Video Montage

Going through my phone, I realized that I  have a number of video clips to share from throughout New Zealand.  It's just a mish-mash, but it can give you a different perspective of life here (some may have been posted on Facebook before).

Professional rugby.  Scoring a "conversion" (2 pts.) after scoring the "try" (5 pts.) for the Wellington Hurricanes.

Sunset at Matarangi Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, northern part of the North Island.  Huge, wide and naturally clean beaches all over the country.

The tui, a popular bird in NZ, distinguished by the white tuft of feathers on its throat and the bizarre sounds it makes because of having 2 voice boxes!  "Tui" is also the name of a popular NZ beer.

Loved the Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula!

Hot air balloon ride over the Remarkables Mountain Range in the South Island, near Queenstown.

Cruising the Milford Sound, South Island . . . the 2nd wettest location on Earth!

A walk in the bush, the common "forests" found all around NZ.

And finally . . .

"THE HILL"

The locals call this "The Hill."  But it's actually the Rimutaka Mountain Range.  The biggest "hill" I've ever seen!  We have to cross it twice a week for Marlene's work in Masterton, her 2nd work site.  The videos just can't give you an idea of what this is like.  But for us Midwesterners, there's nothing like this!

"Merge Like a Zip"

Even more idiosyncrasies of daily life in New Zealand

We love this road sign.  It's pretty self-explanatory, that vehicles should merge one after another.  But it's just kooky!


Easter in New Zealand . . . isn't




This graphic says it all.  We were surprised at how the 4 day Easter weekend is very much regarded as a holiday get-away.  Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays and kiwis vacation.  Celebrating Christ's resurrection is not the #1 priority.
Interesting drinking laws too.  You cannot order alcoholic beverages at a restaurant, etc., on Good Friday UNLESS you will be eating a meal - and then only 1 hr. before to 1 hr. after eating the meal.

ANZAC Day



ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) Day is commemorated on April 25 every year and is a national holiday in Australia and New Zealand.  Comparable to our Memorial Day, it particularly honors  those Aussie and Kiwi soldiers involved in the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey during WWI.  This holiday seems very important to the kiwis.


and ANZAC cookies!!  (HAVE to mention these!)





Relatively common cookie in Australia and New Zealand, very prevalent around ANZAC Day.  Originally, these were cookies sent to the ANZAC troops during WWI because the ingredients would travel well to the battlefields.


Filing personal income taxes


Most kiwis don't!  It's not necessary!  They have a certain percentage taken out of their salaries and they call it even!  No hassles whatsoever.  How sweet is that!
By the way, their tax year is from April 1 - March 31.


Freedom camping



Unless marked as prohibited, you can camp for free virtually anywhere in New Zealand.  However, some freedom campers try to take advantage of commercial camp sites by sneaking in at night and using their facilities free of charge.  Obviously, very costly and controversial!


2 button toilets



Toilets don't have handles but instead, 2 buttons.  The smaller button (or the one on the left) is for half-flushes while the larger button (or the one on the right) is for full flushes.  Saves LOTS of water.


Earthquake benefit??



The November earthquake actually created ideal surfing conditions at Gooch Beach near Kaikoura, where the epicenter was.  Perfect for teaching youth how to surf!


No security checks!!



Flying on smaller flights domestically in New Zealand?  There are NO security checks!  


Cosmopolitan Clubs



Or "Cossie Clubs," are community social centers all over New Zealand.  After paying a very inexpensive membership fee, you can enjoy all the social benefits such as nice restaurants, bars, entertainment and gaming facilities.  Also, membership at one allows you to visit any other free of charge.


U turns



Are legal in New Zealand!  Do you know how nice that is, especially for those of us unfamiliar with the roads here??!


Free admission



Admission to all of New Zealand's national parks, monuments and museums is free.





OK, my 32 years in the classroom is at it again!!  Round 2.  Match the common kiwi word with their American equivalent (many have British roots).

  

Kiwi word                                              American word

1.  Manchester ______                          A.   landslide                 

2.  nappies _____                                   B.   OK

3.  slip  _____                                         C.   body repair shop

4.  trundle/trolley  _____                      D.   pharmacist

5.  panel beaters  _____                        E.   diapers

6.  fine  _____                                         F.   arugula

7.  chemist  _____                                  G.   shopping cart

8.  right  _____                                      H.  sheets/linens/napkins 

9.  rocket  _____                                    I.  clear (as in not cloudy                                                                      skies)

ANSWERS

1.  H  (Manchester, England once supplied NZ with                                virtually all their linens)

2.  E

3.  A

4.  G

5.  C

6.  I

7.  D

8.  B

9.  F

New Zealand's South Island, trip #1

***  To celebrate Marlene's February birthday, we went to the north part of the South Island for sailing . . . and more!

The city of Nelson, New Zealand's sunniest, is on the Tasman Bay.  The Dutchman Abel Tasman was the first westerner to "discover" New Zealand, not far from where Nelson is today.

The Cook Straits separate the North Island from the South Island.  The difference in weather is amazing.

Tasman Bay from our B&B

Sailing is a favorite of Marlene.  No better place to celebrate than Tasman Bay!

                              

          

And we do like to visit wineries.  Marlborough, east of Nelson, produces 75% of NZ's wine.  Check the label on a NZ wine in the States and it's most likely from Marlborough.

Well, "wine" not?  :-)

Waitangi Day

. . . is a national holiday celebrating the Maori, the natives of New Zealand.  Many Maori traditions still exist, such as the famous "haka" dance and the "marae," their traditional family clan.  There are nearly 1000 "marae" throughout NZ, but you must be invited to enter their tribal lands.

Entrance to a "maere" in Nelson

Small home in a "maere."

"Hangi," traditional Maori meal cooked on hot rocks in a pit

 

What's for tea?**

and other idiosyncrasies of life in New Zealand

**  (expression used for "what's for supper?"  Couldn't figure that out at all when our neighbor saw me preparing dinner one night, because I was NOT preparing tea and biscuits!)

This blog post is a bit different, noting differences between the Kiwi culture and that of the U.S.   There's even an interactive activity at the end!  Enjoy!

Heated towel racks in home bathrooms are the norm here, from well-to-do homes to modest homes.  Kinda nice!


Also . . . clothes lines to hang out laundry.  Everyone has them, from those well-to-do homes to modest homes and even apartments.  I'd bet they even out number regular clothes dryers.

This one blows me away.  Bare feet are common here in ALL public places - stores, libraries, churches, on the street.  Anywhere.  And it's not illegal.  Knocked the socks off (so to speak) of our kids too when they came to visit.

In driving, the big difference of course is driving on the left - and the steering wheel is on the right.  The "slow lane" is the left lane and the "passing lane" is on the right.  I know I've angered a few kiwis on that one! The police are very strict in enforcing speed limits, especially during holidays.  Go 5 km over the speed limit during holidays and expect a $30NZ ($21US) fine.  That's like getting a ticket going 68 mph in a 65 mph zone in the States!  How do I know this?  I got 3 tickets in the first 3 months here!! If you get a speeding ticket because of a camera - and they're all over here - the ticket comes in the mail but does NOT go against your record.  But being stopped by the police will.

The end of the school year is at Christmas, which is summer here.  Classes resume about 1 week into February.  Kids go to school about 180 days/year, as in the States.

So, it's about a 6 week summer break.  And those %*^#!  back-to-school ads start about 1 week after school is out!!  Poor kids. . .   Poor teachers!!!

Also, Christmas store hours are bizarre.  Many still close at 5 or 6 p.m., even on Saturdays!  That's unheard of in the US!

Prescription drugs are very inexpensive, even cheaper than ours in the States with a standard copay!  But if those drugs are not government subsidized, the prices are astronomical!!

Many times, over-the-counter medicines cost more than prescription medicines.

*Virtually every building uses corrugated metal roofing.  A few use clay tiles.  I have yet to see the traditional shingles as seen in the States.

*Retrieving a voice mail on your cell phone costs 40¢, no matter who your provider is or the plan that you have.


AND MY PET PEEVE . . .  😒

the abbreviation "NZ" for New Zealand is seen all over.  TVNZ (TV station), ANZ (prominent bank), even web sites (www.whatever.co.nz).  But when the kiwis say the letters aloud, they say "N Zid" and not "N Z" as you would expect.  So our bank is pronounced "A N Zid," not "A N Z."

Now, what the heck?  Everyone here knows that "NZ" refers to New Zealand.  That abbreviation shouldn't confuse anyone.  This would be like saying "U S Am" instead of "USA."  There's even a gas ("petrol") station here called "Z."  And yep, they call it "Zid."

As of yet, no one has given me an explanation as to why this is.  It just is. 😒

*** Now for some fun.  Match the kiwi expression on the left with the common term we use in the States on the right.  Answers, with some explanations, follow.  NO CHEATING :-)  And thanks for reading!!!

A.  sweet as                                            1. ___ sweet potato

B.  wheelie bin                                       2.___ bandaid

C.  kumara                                             3.___ big thank you

D.  jandals                                              4.___ garbage can

E.  plaster                                               5.___ green pepper 

F.  good on ya                                         6.___ holiday home

G. bach                                                    7.___ cooler

H. capsicum                                            8.___ awesome

I.  chilly bin                                             9.___ flip flops

1.  C  (Maori word)

2.  E

3.  F

4.  B (big cans with wheels to take to curb)

5. H  (biological term, from Latin)

6. G  (Welsh for "little", also possibly from"batchelor pad")

7. I

8. A

9. D  ("Japanese sandals")

Feeling a bit blue after the kids returned to the US from their Christmas visit here, we had to do something to make New Year's memorable.  So how about a . . .

ROAD TRIP!!!

To "The City of Sails" - Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city where 1.5 million live - virtually 33% of all of New Zealand!  It's very vibrant, chic and modern.  Much more cosmopolitan than its friendly rival city, the more "refined" Wellington.

A New Year's Eve cruise on the Auckland Harbor helped shake those blues.  Auckland is the first big city in the world to greet the day, so we were among the first to welcome 2017 - 18 hours ahead of Times Square in New York!  The famous Sky Tower, on the right, brought it in right.

OK, it's not Rozzi's from Cincinnati (boy, are we spoiled with those!!) but they were pretty and a very unique way to welcome 2017.


By the way, January 1 & 2 are official holidays in New Zealand so the normal workday won't start until the 3rd.  Should the 1st and/or 2nd fall on a weekend, those 2 days will be "made up" the following Monday and Tuesday, if needed.

Also, many restaurants levy a 15% surcharge for being open on holidays.

Breathtaking

Side Trip, part 2

A beautiful weekend to enjoy a one-hour side trip to Cape Palliser, New Zealand's southern-most point on the North Island.  Driving through the fabulous countryside, stopping at the Lake Ferry Hotel for New Zealand's best fish & chips and of course, checking out a few wineries!

Stunning wildflowers along the Cape Palliser coast . . .

. . . too gorgeous for words!

Over 250 steps to reach the lighthouse!

Cape Palliser lighthouse, still in use via computer in Wellington.  It's light can be seen 30 miles away.

Marlene at the southern-most point of New Zealand's North Island.  Love this pic!!

Side Trips, part 1

Weekends give us a chance to take side trips                          

around New Zealand.  On Labour Day Weekend
 in mid-October, which kicks off their summer here,
we headed to Napier and Hawke's Bay on the east    

Vineyard in Hawke's Bay

 coast of the North Island.
 For you wine enthusiasts,
you know that many New Zealand
wines we have in the States come
 from this area.

Hawke's Bay and the city of Napier were also struck by a  devastating earthquake in 1931, killing hundreds.   The city decided to rebuild itself in the Art Deco style which was so popular at the time.

To this day, downtown Napier has a 1930s-40s art deco feel about it, stores are crammed with vintage clothing, and the city celebrates every February with a huge Art Deco Festival, attended by thousands from around the world.

Art deco buildings in Napier today

30's fashions for the ladies . . .

 . . . and for the men!