Notes From A Small Island
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@taniwharugby said in Notes From A Small Island:
@Salacious-Crumb
When I used to run on the Canals between Rickmansworth and Watford, barely anyone made eye contact or acknowledged you, even after you say hi...Sorry about that.
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2023 Update:
I have to say I found this trip much more enjoyable than the last one. Had a cracking time catching up with people and enjoying what the country had to offer. Reading through the above, it seems that the thing most disagreed with was the friendliness of the country and this time I felt slightly different. Kiwis seems a lot more assured of themselves than last time. There doesn't seem to be as much of a chip anymore about things and I think it's a lot better for it. It's always had a bit of an unwarranted global reputation for being behind, but not sure that's the case anymore which I guess with it comes confidence. Anyway, here's some salient points / observations:
The Good:
Coffee is awesome. There is real pride behind it & I never had a shit cup. Doesn't matter where I ordered it from it was truly superb.
Police make their presence really felt compared to elsewhere but they fit in better. Full of smiles and almost proud of their role to keep the peace. Globally, police forces are pretty ostracised these days, and it just doesn't feel like that in NZ.
Golf Courses: Absolutely stunning and in superb nick. Waitangi was truly memorable and Te Puke in great shape. Thrashed my old man too!
Bay of Islands: Beautiful, memorable place. Much quieter than your average tourist spot and better for it.
Beer. Really suits the climate & tried many things. Think Steinlager Pure has changed as didn't give me memories it did last time. Panhead is brilliant, but you generally feel hammered after one.The Bad:
Fat people. I hardly live in the epicentre of health & I've spent a lot of time in the US this year, but NZ to me felt fatter than both. Some of the portion sizes we got from food halls was truly outrageous. I got a banh mi from a place in Albany Mall which I think would have been 2,000 calories.
Booze shops. There are liquor stores everywhere. Focal points of towns used to be churches, parks, perhaps even a supermarket but front and centre now seems to be liquor stores.
Supermarket costs. FARRKK ME! Easily twice the price of UK. Lamb seemed to be on special but basics costs are sky high. 8-10 bucks for a box of cereal 4-5 for a loaf of bread. UK apparently has a cost of living crisis, but I'm not sure it compares to NZ.
Boy Racers. Ok this culture has always been there, but the cars have real power now. We used to cruise around in 100-150hp Mazda 323 etc, but these are now 3-400hp monsters. Thats pretty scary. Saw lots of cruisers at Mount Maunganui, it was literally like being there when I was a teenager 30 years ago. House prices somewhat higher though ...
Jeans Shorts. Less around than last time, but still plenty. They look shit, get it right!!
Lots of businesses struggling with staff and Australia exodus seems pretty bad.The last bad one was eye opening to me. I've always thought NZ is well integrated with Maori but, especially up north, it felt like local Maori were more similar to aborigines in Australia. Where you see a small collection of shit places and thats known as an aboriginal area. Maybe I saw the wrong things but it just didn't feel to e like they were part of the general community. Sad. Wife noticed it too when driving up we went through Orewa. Seems like all of the growth /generation literally stops dead at Hatfields beach. Goes from modern developments to unkempt houses just like that.
Observations:
Lots of Nirvana t-shirts.
Auckland ridiculously quiet (compared to other cities) except on the roads. Downtown feels a bit mish mash - at one point we counted 7 different types of brick / concrete on one stretch of footpath.
Electric Scooters are everywhere. Are there any rules around them? People seem to blast down footpath at 30kph on them which seems insane.
Roads. Some up north in dire state, but overall not as bad as the locals make out. Understand more now why they have lots of 80k zones. I'd probably change everything. I'd make the national speed limit 90kph, the highways 120kph & keep towns at 50kph.
Clean Green image seems false to me. Everybody seems to drive massive rangers, saw lots of RAMS and loads towing boats with twin 150hp+-motors. More electric cars around now, but overall the attitude seems more towards US Style tanks than European style efficiency. Not sure how that fits in with Green.
Heard lots of old school music in shops/cafes. Salt n Pepa, Charles & Eddie etc etc. Kinda dig that!Couple of Laughs:
Took early morning walk at Snells beach, and kids tired (jet lag etc). Asked if we could Uber home .... not sure many around at 6am at Snells beach
When we landed my son asked me why the immigration guy "sounded just like Aaron Smith". A few days later he then asked why "everybody sounded like Aaron Smith".
Saw they now sell VB aftershave. What. The. Fuck.
Drove past a house with two water tanks. Son yelled out in the car "look at those massive jugs"Overall:
Love the place, still home and always will be. Less sure that I fit in now but there is one hell of a lifestyle to be had there. Not completely immune to global problems (inequality, cost of living) but political shit seems less influential.
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Anyway, I came back to live 3 years back,here after being in Aus (Brisbane) for 26 years.
My take is I am quite comfortable living here , we not sure there a huge difference with Aus (though I no longer live in city thank f***) . I find people remarkably friendly, neighbours etc I know better a mile more than I did in Aus. Though I was admitedly a kiwi and always had that held against me a bit, and quite funny almost come out from some accidently. Mind you I always said hi to people when I walked over there and generally got a nod or replay, and can't take a couple of steps here without saying hi etc (but small town etc) , but have no probs when in Wellington etc.
Basically I understand Major's points, but I also understand quite a number who move overseas like to notice things wrong at home subconciously as it helps to reinforce decicions made to live there, and no probs. I must admit my weakness when on hols is I always look for positives whereever I am, so miss a lot of these things anyway. Over years when I have travelled it's usually been locals point out things that are wrong, when I in London .I loved place (wouldn't want to live there), and a few people would say, but there is too many foreigners, or too many homeless, beggars etc etc, San Fran going to airport was taxi driver who bemoaned the amount of homelessness etc (went past park with packed with them, in LA was the amount of Mexicans etc etc. All things people found wrong I didn't look for. Went to Paris, once again loved it sister who went a month later gave me a list of thing wrong that I didn't notice or look for.
I will say with Craft beers etc , I am stoked people are talking them up, and without being rude you sound like my son who lived in Italy for a long time , when you said such and such was a nice wine, you would get a look down nose, what do you know we live in Italy so wine where everyone know wine etc kind of thing. Same as craft beer, living in England doesn't mean you are an expert on beer and I would be disappomited if someone didn't say to me hey this is a nice beer/wine etc.
Plus I am happy as a sand boy living here, perhaps because I always missed the place when I away. Just talking to nephew yesterady who lives in Ireland , here with wife and kids and he is loving every minute with kids suggesting they would like to move over (oldest was borm here) etc. So basically I think it's what you look for
/see?
But will agree with Major's original post, I don't like Auckland,doesn't do it for me, I find it hard to get a vibe on the place. I was same in Aus never liked Sydney, to point one of my favourite groups is playing there in Aus in a few months, aii decent tickets to Melbourne shows are gone, and can't be arsed putting up with Sydney to go see them. Make it clear only my opinion, maybe a bloody great place for others. -
@MajorRage on the scooters, we only have the beam ones here, they are speed restricted in the main areas of town but can get upto about 25km on some of cyxle paths and stuff, I've not used scooters anywhere outside of whangarei to know if the others are different.
Your comment on the Maori communities, as far back as I can recall, northland has always been like that. Some really isolated communities many look pretty much uninhabited bar the old V8 parked out front and the sky dish on the side of a house that looks derelict.
Not really the thread for it, but I think there are also still some of the smaller sub-tribes of nga puhi that still have historical beef within and externally, that seems to hamper any growth or even progression...in Willie Apiatas book he said when he received the VC and his whakapapa was Nga Puhi and Ngati Porou, when they met on his Ngati Porou marae to celebrate it was apparently the 1st time in c200 years they'd done that without fighting due to the bad blood between them.
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@Dan54 said in Notes From A Small Island:
Basically I understand Major's points, but I also understand quite a number who move overseas like to notice things wrong at home subconciously as it helps to reinforce decicions made to live there, and no probs.
No, not the case here. I just find it fascinating the changes observed and like to share with others. Yes there are some negatives in the observations, but it's not fair to only talk about the positives. All countries are moving in certain directions at the moment, rapidly, and I find it interesting from a social point of view.
I will say with Craft beers etc , I am stoked people are talking them up, and without being rude you sound like my son who lived in Italy for a long time , when you said such and such was a nice wine, you would get a look down nose, what do you know we live in Italy so wine where everyone know wine etc kind of thing. Same as craft beer, living in England doesn't mean you are an expert on beer and I would be disappomited if someone didn't say to me hey this is a nice beer/wine etc.
That was an observation last time one which wasn't backed up this time. I don't think I know better because I live in England, I think I know what I like and just because craft are/were on trend, doesn't mean the waiter / friend knows better than me. The attitude seemed to be "you don't know much about beer mate, let me teach you". But that has certainly dissipated.
Plus I am happy as a sand boy living here, perhaps because I always missed the place when I away. Just talking to nephew yesterady who lives in Ireland , here with wife and kids and he is loving every minute with kids suggesting they would like to move over (oldest was borm here) etc. So basically I think it's what you look for/see?
I don't follow your point here. I would be bloody happy living in NZ too, but at the moment it doesn't work for my family, which is the number one thing in my life. If your nephew thinks differently, good for him!
But will agree with Major's original post, I don't like Auckland,doesn't do it for me, I find it hard to get a vibe on the place. I was same in Aus never liked Sydney, to point one of my favourite groups is playing there in Aus in a few months, aii decent tickets to Melbourne shows are gone, and can't be arsed putting up with Sydney to go see them. Make it clear only my opinion, maybe a bloody great place for others.
I've never been a fan of Auckland but again horses for courses! Lived there for 6 months then left. Wasn't for me. See last point!
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@taniwharugby said in Notes From A Small Island:
@MajorRage on the scooters, we only have the beam ones here, they are speed restricted in the main areas of town but can get upto about 25km on some of cyxle paths and stuff, I've not used scooters anywhere outside of whangarei to know if the others are different.
It was mainly Auckland were people were nuts, but I did see them in a lot of different places.
Your comment on the Maori communities, as far back as I can recall, northland has always been like that. Some really isolated communities many look pretty much uninhabited bar the old V8 parked out front and the sky dish on the side of a house that looks derelict.
Yeah, I guess it's "good" (for lack of a better word) that it's always been like that and not some trend. I was pretty surprised.
Not really the thread for it, but I think there are also still some of the smaller sub-tribes of nga puhi that still have historical beef within and externally, that seems to hamper any growth or even progression...in Willie Apiatas book he said when he received the VC and his whakapapa was Nga Puhi and Ngati Porou, when they met on his Ngati Porou marae to celebrate it was apparently the 1st time in c200 years they'd done that without fighting due to the bad blood between them.
Humans and war. Go together like peas and carrots, sadly.
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@Dan54 said in Notes From A Small Island:
nyway, I came back to live 3 years back,here after being in Aus (Brisbane) for 26 years.
My take is I am quite comfortable living here , we not sure there a huge difference with Aus (though I no longer live in city thank f***) . I find people remarkably friendly, neighbours etc I know better a mile more than I did in Aus. Though I was admitedly a kiwi and always had that held against me a bit, and quite funny almost come out from some accidently. Mind you I always said hi to people when I walked over there and generally got a nod or replay, and can't take a couple of steps here without saying hi etc (but small town etc) , but have no probs when in Wellington etc.
Basically I understand Major's points, but I also understand quite a number who move overseas like to notice things wrong at home subconciously as it helps to reinforce decicions made to live there, and no probs. I must admit my weakness when on hols is I always look for positives whereever I am, so miss a lot of these things anyway. Over years when I have travelled it's usually been locals point out things that are wrong, when I in London .I loved place (wouldn't want to live there), and a few people would say, but there is too many foreigners, or too many homeless, beggars etc etc, San Fran going to airport was taxi driver who bemoaned the amount of homelessness etc (went past park with packed with them, in LA was the amount of Mexicans etc etc. All things people found wrong I didn't look for. Went to Paris, once again loved it sister who went a month later gave me a list of thing wrong that I didn't notice or look for.
I will say with Craft beers etc , I am stoked people are talking them up, and without being rude you sound like my son who lived in Italy for a long time , when you said such and such was a nice wine, you would get a look down nose, what do you know we live in Italy so wine where everyone know wine etc kind of thing. Same as craft beer, living in England doesn't mean you are an expert on beer and I would be disappomited if someone didn't say to me hey this is a nice beer/wine etc.
Plus I am happy as a sand boy living here, perhaps because I always missed the place when I away. Just talking to nephew yesterady who lives in Ireland , here with wife and kids and he is loving every minute with kids suggesting they would like to move over (oldest was borm here) etc. So basically I think it's what you look for
/see?This reads like textbook Kiwi defensiveness.
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@Frank Ok if that's what is sounds like to you Frank, simply kind of giving my observations as Major was.
I genuinely don't feel the need to ever defend country, I am incredibly happy here, don't think it perfect (have yet to find Nirvana anywhere), but as I said ,I haven't found any countries I have disliked anyway. As I pointed out we can go anywhere and find what's wrong, or right with any country, just not something I tend to do.
