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Come grow some kiwifruit. Met a young Zimbo a few months ago who came over to work on a mate of mine's orchards up in Patumahoe. Horts do well here - there's apples, berries (other than kiwifruit), lettuce and brassica, stonefruit, and all kinds of other plants and things. And, especially this spring, a lot, like an effing LOT of rain. Sheez! haha.

Haha thanks CAAD4, from being a complete toerag back in the day I've become a real middle class grump who frowns at young hooligans revving engines. And pays all taxes etc. Boring, but reliable. Good onya Chris Brunsdon, best wishes for the mission.

Heh, Patches, check yourself before you wreck yourself, the story making headlines about magpies bothering MTBers is well in the South Island

Thanks guys, appreciate it. When your time comes, I am sure that like me, you will be made to feel very special by other Kiwis formally embracing you as one of their own. In other magpie news, check this out: http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/84702266/magpies-attack-mountainbikers-in-timarus-scenic-reserve

Just wait til we start on those cute possums.

So we had our citizenship ceremony yesterday afternoon. Pretty heartwarming and amazing experience, they go to a lot of trouble, with speeches from the mayor, deputy mayor, a number of town councillors in attendance. They put on food and drink and the mayor (who we've met several times before, walking his dogs) and his Mrs make point of personally congratulating and having a chat with each person. Got to give a small speech too, which was kinda nice, about the journey to citizenship. Along with the certificate, each person got a gift of a hardcover book and a potted manuka plant as mementos of the day. A long journey to be sure, and one fraught with challenges, but worth it in the end. Next step, for there is always a next step, is applying for our NZ passports - which all happens online, of course, and should take about a week.

Check this for the good: http://www.speedtest.net/result/5635393256.png

Sorry I was not for a minute implying that you thought that (I wouldn't know) - I was thinking more about Darryl Gove, for example. When my brother visited a while ago, he also had similar ideas until we looked at it a bit more closely, and rad006 was also entertaining such notions until we discussed it a bit over dinner and several Speights. But yes, breaking into the right circles takes time and effort and persistence.

Yeh man, it is difficult to start new business here. A lot of folk mistakenly believe they can rock up and show the locals how it is done - but it just doesn't work like that, the locals have been at it since forever...

Go ride ya bike it will help make you happy. That's advice for Mister WP also ;-)

When we first arrived some good mates of ours (and the only Safas we know in Whakatane) said it takes at least 5 years before you fully feel at home. They'd been here 5 years. They were right. And it takes longer the older you are. Not sure if this helps, but life is, in any event, just a looooong series of problems you have to face and solve the best you can. I thought about this recently in the context of winning the lotto (which I have singularly failed to do). Even if you score all that cash, you will just exchange one set of problems for another. Whether one set is preferable to the other is, really, in the wider scheme of things, moot (yeah I know, I'd prefer the problems of too much cash rather than not enough - but on the other hand, you do not need to look hard to find examples of major stuff ups and unhappiness following lotto wins). What we have to get used to here is dealing with first world problems, in a very literal sense, but definitely the knocks to career and social status are difficult to bear. You tend to feel a bit like 'dammit, but I've done my hard yards'. But now ya gots to do dem again. Just the fact that any and all of you lads (we're all lads now, no sexual discrimination) are over here is testament to a certain strength of character (and let me just balance that by saying I am by no means slighting those who choose to stay - your strength of character lies in dealing with the set of problems in SA). Yes, it's hard, but you probably have the means to get it sorted. And hey the cold snap will pass, winter is over and the Bay of Islands, Lakes Tarawera and Waikaremoana, the Hauraki Gulf and much, much more, beckon. Yeeha!

Don't like it, don't participate. Nobody is forcing you to do anything, I hope. Just go ride your bike with some mates if the price is too high or the level of ponce per inch is too much ;-)

Dollies or orcas?

I've not been back since we left in Jan 2011; sent my wife and kids over for 3 weeks earlier this year. I am overdue for a visit that side...

There's a Manly in Whangaparaoa as well, Patches. I tried SUP yesterday for the first time also, in Ohiwa Harbour. Heaps of fun.

Just done a quick check: since 1840, a total of around 480 people have died in earthquakes in NZ. There are around 20 000 tremors per year...and the news has reported that this one was the biggest in the North Island since 1995. Yoh. Edgecumbe, up the road from me, had a biggie in 1987 which ruptured roads and knocked rolling stock off the rails (no fatalities)....

Big shaky shaky here in Whakatane, woke us all up, whole house was heaving and rattling. Biggest one I've ever felt; 7.1 is quite a bit bigger than the 6.3 that ruined Christchurch...

Thanks man appreciate it. The end of a very long road that started at the beginning of 2010. So now instead of being the d000s I've always been, I am officially what we locals refer to as a d1ckhead. ha ha.

Yes, well, maybe you guys are right, being a **** has it's drawbacks. And maybe you're right also - I need to stop posting here. Especially since as of today, I am no longer a South African :-D

Seriously. Why are you on this thread? And also, do you think that if something terrible happens in SA, where most of our families still live, we'll all get together and celebrate? I can tell you right now, that will never happen. In any event, good that the DA is making headway and the Rondt has bounced back big time. Long may it continue.

That is what I suspected/expected, though I've not bothered going to one.

I don't; in fact, when buying a place, which I have done three times here, I don't even consider anything that is up for auction. I only look at the places which have an actual price attached to them, then negotiate from there. In my mind, no fixed price is dangerous as is an auction, because it is very easy to get caught up in emotion and pay more than what it is worth. That's just me, though. I think DawieO bought his place at auction - poor bugger is busy moving in right now. Moving suck massively! More than jetstar, even.

Jetstar suck. I've only been on them once, to Queenstown, and while that flight wasn't bad on their account, I way prefer Air NZ. And Air NZ's Koru lounges are flippen awesome, all the chow you can get, coffee, beers, the works, internet, plug points, showers, comfy couches. Rad.

Can check that flu is taking you down man

Stay away from Riverhead in winter (confirm this with Niterider) it is an absolute mudfest and will ruin your bike. Woodhill a far better option...