- Beautiful - really some amazing nature, it is a group of Islands and stretches from some nice nearly tropical ares down to some really bloody cold areas
- Cold - prevailing wind in New Zealand is generally from the NorthWest which is at least from a warmish area but once those cold winds from the South kick in - it cools down very quickly. Very much like a baby - if its not wet it has wind - or both.
- Very country like - even though people see themselves as advanced they are a behind and that gap is increasing.
- Decision making - not a strong point - Ido not understand why (yet)
- Housing - unbelievable expensive - looking at the salries and the cost of housing - over the top
Politically an in
teresting country - 4.something million people - mostly Pakeha (white) with Maori and other Pacific islanders, large number of Asians making up the rest.
- a large number lives in Aussie
- 3 year term - who thought of that - the in power party also have the eye on the clock to make sure they get ready for the next elections
- Labour was in power for a number of years - and as one of the adverts show - New Zealand you are soft, no smacking of your kids, people are on the dole, housing for the "less fortunate" and it is possible to earn more on the dole than somebody who has a full time job - what is the incentive?
Economy
- largely farming - very much dependent on the the farming sector and exports
- export is mostly raw product
- Competitive - NO - weird - is all their competitiveness been taken up by their rugby teams
- Infrastructure - almost everything is in need of an upgrade
Good things
- family is important
- mostly respect for other - very low crime levels - whoo hoo
- these guys can gargle - after rugby drinking must be the national sport
- cars are quite affordable
Do I like it here??
Well honestly, it is a difficult country, nor for sissies - wind, cold, lack of sunshine (and when it shines with the hole in the ozone layer you get seriously burnt).
Will we be staying - the jury is still out. Trying to build - the builders do not have work but it seems they are all kit builders anyway. Do not try and suggest something new - they are used to their way of building ...
Anyway - enough for now - watch this space.
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