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

[Wayne Potgieter]

As a vaalie I have no clue or business filleting a fish 

 

But yeah, definitely some nice battered fillets on the cards. Plus I recently discovered this:

 

 

So tasty on everything it graces! And as it says on the bottle "Great on Fish"

Culleys are amazing. Almost everything they make is plant based so it features a lot in my house. 

 

Their Chipotle Reaper hot sauce is to die for

[patches]

Culleys are amazing. Almost everything they make is plant based so it features a lot in my house. 

 

Their Chipotle Reaper hot sauce is to die for

 

Was going to suggest it as a plant based condiment for you WP.

 

I'm going through a Frank's Red Hot sauce phase at the moment. Before that it was Cholula and Culley's No. 3. Don't know if I'm brave enough for a No. 8

[davetapson]

Re. the outsourcing of fish stuff, the local Chinese takeaway cooks snapper fillets for $1 - see quite a few folk taking in fresh fillets of a Sunday evening.

Filleting is easy, happy to give a filleting workshop...   

 

Although I suspect @Intern would probably give my technique a bit of a skeef look.

 

(Start with a slice across fish behind head from skin to backbone, run knife along top of back to slice fillet off bones - angle the knife against the vertical back bones.  Half way down the fillet will be a row of horizontal bones, just cut through these using as much force as necessary and continue angling  knife against vertical bones.  Will hit ribs at some stage, run knife against these until knife hits skin on bottom of fish. Cut along bottom to free fillet.

Then if you fancy, flip fish and fillet over so the fillet is skin side down on board, then run knife between fillet and skin, angled towards the skin.  If you can get good grip (which is why leaving fillet attached at tail can help) you can slice the fillet off the skin in one sweep.

Cut skin off tail, turn over, repeat.

 

Done.

If we getting technical, one of the local guys I spoke to said that you can gut snapper by merely grasping the loose skin by their throat and just pull.  The skin will tear and the guts and all will come out.  I've not tried it, but seems the simplest and least messy way to do it.

The thing with snapper being that you have to leave it sufficiently whole for the Fisheries Officers to be able to measure it, so can't fillet it on board...

[Wayne Potgieter]

Was going to suggest it as a plant based condiment for you WP.

 

I'm going through a Frank's Red Hot sauce phase at the moment. Before that it was Cholula and Culley's No. 3. Don't know if I'm brave enough for a No. 8

I am a total chillihead and have these on rotation at the moment..

 

https://culleys.co.nz/products/culleys-brutality

 

https://heatonist.com/products/hot-ones-the-last-dab?variant=378416136201

[patham]

As a vaalie I have no clue or business filleting a fish 

 

 

 

Ditto. In Aus Year 1 I got a whole (gutted) snapper that I wanted to stuff & bake. All I needed to do was de-scale. Its been so long since I descaled a fish that I didn't have an inkling, and both me and the kitchen ended up covered in loose scales.

 

Haven't been brave enough to try it again since.

[patham]

As a vaalie I have no clue or business filleting a fish 

 

But yeah, definitely some nice battered fillets on the cards. Plus I recently discovered this:

 

 

So tasty on everything it graces! And as it says on the bottle "Great on Fish"

 

At least it looks like the corporate budget was spent by the R&D team on the flavour and not by marketing on the label imagery.

[davetapson]

How much Kiwis spend on travel, according to Tony Alexander (I suspect that part of this is that everywhere is cheap compared to NZ... but having not made it off the NI (Rangitoto is as far as I've got, not even Waiheke   ) since I arrived in Oct 2018 it's just conjecture for me):

 

"... spending $10bn previously allocated to overseas travel each year, we have seen a surge in residential property purchases develop in this unusual point in time."

 

$10b Kiwi.  Not peanuts.

I wonder what the net balance of inward vs outward tourism is?  Could be lockdown has been more injurious to external tourism than local...

Edited May 5, 2021 by davetapson

[patches]

How much Kiwis spend on travel, according to Tony Alexander (I suspect that part of this is that everywhere is cheap compared to NZ... but having not made it off the NI (Rangitoto is as far as I've got, not even Waiheke   ) since I arrived in Oct 2018 it's just conjecture for me):

 

"... spending $10bn previously allocated to overseas travel each year, we have seen a surge in residential property purchases develop in this unusual point in time."

 

$10b Kiwi.  Not peanuts.

 

I wonder what the net balance of inward vs outward tourism is?  Could be lockdown has been more injurious to external tourism than local...

 

That's a Jaffa trap Many Aucklanders don't get past their batches and Queenstown is the only South Island location they can point to on a map

 

It is tricky though with travel by car being so slow, and many tourist attractions geared for international visitors (and their deep pockets). That's why regions like the West Coast (and even tourist-mecca Queenstown) have been hit so hard. Locals cannot afford the upmarket experiences (or are just not willing to pay for them, when most are happy with a stay in a Top 10 Holiday Park).

 

The local tourism industry has been trying hard with annoying songs like the "Do something new New Zealand", and discounted rates to try keep things ticking over. I would have never considered the 2 week South Island camper-van trip I did last October, had it been full price.

 

That said, I have a few friends that had big overseas trips planned for 2020. They ended up diverting the resources and energy into things like starting a family, buying into a business, or going back to uni to study (2 of the 3 couples already owned property).

 

So I can definitely see how others in similar situations have traded in their world tours for a rung on that property ladder. And with current prices (AKL average reported to be in excess of $1.2m now), I think travel & tourism is going to be less and less of a priority.

[Wayne Potgieter]

How much Kiwis spend on travel, according to Tony Alexander (I suspect that part of this is that everywhere is cheap compared to NZ... but having not made it off the NI (Rangitoto is as far as I've got, not even Waiheke   ) since I arrived in Oct 2018 it's just conjecture for me):

 

"... spending $10bn previously allocated to overseas travel each year, we have seen a surge in residential property purchases develop in this unusual point in time."

 

$10b Kiwi.  Not peanuts.

 

I wonder what the net balance of inward vs outward tourism is?  Could be lockdown has been more injurious to external tourism than local...

I have a client in Christchurch that makes super expensive designer furniture. The kind of stuff you see in magazines and are not allowed to put your feet on.

 

I went to go see him straight after lockdown ended and he said the me that his biggest competitor has been tourism. Folks spend heaps on lavish overseas trips, but now that they cant fly anywhere, they are investing in their homes.

 

He was rubbing his hands like Scrooge McDuck.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

As someone not even across yet, still wait for those pesky borders to open, this is concerning.

Seems most here have luckily entered the property market and that is good for you guys. Seems the property sector in NZ is pretty shocking at the moment.

 

https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/267817-beachfront-hut-on-sleds-sold-26m.html?fbclid=IwAR2Z9RJPB2nIV1_kA69G1W6Dkjnp6QD7Q0zu7b37O0wvooLUOhaXlGsF0Vc

 

I suppose this is prime property so not indicative of the market as a whole but generally speaking it seems the market is massively over-priced. That's from my view, looking at it from afar so please don't shred me too hard. It is simply my opinion.

[davetapson]

As someone not even across yet, still wait for those pesky borders to open, this is concerning.

Seems most here have luckily entered the property market and that is good for you guys. Seems the property sector in NZ is pretty shocking at the moment.

 

https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/267817-beachfront-hut-on-sleds-sold-26m.html?fbclid=IwAR2Z9RJPB2nIV1_kA69G1W6Dkjnp6QD7Q0zu7b37O0wvooLUOhaXlGsF0Vc

 

I suppose this is prime property so not indicative of the market as a whole but generally speaking it seems the market is massively over-priced. That's from my view, looking at it from afar so please don't shred me too hard. It is simply my opinion.

 

 

Yeah, that's like saying "Check, a designer shack on Clifton beach is expensive".

 

But yep, property is not cheap here, anywhere.

 

There are some places where the income/property price ratio are better than others, but nowhere is it cheap.

 

Property price vs Income from Core Logic below.

Couple of things to think about:

House price demand driven by

- lowest ever interest rates

- cash in pocket due to Covid travel restrictions

- low LVR reqts

- folk returning to NZ with cash (lots) in their pockets

- no capital gains tax charged on investment properties

- can claim interest cost back from tax

 

These dropping:

- evidence interest rates will rise (longer term fixed rates now 3.5% or so)

- borders beginning to open

- LVR reqts for investment properties becoming quite stringent

- they say more folk will return to NZ post Covid, Tony Alexander says not. (watch this space)

- talk about CGT

- removing allowance to claim interest costs from tax (this going to be an investment property killer) - personally I think this is wrong, although I can see the point.  Either allow business costs to be claimed, or don't.  Don't fiddle.

 

So... likelihood is that property prices will stagnate, maybe even drop a little. But no one can see the future...

 

Bottom line: Go live in Christchurch.

Edited May 5, 2021 by davetapson

[Wayne Potgieter]

As someone not even across yet, still wait for those pesky borders to open, this is concerning.

Seems most here have luckily entered the property market and that is good for you guys. Seems the property sector in NZ is pretty shocking at the moment.

 

https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/267817-beachfront-hut-on-sleds-sold-26m.html?fbclid=IwAR2Z9RJPB2nIV1_kA69G1W6Dkjnp6QD7Q0zu7b37O0wvooLUOhaXlGsF0Vc

 

I suppose this is prime property so not indicative of the market as a whole but generally speaking it seems the market is massively over-priced. That's from my view, looking at it from afar so please don't shred me too hard. It is simply my opinion.

The last line of the article is the only important one...

 

"The bach sits on 966 square meters"

 

Its the land that costs. Its a different mindset here.

 

In RSA, the house is what sells and thats where the value sits, here its the land.

 

That being said, the market is ridiculous and this is one of the most expensive places in the world for home ownership and the property market is a real problem that needs to be looked at.

[arabsandals]

At least it looks like the corporate budget was spent by the R&D team on the flavour and not by marketing on the label imagery.

That's a prime example of very on trend and expensive lo fi graphic design. Or, they simply haven't updated their packaging in a while...

[Wayne Potgieter]

That's a prime example of very on trend and expensive lo fi graphic design. Or, they simply haven't updated their packaging in a while...

its all brand new. They recently redid everything.

[patches]

As someone not even across yet, still wait for those pesky borders to open, this is concerning.

Seems most here have luckily entered the property market and that is good for you guys. Seems the property sector in NZ is pretty shocking at the moment.

 

https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/267817-beachfront-hut-on-sleds-sold-26m.html?fbclid=IwAR2Z9RJPB2nIV1_kA69G1W6Dkjnp6QD7Q0zu7b37O0wvooLUOhaXlGsF0Vc

 

I suppose this is prime property so not indicative of the market as a whole but generally speaking it seems the market is massively over-priced. That's from my view, looking at it from afar so please don't shred me too hard. It is simply my opinion.

 

As you have noted, the property sector here is going crazy at the moment. Whilst it is disheartening, there are some "other sides to the story" that can bring hope. Things like:

 

Comparing apples and ambergris. I know you are not familiar with all the areas and regions in NZ, so it's understandable that the context of these things is elusive at times. As Wayne and Dave stated, the house you referenced is ridiculously priced due to its location. Whitianga is like rich Auckland boomer central. It's where wealthy Aucklanders (Jaffas) go to retire and complain about other Aucklanders who visit the Coromandel on holiday.

 

900+ squares of beachfront property there is where the real cost was (similar to buying in Clifton). Add an award winning architecturally designed home and you have a recipe ridiculous prices. Also couple that with the fact that NZ media has so little else to report on that they love fanning the flames on insane house pricing. They thrive on stuff like that.

 

Adios Auckland! Although over 1/4 of the country's population live in/around the big smoke, there are great places to live away from Jaffa-land. Many of these places have everything one needs, decent employment options, and more affordable housing.

 

The Aussies are in a similar boat. Sydney and Melbourne are great cities, but as uncle Ben said in Spiderman "with great cities come great housing expenses" [paraphrased]. So Aussies often look to places like Brisbane, central north coast (NSW), Adelaide and even Perth (aka Australia's Randfontein   ). Places where one may not get paid the same big bucks, but are more affordable overall.

 

New Zealand has similar places. Granted they're not as developed and not quite as good a deal (income-to-housing) as their Aussie counterparts, but that's part of the cost of living on the butt end of the world.

 

Last year a former colleague (Saffer) took a job in Cambridge (outside Hamilton) because he could afford to buy a house there. Not a bad move. Other places like Nelson, Whangarei and my personal favourite Christchurch are also viable options.

 

Resist the pull to Browns Bay (there are too many Saffers there anyway ) and look further afield (at least when you are ready to buy a house, which requires Residence, so you have time).

 

Sold the Dream, now what?! In addition to the love of rugby, cricket, char-grilled meat and beer, Saffers, Aussies and Kiwis have another thing in common. They sell the dream of home ownership as a measure of success. This dream has been sold over many generations, and whilst still achievable, it is by no means the same as it used to be, or a measure of success.

 

Owning a house is convenient as they are generally investments that address the basic human need for shelter. But if one looks at the approach that many people take in big cities in other countries (like Germany, Austria, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland, etc), they look primarily at the shelter aspect and many put home ownership pretty far from their mind and focus their investment efforts in other areas.

 

Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne are fast becoming (or have become) like Singapore, Bangkok, Zurich and New York, whilst some people are adapting and either moving further away so that they can live the dream, or reside themselves to the fact that they can invest elsewhere and rent in Auckland, the general kiwi mindset around home ownership is still firmly set.

 

 

Anyway, hope my 2c doesn't add to your concerns about a future in NZ.

[patches]

The bad...

 

Yesterday the government announced public sector pay freezes (in various degrees) for the next 3 years.

 

That makes 4 years on the trot, as 2020 increases were also scrapped due to covid.

 

Whilst I recognise that one is fortunate to have steady employment, this is a slap in the face to many that have worked so hard (and on the front lines), are already paid less than their private sector counterparts.

 

Not a great way to convince people to go into essential services like law enforcement, healthcare, emergency services, or education.

 

It's like they saw the massive debt that covid recovery packages left and thought, let's screw over our own employees (who kept the country running) to try fix this.

 

[Gripe over]