Smart things about AUS & NZ ....

Doop

For those of us who are living and/or travelling around Oz and/or NZ, what things do you notice they do here, that could be easily transferred back to Ireland ? (whether doesn’t count!!)

Obviously every country does things differently, but I don’t get when one country has a really good way of doing things why others don’t copy. If it works it works!

For example..

Public Transport... the tickets, it makes so much more sense here, one ticket covers all public transport... 2 hr ticket allows you to go somewhere and get back on the same ticket. Buy your ticket after 6pm and it last till 3am. To me this just makes sense. Although I think they might be trying to roll out some universal ticket in Ireland but haven’t they been doing that for the last 8 years ??? (maybe its out already I haven’t been home in a while!)

Utility Bills.. They say how much electric and how much water you use for how many people in your house. Eg "you use X amount of water there should be 3 people in your house". granted its not genius but it makes sense.

Well there 2 fairly mundane examples.. but you get the idea!

brendansmith

1. Superannuation - Forced pension fund

2. Utes - Cheap, tough as nails workhorses

3. Timber framed, aluminium sheet roofed lightweight construction - Get er done

Zambia

Driving licence -

• large DOB on the back so bar staff dont have to squint.
• Fact its also a proper card licence
• If you change address, you simply register and they send you a sticker for the back

Houses

• You buy your land then pick the house and builder you want.

Water charges its not a cost free service as some like to think back in Ireland because it rains a lot.

Pets

• Complusory microchipping

Xavi6

Large music festivals. Big Day Out, Soundwave etc have two main stages side by side so that when a band is playing on one, the gear for the next act is being set up on the other. None of that half hour wait between acts bollox.

hussey

EFTPOS - yards better than laser!

Trains - buses can take me 40mins to get to work, my train 15mins

Driving licence - fits in wallet!

I really like the outdoor BBQ areas they have too, something small in a park -so easy, and people have a lot of respect for their use

brendansmith

hussey wrote: »

people have a lot of respect for their use

Exactly why alot of stuff here wouldnt translate to back home. Those BBQs would be covered in melted plastic, mud and crushed bulmers cans.

Mackman

+1 on the public transport, and if you get tickets to a footy game, or a concert in the city (Perth), you get free public transport 3 hours before and after the event

They do major roadworks at night or at weekends, when the traffic is at a minimum

Drive through bottle shops (only if they charge the same as the offy, not inflate the prices rediculously like here)

Taxi's that take eftpos

Zambia

brendansmith wrote: »

Exactly why alot of stuff here wouldnt translate to back home. Those BBQs would be covered in melted plastic, mud and crushed bulmers cans.

Agree.

I have two just in the playground outside the house I should use them at least once.

hussey

Mackman wrote: »

Taxi's that take eftpos

+1

Doop

Insure the car not the driver... although the fact that insurance isnt a legal requirment is kinda stupid... (yes yes there is rego which provides some cover)

I still find the drive through bottlos wierd, I prefer to park and walk in ..

+1 Outdoor BBQs ... but yes they would be trashed at home!

Phone credit $49 vodafone = $350 credit, handy for calling home, although vodafone are crapola outside the citys.... and I guess thats more of a business thing

The Sweeper

On the houses thing, I love developer guidelines in new areas being built in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. You buy your land, you choose your builder - and the developer okays the final design, and they have rules like you can't build the exact same house as the person next door, you have to have houses of a similar quality, plus they have to section a certain percentage of land for development for 'lifestyle' areas - water, bike tracks, walking areas, parkland etc.

Means you don't get developments like some of the identical red-brick-warrens you have in places like Bray or Lucan, where you literally cannot tell the difference between houses and if you arrive home drunk you'll spend 45 minutes trying to get your key in the nextdoor neighbour's door...

jank

brendansmith wrote: »

1. Superannuation - Forced pension fund

2. Utes - Cheap, tough as nails workhorses

3. Timber framed, aluminium sheet roofed lightweight construction - Get er done

1. Comming in.
2. Ugly as fcuk though
3. You got to be kidding right?

Xavi6

I'm a big fan of Gold Class cinemas as well. Go see a really long movie and get waited on hand and foot. Comfy seats, food on request, and alcohol. Spot on.

Zambia

jank wrote: »

2. Ugly as fcuk though

Your of your head man



Thats not a bad looking car.


Even the 4 door crewman

jank

Intgrated ticketing for one thing, although the system here in Sydney leaves a lot to be desired.
Tax system. You can claim back on loads of stuff even though you are a PAYE worker!!
Education. You go to a school you are zoned for or you pay, simple as!
Low car prices and lower car tax.
The use of a bicycle especially in christchurch.
Not much one-off housing.

jank

Zambia232 wrote: »

Your of your head man



Thats not a bad looking car.


Even the 4 door crewman

No ****ing way, hate them! Just get a 4x4 and be done with it.
The thing looks like a rigid and a car stuck together.

Although its as Ozzie as a platypus

jank

Xavi6 wrote: »

I'm a big fan of Gold Class cinemas as well. Go see a really long movie and get waited on hand and foot. Comfy seats, food on request, and alcohol. Spot on.

Might actually give this a go, hate the cinema here especially in Sydney as people are just so loud. Shut up and watch the movie!

How much is this by the way?

Xavi6

jank wrote: »

Might actually give this a go, hate the cinema here especially in Sydney as people are just so loud. Shut up and watch the movie!

How much is this by the way?

I think it's about $30 or so for a ticket but I've never actually bought them. Always get vouchers from work etc. Can make a good night out of it.

Zambia

jank wrote: »

No ****ing way, hate them! Just get a 4x4 and be done with it.
The thing looks like a rigid and a car stuck together.

Thats sort of what they are... they just work here. Enough people get 4x4 in Ireland that handle like crap on road and never see dirt. I know because I was one of them. I loved my old Hi-lux but it handled like a pig on road and corners.

jank

In fairness though there arent many roads with many corners in OZ.

CiaranC

jank wrote: »

In fairness though there arent many roads with many corners in OZ.

That Holden Ute is an awesome, awesome motor. The most fun I ever had driving a car. Its a BEAST.

Check out the Top Gear review on it.

brendansmith

jank wrote: »

1. Comming in.
2. Ugly as fcuk though
3. You got to be kidding right?

1. About 10 years too late but I'm glad to hear it.
2. They're a smart work vehicle, styling doesn't come into it, if you want to turn up on site with r0 stick of timber tied to your pink mini cooper that's your prerogative
3. Nope, they only have to keep out the weather and in the heat, there is no need to put a ton of slate or clay over your head.

brendansmith

CiaranC wrote: »

That Holden Ute is an awesome, awesome motor. The most fun I ever had driving a car. Its a BEAST.

Check out the Top Gear review on it.

Yeah I drove around i a ford 1 tonne for a while, the power immense!!

pclancy

Pies and muffins beyond my wildest dreams.

Get a lasange, bacon surprise or stockman pie from Trisha's pies in Island bay. Ohhhm nom nom nom.

uglyjohn

can i be negative.....i mean, its supposed to be a positive thread but i really dont agree with some of the stuff here.

from the start:

public transport...when i was in sydney we could not get a bus to/from chatswood after 5pm or at all on weekends. even weekday i think the route had 3 busses every 2 hours or something stupid like that.

utes, i have no problem with the 4x4 ones, i drive one every day at work and i quite like it but i have no time for those stupid metallic lime green ones with the hard top on the back and tinted windows. if you need it to carry for work why did you get a fu*king hard top on the back?

phone credit. $1 a minute calls but you give me 300 free dollars when i top up? what a stupid way to confuse people about the price of phone calls. why not just give $50 credit for $50 dollars and charge less for calls?

now, things i like

Beer. australians embrace, demand and appreciate good beer. back home every bar serves the same few types of imported piss. ireland should be able to support more domestic beers.

15/1h/2h/30h/whatever parking. when you are running into the bank or shop or whatever it is great to have designated parking for quick stops.

sushi counters. $2.50 for a sushi roll when you'ere out and about and get peckish.

Jumpy

FOOD COURTS!

OMNOMNOMNOMNOM

jank

brendansmith wrote: »

2. They're a smart work vehicle, styling doesn't come into it, if you want to turn up on site with r0 stick of timber tied to your pink mini cooper that's your prerogative
3. Nope, they only have to keep out the weather and in the heat, there is no need to put a ton of slate or clay over your head.

2 Hey never said they weren't practical but in my opinion ugly as ****. If you are turning up to work in any pink car then your looking for a ripping.

3 Keep heat in??? Well there is a reason why farmers in Ireland use aluminium in their cow sheds, its cheap but it ain't for its insulation which is non existent. Sure tiles take more time and money but they last waaaaaaay longer.

jank

Foodcourts! Yes
Japanese food!
Healthy lifestyles that are such a part of the culture.
Also people do stuff besides getting pissed at the weekends!

Zambia

jank wrote: »

In fairness though there arent many roads with many corners in OZ.

Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and the Great ocean road....

But you are right in your head if you find them ugly you find them Ugly.

I didnt even start dragging up the HSV Utes ...drool

mandrake04

I like the SS UTE, but would draw the line at the crewman.

If you require more than 2 seats this is a better option

brendansmith

jank wrote: »

3 Keep heat in??? Well there is a reason why farmers in Ireland use aluminium in their cow sheds, its cheap but it ain't for its insulation which is non existent. Sure tiles take more time and money but they last waaaaaaay longer.

Insulation is used for insulation

Aluminum sheeting is cheap, easy to produce and transport, minimalistic, very flexible and workable and more environmentally friendly = Smart

I am a big fan of keeping things simple, over-complication means mistakes and mess ups.

Auscast

Gold Class Cinema Seating - Wine/beer/champers and hot snacks in big comfy chairs in the back section of the theatre. All the cinemas also have a bar for a pre-movie drink.

BYO - Bring your own bottle of wine to a restaurant - why don't they do that here???

Food Variety - Food halls in shopping centers have loads of international foods - take Bondi Junction as a great example.

Bottle Shops - The Aussie version of the Offy - they're bigger though (like hardware stores) and have great bargains on cleanskin wines

Clean Skin Wines - plain label wines sold at discount prices - 6 for $10 when on special!

Baby Showers - Any excuse for a party, and it makes the girls feel great.

Yum Cha - not Australian, but now part of the culture. If you haven't done it, try it this weekend!

Other things:

Pizza Hut pizzas are much cheaper
Duty Free in the Airport
Tongs - it's hard to find a good pair of tongs in Ireland
Bikinis - you see them more often down under
Gourmet Sausages - there's more than just pork!

Zambia

mandrake04 wrote: »

I like the SS UTE, but would draw the line at the crewman.

If you require more than 2 seats this is a better option

if anyone wants one go down to ferntree Gully Toyota. They are all being sold off will Hail damage. This would be around 34,000 bucks drive away

blues2

1. Yellow advisory speed on corners on highways. Not compulsary but going much over it and you may end in the ditch!

2. Tomatoe ketchup tubs in takeaways - just squeeze each end and it pops out the middle!

3. Cool road signs to stop u killing the native animals while also getting the point across. More common in Northern QLD.

4. Entertainment book - www.entertainmentbook.com.au has excellent vouchers for restaurants and things to do. Costs about $60 but well worth it.

5. Medicare - if i was an ozzie.

Cant think of any more now.

watna

Hmm, most have been said already. Eftpos, eftpos in taxis, superannuation, if you open a kiwisaver account the government give you $1000 and you can get access to the money if you are buying your first home or leave the country permanenetly (which I will be doing in a year or two - I get all my money, the government money and my employer contributions), yum cha, hadn't heard of it before moving to NZ but go at least once a month, BYO (love it!).

I also like how kiwis buy/sell second hand goods. If you want to get rid of someting it's easy to sell on trade me and if you want to buy something but don't want a new one you can pick it up easily and cheaply second hand. It's great that things are re-used and it's not seen as poor to buy things second hand.

jank

brendansmith wrote: »

Insulation is used for insulation

Aluminum sheeting is cheap, easy to produce and transport, minimalistic, very flexible and workable and more environmentally friendly = Smart

I am a big fan of keeping things simple, over-complication means mistakes and mess ups.

One mans simplier job can also mean taking the lazy way out. Your half way to being an ozzie already!:D

jank

BYO, yes yes yes!!!
Jugs of beer! Why cant they do it at home.
Also licensing hours here should be like its at home.

blues2

$10 steaks - and usually decent quality

brendansmith

jank wrote: »

One mans simplier job can also mean taking the lazy way out. Your half way to being an ozzie already!:D

You're not to far off it yourself mate. That first sentence is a lazy attempt at the English language. Maybe you should go back to school.

brendansmith

Zambia232 wrote: »

if anyone wants one go down to ferntree Gully Toyota. They are all being sold off will Hail damage. This would be around 34,000 bucks drive away

I saw relatively new honda car parked today with hail damage.
It looked like sh1t!
Ill keep my 34 grand.

jank

brendansmith wrote: »

You're not to far off it yourself mate. That first sentence is a lazy attempt at the English language. Maybe you should go back to school.

Who said English was my first language?

spurious

Long service leave - effectively an optional paid career break every 10th yr of work, paid for by the person themselves in increased superannuation.

Smarties123

I love the Aussie money. Dosen't matter if you put it in the wash, still comes out perfect. However one thing Ireland does better than Oz and NZ is comfy pubs, with lovely comfy couches where you can chill out for a quiet pint...ahh, they just dont exist over here

mel.b

Good thread

Things I love about Australia:

1. BPAY - all bills have a BPAY code and you can pay them directly from your internet banking. How easy is that!

2. Annual leave loading - being paid an extra 20% just to go on holidays. Gotta love it (and long service leave)

3. No parking meters in most towns. Seriously, I hate having to pay for parking here and especially resent the fact they won't let me pay for less than an hour of parking.

4. Cat's eyes/reflective markers on the sides of the roads. Driving on most roads in Ireland at night is not fun as you can barely see where the road is and there is no edge to the road as it's a stone fence!

5. The aussie way of buying a house. As others have mentioned you buy a block of land you like and then put the house you like on it. None of this rubbish where 100 houses in an estate are identical.

Someone mentioned that EFTPOS is better than Laser. Personally I don't see/know what the difference is Both take the money out of your 'savings' account and both let you get cash back at the time of purchase. In fact, Laser might have the slight edge as you can use it to pay for things over the phone (have done this with my car insurance) and also on some websites, which you can't do with EFTPOS (would need a visa debit to do this).

watna

mel.b wrote: »

Someone mentioned that EFTPOS is better than Laser. Personally I don't see/know what the difference is Both take the money out of your 'savings' account and both let you get cash back at the time of purchase. In fact, Laser might have the slight edge as you can use it to pay for things over the phone (have done this with my car insurance) and also on some websites, which you can't do with EFTPOS (would need a visa debit to do this).

Well, the reason I think it's better is that there is no minimum charge if you want to use it like many places have with laser back home. If you want to pay for something that's a dollar with your laser, then you can and they don't make a fuss about it. Everywhere accepts it, even taxis, as mentioned above. It's just must easier to use.

Also - my Eftpos card is a visa debit too anyway.

Father Damo

Looking thru this tbh apart from BYO I cant see one thing they have over us. In all honestly, all they have better is

Weather

Cheap cost of living compared to wage (I sometimes make more here than I did back home but pay 60% of the cost of a pint and everything else is so cheap, sweet as!)

A brilliant fast underground road network in Sydney (which i wish they didnt have, Id rather sit for hours on the ute and get paid rather than get from x to y in 10 mins and actually have to work on arrival :pac: )

A quality Prime Minister. Its hard not to laugh when you hear Rudd getting a bad knock in the polls, he is a qalty leader. The only Aussie who actually knows how to organise anything.

Cheap phone credit

More to do whilst sober

Quality nightclubs with quality tunes (excluding Cairns and other backpackery dumps)

And....thats about it. I did a thread a while back on what sucked about here and agreed with alot more of the reples (this is shane86 by the way, no idea what my last 3 PMs were to get the old one back and anyway fancied changin the name )

Superannuaton? Pain in the arse, as if I want to save for a pension fund when I might die before I can use it. Really, apart from the weather, costy of lving and the inherent greed of every business in Ireland we are the ones who could show the Aussies a thing or two about how to make a nice pizza, burger or how to fcuking organise things (as, generally speakng, Aussies cant be relied upon to organise a sh1te in a toilet, Ive now become used to the fact if I request an Aussie to take care of something that is their responsibility, it probably isnt going to happen the first time)

Father Damo

watna wrote: »

Well, the reason I think it's better is that there is no minimum charge if you want to use it like many places have with laser back home. If you want to pay for something that's a dollar with your laser, then you can and they don't make a fuss about it. Everywhere accepts it, even taxis, as mentioned above. It's just must easier to use.

Also - my Eftpos card is a visa debit too anyway.

tbh nothing grinds my gears worse than people using efptos taking ages to buy 2 bottles of beer infront of me in the queue. Carry cash FFS. The only time I use it is if I am too far from an ANZ to bother getting cash, otherwise its a pain in the arse.

jank

Can you give examples on Ozzies cant organize things because I cant see it.

mandrake04

jank wrote: »

Can you give examples on Ozzies cant organize things because I cant see it.

Mate if your going to come and live over here get the lingo correct FFS

This is an Ozzie












and this is an Aussie

Zambia

brendansmith wrote: »

I saw relatively new honda car parked today with hail damage.
It looked like sh1t!
Ill keep my 34 grand.

Trick is you need to buy something that looks ok with a few dents. Like a Hi-lux

hawkelady

I'll tell you what NZ has to offer that Eire can't. Pies,all different types of pies, steak and cheese etc. All Ireland can do is a half arsed attempt at a breakfast roll!!!Can't beat a good pie for lunch..