New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[davetapson]

Pretty much the same for me. I cycled because there wasn't much else that I wanted to do that was within reach.

 

Here there is so much to do on your doorstep you have to ration out your time over the things you want to do.

 

And to commit all of your time to one sport is to miss out on all the other stuff. And the problem with cycling, like properly playing golf, is that it is time consuming.

[davetapson]

Pretty much the same for me. I cycled because there wasn't much else that I wanted to do that was within reach.

 

Here there is so much to do on your doorstep you have to ration out your time over the things you want to do.

 

And to commit all of your time to one sport is to miss out on all the other stuff. And the problem with cycling, like properly playing golf, is that it is time consuming.

[DawieO]

Yes sunshine,there are more people in the Johannesburg metropole than the whole of New Zealand.You are a bunch of hobbits living in a proverbial backwater of the world,no wonder you can get it in 4 days

You are absolutely right on all counts. Have a nice day.

[Chris_]

I read the other day that NZ had cut back on people (res and non-res) coming into the country by 95% on average last year, some months were 99% down, this wasn't much of a surprise.

 

I also read they're closing their immigration office in Pretoria.

 

And then... they've been on a 'skilled' migrant hire freeze for 6 months till March. I don't know why hiring agencies and job postings don't explicitly say this. Here I'm living in hope gleefully applying for jobs like a proper knob 

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I read the other day that NZ had cut back on people (res and non-res) coming into the country by 95% on average last year, some months were 99% down, this wasn't much of a surprise.

 

I also read they're closing their immigration office in Pretoria.

 

And then... they've been on a 'skilled' migrant hire freeze for 6 months till March. I don't know why hiring agencies and job postings don't explicitly say this. Here I'm living in hope gleefully applying for jobs like a proper knob 

 

I think looking at stats from the last year is pointless.

The branch in Pretoria, Manila and China were all closed due to volume of visa applications dropping, which is directly linked to the border closures.

I would look at things very differently given those facts.

Fact is, skilled labour, if not accessible on shore, will always be sought after.

They are definitely cutting back, but for the more "menial" occupations like store managers, plumbers, etc. I say menial with utmost respect to those trades, they are over-subscribed though.

 

It all comes down to your individual skillset and demand at the end of the day.......

This is based off of my personal experience, I am no immigration agent though. Just an employee, with an employer in NZ patiently waiting for me, fighting my case along with an immigration agency also fighting our case. The blanket border policy is what it is, it is why we decided on NZ as a country to pursue. They look after their citizens so no issues, just frustrating from the other side.

Edited February 26, 2021 by Steven Knoetze (sk27)

[Dubber]

Yes sunshine,there are more people in the Johannesburg metropole than the whole of New Zealand.You are a bunch of hobbits living in a proverbial backwater of the world,no wonder you can get it in 4 days

LOL.  Dude, it's actually just how the 1st world works - regardless of how big / populous the country is.

 

Case in point: booked driving exam day before, took learner test hour before exam, passed, processed, took driving test, passed, card arrived in post two days later.  (Temporary card printed on site at the time).

 

USA - population/area of a couple states exceed SA population and area....

Edited February 27, 2021 by Dubber

[Kranswurm]

LOL. Dude, it's actually just how the 1st world works - regardless of how big / populous the country is.

 

Case in point: booked driving exam day before, took learner test hour before exam, passed, processed, took driving test, passed, card arrived in post two days later. (Temporary card printed on site at the time).

 

USA - population/area of a couple states exceed SA population and area....

Ha ha ha...do people still call people dude?

I am surprised you did not receive the license before you applied

Anywhere where you can buy guns without a license cannot be taken seriously.

[SwissVan]

I read the other day that NZ had cut back on people (res and non-res) coming into the country by 95% on average last year, some months were 99% down, this wasn't much of a surprise.

 

I also read they're closing their immigration office in Pretoria.

 

And then... they've been on a 'skilled' migrant hire freeze for 6 months till March. I don't know why hiring agencies and job postings don't explicitly say this. Here I'm living in hope gleefully applying for jobs like a proper knob

 

The agencies don’t care, the more clients they have on their books the better.

 

Moral of the story is don’t procrastinate when it comes to emigrating

The clock is ticking, age is your enemy.... ok and this damn cv19

 

Good luck

[Kranswurm]

if you don’t like what you read on this thread, rather stay off. You seem very sour.

That's not true, I like this thread very much.That's why I read it.I just get a little annoyed when our noses get rubbed in what a 3rd world sh*thole we live in.

I have family and friends in NZ and would consider a move tomorrow if I had some extra cash.

But its true, it's like an idyllic place, very country orientated. Almost like the Shire that's why the joke about the Hobbits.And it is in the middle of nowhere...except for Antartica of course.

[patches]

Just an observation, of my family (my brother, both his daughters and their families) and a few mates that have gone to NZ, most of which were pretty keen cyclists here in SA, only 1 has actively kept up his cycling at least to what he did here.

 

Those of you that have moved, have you found something similar? Have any theories why that might be .....

 

No Spruit!

 

Seriously though, whilst there are hundreds and thousands of amazing MTB trails, in Auckland it's about accessibility and the 2 main places that Aucklanders ride (Woodhill and Riverhead) require about a 30-45min drive for most to get there.

 

The Spruit was on the doorstep for thousands of cyclists.

 

Also the prominent MTB disciplines here are not the same as the ones in SA. SA is very XCM focused. NZ is very trail and enduro focused. It's quite rare to see XC bikes out and about on the trails. Lycra even mores so.

 

Plus there's the social aspect. Back in SA most would have had riding buddies to motivate when motivation was low. Now one needs to find new buddies. Easier said than done with Kiwis. Although I have heard a fair few Saffer accents (and even the taal) around the forests of woodhill.

 

As for road cycling, no expertise there so can't comment.

 

Other than that, it's as Wayne said, there are many many other outdoor activities. Whether it's seaside ones like SUP, kayaking, etc, or just accessibility to great walking and hiking trails. It's just different and I guess people try something new.

 

I never had a motorcycle back in SA. I was scared enough to ride my bicycle on the road. In NZ I found that whilst motorists can still be dozy, they're generally not aggressive and take a lot more caution around motorcyclists. that combined with the bush/rural areas being a pretty safe places to be (from a crime point of view) made it a lot more enticing to buy a bike and explore on 2 wheels.

 

Plus there's the social aspect. Back in SA most would have had riding buddies to motivate when motivation was low. Now one needs to find new buddies.

[patches]

That's not true, I like this thread very much.That's why I read it.I just get a little annoyed when our noses get rubbed in what a 3rd world sh*thole we live in.

I have family and friends in NZ and would consider a move tomorrow if I had some extra cash.

But its true, it's like an idyllic place, very country orientated. Almost like the Shire that's why the joke about the Hobbits.And it is in the middle of nowhere...except for Antartica of course.

 

Fair point.

 

I know that sometimes my tact and sensitivity can be lacking on posts about the good in NZ and drawing comparisons to life in SA. I need to be more conscious of that.

 

I like that Wayne titled this thread "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly", as it isn't perfect, despite what our glowing reviews may suggest.

 

There are some very real issues here.

[Wayne Potgieter]

 

There are some very real issues here.

Yep.

 

Housing, child poverty, high suicide rates and another lockdown spring to mind.

 

Overall, I prefer my life here to a huge degree, but it isnt without its warts.

[WrightJnr]

No Spruit!

 

Seriously though, whilst there are hundreds and thousands of amazing MTB trails, in Auckland it's about accessibility and the 2 main places that Aucklanders ride (Woodhill and Riverhead) require about a 30-45min drive for most to get there.

 

The Spruit was on the doorstep for thousands of cyclists.

 

Also the prominent MTB disciplines here are not the same as the ones in SA. SA is very XCM focused. NZ is very trail and enduro focused. It's quite rare to see XC bikes out and about on the trails. Lycra even mores so.

 

Plus there's the social aspect. Back in SA most would have had riding buddies to motivate when motivation was low. Now one needs to find new buddies. Easier said than done with Kiwis. Although I have heard a fair few Saffer accents (and even the taal) around the forests of woodhill.

 

As for road cycling, no expertise there so can't comment.

 

Other than that, it's as Wayne said, there are many many other outdoor activities. Whether it's seaside ones like SUP, kayaking, etc, or just accessibility to great walking and hiking trails. It's just different and I guess people try something new.

 

I never had a motorcycle back in SA. I was scared enough to ride my bicycle on the road. In NZ I found that whilst motorists can still be dozy, they're generally not aggressive and take a lot more caution around motorcyclists. that combined with the bush/rural areas being a pretty safe places to be (from a crime point of view) made it a lot more enticing to buy a bike and explore on 2 wheels.

 

Plus there's the social aspect. Back in SA most would have had riding buddies to motivate when motivation was low. Now one needs to find new buddies.

Agree!! Similar experience for me.

 

Although I do ride “road” but find it very difficult here with all the 65kg Europeans on Pro Spec bikes. Not uncommon for a road ride to be 38km/h average speed. And some faster. My African bones can’t do that speed!

 

I rode the Spruit twice a week and was at Northern Farms every Sunday with wife, kids and old man. I cannot explain just how much I miss that!

[canfan]

Agree!! Similar experience for me.

 

Although I do ride “road” but find it very difficult here with all the 65kg Europeans on Pro Spec bikes. Not uncommon for a road ride to be 38km/h average speed. And some faster. My African bones can’t do that speed!

 

I rode the Spruit twice a week and was at Northern Farms every Sunday with wife, kids and old man. I cannot explain just how much I miss that!

My experience has been similar. Finding people to regularly ride with seems to be harder here than what it was in SA. The other thing is that personally I find being entered into events helps a lot with motivation. The issue is that the price of most cycling events are pretty steep. So depending on priorities it can be a bit prohibiting especially for the out of town ones.

[davetapson]

Here's a strange bad, given that folk seem to be looking for that:

The lack of beasts of all sizes.  You drop a crumb in Africa, there's competition between ants, flies, birds, a lizard and whatever over it.  Probably the ants (and crumb) get eaten by the bird.  Here you drop a crumb, a week later it's still there.

I try and spend some time in the bush here.  It's flippn impenetrable.  And compared to Africa, empty.  There are a couple of birds, of about 4 species, and aside from one of a couple of variety of deer, and possums, and occasionally wallabies, nothing.  It's like all the ecological niches are empty.

In Africa at sunset, you get a set of evening sounds - guinea fowl and pheasants all putting themselves to bed etc, here - nothing.  Just gets dark.

It's kind of like being in primordial forest waiting for dinosaurs to evolve.

Edited March 1, 2021 by davetapson

[davetapson]

 

 

Here's a strange bad, given that folk seem to be looking for that:

 

Which, of course, obviously, leads to a good [emoji846]

 

DOC mountain huts. They're all over the place, cheap or free, generally well maintained (by you, when you stay there) and you don't have to leave someone awake to stop having your boots stolen by the Suth's.

 

Where I was last w/e when I heard about this lockdown... free.

 

Somebody in the hut book had been coming here for 40 years.

 

A bad/good: they get to build their history with a place, we get to start ours.