The Down Side?

Moorf · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 2:21 am Post subject: The Down Side?

Ok, I need a reality check!!

I'm posting like crazy and searching the net for amazing NZ stuff but perhaps I need to stand back and perhaps look at the down sides of NZ (ok, we did the wasps already!)....

So, those in the know, what is going to get me wound up in NZ? What will I learn to loath? Major moans? Migrant myths?! Weather wind-ups? Ludicrous laws?

C'mon - sock it to me!

Moorf

Lisa. · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 2:54 am Post subject:

Hi Helen,
Amongst my concerns would be the Volcano's , severe weather, earthquakes, i still think it's worth it though, are there any Kiwi' who could tell us how you deal with living in the ring of fire? Eek

Lisa

Moorf · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 2:56 am Post subject:

Now I am hoping that we won't need to deal with such things in Christchurch...!!

coastcat · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 5:57 am Post subject:

I lived in northern California for four years and went through the '89 Loma Prieta quake. My apartment was built to code, and suffered no damage. The structures that did collapse in that quake were generally older and not reinforced properly. NZ has pretty good building codes, although older structures aren't always reinforced like they should be.

We used to make a game of it - whenever a little quake struck, we'd make bets on the magnitude and fault line, then turn on the radio to get the official report. I was extremely good at this game! (for the big quake I guessed the right fault but underestimated the magnitude, ah well)

Yes, you can get used to anything. Even frequent earthquakes.

Um, so are the winds really that terrible in Wellington?

Timbo · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 6:04 am Post subject:

The only downside I found was Watties beans not being as good as Heinz. I dont think that is going to change my mind about NZ though. Rolling Eyes

Dave & Sandra · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 7:08 am Post subject:

Dave told me that there was a 3.5 on the Richter scale in Palmerston North last Tuesday and then a meteor struck a house on Wednesday. Went through the roof, bounced off the sofa, and back through the roof again. Two meteor holes for the price of one. He didn't seem very phased by it, mind you it wasn't his house.

As a structural engineer, he's had to learn a lot about NZ building codes to cover earthquakes, which he says are substantially unlike any others he's worked to, they have very high standards to make sure nothing falls down so that should be reassuring.
Clapping

Sandra

Moorf · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 7:11 am Post subject:

Oh yes!! I saw about the meteor on the news!

Typical Kiwi's - so laid back - the wife was saying how lucky it was that no-one was sat on the sofa when it crashed through the roof cos they would have had a nasty headache the next day!! Laughing

justin.g.s · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 8:10 am Post subject:

I have been trying to discover the down side as well. I live in Ca and earthquakes are really no big deal. I was in the middle of the northride earthquake on the fifth floor of my dormitory at ucla.

After the initial fear of the place falling down wears off, it was kind of exhilarating to be honest.

Earthquakes are no biggy, Volcanoes dont erupt with out giving a hint at it.

Floods are most likely to do the big damage.Is there flood insurance available in N.Z .

I think this is off of what Moof was getting at, but I think the things that will irk us will be the little lost things In and out burger(fellow Californias) will be on my list, as well as trader joes.

karltsmith · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 8:18 am Post subject:

I've lived in NZ for 3 years (in total 1987-1991) and never experienced a quake. The rest of my life I spent in the UK (West Midlands and have experienced 2 quakes...the nearly famous Dudley one and one off the welsh coast that was felt throughout the WMids.

sesame · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 1:55 am Post subject:

polyester is supposed to be king! in nz - that's kind of scary - i'm really into linen and cotton and tencel (tree fiber) - all those earthy, soft, kindred fabrics .... Rolling Eyes

sesame~

Moorf · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 3:32 am Post subject:

Oh MY God - like my hair isn't crazy enuf already without STATIC!! Eek

I'm a linen & wool girl myself Nice One

Oh and worn brown leather hmmmmmmm Yes

wilson182 · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 5:21 am Post subject:

I think the major downside for me was when the fact of how far away from family you really are finally sank in. However, you have to remind yourself what a small world it is these days, what with email and web cams etc.

justin.g.s · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:21 am Post subject:

Polyester is king?

IF they are 20 years behind, that puts us at 1984, for fashion sake, lets see what clothes I need to bring.

First off I will need to rewatch flashdance, so the wife will need a leotard with big scrunchy leg warmers. I guess she should grow her eyebrows out alla early Brook Sheilds. Her hair should look bushy like shrek the sheep.

I guess I'll go with a Izod tee shirt with the collar flipped up, A pair of huge Rayban sun glasses, top siders with no socks, plaid shorts. Oh and maybe a blue day glow sweater in case the wind kicks up. Of coarse tied around the neck with the sleeves intwined around my neck.

Talk about the king os fashion. I better dig out my rollerskates and get my huge portable walk man, you know the ones that look like large plastic donuts?

Ah memories, or maybe just my future.

Tanya · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:50 am Post subject:

The Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences records about 14,000 earthquakes in and around New Zealand each year. Most are small, but between 100 and 150 are big enough to be felt.

There have been 8 in the month of June so far:
2 of them in the Canterbury(CHCH) region)

http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.htm
l
The latest quake was yesterday!

Reference Number: 2248398/G
Universal Time: 2004 Jun 15 14:16
NZ Standard Time: 2004 Jun 16 02:16
Latitude, Longitude: 38.57°S, 177.86°E
Focal Depth: 25 km
Richter Magnitude: 3.8

10 km south of Te Karaka
10 km north of Manutuke
20 km north-west of Gisborne
330 km south-east of Auckland

Probably felt in the Gisborne region

Don't let that put you off!!

Tanya

Moorf · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:06 am Post subject:

Well, I guess ANYTHING is better than Lycra!!

Justin - don't forget the fingerless dayglo gloves, pixie boots and ra-ra skirt!!

Doubt any of my old gear would work out there unless its a nation of Goths Laughing

oh those were the days! Nice One