Whats New Zealand like?

Question

is it a nice place to stay? my partner has a possible job opportunity and we'd be staying in New Plymouth.

Answer 1

i went to new zealand last year at the beginning of spring...it still snowed and was quite cold. you will never get bored because of all the activities there are to do...i went skydiving. also we drove from christchurch down to queenstown and the scenery is great

Answer 2

Very nice place to stay lots of things to do and see.

Answer 3

I'm a NZer, and quite frankly some of the above comments are very offensive. I'm referring to the one that says we're judgemental and backwards, conservative etc. That contridicts that NZ has some of the most liberal and socially progressive laws and system in the world on a whole range of things. Some people are very conversative, like older people (as they are in other countries) and rural folks but on the whole NZ is a very welcoming place. Just thought I would make that point.

But secondly, I wouldn't reccommend New Plymouth to you but that's just my personal opinion. I've been there once or twice, and it's quite a dreary, dull and rainy place. There are much other nice cities and towns like Tauranga, Dunedin, Nelson etc.

Answer 4

it fantastic place was there last yr....back packed all over the country...try get to 90mile beach bay of islands taranga....christchurch was abit middle england,and wellington a little crowded...get a chance go picton and over on ferry...the food though is bog boring but other than that it great...

Answer 5

Lots of sheep and Kiwi farmers chasing after them.

Answer 6

ive lived in auckland the past year but had to come back 2 uk because i couldnt get sponsored 4 work in time i have traveled all round nz north and south islands and loved it, but auckland is the only place with any life 2 it.Wages are c**p half what i got in uk coudnt afford 2 live the way i did in uk plus work ethic is very different,im going to try oz now better money and weather!

Answer 7

I love New Zealand, as soon as I have the chance (ie money and job) I will move to Dunedin.  Although the South Island has less people than the North Island it is just stunning, amazing wildlife, beautiful views and a slower pace of life than I am used to (I live in London).  I'm afraid I don't know much about New Plymouth but in general the way of life in NZ seems more relaxed, and whilst there may not be much happening in the way of places to go clubbing (depending where you are) there are still plenty of things to do. Beaches are everywhere, a couple of hours drive and you can go to the mountains as well as all the stuff you can do in regular towns (shopping, pubs, cinema etc)

The people are so helpful and polite and when I was there no one seemed judgemental or 'backwards' as some other posters have suggested.  It's a great place with a slower pace of life and amazing outdoor pursuits I would move there in a heartbeat

Answer 8

It will depend on where you stay.New Plymouth is a smaller town which would be a quite different experience to staying in one of the main cities.

There is plenty to do.There is Mt Taranaki near to New Plymouth for skiing and hiking.Beaches, bush, and a whole range of outdoor activities. Most cities, even small ones have music and drama groups etc.

You will also be able to visit lots of beautiful places in weekends and holidays.NZ scenically is very beautiful, with heaps of activities.

For an idea have a look at http://www.holidays-in-newzealand.com

This won't tell you specifically about New Plymouth, but give you ideas on sightseeing and activities for your holidays.

For more information check these:

http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/taranak...

http://www.newplymouthnz.com/

The second has some information on living in Mew Plymouth.

I hope this is helpful

Answer 9

depending on where you live it can be a cold winter and not so hot summer. The houses are c**p and you will freeze your buns off in the winter (on the south island)

New Plymouth is not the most happening place to be. Been there once and was bored to tears.

There are lots of nice foreigners and it seems the best of the English people came here. The kiwis themselves are not terribly pleasant and all of them think they are tough....and never complain

It can be very expensive to live here as well so unless you get a decent salary, (50K for one person or 90K for 2)  I wouldnt come

Answer 10

the new zealanders i know tell me the countryside is beautiful    

but it is dull & it is behind times

Answer 11

Top of the Yorkshire Moors, only all over.

Answer 12

After living in the UK ( England) for a couple of years and being a true blue kiwi I can comment on a couple of things.

1. The Scenery in NZ is stunning...it also varies more and is more varied than in England.

2. There is MUCH less people here and so have less facilities and amenities like public transport ( very poor here, hence why a car is invaluable....but petrol kind of makes it hurt more!), there is less variety of things eg food, clothing, shops.....I would say there might be more opportunities to be involved with sport here however.

3. I find the people here much more open and welcoming than in England....in general...there are exceptions to the rule every where.

4. New Plymouth is not the most "happening" place in the universe...or even New Zealand, but you make the most of what you have....I guess its half way between Hamilton/Auckland and Wellington and you can investigate around the place.

5. Cost of living will be higher in some areas and about the same in others......

6. If you don;t like it you can always move or go back....its only a planr ride away.

Answer 13

Have you achieved a better quality of life in NZ than you might have done in the UK?

I think if we had moved to a crowded city like Auckland or Wellington it would have been very different. I suspect we would have returned home by now. There are only four million people living in a country the size of the UK, so why live on top of one another? As it was we came to Dunedin, a small town of about 100,000 people in South Island, to a lovely house on the Otago Peninsula with a million-dollar view of Otago harbour, Mount Cargill and Taiaroa Headland which cost us just £20,000. The school was at the bottom of the garden; there are salmon in the harbour and a four-hour drive takes you to ski fields, bungee jumping and jet boats. There are penguins, sea lions, seals and albatross, all within a 15-minute drive. Just last night we went for a walk on the beach and 25 Little Blue penguins came ashore and a female Hooker’s sea lion came over to us before going to catch her supper. So, for me the answer is yes, but it depends on what you are looking for.

Are there many expats in NZ?

Thousands. Dunedin is Gaelic for Edinburgh and has the same street names, loads of pipe bands and Scottish accents everywhere.

How easy is it to emigrate to the country?

It was relatively easy for us since I had been invited to a job which few people at that time were skilled at. Now it is a different story, with all sorts of restrictions, quotas and point systems. However, bring in a million dollars – about £400,000 – and you can, I think, set up a business

Answer 14

Depends what you like.  I found NZ incredibly dull.  A bit like the UK but 15 years behind us.  And very conservative and judgemental.  On the plus side - the sports there are fantastic an the climate and scenery are wonderful.

Answer 15

I agree with Seanis777< I also live In NZ and wonder where/how some of these people got such warped ideas about our amazing country!!

I have travelled all over the place and NZ will always be home for me.

Dull!!!???!! well clearly some people never made a point of actually leaving their hotel rooms whilst they were here.

Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world! our country is full of beaches (swimming, water skiing, fishing, boating, sunbathing) Mountains (skiing, tramping (some of the most amazing world renowned walking tracks in the world) fantastic scenery, snowboarding, mountain climbing). Bunjy jumping was invented in NZ!, white water and black water rafting, caving, canyoning, kayaking, horse riding, the shotover jet these are just but a few of the acticities on offer in NZ.

U2 played here last year, bon jovi January of this year, westlife are here at the moment, the big day out occurs every year in January with bands form all over the world. we have theatre perfomances, ballets, musicals we get them all in NZ

as for our food, well obviously you;re always biased by the food that you grow up with, but we have the best chocolate in the world (i've sampled hand made chocolates in belgium and world famous swiss chocolate but ours is best!) and in fact compared to the UK and USA I think our food is amazing, i put on weight when i got home as i'd missed my favourite foods so much! oh to eat lovely grainy bread again after the sugary stuff you get in the states.

So back to your question yes New Zealand is a wonderful place to stay, a great place to raise kids and somewhere that you could call home forever.

New Plymouth isn't the nicest part of NZ though, its a bit isolated out on a western tip there and so does get a high rainfall. Overall the South island is colder than the north but the top of the south island (blenheim and Nelson) get the most sunshine hours in NZ (over 2500 a hundred a year)

heres a link for some info about New Plymouth

http://www.cityofnewplymouth.co.nz/

and some info about New Zealands climate

http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/ab...

also to get an idea of house prices / renting check out this link

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-me-proper...

Good luck with your decision making, and don't let people with chips on their shoulders put you off!