Most Important Things To Note Moving To New Zealand

Cookie_Monster

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

A pint is not a fixed amount: many kiwi pint glasses are 450ms, some are less. A few pubs sell an "Irish pint" which is the 568 you'll be used to.

this bugs the **** out of me and is nothing more than an excuse to rip people off by giving them less than the think they are getting.

on_my_oe

spunkymunky wrote: »

Get a car...no matter where you are. Youll wanna go see places!! You can get a cheap enough car and the wof (NCT) being every 6 months, means they are generally in good nic (not always tho). Also note that any finance owing on the car is passed on to the person who buys it!! Make sure to ask the question!
Strangely, you dont hear a lot of horn beeping here! Lot of traffic and dumb drivers...very dumb but not many horns. Cant remember the last time i used it!!

Before buying a car, get a report on it which will list any finance owed - it operates much the same way as the 'Finance owing' ads you'll see on TV in Ireland for the UK market.

Dumb drivers.... I'd flip that and say Ireland is full of them I'm in Dublin, and I'm sure that indicators are optional extras that most people decline at time of purchase! There is no gap too small for an Irish driver to wedge itself into, forcing you to test your brakes.In NZ if a car needs to change lanes, it'll pull over and up and behind you, often unfortunately tailgating you if you're not at the speed limit; in Ireland, it'll pull up, overtake you, then throw itself in the gap between you and the car in front, even if there is nothing behind you for 5km - it's like Irish drivers think they're in the F1 and are stealing second place. You then have to slam on your brakes because this gate crasher will suddenly drop 20km now they're wedged in between you and the next car, chewing up your following distance. and many people park like they own the road and possess the only car in the country - eg inconsiderately!
Oh look,you're now a taxi that specialises in journeys between 8.01am-9.10am and 2.45pm -6pm, usually for one adult passenger only. Magic! Taking up three car parks because you've parked horizontally, no worries. Oh, you've got an invisible blue disabled badge! Triple parked on a busy road because you're just popping in for the weekly shop, sure not a bother, we'll all drive around your car obstructing the road! And roundabouts are a death trap, as are the state of many Irish roads.
Dad is an ex-cop in the traffic division, as is my grandfather, and they run a driving school. Dad was scared and disgusted by Irish drivers. He's constantly on about us getting dash cams - his comment is they'll be able to use them in court to convict the idiot who kills us with their dangerous driving.
Sorry rant over, Irish drivers and the rain are the two things that I do sincerely hate about living in Ireland, and the accents lovely

davepatr07

Just following from the previous posts, well I guess IRE and NZ both have good and bad points when it comes to driving habits.

True Ireland has it's bad drivers though I've driven practically most of the country here in NZ both North and South Island and I can say that Wellington and Lower Hutt drivers are probably the worst. Even Dunedin (supposedly the worst) weren't that bad and even Auckland with the traffic was fine. It just takes getting used to.

One thing I have noticed often is non use of indicators and tailgating which is really irritating. I mean are we supposed to mind read where you are going changing lanes?. Kiwis here tend to be more of risk takers on the roads than us I find but then again that's just my experience. Witnessed a few hair raising moments with cars overtaking on narrow bends in the Rumataka Hills pass! :rolleyes:

NZ personally is a great place to explore the outdoors and someone mentioned the quality of life outside cities is better in offering...eg Auckland vs Dublin.

I do find cost of living here more expensive and the insulation issue in houses is something to be aware of though I just end up getting more cheap blankets from the Warehouse. Them and Pak n' Save are your friend! Like the Kiwis it's good to be resourceful.

Whatever you decide best of luck!

SpaceTime

I hate to disappoint the Ireland bashers with facts but the road death rate in NZ is over twice as high as Ireland.

Ireland 3.4 (162 road deaths 2012)
New Zealand 8.3 (308 in 2012)
Canada 6.1
Italy 7.6
Belgium 7.7
Iceland 3.8
Denmark 3.4
Sweden 3.7
That's per billion KM driven.

Those figures are from the OECD. Irish drivers drive slightly more KM / year than Kiwis do on average and the population of the Republic of Ireland is about 100,000 bigger than NZ, so the rate in NZ calculates as slightly higher.

Also the road networks aren't really comparable. One's a European country where rural roads evolved over centuries and the other is a 'new world' country with recent infrastructure in terms of rural roads.
You've also got a much more extensive 1,017km motorway network in Ireland vs 199km of motorway in NZ. The % of journeys taking place in Ireland on motorway would actually be a major reason for the much lower accident rate as lightly trafficked motorway is extremely safe compared with roads that require overtaking.

I'm not trying to 'bash' either country here, I'm just saying sometimes anecdotal evidence doesn't stand up at all when analysed.

Driver behaviour in Ireland's far from perfect, and can be quite sloppy compared to Southern England in particular, but I have never really found Irish drivers particularly aggressive and I drive on the continent and in the UK pretty much weekly. If you want to see some aggressive overtaking and need for dash cams ... try driving on the Brussels Ring or through Paris' outer suburban network at peak time. Even the M25 or any of the radial routes around London can be incredibly aggressive. The A-roads are even worse - lots of traffic, single-carriageway and people in a huge rush to get home/wherever they're going. They'll pass at any opportunity.

If you think either IRL or NZ are dangerous places to drive, I'd strongly suggest you haven't driven much beyond those two places.
NZ's higher accident rate is most likely down to lack of long-distance motorways rather than behaviour though too.

cpoh1

The one thing I will say about driving in NZ is that overall it is way less stressful than Ireland, mostly because of the amazing scenery, the quality of the surfaces and the lack of cars on the roads outside the big cities. The 2+1 system they adopt and the recommended speed/gradient of corners signage are really great for making progress.

Where NZ driving standards fall down is with their lack of experience on dual carriageways and motorways, they really have no clue how to keep left and because of their obsession with speed progress can be hard to make in the cities even on three lane roads. Also their issues with tourists and the standard they bring to the roads, mostly from asian countries. The amount to times ive come round a bend in the past to catch a lad in an apex rental 4wd full of asian tourists driving at 15mph was shocking, really dangerous stuff.

Like for like cars are much more expensive in NZ than ireland, in recent years anyway. Sure you can buy an old 90's jap import for peanuts over there but if you are looking for a 4 year old toyota of some sort you will pay more than the equivalent over here.

SpaceTime

Ireland could make a lot more use of 2+1, without the ridiculously complicated barrier systems they used on the trail sections of it that were built on the Cork-Mallow road for example.
You just need regular passing lanes, well signed and at predictable distances from each other on non-motorway roads.

Likewise tourists who are unfamiliar with the roads can be a major issue. I've encountered someone driving on the wrong side of the road in a French reg car on the road to Dingle at about 6:30am !!

Overall, though I didn't really spot THAT huge a difference between NZ and IRL in terms of driving. They're both relatively sane in my opinion and at least they drive on the same side of the road with broadly similar rules (i.e. no complicated priority systems like France etc)

One minor point on the electrical systems in NZ and Australia : the most commonly found plugs and sockets are only rated to carry 10amps max. So, if you're bringing any appliances or using multi-way extension leads, do not exceed 2300W

We had an issue where an Irish/European spec 3000W iron was being used with an NZ plug fitted and the socket caught fire on the wall !! They're just not able to cope with the load as the pins and contacts aren't designed for the same kind of current as Irish/British or European sockets are.

If you're importing any heavy appliances from Ireland like dryers, dishwashers, washing machines etc (unlikely given the shipping costs etc) just make sure you get 15amp sockets fitted first (unless your appliance is rated <2300W)

Also make sure you fit 15amp plugs, not 10 amp ones (they both fit the 15amp sockets...) complicated, but just worth remembering.

UK spec sockets are rated 13amps and continental European ones are rated 16amps. So, just bear that in mind when you're using adaptors or changing plugs.

NZ/Aus plugs come in 10amp (standard) and 15amp (with a larger earth pin to prevent you sticking it into a 10amp socket)

The voltage and frequency are exactly the same as Ireland or Europe, so other than the plugs/sockets it's exactly the same system.

If you're bringing any cooking appliances, consult an NZ electrician about hooking them up. They will work fine, but you may need to get them hardwired just like in Ireland.

Digital Terrestrial Television is similar to, but not necessarily 100% identical to, what's used in Ireland for Saorview. Ireland's part of the NORDIG (Nordic + Irish digital alliance) which sets standards for this stuff in those countries. In general TVs in Ireland *should* be able to pick up and tune in NZ digital services without any fuss.

I can't really think of any other techie stuff worth worrying about.

Mobile phone networks in NZ aren't any different to Ireland really, except for Spark NZ (aka Telecom NZ).
Vodafone NZ is using GSM, UMTS 2100 (3G) and some UMTS 900MHz too. 4G is using 1800MHz (same as Three in Ireland). So, most modern devices sold in Ireland should work on those networks. Some may not have UMTS on 900MHz so you might find rural 3G isn't so good.

2 Degrees is similar in terms of technologies and frequencies and should work fine and it has fill-in national roaming agreements with Vodafone NZ in poor coverage.

Spark / Telecom NZ has a bit of an odd network - uses UMTS (3G) only and LTE 4G. However it uses UMTS on odd frequencies, so you might have issues with handsets not sold by the network itself. Basically it had made a huge mistake by originally standardising on the US proprietary CDMA system for 2G and then decided to shut that down and adopt GSM standards. However, at that stage 2G was kind of dying out anyway so it never had a 2G GSM network. That's how it ended up with 3G & 4G only.

Overall, if you're using your own handset use Vodafone NZ, 2 Degrees or one of the Vodafone hosted MVNOs (virtual operators). I'd give Spark a miss unless you're very sure it will work.

Virtual networks on Vodafone's infrastructure: Compass, Black&White, Orcon and M2

Virtual networks on Spark's Infrastructure : Skinny (owned by Spark), Telstra Clear (oddly owned by Vodafone), Digital Island and CallPlus or Slingshot.


....

If for some reason you want to bring Irish fixed line phones, like you've a very fancy DECT setup or something, it will work fine provided you use an NZ phone cord or an adaptor. They use the UK style phone jack. However, Ireland uses the de facto US-derrived global standard RJ11 so, adaptors are very easy to get.


....

Long post, but I think that covers all the techie stuff you could possibly ever need to know for moving between IRL and NZ or NZ and IRL

spunkymunky

DO NOT BUY COFFEE IN STARBUCKS OR ESQUIRES BECAUSE IT'S SH*T.

I love the coffee here, NZ. Was back in Dublin at Christmas and its was muck!! So many little coffee shops, with hipster barista's thinking they are the sh*t, who deliver fantastic coffee!

Seanie_H

spunkymunky wrote: »

DO NOT BUY COFFEE IN STARBUCKS OR ESQUIRES BECAUSE IT'S SH*T.

I love the coffee here, NZ. Was back in Dublin at Christmas and its was muck!! So many little coffee shops, with hipster barista's thinking they are the sh*t, who deliver fantastic coffee!

Coffee in Dublin is great, very good range. Pity you couldn't find them.

Agree esquires and Starbucks are poor but it might be more constructive to say where the OP can get a good coffee instead.

Cookie_Monster

Seanie_H wrote: »

Agree esquires and Starbucks are poor but it might be more constructive to say where the OP can get a good coffee instead.

depends where they are living and the cafe's in the area. Most are independent and it depends who supplies them as well as their own staff.
Since I work for one of the coffee companies I won't make suggestions (shilling) but you'll be able to find plenty of good cafes with little effort, just don't stick with one and try a few, the difference can be incredible.

Cookie_Monster

SpaceTime wrote: »

I hate to disappoint the Ireland bashers with facts but the road death rate in NZ is over twice as high as Ireland.
than Kiwis do on average and the population of the Republic of Ireland is about 100,000 bigger than NZ, so the rate in NZ calculates as slightly higher.

If you think either IRL or NZ are dangerous places to drive, I'd strongly suggest you haven't driven much beyond those two places.
NZ's higher accident rate is most likely down to lack of long-distance motorways rather than behaviour though too.

30% of kiwi roads are unsealed too.
NZers do silly things and drive a bit crazy but are generally predictable and often know they are doing something wrong and do it anyway, I find whenever I'm back in Ireland the sheer unpredictability and dopiness are the main problems.
The amount of truck accidents here is incredible, 1-2 a week get reported locally and same around the country. Mostly trucks rolling, but considering how rarely you'd hear it at home it's surprising. I'm sure the roads don't exactly help but clearly there are a lot of truckers who drive like maniacs to rack up such a high number of crashes.

drink driving is par for the course here too.

bambgirl92

Has anyone brought a GHD with them to NZ? And are the plugs able to take them? Im like a frizz ball without it

Cookie_Monster

bambgirl92 wrote: »

Has anyone brought a GHD with them to NZ? And are the plugs able to take them? Im like a frizz ball without it

yeah the wife has one, works fine with the plug adaptor

spunkymunky

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

depends where they are living and the cafe's in the area. Most are independent and it depends who supplies them as well as their own staff.
Since I work for one of the coffee companies I won't make suggestions (shilling) but you'll be able to find plenty of good cafes with little effort, just don't stick with one and try a few, the difference can be incredible.

Agree with ya. Everywhere has their gems! Beanhunter app for iphone is good.

spunkymunky

Seanie_H wrote: »

Coffee in Dublin is great, very good range. Pity you couldn't find them. Agree esquires and Starbucks are poor but it might be more constructive to say where the OP can get a good coffee instead.

I go back soon will check it out. Ill hold my judgement till then:)

I live in Birkenhead and would recommend OTT, Coffee General, Hinemoa Organic, Groove cafe.
Milford - The Swiss cafe, Little Kings
Mt Eden, Circus circus (Big queues), Frazers,
City, Remedy (Beside Father Teds), Imperial Lane

youngblood

I cant believe no mentioned Wifi!
I found internet to be brutal in NZ.
Totally overpriced and speed atrocious!
Free 100mb allowance at most Libraries.
We had a 10gb allowance in our place, that meant you could download 10gb and after that would be slowed down to dsl speed until you topped up
Although things hopefully will have changed in the last 2 years!

cpoh1

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

yeah I love my one, works fine with the plug adaptor

Fixed that for you cookie monster :pac:

Cookie_Monster

cpoh1 wrote: »

Fixed that for you cookie monster :pac:

was experimented on once, this was roughly the outcome:

pclancy

Internet quality depends on where you live regarding price and speed. In the wellington suburb where I am, we've got 100Mb Ultrasfast fibre to the house and 100Gb cap a month for something like $80 a month.

But NZ being where it is at the end of the planet with just one internet cable to Oz and California means download speeds and pings for overseas servers are never going to be amazing. Online gaming isnt great unless there are Kiwi or Oz servers. I always notice how much faster Boards.ie loads when I go back to Ireland for a visit

TheCoolWay

pclancy wrote: »

Internet quality depends on where you live regarding price and speed. In the wellington suburb where I am, we've got 100Mb Ultrasfast fibre to the house and 100Gb cap a month for something like $80 a month.

But NZ being where it is at the end of the planet with just one internet cable to Oz and California means download speeds and pings for overseas servers are never going to be amazing. Online gaming isnt great unless there are Kiwi or Oz servers. I always notice how much faster Boards.ie loads when I go back to Ireland for a visit

I am in shock

DoozerT6

I'm getting pangs of nostalgia for Woosh

In other things to note, the quality of housing has been done to death here, but...yeah. Definitely worth noting, (invest in some thermals, and some fleece blankets for the beds) also the quality of decoration of some rental properties can be straight out of the 80's I also found that kitchens tend to be quite small and basic in pretty much every place I lived in.

Become familiar with the terms sausage sizzle, gold coin donation, bring a plate, cheese roll, stubbies, jandals (also, pakeha, kia kaha, kia ora, haere mai, and whanau are some Maori words commonly used in NZ society, I'll give you the pleasure of looking up what they mean )

If for some reason you end up in the South Island during winter, bear in mind that next stop is Antarctica - it can get VERY cold down south in winter, easily as cold as here at times.

Regarding the WOF (Warrant of Fitness, basically the NCT) for your car, apparently it's changed only since July of this year, see this link http://nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/registration-licensing/warrant-of-fitness.html for more details as to how often your car will need a WOF.

Seanie_H

DoozerT6 wrote: »

cheese roll

Christ what a disappointment

cactusgal

Very expensive place to live, and the houses are absolutely freezing (you can see your breath when you're chilling at home, pardon the lame pun). Very quiet nightlife. (I wasn't a fan of NZ, sorry! Longest 18 months of my life!)

on_my_oe

DoozerT6 wrote: »

Become familiar with the terms sausage sizzle, gold coin donation, bring a plate, cheese roll, stubbies , jandals (also, pakeha, kia kaha, kia ora, haere mai, and whanau are some Maori words commonly used in NZ society, I'll give you the pleasure of looking up what they mean )

Here's a visual representation of stubbies

http://youtu.be/G7rHZpwuWds

(L&P is NZs answer to Club Orange, just lemon instead)

TheCoolWay

cactusgal wrote: »

Very expensive place to live, and the houses are absolutely freezing (you can see your breath when you're chilling at home, pardon the lame pun). Very quiet nightlife. (I wasn't a fan of NZ, sorry! Longest 18 months of my life!)

I take it you didn't make many friends over there...

BlackEdelweiss

cactusgal wrote: »

Very expensive place to live, and the houses are absolutely freezing (you can see your breath when you're chilling at home, pardon the lame pun). Very quiet nightlife. (I wasn't a fan of NZ, sorry! Longest 18 months of my life!)

What cactusgal said plus more. Honestly unless you are totally into outdoor stuff I would go somewhere else if you have a choice. I am 40 with 4 small kids so maybe our situations would be different and you may get more out of the place than I do but I think it is **** here. Kiwis are boring, I feel the life being sucked out of me by their dullness. I was in Australia when I was 21 and had a blast but I cant imagine that being the case here. The best thing about New Zealand is that it has made me realise how much I love Ireland and being Irish.

Mrs OBumble

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

Kiwis are boring, I feel the life being sucked out of me by their dullness. I was in Australia when I was 21 and had a blast but I cant imagine that being the case here.

Ahh, I think that you'll find 40-somethings with small kids have boring lives compared to 21 year olds pretty much the world over.

BlackEdelweiss

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Ahh, I think that you'll find 40-somethings with small kids have boring lives compared to 21 year olds pretty much the world over.

Im not saying that NZ is not as much fun in my 40's as australia was when I was 21, I'm saying I cant imagine NZ would have been as good as Australia at that age.

cpoh1

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

Im not saying that NZ is not as much fun in my 40's as australia was when I was 21, I'm saying I cant imagine NZ would have been as good as Australia at that age.

I personally preferred touring one of the most beautiful countries in the world at 21 than getting sh*tfaced in surfers with a load of british backpackers myself.

Would recommend you take your 4 young kids out more and show them some of the kiwi countryside, every time you round the corner there's something new and breathtaking to see.

cactusgal

Without trying to get into an argument about the pros and cons of life in New Zealand, I think the main thing here is that you should do a lot of research before moving country. NZ life will certainly suit many people very well, but for many others, it won't be a good fit at all. Know before you go!

Seanie_H

cactusgal wrote: »

Without trying to get into an argument about the pros and cons of life in New Zealand, I think the main thing here is that you should do a lot of research before moving country. NZ life will certainly suit many people very well, but for many others, it won't be a good fit at all. Know before you go!

Good thinking. Maybe start a thread on Boards to find out the pros and cons to kick the research :-)