Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ExanimusDeus · 04-04-2003, 09:37 PM

Hi all, well I have just finished my taxes for the year and will have the government give me a bit of my money back this year. So I was thinking of taking an exploratory vacation out to New Zealand and see if I like it.
I am just really trying to get a feel of the country. Mostly all I have been thinking of in the last couple of months is that I want to move and how would I accomplish it. I think that if I have the chance I will but I have to make sure that will like the place and culture that I am going to move to.
Ah the drama of it all! I see that a flight is going to be the expensive part of this experiment. Hotels can be cheap if I look hard.
But mostly where should I go in New Zealand? I am currently working in IT communication transport here in California. So for the people who live there or know the country what city is the tech center? Here L. A. is the major communication hub for the western US, gee who would have thought of that! So I am looking for something in the Tech end of things. Although maybe I will take up the life of a sheep farmer Baaaa to boring for me.

Anyway thoughts, recommendations, or recriminations welcome!

Bree · 04-04-2003, 10:53 PM

Since this has nothing much to do in the way of a secular lifestyle, I'm moving it to Misc Disc.

ExanimusDeus · 04-05-2003, 01:19 AM

Opps, Yes this would be a Miscellaneous Discussion sorry

Been looking at travel prices all night trying to plan this thing.

I need ideas, help me spend my tax return people!

whanau · 04-05-2003, 01:58 AM

I must congratulate you on a fine decision. Essentially Auckland is the tech centre of NZ but it is (I find it) simply the worst place in NZ to live because it tries too hard to be Sydney. Wellington is fun, with a growing tech centre (peter jackson does his cg for LOTR there). Dunedin is also very nice to live in, with good access to Central Otago (essentially the Aspen of NZ)

For your vacation here is a mock itnerary (pick and choose what you like). Fly into Auckland. Check out Queen Street, and Sky Tower. Go for a cruise on the Hauraki Gulf, and visit one of the gulf islands.

Head to the Bay of Islands up North and go sport fishing.

Then head south to Rotorua and get a glipse of local Maori culture. Drive down to wellington, and stop at Tongararo national park along the way. In wellington go to cuba street and enjoy the cafes.

Visit the te papa museum. Get the ferry to the south island and go whale watching at Kaikoura.

Rest a night in ChristChurch, then drive to Queenstown, seeing Mt Cook on the way. Stay a week in Queenstown (cause you will not want to leave)

As for living in New Zealand, it is hard to find a high paying job, but if you live outside Auckland, the price of living is very low. Eg a house in Dunedin will set you back 150 000 NZ dollars, which is peanuts in US dollars. You also live like a king because food and booze (and weed...) is dead cheap. However you won't be raking in the cash. Expect to earn around 60 000 NZ a year. You make up the difference from your US salary by enjoying an unrivaled quality of life.....

ju'iblex · 04-05-2003, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Essentially Auckland is the tech centre of NZ but it is (I find it) simply the worst place in NZ to live because it tries too hard to be Sydney

mind if i quote you on that?

lunachick · 04-05-2003, 02:15 AM

I knew you had to be a Kiwi! Despite your location being Singapore, "whanau" gave it away. Nice itinerary. Kia ora.

As a few people have asked me in the last few days about immigrating here, I'll get some links togewther and post them in this forum. I was going to do it tonight, but I've been side-tracked, so I'll get onto it in the morning.

Please bear in mind that we only want liberal, tolerant, secular, reasonable, friendly, environmentally-aware, non-racist, open-minded immigrants. It's also a good idea to know how to swim. As for the rest of you, you tend to lower the tone.

ExanimusDeus · 04-05-2003, 03:31 AM

Lunachick
Please bear in mind that we only want liberal, tolerant, secular, reasonable, friendly, environmentally-aware, non-racist, open-minded immigrants. It's also a good idea to know how to swim. As for the rest of you, you tend to lower the tone.

Well I have been accused of being a card carrying liberal by a �conservative republican� coworker did that count? Tolerant/yes, secular/yes, reasonable/yes, friendly/I get antisocial at times, Envir-whatsit/Hay I am American Educated (this is not the global warming that you are looking for, there is no need for us to sign KYOTO) Arrrrg!!!, Non-racist/yes, Open-Minded/Who Me? Swim/swimming since three years old. I have visited the NZ government pages for information on immigration and such mostly just poking around. This is sounding like a fun trip!
I just converted the house price on that Whanau gave. If I sell my house and my car here I will have quite enough money to move and probably pay for my house in full over there. My home here in California I bought two years ago for 190,000 US and I have talked to the realtor who sold me my house. She says that houses in my neighborhood are selling for 230000 and more now. This might really work!

Thanks for the information

lunachick · 04-05-2003, 03:51 AM

This'll give you an idea of one Americans view of NZ. He is here now, and at the top of the South Island. I don't think anyone will mind me posting this, as it contains no information or correspondence of a personal nature.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Today I am writing you from a tiny little place called Hopewell, which is nestled into the Marlborough Sounds on the south Island of New Zealand. The place is simply spectauclar to say the least. The Marborough Sounds are an area where these strips of land just out into the ocean creating thousands of sounds (like the long island sound), bays and coves. Surrounding each of them are these rugged cliffs and mountains which seem to just empty right into the sea. It is a kayak-ers heaven. The picture I included with this email is a typical view you get just about everywhere here. It is what I can see through my bedroom window at the moment.
The place I am staying at is a beautiful guest house which is right on the water and is the coziest place I have ever seen. It is run by a married couple with their kids who are the friendliest people, when you arrive they greet you with tea and coffee and fresh bread that they bake right on the spot. All the facilities are immaculate and they give you free kayaks, mountian bikes and equipment to use while you are here. You would never in a million years think this was a backpackers hostel, in the states this would be called a "resort" and you would pay $200 a night to stay here. But here in NZ you can get all this for $13 a night ! You just have to know where to look. They also have a jacuzzi that is built right into a cliff that overlooks the entire bay.. amazing.

It is possible to get here by car although the roads to get here are trecherous, one windy curve adfter the next as you climb and decend through the mountains, even the strong stomached would get queazy. So the better option is to park your car at the neartest big town and have a boat take you there. There is basically one guy who runs this thing called a "water taxi" that will take you there but instead I noticed two young fisherman with their own boat dock at the port just as I came into town and offered them a few bucks (much cheaper than the water taxi) to take me instead. They agreed to take me but said that since the tide was low they couldnt bring me into the Hopewell port for another two hours. So, for the next two hours I spent my time hanging out with them on their boat while they threw out their nets all over the bay fishing for flounder. Aparently today was the first day of comercial fishing season.. i got lucky.

During low tide here you can go down to the waters edge and collect fresh muscles and oysters right off the beach, take them back to the kitchen and cook them right on the spot and they're HUGE too.

A week earlier we were in a place called "hot water beach" where because of the local volcanic activity you can come to the beach at low tide with a shovel, dig a hole anywhere in the sand and the hole will fill up instantly with jacuzzi temperature steaming hot water so you hop inside and relax while watching the ocean. Apparently there is a pocket of hot magma under the entire area which heats up the groundwater. It actually takes a few times digging different holes before you find a nice temperature balance because in some of thwem the water is so hot its scolding.

There are so many places we have been in the last week that are just like this one and I wish I could describe them all to you. Suffice it to say that there is not one square inch of this country that is not beautiful. It is one amazing view after the next.. mountains, beaches, glaciers, volcanos, forests you name it.

This week we are headed continually south where we plan to do a 4 day hike along the coast line at Abel Tasman National Park. Should be great, the only problem is that the rain seems to be following us everywhere we go !"

lunachick · 04-05-2003, 09:09 AM

Here's some useful links:

Government Immigration site

A non-government immigration info and help link - VERY helpful

Quarantine info

Real estate

Let me know what else you need to know.

Feather · 04-05-2003, 10:34 AM

I've only visited Christchruch twice, but both times I was enthralled. It's got two things going for it: Rutherford's old lab and those beautiful gardens in the center of the city.

NZ is very high on my list of places I'd like to live. Like 2nd. After Boulder, CO. But just barely.

04-04-2003, 09:37 PM	#1
ExanimusDeus Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Long Beach Posts: 37	Going on Vacation to New Zealand and thinking of moving there! Hi all, well I have just finished my taxes for the year and will have the government give me a bit of my money back this year. So I was thinking of taking an exploratory vacation out to New Zealand and see if I like it. I am just really trying to get a feel of the country. Mostly all I have been thinking of in the last couple of months is that I want to move and how would I accomplish it. I think that if I have the chance I will but I have to make sure that will like the place and culture that I am going to move to. Ah the drama of it all! I see that a flight is going to be the expensive part of this experiment. Hotels can be cheap if I look hard. But mostly where should I go in New Zealand? I am currently working in IT communication transport here in California. So for the people who live there or know the country what city is the tech center? Here L. A. is the major communication hub for the western US, gee who would have thought of that! So I am looking for something in the Tech end of things. Although maybe I will take up the life of a sheep farmer Baaaa to boring for me. Anyway thoughts, recommendations, or recriminations welcome!

04-05-2003, 01:58 AM	#4
whanau Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 17	As a NZer I must congratulate you on a fine decision. Essentially Auckland is the tech centre of NZ but it is (I find it) simply the worst place in NZ to live because it tries too hard to be Sydney. Wellington is fun, with a growing tech centre (peter jackson does his cg for LOTR there). Dunedin is also very nice to live in, with good access to Central Otago (essentially the Aspen of NZ) For your vacation here is a mock itnerary (pick and choose what you like). Fly into Auckland. Check out Queen Street, and Sky Tower. Go for a cruise on the Hauraki Gulf, and visit one of the gulf islands. Head to the Bay of Islands up North and go sport fishing. Then head south to Rotorua and get a glipse of local Maori culture. Drive down to wellington, and stop at Tongararo national park along the way. In wellington go to cuba street and enjoy the cafes. Visit the te papa museum. Get the ferry to the south island and go whale watching at Kaikoura. Rest a night in ChristChurch, then drive to Queenstown, seeing Mt Cook on the way. Stay a week in Queenstown (cause you will not want to leave) As for living in New Zealand, it is hard to find a high paying job, but if you live outside Auckland, the price of living is very low. Eg a house in Dunedin will set you back 150 000 NZ dollars, which is peanuts in US dollars. You also live like a king because food and booze (and weed...) is dead cheap. However you won't be raking in the cash. Expect to earn around 60 000 NZ a year. You make up the difference from your US salary by enjoying an unrivaled quality of life.....

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04-04-2003, 10:53 PM	#2
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	Since this has nothing much to do in the way of a secular lifestyle, I'm moving it to Misc Disc.

04-05-2003, 01:19 AM	#3
ExanimusDeus Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Long Beach Posts: 37	Opps, Yes this would be a Miscellaneous Discussion sorry Been looking at travel prices all night trying to plan this thing. I need ideas, help me spend my tax return people!

04-05-2003, 02:15 AM	#6
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	I knew you had to be a Kiwi! Despite your location being Singapore, "whanau" gave it away. Nice itinerary. Kia ora. As a few people have asked me in the last few days about immigrating here, I'll get some links togewther and post them in this forum. I was going to do it tonight, but I've been side-tracked, so I'll get onto it in the morning. Please bear in mind that we only want liberal, tolerant, secular, reasonable, friendly, environmentally-aware, non-racist, open-minded immigrants. It's also a good idea to know how to swim. As for the rest of you, you tend to lower the tone.

04-05-2003, 03:31 AM	#7
ExanimusDeus Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Long Beach Posts: 37	Lunachick Please bear in mind that we only want liberal, tolerant, secular, reasonable, friendly, environmentally-aware, non-racist, open-minded immigrants. It's also a good idea to know how to swim. As for the rest of you, you tend to lower the tone. Well I have been accused of being a card carrying liberal by a �conservative republican� coworker did that count? Tolerant/yes, secular/yes, reasonable/yes, friendly/I get antisocial at times, Envir-whatsit/Hay I am American Educated (this is not the global warming that you are looking for, there is no need for us to sign KYOTO) Arrrrg!!!, Non-racist/yes, Open-Minded/Who Me? Swim/swimming since three years old. I have visited the NZ government pages for information on immigration and such mostly just poking around. This is sounding like a fun trip! I just converted the house price on that Whanau gave. If I sell my house and my car here I will have quite enough money to move and probably pay for my house in full over there. My home here in California I bought two years ago for 190,000 US and I have talked to the realtor who sold me my house. She says that houses in my neighborhood are selling for 230000 and more now. This might really work! Thanks for the information

04-05-2003, 03:51 AM	#8
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	This'll give you an idea of one Americans view of NZ. He is here now, and at the top of the South Island. I don't think anyone will mind me posting this, as it contains no information or correspondence of a personal nature. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Today I am writing you from a tiny little place called Hopewell, which is nestled into the Marlborough Sounds on the south Island of New Zealand. The place is simply spectauclar to say the least. The Marborough Sounds are an area where these strips of land just out into the ocean creating thousands of sounds (like the long island sound), bays and coves. Surrounding each of them are these rugged cliffs and mountains which seem to just empty right into the sea. It is a kayak-ers heaven. The picture I included with this email is a typical view you get just about everywhere here. It is what I can see through my bedroom window at the moment. The place I am staying at is a beautiful guest house which is right on the water and is the coziest place I have ever seen. It is run by a married couple with their kids who are the friendliest people, when you arrive they greet you with tea and coffee and fresh bread that they bake right on the spot. All the facilities are immaculate and they give you free kayaks, mountian bikes and equipment to use while you are here. You would never in a million years think this was a backpackers hostel, in the states this would be called a "resort" and you would pay $200 a night to stay here. But here in NZ you can get all this for $13 a night ! You just have to know where to look. They also have a jacuzzi that is built right into a cliff that overlooks the entire bay.. amazing. It is possible to get here by car although the roads to get here are trecherous, one windy curve adfter the next as you climb and decend through the mountains, even the strong stomached would get queazy. So the better option is to park your car at the neartest big town and have a boat take you there. There is basically one guy who runs this thing called a "water taxi" that will take you there but instead I noticed two young fisherman with their own boat dock at the port just as I came into town and offered them a few bucks (much cheaper than the water taxi) to take me instead. They agreed to take me but said that since the tide was low they couldnt bring me into the Hopewell port for another two hours. So, for the next two hours I spent my time hanging out with them on their boat while they threw out their nets all over the bay fishing for flounder. Aparently today was the first day of comercial fishing season.. i got lucky. During low tide here you can go down to the waters edge and collect fresh muscles and oysters right off the beach, take them back to the kitchen and cook them right on the spot and they're HUGE too. A week earlier we were in a place called "hot water beach" where because of the local volcanic activity you can come to the beach at low tide with a shovel, dig a hole anywhere in the sand and the hole will fill up instantly with jacuzzi temperature steaming hot water so you hop inside and relax while watching the ocean. Apparently there is a pocket of hot magma under the entire area which heats up the groundwater. It actually takes a few times digging different holes before you find a nice temperature balance because in some of thwem the water is so hot its scolding. There are so many places we have been in the last week that are just like this one and I wish I could describe them all to you. Suffice it to say that there is not one square inch of this country that is not beautiful. It is one amazing view after the next.. mountains, beaches, glaciers, volcanos, forests you name it. This week we are headed continually south where we plan to do a 4 day hike along the coast line at Abel Tasman National Park. Should be great, the only problem is that the rain seems to be following us everywhere we go !"

04-05-2003, 09:09 AM	#9
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	Here's some useful links: Government Immigration site A non-government immigration info and help link - VERY helpful Quarantine info Real estate Let me know what else you need to know.

04-05-2003, 10:34 AM	#10
Feather Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,827	I've only visited Christchruch twice, but both times I was enthralled. It's got two things going for it: Rutherford's old lab and those beautiful gardens in the center of the city. NZ is very high on my list of places I'd like to live. Like 2nd. After Boulder, CO. But just barely.

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