[The Hodges]

Sometimes the simplest gestures are the most memorable ones. Tony and I were thinking about our first trip to New Zealand in 2003 and was reminded about a couple of things that happened, along with the fantastic trip and the most beautiful places, became one of the highlights of our time here. So I thought I would share them with you. You may think ‘well big deal’, but this is something that would never happen where we come from. Try and envisage public transport in the UK whilst reading this. I hope you enjoy:

Story One

We had finally arrived in Queenstown – ‘the extreme sports capital of the world’ or so we were led to believe. We had booked ourselves an excursion that included Jet Boating followed by an helicopter ride over Queenstown and then a Bungee Jump off ‘The Ledge’ (well for Tony anyway) I chickened out! I felt so nervous watching him throw himself of the ledge; obviously one week of marriage was too much to bear! Anyway I digress. We had decided to catch the bus from our hotel into the centre of Queenstown so we would not have to worry about finding somewhere to park the car. We happily took ourselves off for our day of adventure and caught the bus on time. Well (I am getting to the point, I promise) half way into the Queenstown I realised I had forgotten the tickets. OH NO! I went up to the lady bus driver and asked her if she would let us off the bus so we could go back to the hotel and collect them. This is when something happened which I would never expect to happen, not in a million Sundays. She said there was not need to get off the bus she would just turn it around and take us back to the hotel. She then shouted to the other passengers, bearing in mind this is public transport, “Is anyone in a hurry?” Their reply was no and they either carried on looking out of the window or reading whatever it was they were reading. She then turned it around and took us back to the hotel. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! At this point I thought the bus driver and her passengers would then go happily on their way. But No, she insisted she would wait for me whilst I ran into the hotel to get the tickets. Well I ran as fast as I could to the room and back again. Once on the bus she told me to sit down and catch my breath before she started the bus. I think at this point I was sitting their mouth open and speechless. I am never speechless, so this was also a first for Tony. Once we got to our stop I couldn’t thank her enough, but I think she was more surprised at how thankful we were. But what an amazing gesture and one we will remember for a long time.

Story Two

The next thing happened when we were in Christchurch. Again we thought we would leave the Car at the hotel and catch the bus into the town centre, so we could both have a couple of drinks. We were enquiring at the hotel reception about bus times when another hotel guest over heard our conversation; he kindly interrupted and asked if we would like a lift into town. Again this might not be a bid deal for some, but it really isn’t something that tends to happen in London. We chatted on the way into Christchurch and he was so thrilled to learn that he had offered a lift to a couple of Honeymooners he said he couldn’t wait to get home and tell is wife! How nice was that! (please bear in mind when reading this its not safe to get into anyone’s car, there was two of us and we knew we were completely safe)

I know these were only simple gestures, but it reminds you of what amazing people you can meet on your travels.

Now, over to you, do you have any similar stories?

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

We've only been in NZ six weeks, but one thing that I always remember about our trip here last year that stuck in my mind was around school crossings.

This is totally normal to me now I live here (and particularly as we have kids at primary school) but at the time it struck me as quite incredible. We were driving into Te Kuiti at around 3pm on a weekday in our big rickety camper van. As you enter the town the primary school is right by the raod and the junction with the state highway. At 3pm it is school kicking out time. There was a school crossing next to the school (Obviously) and manning the 'lolipop' signs on each side of the road were two school children (probably aged 10). No sign of adults to assist.

Imagine that happening in the UK or kids being sensible enough to be trusted to do this properly, I think not, you'd be lucky to see your kids again !

Reminded me how much our homes in the UK had actually become little prisons, rather than elements within a community.

Not sure this is a tale in the same category as 'the kindness of strangers' story above, but thought I would share it.

Another one, same trip. We were in a taxi going from centre of Christchurch back to our hotel. Lovely taxi driver, very friendly, gave us lots of advice on various thing to go and best ways to get there. When we got to the hotel we tried to give him a tip, but he was having none of it, in fact he reduced the fare to the nearest $5.

[KerryS]

I can't sing the praises highly enough of the amazing guy from Midas who fixed my car wing mirror.
I live on the corner of two very narrow streets and there is only on street parking. I returned home the other day to find someone had pinged my wing mirror. They stopped and left me a note, and offered to pay for any damages. The glass wasn't broken, but had popped right out of the frame. I took it into Midas and asked if they would be able to repair it.
The guy there spent about 15 minutes fiddling around trying to get the little catches to click into place and was having no success. It seemed that the centre catch had broken when the mirror was hit. So, he phoned around a load of scarp yards, located a new mirror, had it sent over and then fitted it for me. And he only charged me $5 for the cost of the new mirror. Nothing for all his time and effort. Amazing customer service!

[Caroline and Dave]

In the short time that we have been in NZ we are amazed at the hospitality of the Kiwis we have met.
Good Samaritan No1

When we first arrived In Auckland we rented a temporary place until we found somwhere more permanent. We went to the office and told them we would be moving out.The receptionist overheard this and offered the services of herself and her Dad to help us move as we had accumalated a lot of stuff. We asked her how much and she said that she and her Dad did not want paying they just wanted to help us.Well help us they did,they moved our stuff and helped us to unpack then refused to take any money so we gave them a few bottles of wine which they accepted. On top af all that they then offered to take us to the airport on our return to the UK,but this time we insisted we couldn't expect them to do this for nothing and they eventually agreed to be paid.

Good Samaritan No2

On moving into our apartment we were introduced to the caretaker of the apartments and straight away he made us feel if we had known him for years. This man not only looks after the day to day running of the development but will accept deliveries on your behalf,has set up his own little shop in case you need something quickly,you just ring him up and he will get it for you.But the best of all is that he knew we were going back to the UK and he has taken our car keys and will keep the car ticking over so we do not get a flat battery on our return and he is taking it to the garage for its first service.He is taking delivery of our suite when it arrives and will set it out in the apartment. He has even said he will make sure there are groceries in our flat for when we return. Hows that for service.We had only been in the apartment 2 weeks and 2 sets of neighbours offered to take us to the airport.

Kindest regards

Dave and Caroline

[pinkpiggy]

I can't sing the praises of Kiwis enough.

The motel we stayed in when we arrived (same one as Amanda (Leachio)) have loaned us various items ranging from a double bed, sofa bed, microwave and ironing board through to towels and cutlery. They don't want any payment and have even loaned us their ute to move all the stuff. They know they won't get any of it back until mid July but say it's no bother.

[JoHnH]

Slightly different note, a rather startled entry in a recent Travel Blog by a couple of American tourists in the Manawatu.
(Mind you, I dunno if this would happen in Auckland.)

As we headed back to the farm to get settled in, there were flashing lights all over a checkpoint on the road and we were asked to stop the car. The officer asked Juni if she had been drinking that evening, which we had not. She said no and he asked her to speak her name and address into a machine that looked like a little tape recorder with an LCD screen. Being shocked at the question, she kind of stumbled her way through our address after which the LCD read “No Alcohol”. The officer smiled and said, “Thank you, have a chocolate” and handed Juni a wrapped mint chocolate wafer that read "Life is sweet, drive sober." We couldn’t stop laughing as we drove away. We had to wonder, what happens if you're not sober? "Bad drunk, NO candy!!" It was really strange, but as far as encounters with cops go, it was approximately one million times better than any I’ve ever had with a US cop. Also, why are our breathalyzers so damn intrusive when the Kiwis have this amazing tape recorder technology?

[Andy-Dee]

We had the same experience on our recent recce trip with the police checkpoint, only we were waved to the side of the road after being found sober where there was a catering wagon manned by the police who gave us a free cup of coffee.

They chatted away, leaving a very positive impression on us.

In the UK you are growled at even when you are tested sober. Sad reflection on the amount of stress the UK police force is under I fear!

[Tia Maria]

JohnH wrote:

We had to wonder, what happens if you're not sober? "Bad drunk, NO candy!!"

:laugh :laugh

Just a quick story from me, but I had just dropped my son off at school and I was 8 months pregnant and found walking very difficult. A lady, who had obviously seen me waddling along, pulled up and offered me a lift.

It was such a simple gesture, but one of those that makes you feel good for the rest of the day. :)

Cheers

Tia

[The Hodges]

Geart stories guys. I really enjoy reading things like these and Tia, yes they make you feel good for the rest of the day.

Clare

[stu70]

Just amazing to read all these stories. Many thanks for sharing folks. Cheers

[willsken]

The day after we moved into our rental, we were talking to our new neighbour over the fence and I was moaning how much I missed the Internet. That evening there was a knock at the front door and there was the said neighbour handing me a door key to his house. The instruction from him to help myself to his computer while they were out at work during the day. We’d only just met him!!!:D

[Happyfeet]

I used to catch the ferry into town from Bayswater Wharf to work and on this particular day it had been peeing down all day. Absolutely bucketing it down. Anyway, I had left my umbrella at work and when I got to Bayswater Wharf it was still chucking it down. Normally, I would walk as its only a 10 minute walk but obviously didnt fancy it in this rain with no umbrella but unfortunately for me I wasnt quick enough to get the bus as it departed without me on it!! Soo, no point in waiting for the next one and started to walk. Had only got a few yards down the road when someone stopped me and asked me where I was going and would I need a lift as I was starting to look like a drowned rat! Again, under normal circumstances wouldnt get in the car with a stranger but he had someone else in the car who he had offered a lift too and thought what the hell. And drop me off is exactly what he did. I was very impressed by that.

[katandbob]

when jordon was here, he smashed up his car when the back end slid off the gravel road onto rocks - the farmer saw it happen - he came out with the tractor and winched the car off the rocks - it took him about an hour or so. - there was no way we'd have got the car off any other way - and he wanted nothing in return.

The car was a mess - so Jord wanted to go see how much it would cost to get a new car. - this car dealership we went to (Regent - under $5000) got to talking to him - explained hire purchase in a language that Jord would understand, Jordon really took it in and began having doubts into wether he should get a new car - the salesman asked why he was looking for a new car, and when we explained that his car needed a new radiator, and it was going to cost more for one than the car was worth, he rang a mate - who had a car wreckers yard - told him that he needed the radiator and it had to be at a good price - well the guy at the wreckers had got the radiator ready for us when we got there - and at $40!

Now back to the farmer - our truck broke down - it was in the shop for a week - the farmer lent me his sunday best car, for the week. I am very blessed to have nice neighbours - they keep to themselves, but if you need something - they are happy to help (I am always forgetting to put my bin out - and my neighbour goes and puts it out for me - even in gales and rain)

http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/jumping0044.gif
for Greenhills!

Kat

[vixxann]

Very impressed with all your stories - how fab people can still be :)

my experience seems insignificant compared to all these others but it impressed me imensely when, whilst on a crowded bus from Wellington to Lower Hutt, a teenage school boy stood up without any hesitation or prompting to give his seat to a middle aged lady. :clap I have never seen that happen before!

[zardell]

Very impressed with all your stories - how fab people can still be :)

my experience seems insignificant compared to all these others but it impressed me imensely when, whilst on a crowded bus from Wellington to Lower Hutt, a teenage school boy stood up without any hesitation or prompting to give his seat to a middle aged lady. :clap I have never seen that happen before!



That always used to happen in the UK when I was a kid........maybe that's what folk mean when they say coming here to NZ is like going back 30 years !!

Nowt wrong with a bit of respect eh??

Julie

xx

[willsken]

That always used to happen in the UK when I was a kid........maybe that's what folk mean when they say coming here to NZ is like going back 30 years !!

Nowt wrong with a bit of respect eh??

Julie

xx

How true. :yes

[aberdian]

On our first trip years ago we were in the Cormandel and couldn't find anywhere to stay - a motel owner kicked her son out of his bedroom and we had our first night in NZ squeezed into a single bed whilst it's owner slept at friends. They then wouldn't accept a penny for the accomodation - fantastic.

[Debbie P.]

Thank you for these stories, it's so lovely to hear how nice people can be, and a refreshing antidote to all the depressing news we get these days. :nice1

Different country, I know, but I was pleasantly surprised by the kindness and hospitality we experienced in Canada last year.

1. My OH had been on a long walk by himself and was limping back into town, rather hot and bothered, when a local nurse on her way to work stopped and offered him a much-needed lift. A lone woman offering a man a lift would be unheard of in the UK - we've all seen too much Crimewatch!

2. A policeman stopped our car due to my OH being over the speed limit (during a panicky navigation moment!), and when he realised we were British, he sent us on our way with a genial warning to watch out in future. Again, any bets on that happening in the UK?

Both incidents took place in fairly underpopulated parts of Canada, and I've been wondering whether a lower population has a lot to do with respect and generosity? I think that in the UK (in many, but NOT all cases), we're so desparate to get somewhere on time, grab the last parking space, get our 'money's worth' etc. in an increasingly crowded and expensive country, that we sometimes forget how to be generous to one another. Do other people feel that? Sometimes, I'm embarrassed by my own behaviour!

But anyway, it's lovely to learn that other countries, or regions of countries, haven't got like that yet.

[liamnrach]

What a fantastic post!! Reading all these lovely stories reminds me of our first trip to NZ....

We were having a meal in the restaurant at the top of a gondola ride in Rotorua (sorry, can't remember the name although it served the most fantastic food!). My OH saw a japanese couple standing outside taking photo's of each other. She said 'go out there and offer to take a photo of them both'. So I did:D and that was that or so we thought.

A little while later a NZ couple came up to us and said how kind we were by
offering to take a photo of the Japanese couple. Not one at turning down a compliment, we invited them to sit with us and share a bottle of wine. We chatted for a while and at the end of the evening, they invited us to join them the next day at the lake, on thier boat, and sharing a Bar-B-Q...we'd only just met them.

Me and my OH couldn't believe thier generosity. It left a memory that we shall never forget.

Just wanted to share that with you all.....:p

Liam n Rach