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

[Ramrod]

what is the building trade like in NZ ... specifically the interior / architecture side of things ...... asking for a friend

Building tradies and professionals are in short supply.  There is a serious skills shortage in the building trade.

[niterider]

In other news, the new bikepark opens tomorrow. I'll go have a look in the new year.

 

Looking good...!

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Loose-Riders-day-of-stoke-video-2016.html

[patches]

Looking good...!

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Loose-Riders-day-of-stoke-video-2016.html

 

yeah, it's looking awesome!

 

On Saturday I went for a dirt bike ride on Worsley track (a short but fairly technical 4x4, dirt bike, MTB, and hiking trail). It also borders on the edge of the bike park, so I could look in on some of the trails. There were also bike park staff posed along the fence line to stop hop-overs, hahaha!

 

I then rode on down to the entrance of the park. But I couldn't go on as it is only open to "Stoke Pass" holders for now. Opens to the masses on Wednesday.

[Wayne Potgieter]

2 year multi entry business visa done and approved.

 

Wasnt too bad actually. Managed to submit all documentation online in less than a day, 1 hour wait at the biometrics place and all sorted.

 

I never even had documents certified.

 

Easy peasy.

[patches]

2 year multi entry business visa done and approved.

 

Wasnt too bad actually. Managed to submit all documentation online in less than a day, 1 hour wait at the biometrics place and all sorted.

 

I never even had documents certified.

 

Easy peasy.

 

Nice one!

 

yeah, I read 2 conflicting instructions regarding the certification of documents. One said they had to be. The other didn't mention it. I had them certified anyway.

 

TTS is a bit chaotic as you would have experienced. One sets their appointment, but they are always running late.

 

About a month after I applied for my visa, which involved flying up to Auckland for biometrics, they opened up a Christchurch biometrics centre   

 

Luckily I found reason to work from our Auckland office that week (which is on Queens Street, so 5min walk to TTS), so the company paid for my flights up, hahaha 

[patches]

Make sure you don't have anything suspect when you travel there. We don't want to be seeing you on the next episode of Border Security

 

(No jokes though. They have signs at the biosecurity in Sydney that say they might be filming for Border Security that day)

[Delgado]

So did anyone join Lancehole for his ride?

[canfan]

So did anyone join Lancehole for his ride?

Haha. I wonder how many people they got there. I was a big fan back in the day but couldn't care less to join a ride like that now.

[Delgado]

Haha. I wonder how many people they got there. I was a big fan back in the day but couldn't care less to join a ride like that now.

I'm hearing around 2000 turned up!

[nolipoli]

It seems that Lance haters and Democrats are the same people...

Time to let it go people.

[hayleyearth]

So I'm going out riding with Gabbey Molloy's brother tomorrow afternoon.....

 

#dontevenask

#gonnadie

Edited December 27, 2016 by hayleyearth

[Tubehunter]

So I'm going out riding with Gabbey Molloy's brother tomorrow afternoon.....

 

#dontevenask

#gonnadie

 

#picsoritdidnothappen

[nolipoli]

Rotorua - I think I just found heaven in the redwoods.

[Wayne Potgieter]

Rotorua - I think I just found heaven in the redwoods.

its gorgeous.

[nolipoli]

its gorgeous.

We spent a few days riding nothing more hectic than the blue intermediate and advanced trails (we have been off our bikes for a long time!), but what a joy!

[DawieO]

Place is magic. Now go rent some long-travel bikes and go hit the Skyline!

 

Tip: do not try this on your short-travel Xc racing bone. I can tell you first-hand that the emergency room at ROTORUA hospital is very good at treating the ensuing carnage.

 

Rent that Giant Glory and a decent helmet, buy a day pass for the chairlift and let rip!