Can you answer the following questions about New Zealand and NZ lifestyle?
I’m seriously considering moving there (from the U.S.) so please answer only if you know for sure from personal experience:
1. Is New Zealand Anti-American? Are there negative feelings towards the U.S. or people who come from there to visit or live? I have heard that there is, and that it is somewhat of a trend.
2. What is the weather like in New Zealand? What are the seasons and average conditions for each time of year? What are the weather concerns (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)
3. What are job wages like? Is there a minimum wage? What is the average annual income and what do you think you’d need to live comfortably there?
4. I’ve heard that Emergency health care and basic things are covered freely for all citizens, but that you have the option to also have private health insurance on top of that? Is that true? Is the health care system good?
5. What are the downsides to New Zealand? What are their political, social, etc. problems?
6. Where are the best places to live in New Zealand, what areas are the prettiest?
7. Are clothes and food expensive, as I’ve heard quite often?
Thank you so much to any who can answer!
Also, just out of curiosity, do vehicles drive on the right side of the road (like the US) and is the wheel and driver’s seat on the left side of the car? lol thanks.
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3 comments
Slugger Onions on January 29, 2010 at 2:17 pm
1. When I last lived there Bush was president and Anti-Americanism was RIFE, with even the American Episcopal ArchBishop of Wellington leaving forever because of it.
But that is likely to have changed because Obama is now president (which of course isn’t good either).
2. The climate is Mild temperate. So it would be more desirable than most of the USA, the USA excluded being the Southern States and the Southern West Coast. It gets sunny summers of about 25-33 deg centigrade and mild, rainy winters where for the most part it’s still above 0deg centigrade. So it only gets snowy and Frosty in the deep south and in the central North Island. There can be storms but there’s never Hurricanes or Tornadoes.
3. NZ has very low wages by OECD standards. NZ’s GDP per capita has slipped from 1st to 30th in the world behind Greece. Australians who 50 years ago were slightly behind NZ now on average earn half as much again as Kiwis. It has resulted in a large ‘brain drain" of educated and skilled workers, to the extent that while the population of NZ is 4.3 million there are over a million born and raised in NZ now overseas.
After being ignored by the government, media and public for two decades it is now becoming a serious concern and topic of debate.
4. While not perfect the NZ state health system is of a high standard compared to most internationally. There are also many private health care providers that offer general excellent service, but they’re also relatively expensive.
5. Well I’ve mentioned the wages, and will add that NZ is not a wealthy nation. Also be aware that NZ is not very densely populated and many migrants find the place dull and uninspiring after the initial honeymoon. This is also further exacerbated by many of the most outgoing and intelectual people being caught in the brain drain. By nature NZ has become very suburban. NZ is very isolated from the world and insular and socially quite backward. You may find people very intolerant of other people’s opinions and quite small-minded and petty. The country also has problems with youth crime and the political parties/government are not very capable. There is also a large minority of disenfranchised members of the indigenous Maori people who often cause political unrest.
6. IMO: Best places: Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin.
Napier/Hastings, Tauranga, Nelson, Rotorua and New Plymouth are nice settings too, but some of the locals might be a bit hard to take. Auckland’s not such a great city but it has the most employment opportunities. As for scenery, there’s great scenery in many places but it varies. I might be better to tell you the places which arent so picturesque; the North Waikato, Manawatu and Hutt Valley.
7. Yes, NZ is quite expensive to live in, despite the low wages. Because of the low valued NZ dollar and no economic protections.
And we drive on the left hand side like the British commonwealth (minus Canada) and Japan.
jennifer h on January 29, 2010 at 2:17 pm
New Zealand is a little Country at the bottom of the earth but a paradise. I am a duel citizen NZ and Australian I have lived in England and travelled a little in America. I choose Australia to live now as the weather and lifestyle suits me far better. I don’t like New Zealand weather but be in New Zealand on a good weather day and it is lovely. I grew up in NZ and most New Zealanders have nothing against people from other Countries they are very tolerant friendly people . You have a mixed bunch of course,like anywhere in the world . NZ is known to be a low crime Country but of course there is plenty of Crime so one doesn’t give the opportunity to make it easy for say a house break in. This can happen but it never happened to me or as far as i know anyone in my neighbour hood. Same for car theft, one wouldn’t leave the car unlocked on the road but if they did then chances are it would be safe. There are some good paying jobs in NZ but on average the basic wage which I’m sorry I don’t know what it is now but it’s not that good. You pay for doctors not sure what a visit costs today maybe $20 or $30 dollars The Public hospitals are free. but for some things there are long waiting lists. Emergency health care is good. Yes you can have private cover. Being a small Country clothing can be expensive but with such a lot of clothing coming from China Fiji and places then clothing has got cheaper. NZ has some wonderful fashion designers world class but you pay for the designer clothes a lot lot more. I love Wellington for a City . But they get some terrible cold winds there. Nelson much smaller but is very beautiful with surrounding beaches mountains lakes but they are my picks to live . Driving is on the left same as Australia and England opposite to America. There is a New Zealand section on Yahoo answers . You are on the Australian site so you could get more answers with the NZ section.
Anne M on January 29, 2010 at 2:17 pm
The US nation has a paranoid population with inferior complexes. Most of the rest of the world does not care what colour a person is, where they were born, what their beliefs are. We just accept or reject a person on an individual basis depending on how the person treat us.
New Zealand is a lovely little country filled with friendly people.
They do not have many oddities as a nation and there are few downsides to them, their country or the people.
Exception…They beat the hell out of us Aussies at League, but then they can’t play cricket for nuts.