see bands, watch sport, go to festivals, eat great food and drink amazing coffee.

I can walk to the beach, I’m an hour away from vineyards.

Yes, I would love to be close to Europe from a travel sense. But I’m not bored. Depends on the lifestyle you have I guess.

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Fantail · 15/09/2018 06:13

I think it depends on where you are in your life and how adaptable you are. I did take a while to settle back in that is true. You have to give yourself time.

It’s also hard if you don’t have a friendship group where you move to or your old friends haven’t lived outside NZ.

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ocelot41 · 15/09/2018 06:37

How do you manage the famous Welly weather?

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Fantail · 15/09/2018 06:47

ocelot - I tie my hair in a pony tail and don’t wear skirt that fly up 😂

Seriously though, it doesn’t get as cold as London does. Last summer was amazing!

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bellinisurge · 15/09/2018 11:48

Do you watch How To Dad on YouTube?

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OrlandaFuriosa · 15/09/2018 15:34

An hour away from the vineyards..sold.

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Fantail · 15/09/2018 20:00

@bellinisurge - yes, I follow him on Facebook. He’s pretty funny.

@Orlanda - yes, Martinborough. Lovely little town and once there you can walk to most of the vineyards.

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wheresthehope · 17/09/2018 05:08

I also live in NZ...South Island though (Christchurch)
I lived in America for 7 years and Melbourne for 5 years then came home! Born in Nelson OP :)
Don't have any kids yet so I know nothing about schooling but we do have the best scenery in the world imo
Sandflies are frickn terrible!

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