Should I move to NZ?

[Two Cakes]

Hello
I'm a Brit who's thinking about coming to live and work in NZ, but I can't decide. I know about all of the "outdoors" stuff to do - walking and climbing and junk - but I am not really a "running about in the sun" type of a guy. I'm more of a "loud band in a dark nightclub" sort. What is there for me in NZ, particularly in Auckland? What's the NZ/Auckland punk scene like? What about theatre and events and stuff? I live near Leeds in the UK, which has all sorts of venues and bands. Would I be bored out of my mind if I don't want to go dangling off mountains?
I'd really appreciate any help.
Cheers
TC

[rex]

yeah you'd probably get bored real fast...just being honest

[Rob Anybody]

youd probably enjoy NZ for a year or two, the main cities, theres a decent nightlife in auckland and wellington, but the rest is a bit of a write-off if youre not into the mountains, everyone in NZ pretty much spends 95% of their time in the mountains doing mountain stuff.

[Phlegm]

Agree with Rex, I have no idea what Leeds is like but I'd give NZ three months tops unless you have a high boredom threshold.

This post was not brought to you by the NZ tourism department.

[your fucking funeral]

id say otherwise, if you come to purangi theres plenty to do aye rexy

[Marrow]

new zealand doesnt even have cities, just interconnected warrens of mountain caves, so if you have a fear of heights or a dislike of mountain dangling, you wouldnt enjoy it that much.

[Danny Morrissey]

Generally bands to see most thurs, fri, sat, although since the pool of bands will probably be smaller you might see the same ones over. Theatre etc is alright.. in general there's something in Auckland to do most nights if you can afford it.

NZ is good for a combo of mountain/indoor shit, don't know how well it stands alone on just city shit.

Auckland does have lulls in the action, most of us get around this by getting fucking stoned then hanging out in the mountains.

[Rob Anybody]

Auckland does have lulls in the action, most of us get around this by getting fucking stoned then dangling out in the mountains.

fixt

[cheese]

Try Melborne instead TC

[Grave Dancer]

yeah, i hear melborne has a distinct lack of mountains to dangle off

[Ice-P]

Auckland is a fair bit larger than Leeds (population wise: well over 1m) so there is a decent number of bands to go and see out there. On any given weekend, you can usually find at least one decent show. There's an ethnically-mixed population with a lot of Polynesian and Asian communities. Good curry is widely available. The weather in winter will remind you of home. It's great in summer though, like one of those places you English like to go on holidays. Perfect for chilling out in the mountains or rappelling down the cliffs to the beach. It's easy to get to the South Island (yeah there is a North Island too, brilliant names eh?) which has the fantastic Southern Alps (we really go all out with those names). There aren't so many massively tall mountains in Auckland, but there is a volcanic cone in pretty much every neighborhood. Getting stoned on top of those is a popular pastime. If you really like flat, go to Christchurch.

[rex]

id say otherwise, if you come to purangi theres plenty to do aye rexy

haha thats if youre a person that makes things happen for yourself i guess.

[Fearful_Jesuit]

Don't listen to the naysayers. Auckland is oarsum. Unless you're too trendy for anything but the latest thing, in which case we don't want you either.

A lot of people doing the working holiday thing are finding it harder to get jobs at the moment due to the economic situation, but its not as dire here yet.

You will probably appreciate the change of pace. Many of the brits I've known to come over, don't want to go back.

If you're nice, Punkas will look after you too.

[xTOMHOGANx]

The mountains in Auckland aren't all that big or impressive,minimum dangling opportunities,Mt Dero in purangi is pretty good,ufo's and shit up there I hear.

And apparently Auckland is full of "Metalcore Spritecore fucks" so if you have any idea what that means you might wana steer clear or move here immediately...I'm not really sure.

[Ice-P]

By the way, this is how you get on the Internet in the mountains in New Zealand:




Hope this helps!

[Agnes]

Auckland is a fair bit larger than Leeds (population wise: well over 1m) so there is a decent number of bands to go and see out there.

Thing is Ice, Leeds is a University town so heaps more bands per capita than auckland I'd say. when i was there there was HEAPS of heaps good bands playing and lots of towns not too far away with other Heaps good bands and heaps good venues. in short Leeds is heaps meaner than Auckland.

[CFH]

who cares gigs are so gay and boring anyway. much rather dangle about in the mountains anyday. not that I have a choice, living in NZ.

[Ben Fats]

[Ice-P]

Auckland is a fair bit larger than Leeds (population wise: well over 1m) so there is a decent number of bands to go and see out there.

Thing is Ice, Leeds is a University town so heaps more bands per capita than auckland I'd say. when i was there there was HEAPS of heaps good bands playing and lots of towns not too far away with other Heaps good bands and heaps good venues. in short Leeds is heaps meaner than Auckland.

They have Gang of Four, we have mountains.

[Dead Kid]

The weather in winter will remind you of spring/autumn at home.

Fixed. In latitude terms, Auckland is on par with the south coast of Spain. No more sunset at 3:30pm. Paradise, at least in theory.

[Don Lope de Aguirre]

Good curry is widely available.

Another thing you need to know: when people in New Zealand talk about curry, they're not actually referring to the spicy Indian dish. So don't be surprised if a coupla homeys come up to you saying "wanna score some curry cuz?"

[cirE]

Hello
I'm a Brit who's thinking about coming to live and work in NZ, but I can't decide. I know about all of the "outdoors" stuff to do - walking and climbing and junk - but I am not really a "running about in the sun" type of a guy. I'm more of a "loud band in a dark nightclub" sort. What is there for me in NZ, particularly in Auckland? What's the NZ/Auckland punk scene like? What about theatre and events and stuff? I live near Leeds in the UK, which has all sorts of venues and bands. Would I be bored out of my mind if I don't want to go dangling off mountains?
I'd really appreciate any help.
Cheers
TC

shops close at around 5pm
maybe half a dozen shows fri/sat (that i would go to anyway), sometimes dece shows on thurs but i don't give a fuck about em usually unless big international

depends on how wide your taste/appreciation of diff shit is? and what you're expecting... i mean, i don't know fuckall about leeds, but if you're used to kickass skapunk shows 7 nights a week or something, i can tell you that don't happen here, but if your taste is diverse, there'll be shit worth checking out every weekend, with maybe a show with your favorite subgenre lineup every month or two

[hiv-positive]

Should probably be aware that the minimum wage here is $12.50/hr, which is like £4/hr?

Should probably bring as many £s as you can and make sure you've got an open return ticket, because unless you have sweet qualifications or a parasitic entrepreneurial spirit, you'll most likely be comparatively skint.

[skeetnigguh]

couldn't find any gigs this weekend so me and a few mates shot over to the mountains to dangle around and shit.
took a photo:

[BigNanaJez]

Auckland is poos, have you considered Australia? I'm sure someone else has made that suggestion by now. There is stuff to do here, but scenes and venues typically come and go.. NZ is currently in a lull after years of disestablishing the university events system

[Two Cakes]

Cheers for all the tips, people.
I don't know. I'm used to big cities and stuff, and I'm not especially bothered about beaches and mountains. I suppose really my question is: if I don't go to the beach/mountains is there stuff to do?
Oh yes, and I don't really fancy Australia because it seems a bit... Australian...

[JohnnyCakes]

Yeah with you on that.

Don't go getting big heads you bastards, but there's somethin a bit special about NZ and NZers, even if theres no money and the weather can be shit.

Lived half of the last twenty years out of NZ, and I still can't bring myself to leave the place for good,no matter that opportunities for me are WAY better overseas.

[bridge.]

Cheers for all the tips, people.
I don't know. I'm used to big cities and stuff, and I'm not especially bothered about beaches and mountains. I suppose really my question is: if I don't go to the beach/mountains is there stuff to do?
Oh yes, and I don't really fancy Australia because it seems a bit... Australian...

There was a young English couple with a 1-year visa in Christchurch. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, even though Christchurch was up to fuck all for a portion of that. I think they just spent a lot of time at the pub. But they dreaded having to go back.

The thing about there being not-that-much to do, is that when things do happen, they're extra exciting. And in the mean time, you make some sweet friends and get real drunk and have a good time regardless.

Guess it depends on how much effort you're willing to put in.

[Dick Dynamite]

There is also the advantage that (if its your bag) the punk shows in NZ, even Auckland, are much more 'underground' than many internationally - smaller crowds, house shows - dodgy venues that only last 2 gigs. Etc.

Like anywhere tis all what ya make of it anyway, if ya end up making some good friends down here I'm sure you'll enjoy it. *shrug*

[MuscleMan]

+ you are only subject to 2% tax for an legitimate income