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

[hayleyearth]

I think fitting into the work environment is difficult for most of us here in NZ, these people are just different! Another South African guy that started here at the company a couple of months after me set up a meeting with me today to discuss how I am finding working here. He is sooo frustrated.

 

One thing is for sure they do not like people that 'are different' (have their own ideas) and that are driven. You should just fit into the mould, all think and act the same and go at the same pace (snail pace that is). He told me he hates coming to work and mainly because there is so little to do and just everything happens so slowly. I could do nothing but laugh, because that was my exact feeling.

 

I have recently changed groups, so I am learning new things again which has me happier than what I was for a long time in my previous role. I had all these great ideas for my previous role, new developments that could have mean good things for the company but it seems like they just didn't want to venture out of their comfortzone...which is scary for me for a "research and development" company. I understand now why I takes them 10+ years to bring new things to the market.

 

Doing your own thing is probably best Wayne, I hope to follow rather sooner than later!

[DIPSLICK]

my mate and my sister are over there, my sister was a hair stylist she reckons the other stylists gave her so much attitude because she pushed turn around time and made the others look bad.

so she after a few years went to their super max prison as a guard(big state perks) and moved up through to management with many giving her lip because she is "too eager"

started her own salon doing well, she says in a group dont perform at sa levels or the islanders tell you straight calm yourself

 

my mate is at big corporate in NZ, he  came from a Paris based pharma in sa he says the most frustrating thing when he started was being told to slow down  and stop trying to make the locals look bad

[Rocket-Boy]

I think fitting into the work environment is difficult for most of us here in NZ, these people are just different! Another South African guy that started here at the company a couple of months after me set up a meeting with me today to discuss how I am finding working here. He is sooo frustrated.

 

One thing is for sure they do not like people that 'are different' (have their own ideas) and that are driven. You should just fit into the mould, all think and act the same and go at the same pace (snail pace that is). He told me he hates coming to work and mainly because there is so little to do and just everything happens so slowly. I could do nothing but laugh, because that was my exact feeling.

 

I have recently changed groups, so I am learning new things again which has me happier than what I was for a long time in my previous role. I had all these great ideas for my previous role, new developments that could have mean good things for the company but it seems like they just didn't want to venture out of their comfortzone...which is scary for me for a "research and development" company. I understand now why I takes them 10+ years to bring new things to the market.

 

Doing your own thing is probably best Wayne, I hope to follow rather sooner than later!

A few friends have said that culture changes are the hardest when it comes to different countries. Its probably going to be one of those things you either adapt to or move on from.

 

It seems like a strange approach to a developed nation to have no sense of urgency though, wonder how long it will take for things to start going backwards if that is the case?

[Wayne Potgieter]

Anyone want to offer an opinion on our new PM?

[intern]

Don't generalise too much guys- all New Zealanders are not like the ones you happen to work or socialise with. That is far more likely to be company culture rather than an indicator of how things are everywhere.

 

On the new PM...vapid, misguided and a starry-eyed idealist who has never held a real job. But we'll be just fine. Better than National goes into opposition at this stage of the game, and if, as I expect will happen, the economy tanks a bit, housing slows down (even more) and fewer people want to or are allowed to come here, it will present great oppos for those who have planned carefully (helps if you have some equity/loot in the bank).

[Wayne Potgieter]

Don't generalise too much guys- all New Zealanders are not like the ones you happen to work or socialise with. That is far more likely to be company culture rather than an indicator of how things are everywhere.

 

On the new PM...vapid, misguided and a starry-eyed idealist who has never held a real job. But we'll be just fine. Better than National goes into opposition at this stage of the game, and if, as I expect will happen, the economy tanks a bit, housing slows down (even more) and fewer people want to or are allowed to come here, it will present great oppos for those who have planned carefully (helps if you have some equity/loot in the bank).

Took the words right outta my mouth.

[patches]

It was a tough long weekend on the South Island, but a good one!

 

Mt Cook from Lake Pukaki. I know I've posted a similar pic before, but it's always an amazing sight!

 

 

I misjudged what I thought was a shallow water crossing. Turns out it was a muddy swamp.

30min of some of the most intense physical exercise I have ever done, and I finally got to a point where I could ride out. Thank goodness too, because there was no-one around for miles!



A by-my-selfie, while out in the NZ wilderness.

Not long after this I ended up puncturing my front wheel. I only noticed 50km later, and still had to ride another 20km before I could change it. Note to Self... bicycle tubes are WAY easier to fix up, hahaha!

But in the end I made it to the Hermitage Hotel (Mt. Cook), and took in some of the sights in the area...

 

 

Tasman Lake.

So over 800km on the bike, 1 muddy work-out, 1 porridge wheel, and more amazing scenery than one can take in... it was a great weekend, but now I need a rest!

Edited October 24, 2017 by patches

[intern]

Patches - mate - you're doing it right. I'm a bit jelly.

[patches]

Regarding the workplace integration...

I have found it to be pretty good. I did think it would be harder, seeing as how I worked with the same people in SA for over 10yrs, then suddenly moved to the other side of the world to work with people I had only had a 30min skype conversation with.

I think starting off in a small team (mostly immigrants) in Christchurch helped. When I arrived there were only 6 of us (2 Kiwis, 1, Brit, 1 Scott, 2 Saffas). The Christchurch office grew (still only 2 Kiwis though), but I subsequently phased over to the Auckland office (approx 40 in our division. Again, not many locals).

The work has been high paced, lots of weekends spent chasing deadlines and of in some ways I have changed careers (from more technical, to managing processes and training people), so the learning curve has kept it interesting too.

All in all, I have had a great work experience in NZ so far. I still miss what I used to do, and the way things worked in SA. In the design and construction industry here there is so much red tape. Projects take 3x as long to progress.

 

But most of us chose to come live in NZ because we wanted a more structured and rule guided environment, so it's only natural that we encounter that in the workplace, not just on the roads or in our communities etc.

Just like the string on a kite, the very thing that tethers it to the earth, is what actually allows it to stay flying. Sometimes the extra rules or process are necessary to ensure a society thrives. It's a common misconception that no-rules = freedom and therefore happiness. We have come from a place where rules/laws are taken with a pinch of salt, and this only benefits the few who are corrupt enough to take advantage of the very people those rules/laws were there to protect.

Anyway, that's my ramble over. Basic point is... things are different here, but it's a different that I have grown to like. 

Edited October 29, 2017 by patches

[patches]

oh, and happy happy Mr Potgieter!

[Wayne Potgieter]

oh, and happy happy Mr Potgieter!

thanks man!

[Andrew Steer]

thanks man!

Happy Birthday Badass! Have an awesome day

[Eldron]

WAAAAYNE Happy happy squire!

[DIPSLICK]

happy happy you benoni scum, have a lekke day 

[Vetseun]

Happy Birthday Wayne. Hope you had a fantastic day.

P.S. If you see Zinzan Brooke, tell him I say howzit.

[KiwiRider]

New Zealand health and safety. Hi vis horns.

Edited November 6, 2017 by KiwiRider