A Few Things I’ve Learned Living In New Zealand

Kia ora - in this video I talk about some of the very different aspects I've noticed about Kiwi culture. Certainly, it's very different from American culture! New Zealand life is pretty cool. I share some things you'll need to get used to if you plan to come to this amazing country.

**************************************************************************

COME TRAVEL WITH ME

TRAVEL DESTINATIONS AND RESOURCES:

SOME OF MY MOST POPULAR VIDEOS:

FULL TIME TRAVEL RESOURCES:

BUSINESS INQUIRIES, OR SAY HELLO:

** This video is not sponsored. All opinions are mine

[wakaroawaata]

You described NZ ways pretty much bang on.
Love your video, thankyou.

[iallso]

Pākehā (or Pakeha; /ˈpɑːkɛhɑː,  -kiːhɑː,  -kiːə/; Māori pronunciation: [ˈpaːkɛhaː]) is a Māori-language term for New Zealanders primarily of European descent. The term can also apply to fair-skinned persons, or to any non-Māori New Zealander.
I understand that Pakeha literally translates as different, therefore anyone who is non-Maori.

[michaelheliotis]

You definitely don't need to worry so much about earthquakes in New Zealand. Because of their frequency, the building standards for quake-resistance are quite high and, more importantly, more vigilantly enforced and adhered to. Christchurch was an anomaly to that because it wasn't considered earthquake-prone, so there were a range of failures that compounded and heightened the quake's consequences, and even then it wouldn't have been so bad if the quake wasn't so shallow and right beneath the city. The disaster of the Christchurch quake and the likely preventability of its worst impacts was also a wake-up call for other complacent areas, so standards, enforcement, and compliance are now generally quite high across the country.

You'll notice that there aren't many brick houses in New Zealand, as wooden homes that can flex in a quake are much preferred, and houses that have been standing through an entire century of earthquakes are all over the place and should be a source of comfort, especially in earthquake-prone cities like Wellington. Houses built on hillsides can be a slight risk due to slips if the ground isn't compacted properly, but this has traditionally been well managed in quake-prone areas. The only thing I'd ever be a little worried about is a pre-Christchurch multi-floor concrete building outside a quake-prone area, but most of these will have received compliance notices for heightened standards by now, and the deadlines won't be far away if they haven't expired already, so even those shouldn't be a concern for much longer.

The thing that will most concern Kiwis in an earthquake (or, rather, after one) is the tsunami risk. If you live in a low-lying coastal area, you'll want to familiarise yourself with the local procedures and civil defence protocols for tsunamis, and it's a good idea to seek a standing arrangement with a friend or family member (or even a close colleague) who lives on higher ground so that you can crash at their place should there be an earthquake during the night and an evacuation be advised or mandated. Keeping an overnight bag handy for this purpose also doesn't hurt, as typically it's just a matter of waiting out an ultimately unimpactful tsunami until the danger has passed. Tsunamis caused by quakes in the Pacific take several hours to reach New Zealand and come with plenty of warning (and thus the most likely need to find temporary lodgings), but local seafloor quakes can produce tsunamis that arrive in the order of minutes and may not feel as strong on land, so there might not be any warning other than the quake itself, which shouldn't be dismissed for feeling "too minor".

Whenever you feel any strength of quake in a low-lying coastal area, you should immediately check the quake's origin on the GeoNet website, and if it's anywhere that could produce a wave capable of reaching your location, you should seriously consider moving to higher ground, or at least moving inside and possibly to a higher floor so that you don't get swept away or hit by debris. An official tsunami warning or evacuation order might not come before a tsunami caused by a close quake, so the tsunami warning system shouldn't be waited upon with any neary quake despite the system's general efficacy. At the end of the day, it's better to be safe than sorry, and you shouldn't be surprised (or swayed) if there are Kiwis who'd prefer to wait for an official warning or announcement; it's just Kiwi nature to trust and look for leadership and sound direction in a crisis, rather than take it upon themselves to make an unnecessary fuss about things, but unfortunately some tsunamis can arrive before any official warning does and many Kiwis aren't very sensitive to that.

[maltnz]

If you see Footrot Flats comic strip books going cheap - buy one to help understand Kiwi humour.

[johnpaki]

Please don't get me wrong but I was in the 1987 bay of plenty earthquake and it made rainbows end(theme park in Auckland) look like nothing, best rollercoaster IV ever been on

[chrisharris]

That Whitebait stall is literally 2 minutes walk from my house, my mother put me off them when I was small by saying she doesn't like her food looking at her when she's eating it. But then she also told me I wouldn't like oysters when I asked if I could try one of hers, lol. The tall poppy thing is a bit of an urban myth, it may have been that way once but not so much anymore, Kiwis are generally humble so our famous people don't expect anyone to make a fuss over them and most Kiwis feel they have a right to their privacy so we let them go about their lives without bothering them. One of the world's most famous Rugby players Eric Rush owns the Supermarket I shop at and he just wears the same uniform as his staff and nobody bothers him.

[alanpowell]

One of the reasons older people are in good shape is, I believe, due to the easy accessibility of doctors and hospitals. Our ACC is a better idea than what the USA has.

[urizen]

There are definitely things you can do to reduce some of the risks of earthquakes, such as securing tall shelf units firmly to the wall, having a torch somewhere you can find it in the dark, having a basic emergency kit, always having some tinned food in the cupboards and so on. Some places are more at risk than others but nowhere's entirely safe.

One can also play earthquake bingo -- post your guess of the magnitude to Facebook; first one to guess correctly wins. People can get quite good at it if aftershocks from a big one go on long enough. You may not want that experience. Anything under five doesn't count as big, though even 4s can give you a good solid shaking if they're close by or shallow.

[iallso]

I have met a few rugby players and they have been happy to have a conversation, even asking about my job, which was a total different situation to footballers that I came across in the UK. Also I have bumped into a couple of politicians and had a conversation, they had no airs or graces and no security.

[stephenlitten]

Beware of the Kiwi understatement, especially if "things got a little bit (adjective)"
This translates as "things got very (adjective)"

[johnpaki]

Hahah! The word "as" can be used in alot of situations, ie- cold as, hot as, dark as, sunny as etc, you should hangout with the Maori they have cool slangs aswell as if it's a whole new language they are speaking it's actuall quite cool when you get the gist

[dennisjeffs]

Yes we do have earthquakes, something like 14, 000 a year, there's so many of them we don't worry about them, just feels like a truck rumbling by, but the really big ones cause so much damage, costing millions of dollars. I hope you stay here when the border reopens, we are a friendly lot 🤣👍!!

[greggiles]

So are you going to get residence, did you experience any crime?
I moved from Hamilton to Auckland in 2004, it was an economic shock,
and finding a place to live alone in a Studio apartment, but thats another topic.
I like food and wine/beer festivals, i regret not learning to surf at Raglan.

[caronmills]

So being from Australia and wanting to visit NZ, are the quakes more on the North or South Island? Would love to live there one day 😁

[davidioane]

🏅🥉I Now Prounouce You -Princess of Auckland 🥰😉

[margaretp]

Car insurance in NZ is for the car not the person so if the owner of the vehicle gives permission for another licensed driver to drive their car it's fine. All the police are worried about is whether you're a licensed driver and the car is legal on the road. Unless the car has been reported stolen, or you are driving badly the police won't be interested.

[gregnz]

please visit Raglan, for a beach n surf on our famous long weekend holiday for a weekend holiday,
Raglan is my special beach,
iff yu have a accident, claim acc, dont be shy,
if yu have a hernia, see a doctor asap and its acc covered, just saying,

[johnpaki]

Yes tipping sucks especially if the service sucks...lol🤣

[harrycurrie]

May those little quakes keep coming, they are like an insurance against the biggies, if they ever stop for a period of time watch out.

[caravanstuff]

We have a "tall poppy" syndrome in nz, if someone famous behaves badly...we cut them down to size real fast...I loved the White bait joke...funny as!!.🤣🤣🇳🇿