New Zealand?

[Pensador]

Been thinking maybe it is time to bail on Sud America the ice is looking pretty thin and the crime if just getting epidemic. With all these obessively poverty minded desperately poor suedo socialist governments of fools I think the potential down side is starting to look dangerously grim. Thinking about New Zealand anyone every been there or have any input about what the life is like there?

 

[Girino]

Well, I dreamt about moving there a couple of nights ago (I can't remember if it was a parrilla-driven dream or what) and I felt pretty cool because I was speaking English, but it felt kinda dull as far as daily living went. It was definitely cooler to tell people I lived in NZ rather than in AR, but overall it was not *really* that cool.
I have no reminiscence on economy or food over there, though.

I have a friend who moved there from Rome about one year ago and he just got his residency approved. He is very happy and never plans to go back. We share a mutual hatred for our home country, but I think it is more relevant in my case since I live in an unstable country rather than in an anglo-saxon civilized world.

 

[estebandepraga]

Yes I have been many times Kiwis are nice, but it is sooooo far from everything except Oz but I would find it, for me, too boring! Wait till Nov/Dec and see if Air New Zealand doesn't have some good deals as they will begin flying here!

 

[Redbeanz]

New Zealand is a gorgeous country with industrious people who have a sense of humor and fair play, and a "can-do" attitude. If you are thinking of moving there, it would be very helpful to take a month or two to visit both north and south islands, since they are quite different.

 

[thorsten]

Only been to the northern island for a vacation but I agree with esteban: it's a beautiful country and I'll go for sure to visit the southern part, but for living it's not mine - not too much going on and travelling to other countries is always a pain as everything is far far away.

 

[Pensador]

Only been to the northern island for a vacation but I agree with esteban: it's a beautiful country and I'll go for sure to visit the southern part, but for living it's not mine - not too much going on and travelling to other countries is always a pain as everything is far far away.

Far away... Perfect. Nothing is better than as far away as possible.Might be a great place to watch the Americas set themselves on fire. My Correntinian wife loves the idea but like an Argie babe she is an adventurous sole. In the last week 4 house on our street burglerized there seems to be a connection
to socialist and criminal conduct down here. Really I am getting tired of the excuses and lies with the general population down here. The more the locals run their mouths the more ignorant and enept they sound. Seems like just about everyone and everthing is utterly incompetent or just out right mentally corrupt.

 

[aholm]

Been thinking maybe it is time to bail on Sud America the ice is looking pretty thin and the crime if just getting epidemic. With all these obessively poverty minded desperately poor suedo socialist governments of fools I think the potential down side is starting to look dangerously grim. Thinking about New Zealand anyone every been there or have any input about what the life is like there?

Out of curiosity, noticed on the Uruguayan Expats forum on Facebook that a lot are really stressed over the violent murder of a blueberry farmer in Maldonado who was a member of the expat community/frequent poster - was that a sort of "straw that broke the camel's back"? It seems to be for several over there...

 

[Hazel]

Well it's flattering that anyone is even considering little ol' NZ as a possible bolthole... I am from Tauranga in the North Island and after five years in BA, I'm calling it a day.

I think a lot of it has to do with life stages. I was a young and naïve 21 y.o. when I arrived here, but now that I'm older (and wiser?), I just want stability, NZ$, feijoas and Earl Grey Tea. It's getting compliquete here, much too difficult to plan for the future.

Meanwhile, NZ is a good place to be right now. The economy is picking up again after the 2008 recession and people are optimistic, despite losing the cricket to Australia in the weekend. It may be isolated from the rest of the world, but there is a lot happening, and life is just more simple and clean. And you never have to drive very far to go to a national park, ski field, or the beach.

Despite living here for so long, getting even short-term residency was never easy. Meanwhile, my Argentine partner was granted a residency visa for NZ (by virtue of being the partner of a NZ citizen) in just five weeks.

And if any of you ever decide to take the plunge, you can rest assured that there is a growing Argentine expat community in New Zealand, especially in the Bay of Plenty region which boasts good surf and kiwifruit.

If anyone is seriously considering the move, you can count on me for unbiased local advice and accent training.

 

[scotttswan]

NZ tends to be on the Brit standup circuit so there's decent live comedy now and again.

 

[Pensador]

Out of curiosity, noticed on the Uruguayan Expats forum on Facebook that a lot are really stressed over the violent murder of a blueberry farmer in Maldonado who was a member of the expat community/frequent poster - was that a sort of "straw that broke the camel's back"? It seems to be for several over there...

It has been going up fast the last year plus a few months the crime that is. At first I thought it was maybe a glitch but the last two weeks it just spiked. It is looking more and more like rolling crime waves and the police are just not even capable to keep up with it or provide security it seems. The other day I walking down the street by the beach and there was just one smashed out car window after another is pieces on the side of the road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3PCGTqNac4

I am starting to think that South America as a whole is just a lost cause.