Australia or New Zealand???

technodub

The pros and cons.... A friend of mine is asking me too come to new zealand with him at the end of the year in search of riches this country might never see again! (Especially after we sign our lives away to the germans on thursday!) So my question is what are peoples experiences of the 2 places?? Iv heard New Zealanders are like the irish personality wise but the weather seems to be better in oz! Im a qualified carpenter so anybody know of the work/ money situation in each country? Amy feedback would be much appreciated folks ...
Cheers

seachto7

weather is good in NZ too, much more bearable than Aus. Dollar is stronger in Aus I reckon,and work prospects probably better there too. I would choose NZ if it were me......... nth island........

Cookie_Monster

As they say over here, the problem with Aus is that it's full of Australians

supernova84

Canada

RATM

Having done a year in both I would say NZ. Don't get me wrong, Oz is a great place and has better weather but I personally found Kiwis better to get on with than Aussies. The Aussies are a good bunch but can be a bit arrogant at times, especially when it comes to sport and their achievements. I worked during the Olympics and was nauseating listening to (some) of them banging on about how great they are.

The Kiwis have a more laid back manner about them (this may not be to everyone's taste but it is to mine) and are more similar to the Irish outlook overall.

Wages and job opportunities are a good bit better in Oz but I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor- if you look hard for a job in NZ you will get one. The weather in NZ may not be as good but personally living through 35+ degree summers isn't my thing- give me the more balmy 25-28 degrees of NZ anyday. Even in winter most days get up to 15 degrees so it is much more bearable than here.

Finally I'd recommend working in a place like Queenstown or Wanaka over any of the cities. Both are cool places and it is hard not to have fun there once you secure a decent job.

The Aussie

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

As they say over here, the problem with Aus is that it's full of Australians Kiwis and Paddies

Noticed a mistake so i fixed it up for you there, hope you dont mind

Ive got a brother who has lived in New Zealand for years now, says he will only go back to Oz for holidays, ive been over to see him 4 times now, my longest stay was 3 months, i love the place.

RATM wrote: »

The Aussies are a good bunch but can be a bit arrogant at times, especially when it comes to sport and their achievements. I worked during the Olympics and was nauseating listening to (some) of them banging on about how great they are.

Not been to NZ since the World Cup im guessing :pac:

jank

Why dont you do both?

technodub

Cheers lads sorry been away for awhile thats why i have not replied! Ye a few people i have talked too have said they found kiwis alot better suited to Irish people then Aussies! Alot more laid back which is always a good thing and im assuming they will have plenty of work for carpenters in the likes of Christchurch after the quakes.. Another thing kinda putting me off oz is the amount of Irish people there! I wanna leave the country and meet new people not just end up hanging around Irish bars with Irish people Canada is another option but i have a friend who is also a carpenter and he wants to go to new zealand so it would be handy if we could get jobs in the same place and share tools / house and maybe a car! Realistically anywere is going to be better then Ireland at the moment! Thanks for the inputs!

pclancy

Come visit both and make your own mind up, you'll soon see the differences and what matters to you is what will make you choose. You won't as rich in NZ as you can in OZ but life is really fantastic here for many other reasons then money.

telly_lover

technodub wrote: »

Cheers lads sorry been away for awhile thats why i have not replied! Ye a few people i have talked too have said they found kiwis alot better suited to Irish people then Aussies! Alot more laid back which is always a good thing and im assuming they will have plenty of work for carpenters in the likes of Christchurch after the quakes.. Another thing kinda putting me off oz is the amount of Irish people there! I wanna leave the country and meet new people not just end up hanging around Irish bars with Irish people Canada is another option but i have a friend who is also a carpenter and he wants to go to new zealand so it would be handy if we could get jobs in the same place and share tools / house and maybe a car! Realistically anywere is going to be better then Ireland at the moment! Thanks for the inputs!

i lived and worked in both countries at the end of the nineties

they both have their charms but australia was the clear winner for me , better wages , better weather , more extroverted people

new zealand is a beautifull country but other than that , i didnt find it all that appealing , im puzzled by this thing i often hear about kiwis being quite similar to us irish , i didnt see that at all , i would say we are more similar to australians but not particulary similar to either , new zealand has a tiny irish influence compared to australia and is much more pro british , it has a huge scottish influence however , kiwis are dour , they are also a pretty hard and brutal bunch in my experience , australians take no prisoners either but like americans , at least they tend to respect those who put in an effort , new zealand also doesnt have anything like the same community spirit which is so visible in ireland , for a rural country with a small population , this is a surprise , people are quite individualistic , oh and heaven help you if you feel the need to complain about anything in new zealand , kiwis absolutley cannot tollerate complaining and are incredibly thin skinned when it comes to criticism , im not talking about grumbling or moaning about trivial matters , i mean anything from your roof leaking to your workplace colleague being a nightmare , they simply dont want to hear negative feedback under any circumstances , i also found kiwis to be incredibly inward looking , they have little interest in anything thats not new zealand orientated


to conclude , new zealand is a wonderfull place for a holiday but to live in , give me ireland anyday , even in the present condition its in

CommanderC

Weather in Wellington sucks. Have been living in Ireland for a year now, but am from NZ and was based in Wellington for about 5 years. Winters there are so rainy. My first winter in Ireland, has been much shorter and much more tolerable.

telly_lover

CommanderC wrote: »

Weather in Wellington sucks. Have been living in Ireland for a year now, but am from NZ and was based in Wellington for about 5 years. Winters there are so rainy. My first winter in Ireland, has been much shorter and much more tolerable.

wellington was my favourite place in new zealand

CommanderC

telly_lover wrote: »

i lived and worked in both countries at the end of the nineties

they both have their charms but australia was the clear winner for me , better wages , better weather , more extroverted people

new zealand is a beautifull country but other than that , i didnt find it all that appealing , im puzzled by this thing i often hear about kiwis being quite similar to us irish , i didnt see that at all , i would say we are more similar to australians but not particulary similar to either , new zealand has a tiny irish influence compared to australia and is much more pro british , it has a huge scottish influence however , kiwis are dour , they are also a pretty hard and brutal bunch in my experience , australians take no prisoners either but like americans , at least they tend to respect those who put in an effort , new zealand also doesnt have anything like the same community spirit which is so visible in ireland , for a rural country with a small population , this is a surprise , people are quite individualistic , oh and heaven help you if you feel the need to complain about anything in new zealand , kiwis absolutley cannot tollerate complaining and are incredibly thin skinned when it comes to criticism , im not talking about grumbling or moaning about trivial matters , i mean anything from your roof leaking to your workplace colleague being a nightmare , they simply dont want to hear negative feedback under any circumstances , i also found kiwis to be incredibly inward looking , they have little interest in anything thats not new zealand orientated


to conclude , new zealand is a wonderfull place for a holiday but to live in , give me ireland anyday , even in the present condition its in

Wow- have never heard so many countries generalised in one go. For the record...I'm neither hard nor brutal

Rua1

CommanderC wrote: »

Weather in Wellington sucks. Have been living in Ireland for a year now, but am from NZ and was based in Wellington for about 5 years. Winters there are so rainy. My first winter in Ireland, has been much shorter and much more tolerable.

I'd say the same thing (from Wellington), but the weather in Wellington seems to put on a lovely show for my irish husband. Not long back from a visit there, and, according to my parents, the weather pretty much packed in the minute we left.

CiaranC

New Zealand by a mile for me. Better weather, better lifestyle, better people.

telly_lover

CiaranC wrote: »

New Zealand by a mile for me. Better weather, better lifestyle, better people.

found them to be an amoral bunch tbh , two faced aswell , superfically friendly but if you need help , they dont want to know

Crumble Froo

Really curious where telly lover lived in New Zealand.

I prefer NZ over Oz for a number of reasons. Should point out a bias now, in that I couldnt find work for the few months I did live in oz and never quite 'settled'.

(nevermind, I'll finish this later, about to get kicked outta library...)

NakedNNettles

If its an outdoors lifestyle thing you are after then I would say NZ. It does feel very isolated from the world though, people are laid back, Wellington is the best city. Apart from the locals, it always felt like everyone else was temporarily passing through.

If its work and money then Oz, the beach and party lifestyle is tops here. Apart from Perth, Oz feels a bit more connected with the world especially Sydney and Melbourne. Melbourne has a more European feel with the buildings and all, Sydney feels more American.

Personally I enjoyed both countries, however overall the best part of my journey, living and working, I would have to call it as the Oz east coast, there is just a great buzz, so many nationalities settle down to make new lives and the weather is great.

If you ever want to get away from Oz for a few weeks break, NZ is just a 2 hour flight away and Indo is to the north, flights are cheap.

Many kiwis leave NZ when they are younger for the UK or Oz to make money and then return later in life so that should tell you something if you are inclined towards career and money.

Given a work visa for Oz I would go back, NZ not so much but I would go back to travel.

pclancy

Its hard generalise about the weather too. Both countries have extremes of rain/temperature depending on their geography. Wellington for example gets less annual rainfall then Galway but more then Dublin. Wellington gets way more annual sunshine then Dublin but has higher average wind speed. Nelson blows everywhere else out of the water with 2500+ hours of sunshine. Dunedin and Queenstown are snowy right now but you could probably wear shorts in Northland.

I always found Ireland consistantly grey sky'ed for weeks on end, in Welly generally any bad weather is gone after 48 hours and the suns back out.

Crumble Froo

And what still cracks me up here is that if it lasts more than 48hours, people start getting really bummed out on the absolutely awful weather, when really it's just a bit of cloud n rain, I'd love to see them deal with the constant greys at home.

So continuing from my post above, and with the weather theme, saying Australia has better weather than NZ is pretty subjective... Personally I'm of the opinion that my Irish skin is very quite simply NOT meant to be exposed to that much sun and I am just not built to deal with heat. I found the heat in Aussie - Sydney more than Melbourne - to be just suffocating. Life with a car with no air conditioning is disgustingly sticky and shiny, people hang out in malls or go for drives PURELY cos it's just a place to go with air conditioning. Also, the bugs got me. Fair enough I'm an arachnophobe (I will cry if startled by one, regardless of who's around), but more than that, I never got bothered by midgies that much at home, but the ants in Australia went to town on me, as did everything else grapesize or less that licked to feast on human. Also, cockroaches can fly. You may have known this already, but I did not. That was traumatising.

In New Zealand though, spiders can jump. Really ****ing fast too. The only biters are white tails, but like most of the nasties, they stick to the north island by and large. I had major problems around the West Coast of the South Island, the combination of heat and damp with sandflies and god knows what else was horrific. Even with repellent I had to completely give up on camping over New Year's.

In general, I have found kiwis to be humble, practical, blunt, resourceful, easy-going people and I'll echo the working bees for anyone moving house, and the pot luck and koha aspects of the culture.

The best way I can describe Australians, is that I'll never forget the moment when I realised that Kath & Kim were based very very much on very very real people. It stopped being funny then, and I moved back to NZ not too long after, but there's a certain haughtiness or something that I've never quite understood.

What I really love about NZ is the community feel. Particularly being so far from friend and family networks (and I didnt know any Irish people when I moved here), there is a great community feel, and there's a lot of emphasis put on community facilities, activities and events.

Probably worth mentioning too, that I'm not really a city person. Even going up to Auckland around Christmas time, I distinctly remember swearing never to live in a city bigger than Christchurch again. If anything, I think I'll be setting up home in Dunedin at some point in my future. (smaller than Chch, for those not familiar).

I suppose it's worth mentioning risks too. New Zealand is essentially made of melting glaciers, faultlines and volcanoes. Think a tornado or something hit an Auckland mall earlier this year too. Not immune to bushfires either.

Aussie's got bushfires and floods, I know that much. If you'd told me before I moved to NZ that moving there carried the risk of being in a major natural disaster, I think I would have approached it more warily (or would I?).

Each city has such a distinctive personality though, and I'd imagine the same is true for Australia, I reckon the best way to figure it out is go spend time there, follow what ya love and you'll find your place.

telly_lover

Crumble Froo wrote: »

And what still cracks me up here is that if it lasts more than 48hours, people start getting really bummed out on the absolutely awful weather, when really it's just a bit of cloud n rain, I'd love to see them deal with the constant greys at home.

So continuing from my post above, and with the weather theme, saying Australia has better weather than NZ is pretty subjective... Personally I'm of the opinion that my Irish skin is very quite simply NOT meant to be exposed to that much sun and I am just not built to deal with heat. I found the heat in Aussie - Sydney more than Melbourne - to be just suffocating. Life with a car with no air conditioning is disgustingly sticky and shiny, people hang out in malls or go for drives PURELY cos it's just a place to go with air conditioning. Also, the bugs got me. Fair enough I'm an arachnophobe (I will cry if startled by one, regardless of who's around), but more than that, I never got bothered by midgies that much at home, but the ants in Australia went to town on me, as did everything else grapesize or less that licked to feast on human. Also, cockroaches can fly. You may have known this already, but I did not. That was traumatising.

In New Zealand though, spiders can jump. Really ****ing fast too. The only biters are white tails, but like most of the nasties, they stick to the north island by and large. I had major problems around the West Coast of the South Island, the combination of heat and damp with sandflies and god knows what else was horrific. Even with repellent I had to completely give up on camping over New Year's.

In general, I have found kiwis to be humble, practical, blunt, resourceful, easy-going people and I'll echo the working bees for anyone moving house, and the pot luck and koha aspects of the culture.

The best way I can describe Australians, is that I'll never forget the moment when I realised that Kath & Kim were based very very much on very very real people. It stopped being funny then, and I moved back to NZ not too long after, but there's a certain haughtiness or something that I've never quite understood.

What I really love about NZ is the community feel. Particularly being so far from friend and family networks (and I didnt know any Irish people when I moved here), there is a great community feel, and there's a lot of emphasis put on community facilities, activities and events.

Probably worth mentioning too, that I'm not really a city person. Even going up to Auckland around Christmas time, I distinctly remember swearing never to live in a city bigger than Christchurch again. If anything, I think I'll be setting up home in Dunedin at some point in my future. (smaller than Chch, for those not familiar).

I suppose it's worth mentioning risks too. New Zealand is essentially made of melting glaciers, faultlines and volcanoes. Think a tornado or something hit an Auckland mall earlier this year too. Not immune to bushfires either.

Aussie's got bushfires and floods, I know that much. If you'd told me before I moved to NZ that moving there carried the risk of being in a major natural disaster, I think I would have approached it more warily (or would I?).

Each city has such a distinctive personality though, and I'd imagine the same is true for Australia, I reckon the best way to figure it out is go spend time there, follow what ya love and you'll find your place.

the community feel in rural new zealand simply does not compare to that of ireland , i once heard new zealand described as the holland of the south pacific , i think thats a pretty accurate description

hard headed practical blunt people
tollerant but not especially warm or friendly
ireligous
financially thrifty
liberal attitudes to sex , complete with legalised prostitution

i recognise none of the above traits as being particulary irish , the alledged similaritys between kiwis and paddys truly baffles me , i often wonder does it stem from the fact that both countries have a high proportion of farmers and have a green landscape , perhaps the common perception spread from there

Crumble Froo

I can't say I've had much experience with rural Ireland, to be honest, outside of holiday visits back to the old family home in Donegal as a kid, I grew up just outside the Dublin border. In New Zealand, almost all my living experience is in Christchurch and Dunedin, and I've done a fairly extensive amount of hitch hiking, which would be my only real contact with most of the rural communities here.

Since the quakes too, it has to be said, there's been a massive resurgence in community here. People are organising themselves, helping themselves and each other and making themselves heard in a very different way to before the quakes, and I have to say, it's been really inspiring to see.

I think that Ireland and New Zealand are both relatively small island countries situated beside a much larger, powerful country - there's a certain sort of attitude associated with that, I think. There's a relatively similar sense of humour (but it did take a while to adjust my humour to be a little more kosher in NZ, stuff I'd've never thought about in Ireland).

CiaranC

telly_lover wrote: »

the community feel in rural new zealand simply does not compare to that of ireland

Im not sure what you were expecting, to have the same 'community feel' as a migrant as you do in rural Ireland where you and your family lived for generations? Ask someone from Dublin who moves to rural Ireland about the community feel they experience as an outsider initially.

hard headed practical blunt people
tollerant but not especially warm or friendly
ireligous
financially thrifty
liberal attitudes to sex , complete with legalised prostitution

As someone from working class Dublin it sounds like I have more in common with Kiwis than I do with rural Irish people tbh.

That said, I dont think Kiwis and Irish are that similar, Kiwis have a strong calvinist streak that reminds me very much of a certain type of Scot. They can be quite dry and reserved. Thats OK though, its a breath of fresh air really and one of the reasons I like them.

telly_lover

CiaranC wrote: »

Im not sure what you were expecting, to have the same 'community feel' as a migrant as you do in rural Ireland where you and your family lived for generations? Ask someone from Dublin who moves to rural Ireland about the community feel they experience as an outsider initially.


As someone from working class Dublin it sounds like I have more in common with Kiwis than I do with rural Irish people tbh.

That said, I dont think Kiwis and Irish are that similar, Kiwis have a strong calvinist streak that reminds me very much of a certain type of Scot. They can be quite dry and reserved. Thats OK though, its a breath of fresh air really and one of the reasons I like them.

You nailed it when you say kiwis have a strong Calvinist streak , you know where else has a strong Calvinist streak , holland and of course Scotland , I found Nz to be a very Protestant place , nothing wrong with that but it would fly in the face of it being very similar to Ireland like many people claim

earnyourturns

Totally agree with the above posts: have been in Dunedin just over two years now, and in no way find the Kiwis to be particularly warm or friendly...

telly_lover

earnyourturns wrote: »

Totally agree with the above posts: have been in Dunedin just over two years now, and in no way find the Kiwis to be particularly warm or friendly...

dunedin is particulary scottish and the type of scots who make up a sizeable percentage of the kiwi population are a dour bunch , their not that keen on paddys either , their is a tall poppy syndrome which is very evident in new zealand , scots are also a begrudging people who dont like to see others doing well , thats one of the reasons i perfered australia than new zealand , australians are more like americans in that they compete very hard but respect those who try hard and do well , kiwis only like when thier own ( locality , family ) do well , i also dont agree that australians are arrogant , they are brash but thats not the same as arrogant , australians are much more generous of spirit than kiwis

earnyourturns

Yeah, I really don't agree with the "oh Kiwis are so like the Irish" thing. Especially on the South Island, the key values seem to be stoicism, taciturnity and self-reliance. No one could exactly describe South Islanders as witty raconteurs, whereas Irish people are notoriously garrulous. Also, wow, how stingy are New Zealanders whereas the Irish attitude to money is very much "we're here for a good time, not a long time. Another round, anyone?'

(I know this is total generalisation of course, exceptions to every rule, I'm just venting my frustrations in the depths of a Dunedin winter)

Crumble Froo

Wow! My experiences of Dunedin are such that it's my favourite place in the country and I can't wait till I finish the next 5 years of school so I can move down there!

That said, I suppose the vast majority of people I interact with, is through the music scene, and there's a really sweet, tight scene there. I suppose any generalisations I make about Dunedin will be specifically in reference to the the music scene, which I suppose isn't exactly representative of mainstream society in Dunners.

earnyourturns

Wow, goes to show how differently people can think about the same places! For me, living in Dunedin is like living in a provincial Scottish town in the 1950s. I, conversely, can't wait to finish uni here so I can leave!

telly_lover

earnyourturns wrote: »

Yeah, I really don't agree with the "oh Kiwis are so like the Irish" thing. Especially on the South Island, the key values seem to be stoicism, taciturnity and self-reliance. No one could exactly describe South Islanders as witty raconteurs, whereas Irish people are notoriously garrulous. Also, wow, how stingy are New Zealanders whereas the Irish attitude to money is very much "we're here for a good time, not a long time. Another round, anyone?'

(I know this is total generalisation of course, exceptions to every rule, I'm just venting my frustrations in the depths of a Dunedin winter)

absolutley , no one could ever accuse kiwis of talking the hind legs off a donkey - having the gift of the gab , talking ****e is a key irish trait , since when does calvinism lend itself to lighthearted gregariousness , even on the rugby field , have you ever seen an all black smile after scoring , its not as if they dont have the practice

kiwis are known for being tightfisted with money and are scornfull of lavish displays of wealth , they simply dont do bling , they dont do late night drinking either , 6 pm is the busy period in the pubs in farming country ffs

irish similar to kiwis :rolleyes: , were more like italians or even nigerians if you ask me

telly_lover

Crumble Froo wrote: »

Wow! My experiences of Dunedin are such that it's my favourite place in the country and I can't wait till I finish the next 5 years of school so I can move down there!

That said, I suppose the vast majority of people I interact with, is through the music scene, and there's a really sweet, tight scene there. I suppose any generalisations I make about Dunedin will be specifically in reference to the the music scene, which I suppose isn't exactly representative of mainstream society in Dunners.

are you into guns n roses and the black album by metalica , when i was in new zealand in 1998 , the teenagers were all into hard rock from the eighties while thier counterparts back in ireland and europe were into dance and hip hop , i love hard rock but the point was , new zealand tends to catch up on trends years after everyone else , its a bit like eastern europe in this regard

telly_lover

earnyourturns wrote: »

Wow, goes to show how differently people can think about the same places! For me, living in Dunedin is like living in a provincial Scottish town in the 1950s. I, conversely, can't wait to finish uni here so I can leave!

living in any part of scotland sounds like hell to me , a provincial scottish town sounds even worse

what crime did you commit that you were sentanced to live in dunedin for such a long time ?

earnyourturns

The uni lured me in...

And yes, this is certainly not a nation given to big celebrations. I watched the final of the Rugby World Cup in the Kurow pub last year, Kurow being the hometown of Richie McCaw (that's not why I was there though). Anyway, after New Zealand won, everyone just continued to be muted, finished up their drinks and then went home. Could you imagine that happening if Ireland won the World Cup as a hosting nation or anything?!

earnyourturns

[

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

its a bit like eastern europe in this regard[/QUOTE]

Amount of mullets in Otago/Southland is staggering as well.

Crumble Froo

telly_lover wrote: »

are you into guns n roses and the black album by metalica , when i was in new zealand in 1998 , the teenagers were all into hard rock from the eighties while thier counterparts back in ireland and europe were into dance and hip hop , i love hard rock but the point was , new zealand tends to catch up on trends years after everyone else , its a bit like eastern europe in this regard

earnyourturns wrote: »

Wow, goes to show how differently people can think about the same places! For me, living in Dunedin is like living in a provincial Scottish town in the 1950s. I, conversely, can't wait to finish uni here so I can leave!

Haha, when I think of Dunedin, I think of it as being awash with psychedlics, all the hippies out in Waitati and the surrounding hills, all the good anarcho-punks and twee-gaze kids that are into all the Flying Nun **** and going far beyond what they were doing. People working/volunteering at the Crooked Spoke, Black Star Books, a vanload of us going down with no sleeping arrangements and all being put up in the house of a stranger at a gig and getting served up the meanest hangover breakfast the next day - welcome back anytime - lots of festivals and events put on non-profit or for charity by certain communities for their communities. That's who I tend to think of when I think of Dunedin, but I suppose most people won't be meeting the same ones that I am

And no, while Metallica and that were a part of my youth, I'm more into punk, ska, shoegazey, psychedelic, thrashy bassy gutsy stuff.

earnyourturns

Hey Crumble Froo, that's really interesting to hear Yes, no doubt there's that subculture in Dunedin (Feastock, that sort of thing, especially with the huge student population) but that is very much a subculture and a lot of transient students, rather than the dominant culture which is very much conservative, Scots-descended, parsimonious farmers.

jank

Having lived and worked in both countries I can tell you that they are very different from each other.

New Zealand is a beautiful beautiful country. Especially the South Island. Id say along with South Africa New Zealand is one of the most scenic places on earth. Very easy to travel around the place. Such varied landscapes all within a few hours of each other. Lots to do and see. Christchurch is one of my favorite places on earth. The city centre may not be up to much but the surrounding areas are beautiful. The people I find are generally pleasant and nice. A little inward looking as well to be fair but generally salt of the earth. Saying that it is hard to get to know actual Kiwis as they tend to stick to their own. Also, very easily entertained. No where else in the world not even Australia that I have had people say " Say Potato back to me" This was a common experience in NZ! WTF?

Saying that you are not going to become rich in NZ. Pay sucks BIG time! The cost of living relative to the pay is quite high. Food is VERY expensive I found.
You can have a good quality of life there but best thing to do is bring some hard currency with you. NZ to my mind is a great place to settle when you are in your 40's after you have made your money somewhere else. Great place to semi retire and catch up with some surf, skiing and reading. Pure bliss if that is what you are after.

Not the most cultured of places either and the Kiwis can be em, boring? Maori culture is a nice addition in fairness though. There is a little bit of tall poppy syndrome there and they do not take criticism lightly, however there is not that much to criticize in fairness apart from some of the sub standard housing. Like Ireland they are an insecure bunch generally but like Ireland always up for a little chat, so long its not getting dark!

Australia is loud, brash and proud. A good place to come if you are young, eager, ambitious. If you want to go to a place that is full of opportunity then Australia for the most part will fit your bill. The pay here is a lot better than NZ. Same company, same job and I got a 50% pay rise. I found that I have a lot more in my pocket at the end of the month then NZ even adding to the fact that rent here is about 300% more expensive. Money just goes further here.

Australians can be a little in-personal and up themselves but generally they are approachable. Weather is better here but the summers can be heavy going sometimes. However, it is bliss when in the middle of winter you can go out for a jog while the sun is shining wearing a t shirt and shorts. Great urban vibe around the inner cities. Huge choice in food and bars. Some of the best dining in the world is in Sydney and the range is massive.

Lots of concerts and sporting events to go to. Most things close by, transport is OK! Sydney harbour is beautiful. One of the wonders of the world. Saying all that, I am not sure if I would settle here and live here all my life. I would see myself living in the future in NZ rather then Sydney but I think a good happy medium would be Melbourne.

In Summary both places have their pros and cons. As I said try both!

davepatr07

Interesting responses to the OP.

Lived in both countries (still living in one) and have to say it all comes down to the person themselves. You have to sample and experience it yourself then you can make the choice. Each to their own, everyone is different though it does help to get some feedback from others experiences. Get a different perspective and idea of the places.

I have to say NZ is definitely a place you would retire to and even though you don't earn as much as you would in Oz you can still live a good lifestyle without being posh or brash and splashing the cash. As someone has said already it is definitely for outdoor types. I'm surprised with some of the comments on Kiwi's. In general I found them to be easy going folk and many I have gotten on well with even become close friends with. I can't say the same unfortunately for Australia. I have found it harder to make friends here than in NZ probably because I met someone in NZ and I'm still with them. Call me bias

Havn't found any trouble with any Kiwi or Aussie's when it comes to race (being Irish). Of course you will get a few Irish jokes and slagging (Got some when I was working in rural South Australia) but you would need to be a big softy not to take it. Give as good as you get and you'll be respected. Have some sense of humour and not get too serious, you will enjoy your stay more. Remember life is too short!

In NZ you can see from the houses, lifestyle, cars even that they aren't really big spenders. In both places if you work hard you can get where you want to go. Cost of living I am finding is high in BOTH countries especially when it comes to groceries and energy bills. Saving is that bit harder in NZ. There is that snobbish attitude with some Aussies more so than Kiwi's especially in Melbs and Sydney. When it comes to Sports even more so.

The weather of course in Oz is better but you can still get nicer weather in NZ than you would back home. Also I think NZ is a great place if you are big into you winter sports. Right there on your doorstep when you get sick of the rain and wind. Scenery is incredible in NZ and even though Oz has it's own gem locations I think for me NZ pips it.

+HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE WOOFING!!!! HAD A GREAT TIME

Whatever you decide, enjoy!

pclancy

I think Wellingtonians are very much more cultured and friendly then some of their rurual or southern couisins. Even drive 30 minutes up the road towards Upper Hutt or the Wairarapa and they become a totally different, much more redneck farmy types that drink and fight hard. I've played gigs all over the place and the difference in crowds between Wellington and the rural towns was almost like two differnet countries

Aucklanders I found more Aussie like, maybe also a bit more materialistic then people from other centres. Auckland feels a lot like Brisbane to me. Wellington like a 1970s Melbourne. Thats antoher thing, Wellington's fashion or "Cuba street culture" is totally stuck in the 70s

Im thinking about moving to Oz for a year before I'm too old and then coming back to NZ with a wad of cash to buy a place and then go travel elsewhere. All depending on my NZ residancy actually coming through before I die

jank

You still waiting for that? Thought you had it ages ago!

Cookie_Monster

Saying that you are not going to become rich in NZ. Pay sucks BIG time! The cost of living relative to the pay is quite high. Food is VERY expensive I found.

Pay is far better than at home in my (and partner's) experience and tax is much lower too. I'm in finance, she's a chem eng. Compared to Dublin cost of living here is much lower IMO (though New Plymouth would be more comparable with Kilkenny or Galway I suppose), owning and running a car is a fraction of the price, elec, phone and BB is on par, booze is a bit more expensive, food is cheaper and generally better. Our weekly shop is the about the same in dollars as it was in euro.

jank

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Pay is far better than at home in my (and partner's) experience and tax is much lower too. I'm in finance, she's a chem eng. Compared to Dublin cost of living here is much lower IMO (though New Plymouth would be more comparable with Kilkenny or Galway I suppose), owning and running a car is a fraction of the price, elec, phone and BB is on par, booze is a bit more expensive, food is cheaper and generally better. Our weekly shop is the about the same in dollars as it was in euro.

Really? That is surprising as its very common that people get paid a lot less than home. Average wage in NZ is about $800 per week. About 400 euro. Some jobs would obviously pay a lot more and I have no idea about the finance industry.

E.g. when I went over there in 2008/2009 I had to take a 35% pay cut in my industry. It was common for people to take up to a 50% cut coming from Ireland or the UK.

Cookie_Monster

Even when we moved though I was earning less than in IRL but was coming out with more after tax because of the realistic tax rates here took a small paycut (and some unemployment time to boot) but have done well since then.

Granted it's not the same for everyone, especially if you are coming over without experience or unqualified. In general terms I would say wages are less in NZ but salaries can be on a par of better for professionals. Oil and Gas in New Plymouth helps of course, massive demand drives higher wages in the sector, which my partner is in.

Did find Auckland more expensive when there the two times I've gone also so I suppose it could be much of a muchness and totally dependant on where you end up.

Of course it's not all roses and better, there are other costs, rates, earthquake levies causing insurance to go up, crappy housing quality etc but on balance I think it's slightly cheaper cost of living than at home and a better standard due to the weather, outdoor nature of kiwi's and facilities provided by the govt/council.

We've certainly been impressed enough to buy land within less than a year of moving and being at home once since then nearly drove me mad in so many ways

pclancy

jank wrote: »

You still waiting for that? Thought you had it ages ago!

Nah got as far as getting invited to apply. Current processing times for PR ranging from nine to twelve months

Cookie_Monster

pclancy wrote: »

Nah got as far as getting invited to apply. Current processing times for PR ranging from nine to twelve months

:eek:
you'd be quicker going home and doing it. 6/7 weeks to go through London was all it took us

bee_keeper

jank wrote: »

Having lived and worked in both countries I can tell you that they are very different from each other.

New Zealand is a beautiful beautiful country. Especially the South Island. Id say along with South Africa New Zealand is one of the most scenic places on earth. Very easy to travel around the place. Such varied landscapes all within a few hours of each other. Lots to do and see. Christchurch is one of my favorite places on earth. The city centre may not be up to much but the surrounding areas are beautiful. The people I find are generally pleasant and nice. A little inward looking as well to be fair but generally salt of the earth. Saying that it is hard to get to know actual Kiwis as they tend to stick to their own. Also, very easily entertained. No where else in the world not even Australia that I have had people say " Say Potato back to me" This was a common experience in NZ! WTF?

Saying that you are not going to become rich in NZ. Pay sucks BIG time! The cost of living relative to the pay is quite high. Food is VERY expensive I found.
You can have a good quality of life there but best thing to do is bring some hard currency with you. NZ to my mind is a great place to settle when you are in your 40's after you have made your money somewhere else. Great place to semi retire and catch up with some surf, skiing and reading. Pure bliss if that is what you are after.

Not the most cultured of places either and the Kiwis can be em, boring? Maori culture is a nice addition in fairness though. There is a little bit of tall poppy syndrome there and they do not take criticism lightly, however there is not that much to criticize in fairness apart from some of the sub standard housing. Like Ireland they are an insecure bunch generally but like Ireland always up for a little chat, so long its not getting dark!

Australia is loud, brash and proud. A good place to come if you are young, eager, ambitious. If you want to go to a place that is full of opportunity then Australia for the most part will fit your bill. The pay here is a lot better than NZ. Same company, same job and I got a 50% pay rise. I found that I have a lot more in my pocket at the end of the month then NZ even adding to the fact that rent here is about 300% more expensive. Money just goes further here.

Australians can be a little in-personal and up themselves but generally they are approachable. Weather is better here but the summers can be heavy going sometimes. However, it is bliss when in the middle of winter you can go out for a jog while the sun is shining wearing a t shirt and shorts. Great urban vibe around the inner cities. Huge choice in food and bars. Some of the best dining in the world is in Sydney and the range is massive.

Lots of concerts and sporting events to go to. Most things close by, transport is OK! Sydney harbour is beautiful. One of the wonders of the world. Saying all that, I am not sure if I would settle here and live here all my life. I would see myself living in the future in NZ rather then Sydney but I think a good happy medium would be Melbourne.

In Summary both places have their pros and cons. As I said try both!

i worked in rural new zealand for a short while a number of years ago , people are good natured but they do have a pretty remarkable attitude to complaints , they seem to take great offense

roof leaking = stop whining
brakes dont work on my bike = stop whining
im frozen solid at night , may i have an electric heater = stop whining

bee_keeper

pclancy wrote: »

I think Wellingtonians are very much more cultured and friendly then some of their rurual or southern couisins. Even drive 30 minutes up the road towards Upper Hutt or the Wairarapa and they become a totally different, much more redneck farmy types that drink and fight hard. I've played gigs all over the place and the difference in crowds between Wellington and the rural towns was almost like two differnet countries

Aucklanders I found more Aussie like, maybe also a bit more materialistic then people from other centres. Auckland feels a lot like Brisbane to me. Wellington like a 1970s Melbourne. Thats antoher thing, Wellington's fashion or "Cuba street culture" is totally stuck in the 70s

Im thinking about moving to Oz for a year before I'm too old and then coming back to NZ with a wad of cash to buy a place and then go travel elsewhere. All depending on my NZ residancy actually coming through before I die

i didnt spend long in wellington but i liked it a lot

i didnt like christchurch at all , i liked the south island for a holiday but would much perfer to live on the north island

agree with the poster who pointed to the similaritys with scotland , kiwis seem to love scotland and scots are very plentifull in the country , stands to reason i suppose , historically speaking , the irish primarily went to australia while the scots went to new zealand , i would say scotland is the country which most resembles new zealand , while i met plenty of irish backpackers in new zealand , a long established irish community appeared pretty non existant , might be due to new zealand being so much more pro british than australia traditionally

pclancy

bee_keeper wrote: »

i worked in rural new zealand for a short while a number of years ago , people are good natured but they do have a pretty remarkable attitude to complaints , they seem to take great offense

roof leaking = stop whining
brakes dont work on my bike = stop whining
im frozen solid at night , may i have an electric heater = stop whining

Lol my first landlord in Wellington was like that too. Winter comes and his 1940s wooden bungalow gets down to less then 10 degrees yet we're not allowed turn on the gas heater and instead need to stop whining, put on two jumpers and go collect some pine cones to burn.

sanbrafyffe

having been in both countries i have to admit i preferred nz more