5 things I did not know before moving to New Zealand

[@terryansell6641]

I left the UK in 1984 for a holiday in NZ and 37 years later I’m still here and a proud NZ citizen.

[@bubandlisa]

Too bad you now have lil miss hitler turning it into NaZiland The 🌍 is both laughing and pitying you

[@technogo246]

Hahaha. People don't care about idiots who think our P.M is a dictator. She is not. She is the voice of reason and the voice of the people. We are one. Don't pick a fight you can't possibly win. Peace.

[@mamatamati]

Still waiting for your view on the Gangs New Zealand has roam the country, what colours not to wear in certain areas

[@louissmith6300]

@@mamatamati do gangs bother you?If not why even mention them?

[@EllDay]

9 years deep and the same. Never going back

[@williamsandrew9521]

New Zealand has been wonderful. I came here for a seminar and I must commend the hospitality I've been shown thus far. The city is full of beautiful people.

[@johnnorbert2408]

Yes. NZ is a beautiful place and with awesome people. I hope you have a wonderful experience here.

[@williamsandrew9521]

Thanks Mateo and yes I had a wonderful experience at the Broker's summit yesterday and I learnt a lot too.

[@maximilianobenjamin3607]

@@williamsandrew9521 Were you at the Broker's summit too, it was a great experience. I hoped to find a good trader who can manage my investments at the summit but unfortunately there was a clash in my schedule and I had to run.

[@williamsandrew9521]

@@maximilianobenjamin3607 Oh! I'm sorry about that, however I can introduce you to my financial guy, Mr James Merrin, he can be of great assistance to you as regards your investments and he's strategies are quite commendable in earning profits in the stock market. Good a thing he's still in New Zealand so you guys can meet.

[@maximilianobenjamin3607]

This should be great. Please how can I get to Mr James, I need to meet with him before he travels back home.

[@cadifan]

Yeah you picked the windiest part of the country to live in. Talking about visitors settling down here I sometimes work with (we're both tv extra's in Auckland) a guy who was born in LA who's dad used to build movie camera's for the Hollywood industry. Anyway, he went out on his big OE in his early twenties and travelled all over the world, TWICE, before landing in New Zealand, he's 80 now, and still here! He sounds like he just landed, still has that strong American accent, but speaks New Zealand English peppered with Maori words, as he once said "I've been here longer than most New Zealander's". As soon as he got his NZ citizenship he went to the American consulate (embassy or whatever) to renounce his American citizenship. They said "You can have both you know". He told them they could shove it, he's a bit of a hippy type and hates war so didn't want to be a citizen of a war mongering country invading Vietnam. He married, raised kids, and is very happy and a very active 80 year old.

[@harrycurrie9664]

I wonder if he kept his US citizenship would he have been conscripted ? Fortunately for him no New Zealand conscripts were sent, only army regulars.

[@cadifan]

@@harrycurrie9664 That's why he drop kicked it, not a citizen, no draft. My Uncle volunteered, Malaria and agent orange ruined him for life. The agent orange also screwed up his two biological daughters mentality to the point they both committed suicide.

[@Kiwiamericans]

David - so interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@RobinCapper]

I know someone who renounced their US citizenship as decided not going back and couldn't be bothered dealing with the US tax thing

[@mitchand9]

Born and raised here in Wellington. I love my hometown and wouldn't want to live anywhere else tbh.

[@jehanc]

When I first arrive to Auckland, I when to the church here and a lady of the church met me the next day afternoon when I was walking around the neighborhood, a lady who recognize me invited us, me and my friend, for tea. I say to my friend ok we should have our dinner first before leaving to the lady home at 6.00pm. When we reach there we realise is for tea meant dinner. Also, when we go to church, we are invited to "bring a plate". We bought our plates but it turns out there are a ready plates, what it means is bring some food whether is for lunch or dinner.

[@pisaseala]

That is so funny.. Haha. Yep, we are a bit different here. Lol

[@westcheetos6860]

😂😂😂 yes when we say bring a plate, it means bring food HAHAHAHA

[@Marist_Chanel]

😂😂😂 @ actually bringing your plates 🤣

[@hyponoise1829]

I was wondering what your kids think about living in New Zealand and if they would want to move back to the America?

[@s6r231]

The great thing about taxes in NZ is if you just have a salaried or wages job, you don't need to do a thing.

[@Kiwiamericans]

I know right! So amazing.

[@titaniumwolf2]

You can also do nothing and get money too. Everyone is so kind here.

[@icebergrose8955]

If you earn under 20 thousand a year you dont have to do taxes at all.

[@Huuuuuuuuuuuu107]

@@icebergrose8955 can you survive with 20k NZD per year?

[@richardigp]

@@Huuuuuuuuuuuu107 Sure can. That's $833 per fortnight. About the same as the Superannuation ($806/fortnight). Rent a room at $150/week, and plenty for food and a bit of entertainment with a slowly accumulating credit. Just don't smoke!

[@mendyerwin555]

One of the thing I always liked about NZ (and Australia) is, when you go to buy something the taxes are already added in. "What you see is what you get" price-wise. No figuring in your head - it's already done for you. Also, no figuring out tips on top of figuring out your bill. 🎉

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yes so true!

[@michellezevenaar]

Same in Europe

[@mrkennedy4394]

I had to exact opposite experience when I went to America. It was so damn annoying not knowing how much the total would be until the end. Made budgeting so hard. Just tell me the price and I'll pay it or I won't but I want to know up front. Also went to a grocery store in late November where the expiry date of a hard boiled egg said 12/2/2(whatever) I was like oh thats my birthday then I was like it will be rotten by then and then I thought about what they were doing to their eggs to make them last so long until finally my brain clicked that it was actually the 2/12 that was a huge mind f*ck 🤣🤣🤣

[@bremCZ]

That's pretty much everywhere in the world but the USA.

[@bremCZ]

@Keanu Reeves Good thanks. You?

[@kiwi007-t5i]

Where I live in NZ: A gentle breeze is when brown pine needles come straight for you. A real wind is when it's green pine needles or even branches.

[@cadifan]

A moderate wind in most places is a bloody gale in Auckland.

[@kytddjj]

Ok

[@staceymcgimpsey4550]

Down in Southland we tend to be less worried about the wind strength (with the exception of gale force winds) & more concerned about the wind chill, especially when it is coming up from Antarctica

[@Mcfreddo]

Haha, very funny.

[@kieranh2005]

A high wind is when the pines are tipping and the barn has departed.

[@nevillenepia574]

Really awesome perspective. For me as a kiwi I’m so interested in how Americans view our country. It was sweet as!!!

[@horsebee1]

You know every Kiwi needs to see this video particularly when they are having a crappy day

[@Kiwiamericans]

I agree

[@BlairNZ7881]

I think a lot of Americans believe they live in the “greatest country in the world” because they have been told this all their lives, but they haven’t actually travelled or lived anywhere else to compare. Whereas Europeans live in close proximity to other countries with different cultures that they are able to compare the differences and experiences.

[@k9nick]

80 percent of New Zealanders have a passport. 80 percent of Americans don't.

[@libbysevicke-jones3160]

The American dream is all propaganda and brainwashing

[@titaniumwolf2]

America is still the greatest country. NZers are way too sensitive. Too many beta males.

[@k9nick]

@@titaniumwolf2 that's what you see. To hundreds of other countries around the world, looking into the fish bowl as it were, that's not what we see. That's why so many Americans live and contintinue to try to gain residency here.

[@superhoriguy3164]

@@titaniumwolf2 only too you so meeehh

[@kaynewzealand117]

Sorry you didn't know my country before the monetary reforms of the 1980s. It was truly utopia. I grew up with native bush behind our house, a grass paddock with a stream, a park across the road for sports where we would gather mushrooms for breakfast and blackberries for jam, and a river down the road where we pottered around in our home-made kayaks. This was the Hutt Valley, just out of Wellington, and is now high density housing. Our primary schools (age 5-12) and our secondary schools (age 13-17) were free, we ate home-grown lamb for our Sunday roast with vegetables out of our garden, and there were so many jobs when we were ready. Universities were free, as well. Then along came the new money era... and the great divide happened. Property developers became rich, working people became poor, and the divide widens.

[@TheClunkingFist]

" before the monetary reforms of the 1980s. It was truly utopia." Err, it was a debt-fuelled fantasy world. And EVERYTHING was regulated. So it wasn't just monetary reform. E.g. Milk was expensive (to benefit farmers) and Woolworths supermarkets wanted to sell milk cheaper than regulations allowed. Flavoured milk was unregulated, so they decided to create "Milk flavoured milk" by adding milk powder to fresh milk. They got away with it for a short period before being jumped on. I believe it was one of the nonsense things that highlighted the need for reforms: monetary policy, fiscal policy, business regulations, banking regulations, import licencing and tariffs reform, tax reforms (both simplifying and reducing), industry subsidies and protections.

[@kaynewzealand117]

@@TheClunkingFist Are you secretly Roger Douglas?

[@JohnyMcNeal]

Same thing in Europe, literally the same.

[@haroldgodwinson832]

You can't be serious. The economic reforms in the 1980s saved NZ. We went from a drab, backward, insular little entity somewhat like a third-rate Soviet republic, (Wellington in the 1980's was about as grey and depressing as a place could be) to something more akin to a modern free market economy. Instead of trying to pay for social spending with borrowed money, we actually started to grow and manufacture stuff that the world wanted to buy. And yes, that created huge disruptions for a lot of people who were largely employed doing essentially useless, unproductive work. However, the alternative would have been something like Argentina or Venezuela, which is to say, insolvency and ever declining living standards. If you want a 'social safety-net' you have to be able to generate the wealth to pay for it. Free market capitalism is the only system, yet devise, that has the capacity to do that sustainably. Socialism, as they say, only works until you run out of other people's money.

[@julianskinner3697]

You're right, the reforms of the 80s were about dismantling our welfare state.

[@ingramdw1]

David Hackett Fischer wrote a book where he contrasts the core value underpinning New Zealand and US society - long story short, for the US it is freedom and for New Zealand it is fairness. That goes a long way towards explaining your second point.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Oh really? I will have to check it out

[@gissyb1]

Lucid, But nz is actually more free than usa in alot of things too.

[@tomfrazier1103]

A lot of people are free to try and constrain someone else's freedom.

[@miaowmail]

What's the title of the book? I have read albions seed

[@hugomeares7325]

A short history of The Treaty challenges the fairness notion

[@wahinetoaataahua8966]

Kia ora I'm a maori and I've been watching your videos and it's so nice to hear the way you love our country so thanks heaps

[@jeffbrehove2614]

I went to New Zealand for volunteer service when I was in college, and I fell in love with it immediately. Fell even moreso with its public health care, COVID-19 response, and general quality of life. I'm NOT happy in California. And I'm barely scraping by. I often wonder if New Zealand is for me.

[@IVismarried1974]

More content like this! me and my wife plan to move to NZ after college! We have watched hundreds of videos but have never heard these points! love your video!

[@Kiwiamericans]

Soo glad!! Thanks for watching

[@juliawong1544]

Come and see it for yourself and feel NZ...it might be good for you

[@IVismarried1974]

@@juliawong1544 thats our plan when we finish college! We're starting to look for people across the pond because we don't know anyone! We might save for a year or 2 becasuee of the housing market

[@juliawong1544]

@@IVismarried1974 there's always opportunities around NZ within any type of field. Nz is shortage of worker's in many field's.beutiful country and it's lovely for families. I know America cost of living is way better than here But once your settle you'll be all good. Stop over in south Auckland NZ when you're over here.

[@IVismarried1974]

@@juliawong1544 Ya of course! I check the chats all the time as a Cyber Security IT person, and ya I'll be sure too! I'd be nice to cross over and have friends waiting for us! 😎

[@murrayleckie4937]

Wellingtons wind is unique and doesn't really apply to the rest of the country.

[@kristinreign8026]

Yes

[@peterdonnelly1074]

Yes

[@neskire]

I see you have never been to Featherston! Close to Wellington, and the hills on either side funnel the wind so it makes it even stronger. I used to live in Lyall Bay, Wellington, so I know how bad it can be.

[@LSgrimm91]

Completely understand that feeling of being relaxed and loving it in NZ. My first trip overseas, ever, was to the North Island and spending two weeks travelling around solo from Auckland to Wellington. I'd travelled interstate a lot in Australia and there is always a specific feeling when you travel home. I was shocked that when I landed in Auckland airport, I felt that homecoming (even though I'd never been there before!) and have felt it every time I travelled over the New Zealand. I'll be glad when I finish university and can finally move over there permanently.

[@Andy_M986]

I hope you can make the move " Home" when the time arrives mate.😊

[@Andy_M986]

@@LSgrimm91 Swallow a teaspoon of Manuka honey before you lie down at night,it will sooth your throat.

[@cuddlypandas2995]

Good on yah mate, we have our ups and downs but were bloody Switzerland when it comes to world issues lol. Safe travels.

[@dalekrenegade2596]

@@cuddlypandas2995 What's that mean?

[@cuddlypandas2995]

@@dalekrenegade2596 It means we don't usually take part on any other countries bull. We just stay neutral. Unless it has something to do with is directly. People here don't generally give a shit...HOWEVER catastrophic events NZ sends help etc. BUT you won't see us staring wars or anything. We too chilled out.

[@irishuang7190]

I was falling in love with NZ when I first travel Au and NZ from China. Love here more and more, lucky been living Auckland 17 years. Thanks your program！

[@Kiwiamericans]

Couldn't agree more!

[@julierose7841]

Re the thing with the IRS, holy shit that’s awful. I’m glad you were able to get it sorted out. Had to laugh at the thing about the spellings - I’m a translator for an international company where US English is required for 99% of the jobs and it’s common for those of us from countries that use UK English to be able to get those jobs because we see US English so much in places like books and the internet. Glad you’re happy here. I moved away for a while but got really homesick and ended up coming back. In light of Cindy’s overall handling of covid, I’m glad I did.

[@lisacole8256]

Love this! I'm from Missouri and have lived in the UK for 13 years. So much of what you say about New Zealand is the same for me in the UK. Healthcare is less stressful, less chemicals in the food, driving a stick shift on the left, etc. Your comment about NZ being windy made me laugh - I say the same about the UK! It makes sense, islands are windy - but you don't realise how much until you live on one! History & traditions are what surprise me here. A normal family day out could consist of visiting a thousand year old castle or walking the remains of Roman cities. I just love it!

[@Kiwiamericans]

Sounds amazing! I want to spend more time in Europe

[@queenslanddiva]

As an Australian, the only other country I would ever want to live in is NZ. I love it.

[@kathlinke1130]

💯

[@Lily_Catt-]

I live in New Zealand but I want to live in Australia 😫

[@morrisanderson818]

For me as a Kiwi,,my choice would be Ausie,, unfortunately,,we can't become Ausie citizens anymore,but, Ausie's can become Kiwi's,,after 4yrs living here,,and can,go onto our healthcare system, straight away,, But I still,love Aus,,must be the ANZAC thing,, Been to the Goldie a few Times,,best holiday's ever,,if ya do come over,, you'll be welcomed I'm sure,, Cheers from the neighbour across the ditch 👍

[@queenslanddiva]

@@morrisanderson818 I am hoping to get back there some time! We'll catch up at the pub 😂

[@dalekrenegade2596]

Lemme guess, less things to kill you right?

[@staceymcgimpsey4550]

I love that at the end of this last tax year I received a bill of over $3000 from IRD but I knew that it was wrong. So easy to email them just to ask for some clarification and to receive a phone call a week later to say that they had input the wrong dates so it had calculated wrong, was actually due a $700 refund 😁. It's something I have never had to think about whether I can question a government agency or not

[@Kiwiamericans]

Stacey - exactly what I am talking about! So amazing.

[@NZKiwi87]

I worked at the IRD for five years. Some people were pretty spectacularly rude when they phoned in 😂 on my very first shift answering the call centre phones I got called an incompetent baboon 🐵 I thought it was a quite inspired insult, but I still hung up on him 😂🤫

[@johnforde7735]

As a New Zealander, I moved to Japan in the early 90's. I got a job rewriting bad English translations from Japanese for Fujitsu. But the thing was, I had to correct to American English, because that was their main market. It kinda felt weird, but I got used to it. After that I moved to England and I would use American English in emails just wind them up (and I had gotten over my aversion to US English).

[@davidcurle7381]

We moved to Fiji from NZ to build houses for Fijians. Watching your videos reminds us of just how priviledged we are to be Kiwis and it makes us very Homesick! We are coming back in January to build a motorhome and tour NZ for as long as we are fit and able.

[@bobpackard9527]

Look at the latitude. We are smack in the Roaring Forties and the country is largely broadside onto it. Its exciting, and you know you are alive.

[@stevewiles7132]

Aw come on, you have Tasmania as a windbreak.

[@bobpackard9527]

@@stevewiles7132 With the rest of Australia as windbags!! Tassie, I love and like the people. It SHOULD be part of NZ.

[@gpark6050]

No tipping, that is one absolutely awesome thing here. Everyone gets paid straight up a salary even when starting a minimum wage job. Don't have to rely on tips to make a dinner for a night.

[@unnamedchannel1237]

Not completely correct but mostly.

[@editname9557]

The wind issue is very geographically specific to Wellington. The gap between the islands funnels the wind through the city. Even 45 minutes up the coast the weather is quite different - warmer and much less wind.

[@olivermailata8178]

I really love how your review on things you notice on NZ vocabulary and the US vocabulary ,as well as you loving the kiwi culture with its nature...awesome😆😁..really love your video clips ❤.

[@lenoraqereqeretabua5614]

This is by far my favourite of your videos. I am in Fiji and my family and I love NZ. My Dad and my brother went to school in NZ. My bro met his Kiwi/Fijian bride in Fiji and are raising their amazing family in Auckland. If I was to ever go live somewhere else, it'd be Aotearoa New Zealand for sure.

[@SageRosemaryTime]

With this and the " Mom Skills " help I have become a FAN . You Go Girl ! 🤩

[@jumpingjohnflash]

I saw a list of common 150 vocab differences between the US and the UK (such as elevator vs lift), so I sat down and worked out which ones we used in NZ - it turned out (oddly enough) for about 1/3 of the examples we used UK English, in another 1/3 we used US English, and the other 1/3 we used both interchangeably .

[@gerardo259]

I moved into the southern alps Westcoast , 21 years ago , surrounded by mountains, rivers and native forests native birds including kiwi , Kea and many more , it can get windy and rainy , wouldn't want it any other way . Kiwi born and praise God for this great country , Aotearoa, NZ

[@diden3527]

Sadly bro - god has nothing to do with making this country great.

[@crystalchainz3419]

Yup wind is definitely a Wellington thing

[@haleyrichardson8818]

Fair bit in Auckland too though 😫

[@tasmanianbadger]

Very diplomatic. I, too, was born in the US and ended up south of the equator (I live in Australia). I get that you don’t want to say it, but the truth is that compared to many, many countries, the US sucks. Its laws are capricious. The working conditions are awful. Education and health care would be a joke if the pain they cause weren’t so tragic. The US was once a great nation; now its just a cautionary tale.

[@FairnessFobe]

About the spelling: it works in reverse, American 'english' spelling (& pronunciation) grates on 'native' speakers of English. Because so much of English has so many french words in it the French spelling has been retained, eg colour.

[@gozwal]

Thank you, Tara... As always, I enjoy your ALL your vids!

[@Kiwiamericans]

Glad you like them!

[@peternewman7940]

Thank you for your lovely comments about our country! If I was an American immigrant here I would find metric hard. I grew up with Imperial here in NZ before we changed and it has been metric all my adult life. Yet even though the metric system has been here for decades - and has obvious advantages - there is something about inches, feet, yards and miles or ounces and pounds that still make more sense to me: I still find myself thinking in Imperial. An inch I can relate to - 25mm I have to translate.

[@chicken_nugget154]

Born and raised kiwi, this channel just makes me question other countries intelligence and I'm face-palming the whole time

[@shadowstargate]

I also don't think a lot of kiwi's appreciate how ahead of the rest of the world we are in terms of technology and money. Because we're a small but "first world" country, many technologies are rolled out here before the rest of the world (eg eftpos). The USA still uses cheques, fax machines, and a complicated tax system, while here most people under 40 can't write cheques (most banks dont accept them now anyway) or use a fax machine, because we can do everything from our phone

[@Gardenpixee]

Yea I watch her just to see the differences and to see an "outsiders" perspective

[@lol-gj1iq]

Welcome to new Zealand .. I love everything about this country.. I love how we can live off the grid and be happy and well off

[@dantesempio7633]

Hi, I have 3 kids living in New Zealand. 2 in Wellington and my eldest is in Auckland. We visited them August of 2019. Hopefully will be back there and visit again next year.

[@tgchism]

The clearest and bluest sky I ever saw was in NZ! Also, we visited in July. We knew it would be winter but it was still weird to see the sun rising much further to the north because of the whole southern hemisphere thing!

[@mistrylyra5848]

Winter in July?

[@iallso1]

I've experienced the wind in Canterbury, huge NorWesters that rip mature trees out of the ground in the hundreds, but not one that lifts my skirt around my ears.

[@Kiwi403]

Try living in Wellington. My entire garden is geared to withstand 140kph winds. As for the streets of Wellington - in Spring, the windiest season, nobody wears dresses.

[@kaynewzealand117]

In the 90s when I was skinny, I bought a white mini pleated skirt. It wasn't too mini - just a couple of inches above my knees. Walked down Lambton Quay - never again. It blocked my hearing.

[@iallso1]

@@kaynewzealand117 after which you were known as Marilyn?

[@iallso1]

@@Kiwi403 we seem to get windy conditions around all 4 equinox.

[@A_RosnerNZ]

NZer here - been dipping into your channel with some fascination. Grew up here but have travelled extensively and have family all over the world including USA, so most of your points I'm already aware of... but your take or them is interesting! Couple of cultural things I don't know if you've covered or not, if so pls point me to the appropriate vid as I'd love to see your take on them... 1) Our tall-poppy culture, I've not seen it anywhere else. Where we support people trying to succeed and build something up for themselves, but then there comes a sudden point where if someone accumulates too much wealth or becomes too successful, we avoid them and our opinion of them changes rapidly. I think that's unique to NZ. 2) The whole "not wanting to make a fuss" non-assertive thing. As a NZer I inwardly cringe when (for example) in a cafe and by accident they mess up the order and bring out a cappuccino instead of a latte, or something else equally inconsequential. NZers would be like "yeah, whatever, chill" and maybe have a quiet word with the cafe afterwards (but NOT to demand a refund or anything, just to "let them know" they messed up) - but I've seen people from other countries (USA in particular) get what is to my eyes massively bent out of shape about it like it was a personal affront or something, demanding a remedy RIGHT NOW, even though the place is slammed and they've got to queue-jump a dozen orders to get their new coffee or whatever, then accept it with bad grace when it arrives. This behaviour is normal in many countries I've visited, as a NZer it just makes me die a little inside every time I see it.

[@WinterWind]

Tax is online through IRD here. So easy, they already have most of your info and anything you need to input is just a box and you can submit questions 😊

[@bingonamo7520]

The wind only applies to Wellington, so please don't think all of NZ is like that. It's the windiest city in the world and the second windiest place in the world (Antarctica has the windiest place). Wellington is exactly twice as windy as the "windy city" of Chicago. As an Aucklander I just could not live there.

[@bowenwinterbottom]

Love this one. I travelled to NZ from Canada at age 21 for a 3 week trip. It was meant to be a stopover on my way to Aus. I ended up staying for 6 weeks and have been back several times since then! I have Aus citizenship which allows me to live in NZ…..Have been daydreaming about moving there for years.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Umm you should... you never know

[@K1dPhresh1]

My wife’s sister and her family and her mother live in Auckland. We’ve visited twice and I loved it. If the cost of real estate wasn’t so high…. I seriously considered moving there. I looked at the in demand jobs on ANZSCO and the work visa thing works. Haven’t been there since before COVID and looking forward to eventually getting back over there.

[@craigauckram1087]

As a Kiwi, I find that how New Zealand was populated by the British, or settled has a lot to do with attitudes, first its was not by people coming into a developed land, those who arrived found that they had to roll their sleeve's up and erect shelters or get wet, those that who had the skills, ie workers that the better off settlers who had indentured, as soon as they could struck out on their own, the shortage of young women, nannies, maids etc. meant that they did not stay single for long, and the English class system broke down, and the New Zealander was born.

[@gissyb1]

Actually Maori were here 900 yrs ago and they developed very sophiscated social practices.. also fishing, gardening,spirituality and education were very developed.

[@peterdonnelly1074]

I'm not so sure. I think a small number of enlightened people gave rise to the NZ culture of progressivness and tolerance. Although it started well before Michael Joseph Savage, but he was surely the architect of pre-neoliberal NZ, which despite the best efforts of unspeakable politicians, still exists, at least in background

[@newzealandinsight-itstime2188]

As an inbound travel agency run by Kiwi's for Americans to travel here we really appreciate getting a point of view from our favourite (or favorite!) clients! We look forward to borders reopening so we can see more of you. And if you're ever over in the Wairarapa would be great to catch up 😊 - Luke

[@Kiwiamericans]

That would be awesome! Yes borders please open…

[@dmwallacenz]

How long before you start saying _zed_ instead of _zee_ ?

[@erichfeit7779]

I came from South Africa. Been here exactly 20 years. The best thing is feeling safe from crime here. I don't have to get up every day at 3 am to check the doors and windows are still securely locked. Erich from New Zealand.

[@benedictachiechem7250]

Thank you very much for this beautiful information, I'm really interested in relocating to new Zealand. I've applied to some jobs already. Hope to be successful so that I can have the new Zealand experience.

[@beinghang]

Thank you for making these video. I can totally relate to your last point. I had a spontaneous trip to Nz in Dec for 10 days and fell I love with it (and I love where I live - Hawaii 😊). I loved it so much that I am taking my work w me for 3 months...leaving in 2 days 😱 and see where this special country will take me 😍

[@HamishSmitty]

Living in New Zealand I forget how relatively simple taxes are. I’ve never filed a tax return in my life as is it done for me. I had to laugh about your comments on how windy it is. Yes, this is because you are in Wellington.

[@hoover517]

Same in Australia with Tax returns. Took a max of 15 minutes to complete both of our returns

[@Jovixgal]

If you think the wind is bad in Wellington, don't come to Palmerston North! I'm an ex-Wellingtonian, and I was shocked when I first moved here. I've spoken to other ex-Wellingtonians and they agree, it's much worse here. On a bad day the wind blows from every direction and NEVER lets up. At least in Welly it comes in gusts.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Wait what??? really??

[@drayner2517]

Vouch for that! When I was working for Air NZ a couple of years ago, the westerlies coming into and leaving PN airport were so bad! I was handing out the lollies on descent once when we hit some bad turbulence and the basket of lollies flew up out of my hand and onto passengers! I just said “Lolly Scramble anyone?!”

[@tewhawhai7550]

Yes! I'm born and bred Wellingtonian but that Palmy wind is so bone chilling!

[@laskinov]

Totally agree there. They have wind warnings on roads signs, as a Motorcyclist, you'll be riding straight between two hills, and when you come out of it, your bike would be leaning at 45 degrees and you'll be either heading to on coming traffic or heading off the road...scary stuff, but fun.

[@view5558]

Thank you so much. Excellent video. Loved the information.

[@GrumpyMcFrog]

RE Using the local spelling -- Depending on what word processing and email programs you use, you can customize the Autocorrect settings. In MS Word, go to File > Options > Proofing > Autocorrect Settings. Just tell it to replace "color" with "colour". Should also be available on most smart phones.

[@jimmymars1249]

Dear Tara:It's the same as in thailand.When you report the yearly amount of either workmen compesation fund or accumulated summary monthly fee for social security for employees to sso wrong ,the amount difference that are supposed to be will be reckoned to the amount different based on the new amount.Sometimes even the amount usually will be rounded up,but sso officers will tend to round off.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Oh that is interesting - thanks for sharing!

[@Tim_Shu]

That wind is next level 😂 Flying into Welly when it's windy is an experience and even watching the planes come in from the bays is 😳

[@Kiwiamericans]

Thanks for watching!

[@mogshade66]

Oofania It's excellent isn't it 💚

[@celianicoll7060]

It's the only times I've ever been genuinely in fear of my life, landing in Wellington in a wind storm. We all clapped the pilot for getting us on the ground.

[@peterdonnelly1074]

@@celianicoll7060 And the runway looks like it's about 100m long

[@alastairtopham5939]

Another excellent video! Back in the early nineties I had an American girl friend and she was the love of my life! However, we used to laugh about some of the language differences. For example when she said "I am looking for my bill fold"...asked her "what the heck is a bill fold? It turns out it means a wallet. Another one was when I could say to her " Have you seen the flannel? I was meaning the small towel used for cleaning. She would say "when you say flannel I thought you were meaning a flannel shirt.? It was so funny we used to have alot of laughs about it.

[@taaimit9808]

You are so right about the wind here: I got a friend from oversea, he looked at the fast moving clouds and asked me: is this clouds real? He through he was watching the clouds in the movies.

[@dianewalker4633]

Seriously - you need to leave Wellington and live in a place with a much better climate. Wellington is known for its wind and colder weather and its horrible bumpy airport. I live in Tauranga and it's beautiful here with a gorgeous climate.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Awesome.. am going to visit over summer!

[@kristinaldridge1712]

I'm studying Law in Sydney and the difference in English makes a big difference. Such as the definition of redundant or how the pronounce caveat and the spelling and so on. My lecturer told me I have a "linguistics issue" because I'm American.

[@julierose7841]

Re healthcare, pre-existing conditions are a thing in private health insurance (I’m glad I came home before I got diagnosed with my current illness so that I can use both healthcare systems), but you can’t apply that to public healthcare! That’s not the point of public healthcare! That would be true in any public healthcare country, I think. And what you said about having to be careful not to be taken advantage of is something I think about every time I hear about an American getting an expensive healthcare bill and when they ask for an itemised list, the company sends them a much lower bill because they know they can’t justify what’s on it. It’s shitty that patients have to be savvy just to encounter less corruption in a system that’s supposed to be taking care of them.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yes that is so amazing Julie! Thanks for watching,

[@markwairepo2871]

Im a Kiwi boy, just want to say thank you, welcome to your new home.

[@videoworks7731]

a few days ago we had wind gusts of 160 kph in Canterbury... work continues life goes on

[@richardluvsford7849]

I have heard that Wellington has the freshest air of any metropolitan centre. I am a 4th generation Wellingtonian. I just that not only is it the cleanest air...but we get it to you faster!!!

[@bigkiwimike]

My wife intended to come to NZ for 6 months then back to Canada. We will be married 14 years in December 2021 and continue to live in Auckland.

[@SeanAWaikareiti]

I have a Japanese colleague who was taught that American English is the original language and that British English is the bastardisation. She had never considered the word 'English' and that it came from England. Wonder if any other people consider British English 'incorrect'? If any variation of English could be called 'English' without further description, I'm sure it would be British English.

[@pillred5974]

No they don't unless they are ignorant, how anyone could think that is beyond me America was only populated by Native Americans before the 16th century England has been populated for thousands of years I hope you put that Japanese colleague right.

[@Nihilist_Porcupine]

Well, to be fair, in Japanese the word for English (eigo 英語) is not as directly linked to the word for England (igirisu イギリス or ingurando イングランド) as it is in English (there is also eijiri 英吉利 for UK/Great Britain , but seems to be used less often than katakana). And if they also have more experience with Americans due to the presence of American military bases, exposure to American media/pop culture, etc.; and less knowledge of Western history, it makes sense that they might occasionally be ignorant in this way.

[@doreenstirling2169]

That was really nice to give a positive report or over view of N.Z. thank you. It isn't until some one comes into the country with fresh eyes on the matter which make us realise . . .oh is that how it is here . . .I hope you and your whanau enjoy the rest of your days here

[@rosalenebradbury2722]

I grew up in Wellington. When I moved to another New Zealand city as a young adiult discovered that outside I was always standing upright -. effortlessly. Felt really strange!!!!

[@myraclarke6124]

You haven't spoken about dentists here and how expensive they are. I would like to get your perspective on that.

[@Kiwichick138]

Yes I do feel because we are so far away from the rest of the world we get ripped off for : electricity, solar panels, hearing aids, eyewear, dental etc :(

[@annieaussie9161]

You are looking at things from the wrong aspect. You need to realise the USA is the place where things are done differently from the rest of the world, not the other way around

[@pillred5974]

Well said, they are a bit arrogant aren't they.

[@hardver8855]

Yeah, they are a youngest newborn. All of us others, we are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles. They arw weird to us, not the other way around.

[@Kiwichick138]

Yup, the Wellington wind, it ain't fun :( . There is this saying is 'you can't beat Wellington on a good day', that I reckon is because when there is no wind, Wellington is AMAZING!

[@kaynewzealand117]

We used to drive to Island Bay and park up to watch the southerlies roll in. Haha. Trouble was, as time went on, we couldn't get a park!

[@mogshade66]

@@kaynewzealand117 Do you remember the storm of February 2004? We went down the road to Island bay the next day. What a mess. 😊 It's so beautiful here.

[@VtorHunter]

Have you made a video about what it was like to move back to America and then what made you decide to move back to NZ? I think that would be really interesting if you felt like sharing.

[@flangekiwi]

ROFL! "The Wind" .... Wellington is my hometown and our local hairstyle is called the "Windswept and Interesting" cut, please 😂😂😂 The gap between our two main islands is a funnel for the mighty winds of The Pacific. Hence the Wellington "breeze". PS: It's just "English" 👍🏾

[@maltnz]

Wellington wind - you can walk down one street in perfect calm and turn a corner to be bowled over by a gale. The strait between Wellington (bottom of the North Island) and the top of South Island channels the wind like a Venturi tube. Also nothing much between us an Antartica and winds from the South can be really cold.

[@TheTheotherfoot]

Hey Nalt, you forgot the one or twon tall penguins that break the wind.

[@chantelleventer1487]

Love your posts, off topic love the hair today. My brother in law is there and they love it so much, hope we might go and visit soon

[@monowaikiwi6802]

Your fairness observation is apt. There are many (Govt) agencies that ensure everyone gets a fair deal. For example the Ombudsmens office (and the banking ombudsmen), Commerce Commission (Fair Trading), Human Rights Commission, Childrens Commission, Police have Victim Support for all victims whether crime related or otherwise) etc etc.Another thing is the ease of talking to your local politican (well not the PM) - but politicans have ann office and anyone can pop in when they have a weekly clinic. Or you can make an appointment. One thing people notice is the Kiwi attitude to everyone "mucking in" - that is helping out whether volunteering to help or helping because they can. (Say cleaning up after an event.)

[@davidschwartzguitar]

Thanks for the video. This information is very helpful, as we're planning on making the move late next year/early 2023. I too am from the Chicago area, and Wellington is in our top five potential relocation destinations.

[@Kiwiamericans]

ohhh exciting!!! Let me know how I can help!

[@MichaelPower212]

I spent two years in Christchurch, courtesy of the U.S. Navy. Yes, there was wind during the summers but nothing like you described in Wellington.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Thanks for watching!

[@roycesenon2456]

your accent is very strong, but you obviously have the kiwi spirit! so cool!

[@TheThreatenedSwan]

There is a lot of legal and medical overhead in the US, but the problem is not solveable by becoming liberal like the rest of the anglosphere. And covering a pre-existing condition with insurance would just not be insurance. Insurance is about risk not about something you acquired like diabetes that you now perpetually have to use insulin for. That should just be treated like any other good or service. Much of the social dynamic in the US is informed by the fact that it's like Brazil. But aboriginals and maori have an extremely disproportionate and negative influence on Australia and NZ. It's actually insane given how tiny they are in number. The tax break thing is shocking though

[@JoaoTiago87]

I'm moving to Wellington, NZ from Europe in 3 days. Hope the wind isn't too strong for fishing!

[@Kiwiamericans]

awesome! I am here to help if you need

[@Scarlett-mx4ox]

Hello fellow Wellingtonian! Lol you definitely picked the windiest place in NZ to live in. Still haven’t gotten used to the wind, well I guess I have gotten used to it, It’s just annoying haha.

[@iallso1]

I was self employed for the first 7 years of living in NZ. When I gave the coaching away and took paid employment I contacted IRD to notify them in the hope of not having to complete a tax return going forward. That didn't happen! Last year I didn't complete the online return, waited until they emailed me to let me know I was to receive a late filing fee. I phoned up and spoke to a representative, explained that I had notify them each year that I was no longer self employed. They asked a few questions over the phone and sorted out my tax return there and then without any cost to me. This year I did it on line and it literally took 15 minutes.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Great story! Thanks for sharing

[@xolelwassimpleliving9219]

I love NZ . I’ve been here for 20 years.

[@jenifferschmitz8618]

you forgot the metric system

[@stephendickson9000]

And how easy it is to use.

[@michellezevenaar]

People know before they leave the US that the rest of the world uses the metric system. Its definitely an easier system especially for baking and cooking

[@ohnean1]

It always seemed weird to me that they always had the dollar ( denominations of 10 ) but have stubbornly stuck with imperial measurements ... plus spellcheck on utube is American English.

[@monicaapril1006]

Some of the differences in spelling from British to American English are because in the US we charged per letter in newspaper ads, so to save a little money people would drop letters. Then it became a whole thing.

[@johnwalker6736]

If anybody finds it difficult to make the few changes necessary to write and spell the English language properly,Monica,then heaven help them when real difficulties arise!

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

NZ newspapers always charged by the letter when I was young,not put a car for sale ad in for over 20 years so I don't know if that still holds true.

[@CazkiwiNZ]

No, they’ve charged by the line for runon ads or by the centimetre for bold ads, for the last few decades at least (worked at The NZ Herald 1995-2017)

[@harrycurrie9664]

Same in NZ for telegrams back in the day.

[@monicaapril1006]

Maybe I should have specified that back in the day, like 150 years ago. They charged per letter. So to save money, they’d drop letters, like colour to color. And after a while the changes just stuck in the US.

[@Terrestrial..1]

A couple of weeks ago I got a financial statement from NZ IRD (inland revenue department) showing the amount owed back to me from paying too much tax.

[@Luubelaar]

The bit about Chicago being the "windy city" was shade thrown at the "blow hard" politicians there, way back when. Chicago isn't even in the top 10 of the windiest cities in the world (meteorologically speaking). Wellington on the other hand, is the windiest city (not windiest place) in the world, recording on average 45-50 gale-force wind days per year.

[@Kiwiamericans]

HA ha that is probably true! Thanks for watching!

[@umbrellakitty6531]

@@Kiwiamericans It is true. I'm surprised you lived there and didn't know that.

[@robert3987]

Wellington on a warm, sunny day is the best city in the world but when it's freezing cold with a southerly blowing it's hell on earth.

[@TheClunkingFist]

"What is the culture like in New Zealand" "It's very reasonable." So true. I lived in London for a while. Loved it. But they are slightly less reasonable, more sticklers-for-rules, even though they complain less.

[@kateythurlow4241]

I’m a Kiwi now living in Spain. When I saw your video in my feed, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve seen videos before about with people giving a negative portrayal. However, I loved hearing your viewpoint! I’ve been gone 16 years now, but I’m still proud to be a Kiwi. Living in Spain has not been easy at times, particularly for taxes & other government issues! 😬😂 I’m from Auckland, but my brother lived in Wellington for a while, also known as the Windy City. 💨 I’m so happy to hear how much you love beautiful Aotearoa. 🌿

[@Kiwiamericans]

Katey… thanks for reaching out! I would love to hear more about living in Spain. Soo glad you liked the video and it is a privilege for me to live in NZ! Thanks for watching.

[@kateythurlow4241]

I’m so pleased to hear that. I also love that you write a cook book! I celebrate Thanksgiving - for some reason only when I moved here… 🤷🏽‍♀️ I often google recipes, which are of course American & always need to google the measurements to convert!! 😂😂 Before Spain, I lived in London & Glasgow. I’m in the process of a blog, which will include my travel experiences, but not entirely about that. Spain is SO different to NZ & not just because of the language! Overall it’s pretty welcoming & there’s a lot of aspects I love about it, but certain processes can be very challenging & not just for foreigners. I also miss the greenery & space of NZ as well. 🌿😍

[@Kiwiamericans]

@@kateythurlow4241 sounds like amazing experiences! Please send me a link to your blog when you start it! The best things in NZ are free… the amazing outdoors!

[@teedub3984]

I love the "Wellington" sign on the hill on the way into Wellington, the last few letters appear to be blowing away 😁

[@ghaithandmom]

Thank you very much for your lovely sharing blessings, love and hugs and like

[@stephendickson9000]

It often amuses me seeing wind speeds in the states and them saying how bad it was. I'm like, a stiff breeze 😂😂😂

[@Kiwiamericans]

Yes Yes Yes exactly! Thanks for watching.

[@CaptainCalculus]

I had the opposite of hwta you have--I'm from Wellington and worked in the US...the one thing I missed was actually paying the price that was on the price-tag. In NZ if the price is $20--you will pay $20. $20 and nothing else is leaving your wallet. There's no hidden taxes, no sales tax (different on what you buy and where you buy it), no extra fees nada

[@izzyzhang6014]

I don't think to write an email using American spelling is a big issue in New Zealand. Many university textbooks published in the States are in American spelling. No difficulty to read at all.