intern

Summer was last Saturday man, pay attention!

Patches - mate - you're doing it right. I'm a bit jelly.

Don't generalise too much guys- all New Zealanders are not like the ones you happen to work or socialise with. That is far more likely to be company culture rather than an indicator of how things are everywhere. On the new PM...vapid, misguided and a starry-eyed idealist who has never held a real job. But we'll be just fine. Better than National goes into opposition at this stage of the game, and if, as I expect will happen, the economy tanks a bit, housing slows down (even more) and fewer people want to or are allowed to come here, it will present great oppos for those who have planned carefully (helps if you have some equity/loot in the bank).

Can't help, but can say that sounds frikkin awesome.

True that patches, accessibility of trails can be a pain in AKL. But get to woodhill and make a day of it, it is well worth it. Also Maraetai where niterider lives, has some bloody good trails...

Nominative determinism.

Another thing to love about NZ - pollies are just normal people. I took the lighties to McDonalds in Mt Maunganui while the Mrs was running a half marathon, bumped into a familiar looking fellow who like me was running around after two small boys. That's Simon Bridges, minister of transport. Asked him - hey are you Simon Bridges? He said yes, your local MP, then we chatted about the joys of parenthood while supervising lighties in the playplace. And a selfie, which is something I VERY rarely do...

Thanks man - that's what the neighbours who walk past say. But I know where all the bodies are buried haha

Check what I built, first attempt at decking and stairs, far from perfect but I am pretty pleased with it. From a guy who not so long ago had difficulty drilling a hole in the wall.

The citizenship application is actually pretty easy and quick; they mainly just check to see that you've been reasonably well behaved since being here, as they had already vetted you to get in. Glad to see you found the answer to your question, I'd need to go find the wife and ask her as she is in charge of those matters!

Guys if I can poke my 2c in here. Get your PR or residence class visa as soon as you can; it is worth taking professional advice from a good immigration agent (I cannot recommend Paul Janssen from Immagine highly enough). We got ours within 2 or 3 months of arriving thanks to his work. It immediately puts your mind to rest with 'no more admin' until you do your citizenship application. And the clock starts ticking on the 5 years to citizenship once you have that Res class visa. As you all know, the rules can change subject to whim; with the election coming up, and immigration a hot button issue, you do not want to be caught on the wrong side of any potential clampdown...

Pubs are ideal places in which to raise children...

Wives are running the Mt Maunganui half marathon on Saturday. Husbands are looking after the kids (getting the real exercise).

Beer after the marathon for sure; we're headed to see some mates in the afternoon out past Katikati

The reason Kiwis discuss the weather so much isn't that we're boring gimps (or isn't only). It's just that there's such a huge variation of it...

Do it man I dare you. We had amazing warm sunny weather in Whakatane today...

It is a simple process which takes minutes to transfer ownership, all online, to the new buyer. Any finance must be settled before sale.

I had that and one other thing.

Awesome Wayne...

I'm about to do the process for my 13 year old niece who is coming here in December for school holidays...

Oh, and mi casa su casa for anyone who does want to do the Motu 160. Start is in Opotiki which is about 35km from my spot.

Yep, done the Motu 160 twice. I generally struggle with colds and flu through winter though, so I have never arrived in good condition. It's a great event, awesome scenery, the MTB section is quite a lot of climbing, but the road ride is pretty much a steady downhill. You usually cop a headwind in the last 30k or so with the prevailing norwester...makes it hard. This year I've not been sick hardly at all...but I am lekker vet, 77.4 this morning, chunkiest I have ever been, over 10kg more than my 'fit' weight. Not bothered, though, I'll work it off from September

Well done team. Wish I were there - don't know about Woodhill,but the weather on the weekend in Hamilton was stunning...cold, but stunning. As for the Wiggles, turns out my older boy has outgrown them. Younger fella had a blast though (so did Dad, I think I was the most enthusiastic member of the audience full stop...hey I paid for the privilege you darn right I'm gonna have fun).

The Wiggles rock, bru. I even know all the songs, always makes for a better concert when that's the case. We went to the Mr Maker one, too, I even got on the stage to make an arse of myself. Those okes are clever, they can spot the morons from a mile away.

Damn was hoping for a different weekend. I'm going to be watching the Wiggles in Hamilton on Sunday with my boys. Rock on! (and I am looking forward to it, I feel like I know each Wiggle, and Captain Feathersword, very, very, VERY well.)