Just to mention two positives that really stood out for me on my first visit to NZ were the schools and housing areas. My best mate and my son's stepdad are teachers. Me being in education myself they were extremely proud to take me to their respective schools. Both schools were low decial schools or as it is known in SA low quantile schools. That is the grading of schools. Both schools in very poor areas of NZ servicing the indigenous community. What a contrast to SA schools, from what I was expecting to see. This because their government pumps money into these schools. The buildings and surroundings were clean. The schools were well resourced, had interactive white boards and more than one computer lab with a variety of extra mural activities and of course large playing fields for rugby. Children are forced to attend a school in the area in which they stay. This was interesting and a real positive as well. On my son visits home to SA he pointed out certain observations that I only made sense of when visiting him. They have an alarm but it seldom gets set. No high walls in the front of their house. It's open lawns. No electricit fence or burglar bars. Every area has its own park, basket ball court and shopping is made easier by having the convent stores close by. Stores basically in each area thus you don't have to drive far. Yes houses are extremely expensive and both my mate and son's parents rent. This after being in NZ for more than 10 years already. But is that a bad thing? I really don't think so. There is a bigger debate to owning and renting especially in the context of each country.
