So, you’re thinking of heading to live in New Zealand? Can’t be that much different, can it? We’re basically neighbours, share a similar culture, and so on.
Heck, it’s only a three hour flight, and they play cricket (albeit poorly).
You would be mistaken.
It is different.
It’s a funny place. And I don’t necessarily mean funny in the amusing sense. More funny in the alightly left-of-centre way.
You’re probably thinking “yeah I know they’re mad about the All Blacks, and have a slight inferiority complex, but they’re really just like us.”
When I say funny, I mean slightly, well, different. It’s not a matter of slotting into living in a new country. It takes adjustment to the Kiwi way.
I’ve been here now for just over a year, and we’re still getting our head around living here.
I don’t want to put anyone off. There’s a lot going for New Zealand, but it can’t pay to be fully informed before making the jump.
Hopefully some of our experiences can help you in your move across the dutch.
Scott said
So … thinking of making the move ?? DONT … please stay put in Oz, we are more than happy to sent all our losers there to help raise the IQ level of both countries!
Gazza said
Ha ha.. Everyone’s welcome here, it’s a great place to live. If you’re coming from Aus, then the websites right, it’s only a hop, skip and jump away, if you’re not ‘feeling it’ here, it’s relatively easy to pack up and go back home.
We are an odd bunch so it may taking some getting used to here, but if you enjoy a good drink, watching the footy and the companionship of some good mates, stay in Aus. :)
‘Cos over here, we don’t take no sh*t, you start running your mouth, talking in that high pitched twang, we’ll shove your ‘feesh and cheeps’ right up your waltzing maltida.
Respect to all the Kiwi’s in Australia, infiltrate and take them for all they’ve got, ‘cos there ain’t sh*t here. :)
Andrea said
No idea why everyone’s making such a fuss about your blog being anti-Kiwi – it’s a cool blog, obviously tongue-in-cheek in places, and states a lot of positives about NZ as well. I’m really at a loss as to why the media’s up in arms. Scraping the barrel? :S
Keep doing what you’re doing! :)
Bunks said
I moved over to NZ about 18 months ago with my wife – set up near the beach. Great lifestyle here! The people are lovely!
My only issue is the obsession with that dumbass game where blokes try and stick their heads up each others butts or lie on top of each other? Then, when they do get a chance to run with the ball they have to throw it behind them!! Go figure……
Apart from that, love it here…..
George said
Too true – moved here in 97 and made the very dangerous assumption would all be the same – worked myself silly for 6 months and just thought it cannot be that hard! A Kiwi took me aside and told me being an Aussie does have an affect and Kiwi’s hate being sold to! 12yrs later and alot wiser, Kiwi’s are way more loyqal as clients, and doing business is way easier
Lyndon said
Hi, I’m thirty years old, NZ-born and raised, lived here most of my life. Have generally hated living here most of that time and by no coincidence had the best times of my life outside of NZ. Now I’m maturing, am poor, and becoming resigned to the fact that I may have to stay in NZ for the rest of my days. It’s true that you don’t know depression ’til you’ve lived in NZ. You can’t reason with Kiwis; they are pessimistic, insecure, precious, easily offended and stories of a massive inferiority complex are true. Suggestions for improvements or petitions are taken as a deeply personal insult and threat to their very being. They will become extremely defensive as they proceed to argue you to the ground with inanities, and innuendos on your appearance or sexual orientation, the perennial favourite. You will become completely exasperated. If you can create your own little island of activity and ignore New Zealanders’ bullshit, then NZ with its great outdoors, tidy cities, cheap living (Pak n’ Save and Warehouse), can be a great place. I fear that a mass migration of 400,000 Americans to lift the collective spirits of the country and inject a bit of the Yankee ‘can-do’ attitude into the place is the only way to make it better.
Iunita said
Seriously scott.
Talk from your head not your ass… article doesnt wanna distract you from all the good things aotearoa has going for them but did the artivle mention any??? no!!
Oh well, i’ve moved constantly between the DITCH and love both countries for their differences. if your not opened minded don’t bother travelling people!!!
Mattheew said
Ive been out this way for about a year now awesome place cant see myself living anywhere else. It is true though at first can be a wee bit hard getting use to but onces you get use to it mate its easy living with the green and water not far no matter where you live best place on earth.
steve said
Lyndon like so many people you put all New Zealanders into a box and say they are all the same and you state everything that is wrong with New Zealanders well look in the mirror maybe it is you with the problem.
And as for America well the last time i looked there country was an ecomomic basket case you can keep your 400,000 americans and these so called can do attitude.
Freddy said
Surprisingly – or perhaps not, you’re right about quite a few things.
NZers do have an inferiority complex about Australia. And Europe (have you noticed how everything here is European designed, from washing machines to cars, fridges, kitchens, clothes, curtains and underwear?
Kiwis say they don’t give a toss what Australia thinks of us. But really we do. I’m big enough to admit that. Not that I care personally, but I’m talking on a global scale. And the funny thing about this whole inferiority complex thing is that Australia doesn’t give a shit. Here’s little NZ making a lot of racket about stuff Oz stole, copied and trampled. And OZ doesn’t care at all. NZ is like the annoying little brother, I guess.
Where you’re wrong however, is that Kiwis do have a sense of humour. And a better accent. But to tell you the truth, however brash you lot can be, I’d rather have Australians living here than Poms (Brits, Rosebeefs, pommies…). The English are using NZ as a lifeboat (see today’s Herald) and soon, we’ll all be talking like we’ve got a ravioli stuck in our throat and a donkey’s testicle in our mouth. So enjoy “fush and chups” while you can, bro, cause it ain’t gonna live too long at this rate.
Sarah said
Ha ha, love your blog. My partner and I are Kiwis who recently moved to Sydney and had exactly the same experience – but in reverse. We thought, how different can it be? How wrong were we! Everything just seemed off balance and out of whack for months – people were rude and always trying to rip us off, the supermarkets were tiny and expensive, food was weird (sausages especially – all tasted like rubber and vinegar), you need 10 forms of ID just to make a phone call, Sydneysiders’ English bore no relation to any language we spoke. But we adjusted and we’re having a great time, taking all the Kiwi mocking in good spirits:-) Your blog has been very useful for figuring out the weird things we don’t understand – Cheers!
Nomad said
I would trade my present tropical perpetual sweat-inducing existence for NZ anyday! Lived there for several years in the early 2000s and loved every moment of it. Some of the friendliest people ever encountered and the most laid-back as well. Pure & Natural NZ