rented properties & pets??

[LilAmy]

Yip it's either towed or clamped if you dont park the way the traffic is flowing. A nice lady told us that when we first arrived as we parked against the flow!

Makes sense really and more countries should adopt that rule I think tee hee.

[MotherBear]

For anyone who wants to take a look, here's the NZ Road Code .

[monica]

hi everyone
thanks for helping out there. i definately wont want 24hr shopping - that's what the sort of thing we're escaping - just getting a measure of the place. if i ever work out how to, i will fill in the bit about myself
monica.

[Bunstar]

Originally Posted by LilAmy

Yip it's either towed or clamped if you dont park the way the traffic is flowing. A nice lady told us that when we first arrived as we parked against the flow!

Makes sense really and more countries should adopt that rule I think tee hee.

My OH is going to be soooo pleased...this is one of his (many) pet hates!

[KiwiHopeful]

Originally Posted by monica

hi everyone
thanks for helping out there. i definately wont want 24hr shopping - that's what the sort of thing we're escaping - just getting a measure of the place. if i ever work out how to, i will fill in the bit about myself
monica.

You'll be pleased then. Even here in the 'big city' of Chch, they roll up the sidewalks at 5:00 and don't bother to put them out on Sunday.

Seriously, if you walk through the CBD at 5:30 pm on a weekday, many--if not most--of the shops are closed. A lot of the shops are closed on Sundays, too. Places like the Warehouse and the grocery stores are generally open later (8:00 or 9:oo pm) and open a little earlier too. Most places seem to open after 9:00 am--the Blockbuster Video a couple of blocks from here actually doesn't open until 11:00!

Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but it is a quite a change for me, since I'm used to going out at 7:00 am to run my errands.

[monica]

thanks about the shops KiwiHopeful.
we like the info after your message as it gives an idea of time scales, even if each case is different.
i'm a bit worried after reading all the people who didn't find NZ right for them after they'd moved there. i suppose we really have to think differently and have different priorities over there. is that it?
monica

[MotherBear]

I think the secret is to do plenty of research beforehand so there aren't too many nasty shocks when you get there and also not to arrive in NZ with too many preconceived ideas. Just take it as it comes and embrace it for what it is.

After all, if it was going to be exactly like the UK, what's the point in immigrating?

[hball]

Surely if you do all the research beforehand you will arrive here with pre-conceived ideas?

I realise it is not for everyone, but I met a family who turned up in August with hardly any ideas of NZ except that it could be for them, grabbed a vehicle and went from north to south, liked it so much they found a job, rented a property and yay, here we go!!! It could be said that they are living their research and will therefore make decisions based on actual experience rather than unemotional internet content.

Just a thought

[hball]

Originally Posted by MotherBear

I

After all, if it was going to be exactly like the UK, what's the point in immigrating?

Exactly!!!! I was beginning to think that perhaps I was the only one who left the UK because I wanted a life that was completely DIFFERENT. I had 'done' the UK, now I am 'doing' the Pacific and loving every minute of it.

[Taffy]

To be honest, all the internet/book/tv or whatever research you do will never truly reflect what life is actually like in NZ. It's natural that you'll get some preconceived ideas, I did when I moved here, and although those ideas weren't wrong, they weren't particularly accurate either.

I think life here is very different, but that most likely has a lot to do with where I moved from. At the end of it all, if you want a change, can embrace the change and take things as they come, it's not difficult to settle in NZ (as a country, missing friends/family is something else!). One you're settled, a lot of people find going back to their home countries a bit of a culture shock.

I believe the only people who end up returning home are people that were either perfectly happy in their life before they moved, aren't willing to fit in, or find the draw of family too much. I expect the odd 'rose coloured glasses wearers' have also gone back, so be wary of that phenomena!