[Milliemoo]

Here's some random observations from our time in New Zealand so far.

* They insist on packing your bags in supermarkets. Now I guess this is quite helpful to a lot of people (especially if you’ve got sprogs running about) but it does confuse them when you bring out your own re-usable bags and start packing yourself. It’s also very annoying when you have a lady with a trolley full of shopping and it’s really busy in the supermarket so there’s only the checkout girl to pack, and she just stands there watching all the shopping pile up and then waits and watches while the checkout girl struggles with everything. Honestly, some people.

* Sinks and baths don’t have overflows. You also get plug sockets in bathrooms, not just electric shaver points.

* Cheddarmite Scrolls, truly the best thing the Ozzies have ever invented. If you can’t guess, they’re a Vegemite & cheese savoury bread product. YUM!

* Everyone says “Hello” and is really chatty in shops. Well, maybe not everyone, but it’s definitely the norm.

* Kiwis are obsessed with ‘garlic aioli’ and it’s never just referred to as aioli. Every other TV advert is for packets of crisps flavoured with ‘garlic aioli’ or pizzas smothered in the stuff. Not that I’ve got anything against aioli. I like being able to go into a pub and order a bowl of chips and get a big pot of the stuff to dip into.

* Crisps are called chips.

* Kitchens are all designed in the same way and look like fitted bedroom cupboards. They’ve always got the same handles as well…. quite odd. I think it’s because kitchens tend to be open plan and have a wall of units (that look like bedroom cupboards) and then the work surface is either a separate island or breakfast bar, rather than the more British way of having a separate room with units above and below the work surfaces. It’s hard to explain, but you’ll know what I mean when you see it.

* Bus drivers give change

* You get letterboxes at the end of the drive instead of in the front door.

* I think there’s more scented toilet paper available than just the normal stuff. It took me ages to work out what the rank perfume smell was in the holiday rental bathroom.

* The corner shop is a called a dairy.

* Kiwis don’t like wearing shoes and 90% of children will only wear them when they really, really have to. It’s also not unusual to see someone walking into the dairy in the PJs, first thing in the morning.

* Swearing is part of everyday conversation on the radio and TV. I had no idea ‘The Simpsons’ had so many rude words and jokes in it, because they’re all cut for UK TV.

* In the summer, the sound of cicadas is deafening. I love it, cause it reminds me of being on holiday. I wonder wear they go in winter.

Milliemoo :nice1

[Sam B]

Yes, I noticed all those things. Also
*Pants mean trousers not knickers (UK reference only)
*EVERYONE takes their shoes off going into houses, not just when there's a new cream carpet in the hall.
*Schools have more adventure playgrounds than they do computers!

I know there's loads more, I was thinking of them the other day, but I'm tired now.

Cicadas spend most of their life cycle underground. In their final year of life the grub form climbs up the nearest tree and the adult cicada climbs out of the skin. They then spend a few weeks mating and making a lot of noise to attract each other. Then they die.

[Tentun]

This post is so funny to me because I grew up in South Africa (although I now live in the UK and have done for the past 7 years) and our reason for moving to New Zealand was to have a similar upbringing for our child as we had in South Africa all those years ago and everything you mention in the above posts reminds me so much of South Africa 20 years ago- it really gives me hope that we are going to be happy there. Thanks, you've really cheered me up!

[jubjub]

Sam, you made me sad now, poor cicadas..... at least they die happy!

I must have been here to long, I don't notice most of this stuff anymore! Even went to a pals with no shoes the other day, and often have to come back in the house to get shoes, when going to walk the dog, as I forget until I get to the prickly concrete!

With shopping - Hubby totally confused the girl at Pak n Save the other day, by trying to pack the trolley.... I had to tell him to stop it and let her get on with it, she was faster than him! You can tell he does not go grocery shopping anymore (usually babysitting instead!).

The overflow thing with sinks has caught me a few times, ended up with a flooded kitchen benchtop, not done it for a while now though.

[MattA]

Just out of interest can I shop online at the supermarket and get them to deliver? or don't they do that?

[jubjub]

Just out of interest can I shop online at the supermarket and get them to deliver? or don't they do that?

https://www.woolworths.co.nz/HomeShopping/default.aspx

https://www.foodtown.co.nz/HomeShopping/default.aspx

Here are two options for you. think they are the only ones, but it depends as well where you live..

[Riddley]

Miiliemoo - you are such a great source of info! Cheers. The chatty people thing really rang bells with me: when we were on a recce last year I realised after about a week how rude I must appear as everyone said "hello" but I wasn't - I used to years ago - but somewhere along the line just stopped.
Also - cicadas: there's this fab Gary Larson Cartoon (I'll see if I can find it to post) basically Noah's Ark and 2 animals (cows? can't remember...) are writing "tell the cicadas to SHUT UP!!!" on the wall. Made me smile.

[nippa&pippa]

* Bus driver get out and offer help to carry shopping bags or pushchair into bus :nice1
* Everyone let people with pushchairs into bus first before rest of them at bus stop :nice1
* No restriction for children at local preschool, Kindergarten and school. They can do whatever they want to. (like woodwork!)
* Children get free piece of meat to eat now from Deli or butcher!!!
* Children's activities are either free or very cheaper compare with UK's charges for same things!

[StevieD]

*No pay and display machines on every conceivable stretch of road near to an attraction
*Electricity company phone person who thanked ME for phoning them up to ask about the bill!
*Car dealers who let you drive away in a big expensive car with just a tiny deposit.
*Hilariously funny ads on TV and radio,
*Electric cookers :(
*Helpful shop assistants
*Trusting schools? Sending my eleven year old son and one of his pals to the bank in town with $60 for change!! And they had to pass about 3 dairies too :laugh

[Jenny & Mark]

*Trusting schools? Sending my eleven year old son and one of his pals to the bank in town with $60 for change!! And they had to pass about 3 dairies too :laugh

Now that's trust. :)

Jenny

[Moorf]

* The way they put prams/buggies on the front of public transport buses around town for storage - first time I saw this I thought they'd run over someone and hadn't realised :roll

[nippa&pippa]

* The way they put prams/buggies on the front of public transport buses around town for storage - first time I saw this I thought they'd run over someone and hadn't realised :roll

You mean trams??? that would be my pushchair :laugh

[Debbie]

The fact that it's really noisy when you pull the plug out of the bath or sink. My 3 yr old has developed quite a phobia to the 'drain monster'.

That my tin roof makes it sound like I'm sleeping in a car wash every time it rains.

There are signs telling me to slow my car down because there are ducks crossing the road, infact there are ducks everywhere. I saw one the other day walking down Browns bay high st.

The school opens up it's sports equipment shed and lets the kids help themself.

Older school children run the office phone, act as road crossing assistants, play ground mentors.

Children are allowed to compete at school and win and lose but are all praised for taking part.

I can help out at my sons school without having to undergo police checks.

You get tons on junk mail every day, (well it's good for starting my fire).

Talkative shop staff still catch me off guard, one lady asked how my day had been and I replied busy only to have her cross examin me about what I had been doing all day.

Petrol prices go up and down more often than anything.

Estate agent have the house keys in little chain boxes out side the house. In the UK some one would take the bolt croppers and be in your house in a jiffy.

Debbie

[StevieD]

Trust indeed!! :laugh

Cafe owners who cannot believe they forgot to charge you when you tell then they haven't! Almost seem affronted to take the money.

Those cool coffins you make out of the Hell's pizza boxes

Radio Hauraki - a rock station that plays rock music, not the pop tat on lots of other stations.

There are loads more but gotta go :)

[swissmissdesigner]

Excellent observation. I would add one more thing to it.
No tips in New Zealand.
I didn't know that when I was there for the first time.
I was tipping at resturants and the waiters were staring at me weird, but they took it. grrrrrrrrr

[olivia]

Going to buy a loaf of bread at the local bakery and isaac being given a biscuit at the tills just for the sake of it - there was no queue.

Remembering to check the signs for where you can and can't take your dog after i took buzby into a 'no dogs allowed' park and was quickly marched out by some council gardeners! oops, didn't see the sign and it was massive!

how everyone goes walking or running here all the time and don't necessarily drive. especially mums with their pushchairs.

how quickly house are built. we have a few empty sections near us and it amazes me how they do it so quickly.

remembering to reorder gas for the house as both our gas bottles were empty and we ran out of gas cooking the sunday dinner, luckily not a disaster as everything was just about cooked!

Olivia

[Sam B]

Loads of people seem to do this "power walking" for exercise which seems to be normal walking but with weird accentuated arm movements. You see them everywhere, sometimes in little groups.

There are SOOOO many dead possums on the road!

[Lupin]

Found myself nodding to lots of the above, here's a few I don't think have been mentioned:


Morning tea! This is taken quite seriously.
Lack of dog s*** on walks
The kids can use the school facilities out of school hours (pool, playground, tennis court etc)
Children are trusted (plenty of examples above), which I suppose is why the adults are so trusting
Muffins are huge and can be savoury...eg bacon and leek!
Coffee is drunk by the gallon
Roads do not always take the direct route between A and B
People rarely ask you what you do....you'll be asked for morning tea first
It's very dark here at night....2 minutes out of the city nad thte only lights can be on your car.

[Debbie]

The morning tea thing made me smile:yes
I had forgotten the hassel we had when we first arived because of morning tea. It's such an institution here, every stops for morning tea.
Debbie

[Moorf]

There are SOOOO many dead possums on the road!

God yeah, the road to Chch is like a full-on bird-of-prey buffet some days!

[katandbob]

This post is so funny to me because I grew up in South Africa (although I now live in the UK and have done for the past 7 years) and our reason for moving to New Zealand was to have a similar upbringing for our child as we had in South Africa all those years ago and everything you mention in the above posts reminds me so much of South Africa 20 years ago- it really gives me hope that we are going to be happy there. Thanks, you've really cheered me up!

:laugh :laugh you just reminded me that I too used to run around minus shoes as a child in SA!

and even in Southland you see kids/adults with no shoes on, PJs etc.

Ka:nice1 t

[katandbob]

* The way they put prams/buggies on the front of public transport buses around town for storage - first time I saw this I thought they'd run over someone and hadn't realised :roll
:laugh :laugh Yes I spotted this the other week - :laugh and I have been here 11mths!

I had to take a second look

Kat

[StevieD]

THE HILLS!!!! OMG, the car struggles up so many then down ofter with some breathtaking views :)

Cats everywhere

Kid friendly zones

Free skateparks, public BBQ's, bike parks and just general outdoor facilities for the family and kids...

A lot less litter than used to (although there are instances where litter louts do their stuff)

Clean air (and clean nostrils too, sorry folks but you know what I mean)

Fresh juice is sooooo nice

Cafe's everywhere

Gorgeous pies mmmmm

[migratory birds]

What a delightful thread!

I had wondered why I'd heard from a couple seperate sources in the last 1.5 yrs that children didn't need to wear shoes because there are no poisonous snakes in NZ. I guess it IS important if kids don't wear shoes.

Your notes have rekindled my desire to emigrate began to dwindle after hearing so many negative things about NZ on another list (uninsulated/unheated/damp/mouldy houses, fast reckless traffic, racism/hatred, school bullying, low pay) but let's not go there - I've heard enough on those topics and no longer subscribe to that list! I need these endearing differences to keep me moving forward!

[Carey]

Free suncream from on-the-wall dispensers in parks.

Public toilets in playgrounds labelled 'girls' and 'boys'. All low level for the kids and SO clean, even with soft loo paper!

Road names clearly positioned, high enough so you can actually see them as you drive along, unlike in Uk where often your view is obstructed by a parked car. And the signs are ALL in the sane place, again unlike here where they are sometimes low down, sometmes high up on a wall. And all in blue and white.

[Howie]

I called to ask directions to the dentists office. After giving me quite detailed directions, I asked what the address was. She said they don't have an address, but if I get lost, just ask for the dairy because it's right beside the dairy and there's only one!!!

[mgbridges]

* Kitchens are all designed in the same way and look like fitted bedroom cupboards. They’ve always got the same handles as well…. quite odd. I think it’s because kitchens tend to be open plan and have a wall of units (that look like bedroom cupboards) and then the work surface is either a separate island or breakfast bar, rather than the more British way of having a separate room with units above and below the work surfaces. It’s hard to explain, but you’ll know what I mean when you see it.
Milliemoo :nice1

From looking at houses on real estate websites it looks like most (if not all) kitchens are tiny. One thing I'm hoping for when we get out there and find a house is a reasonable sized kitchen coz I love to cook. Are there any houses with big kitchens??

Martin

[Trigirl]

some houses we looked at had tiny kitchens - but most have a decent size one - certainly the open plan ones. ours is a very reasonable size. plenty of space for me to cook every day and open onto the dining room/lounge so i'm not on my own when i'm cooking (we had a town house so i used to be on a different floor from the lounge when i was cooking in the uk!)

[wanderingoregonian]

- signs at school library " all students must remove shoes before entering library"
- being offered tea or coffee everywhere I go on a work visit
- windows that open outward with a hinge on the top (to make a A shape)
- no screens on windows
- 4 wheel drive's with sunscreen 'guns' (water gun type things) passing out free sunscreen at the beach (I saw this in Nelson over the summer)
- herbs sold in little pots.. many more varieties than I remember back home
- crazy playgrounds that look really fun (okay they are fun, I sometimes can't help myself)
- the little short cut paths in wellington for pedestrians

This may seem random, but I miss the litttle horizonal bar on shopping carts that you can rest your foot on. I stand in line at hte grocery store and must look like a pawing bull - I repeatedly lift my foot to put it ont he bar, but the bar doesn't exist so my foot comes slamming down...

[dharder]

I miss the litttle horizonal bar on shopping carts that you can rest your foot on. I stand in line at hte grocery store and must look like a pawing bull - I repeatedly lift my foot to put it ont he bar, but the bar doesn't exist so my foot comes slamming down...

I do that too! Everytime I go back to see my mother in Germany and go shopping there, I have that 'problem.' I just thought I was being weird for noticing (and actually minding!). How good to see I'm not alone :)

Daniela

[Debbie P.]

Free suncream from on-the-wall dispensers in parks.


What a brilliant idea! We could use that here in the UK, e.g. at the beach.

[Caniwi]

Tentun.....this post is making me reminicent (sp?) too! I still walk around everywhere in barefeet (tho they're not quite as hardened as they used to be! :P) Jeesh, I still drive in barefeet - yeah I know, not the smartest thing, but only in the summer when I can slip my sandals off. I love the fact that opportunities are provided for kids to be active, huge adventure playgrounds, open sports equipment rooms - who needs to sit inside on a beautiful day and play video games. Wow, I'm really looking forward to getting "back to basics" in NZ......

[mgbridges]

Bump!

So many positive things on here I thought I'd give us all a little reminder. If anyone is interested... my OH asked about houses with bigger kitchens in this thread and yes they exist - our house has a huge a kitchen which we love!

Any more observations to add to the thread folks?

Anneliese

[DMcG]

The writing on the road is bottom to top and not top to bottom, so after almost 4 years, I still ocassionally read it as "Way Give" and "Bridge Lane One" :laugh

Dougie

[willsken]

Signs telling you what speed to go round a corner. The slower the speed, the sharper the bend.

People ask children why they aren't in school if they are in town on a school day.

[Leccy-Lee]

The trust thing someone mentioned is the biggest thing i always notice. I remember when i first arrived and stayed in 2-3 motels, and all of them wouldn't even accept payment until i checked out 2-3 days later! There so trusting which is lovely. I frequented "Travelodges" through my work in UK and they wouldn't even let you near the lift unless you had paid several days in advance and on top of that "swiped" your company credit card as security "just in case" you run off with something?

Its so refreshing here telephoning to book, and knowing that your room will still be there without any hassles.

And on same subject several times i been 40-50c short at the shops, and they just say "that fine, pay that next time".. Never get that in UK.

[buzztalks]

I was 20cents short in New World once,and the young kid serving me said -
"I've got it" - reached into her shirt pocket, took out 20c and threw it in the till. Image that in Asda? I don't think so.

A few days later I was in the same store, saw her, and went to return the money. She genuinely didn't want to take it from me - had to force her.

[lockstock]

There's so much...

-starting staff meetings at school with a maori prayer and a song (in Maori )
-platefuls of delicious food while we're doing staff training
-having sleepovers at the school with the kids for 'team-building' (not sure about that one yet!)
-having a staffroom kitchen with a fridge, cups, dishes, cutlery provided, dishwasher (electric variety!) microwave and non-stop hot water for drinks
-colleagues bringing in stacks of lunch and expecting you to share it with them
-kids calling me 'Whaea' (auntie, mum, wise lady) instead of/as well as 'Miss'
-seeing full-grown, huge teenage boys wearing knee length formal shorts and knee length socks.

But I can't get used to the 'fashion' of boys having long, straightened, bleached (black turned to orange) straggly hair flattened by a humungous black baseball cap worn sidewards. Eat your heart out Harry Enfield's Kevin and Perry. Come to NZ on tour and you'll be fashion icons!

Everyone sooooo friendly.

[willsken]

-seeing full-grown, huge teenage boys wearing knee length formal shorts and knee length socks.



.... and no so full grow ones getting into their cars, wearing school uniform, driving off! :uhoh :)

[Smiler]

Watching CEO's of companies, politicians etc on Fair Go, or the news on TV saying "Sorry, we stuffed up, we were wrong"!!! :raebanana

[LesleyS]

Journalists and Newsreaders saying the word 'b*****ks'!!
Imagine Trevor Mc Donut saying that on the News? :roll

[dusk]

thanks for digging this thread up, made me smile :D

[dilanium]

This thread is awesome!

[CJ22]

This thread and watching 'The World's Fastest Indian' cheered me up :)

[Bergita]

The enormous slabs of chocolate (more than twice the size of the ones in SA), the huge variety of bread - an entire aisle for bread?? Hotdogs are a sausage wrapped in piece of bread, not a long roll.... too weird.

And the strangest thing for me so far - no waves on the beaches! Well on my side of the world anyway. Not a wave in sight, and when it's low tide, you have to walk a mile to reach the water! Freaky.

[All Aboard]

In rental houses, Landlords do not have to supply smoke alarms or have the Electricity Supply tested once a year, like they have to in the UK.

[dilanium]

No smoke alarms supplied? Wow.

[nippa&pippa]

In rental houses, Landlords do not have to supply smoke alarms or have the Electricity Supply tested once a year, like they have to in the UK.

:no but you have to ask for your landlord's permission to put your own smoke alarms up :uhoh which we did after very long discussion with landlord why we really need them up then took our down when we move into our own house!!!:exit

[Tia Maria]

Bergita wrote:

Hotdogs are a sausage wrapped in piece of bread, not a long roll.... too weird.

Or on a stick.

Cheers

Tia

[jubjub]

Bergita if you want waves, go west on a windy day to either Muriwai, Bethells or Piha... just dont try and swim!

Yeah, the range of bread freaked me a bit too, now I have worked my way through them all and have favourites, although the local baker does the best.

[Moorf]

Savoury muffins - I swear I'd never seen one in the UK :confused:

[Tia Maria]

I like the way my children are treated like people and not told to hush and be quiet all the time.

My son saw a jogger the other day and decided to race her, instead of getting pee'd off the jogger thought it was great fun and told my son what a fantasic runner he was, he was so pleased for the rest of the day. :nice1

I think this kind of environment is why so many Kiwis grow up into friendly adults.

Cheers

Tia

[willsken]

Children are certainly allowed to express themselves here. I teach so many characters over here who would be eaten alive in a UK comp.

[Will_2007]

Cool thread :)

This 'morning tea' thing... do people look at you funny if you opt out? I don't drink tea or coffee - not some weird health kick, I'm just not in the habit of drinking it.

[willsken]

Cool thread :)

This 'morning tea' thing... do people look at you funny if you opt out? I don't drink tea or coffee - not some weird health kick, I'm just not in the habit of drinking it.

Ahhhh, morning tea over here in NZ, for me, means lots and lots of lovely cakes and things. We have a lovely parent who bakes things for the staff. Oh yum!:D

[3littlepikes]

you have all cheered me up . morning tea really appeals , outdoor living really appeals , no shoes , having fun with kids and swearing really appeals . much more of a positive slant on NZ . thankyou

[jubjub]

Will, you dont have to drink anything, just turn up for a chat...