Just a few of the differences that we’ve found between the UK and NZ

General

Morning and afternoon tea are sacred times of the day here. Everything will be organized around these times – especially morning tea (around 10 - 10.30am)

Kiwi time is dominant here – whenever is another word for it. Things usually get done but in their own sweet time. This is good for handing in planning etc!!!!

Shopping

When you go to the supermarket the cashier always packs your groceries for you and ask you how your day is going (and usually means it too).

NZ uses dollars and cents and the smallest coin is the 5 cent, this means they also use the Swedish rounding system (if you shop at IKEA you’ll know what we mean). So depending on whether you use EFTPOS (debit card) or cash will depend on whether you pay the actual price ie. $9.38 or $9.40. This will change again in the next year or two as 5 cent coins are being phased out.

Although there are lots of big chain stores there are many more smaller shops which use the franchise system – so they use the name but are entirely independently run.

Eating and drinking

When you’re invited to friends for a meal ‘bring a plate’ means bring something to share, and take your own alcohol to drink (which no-one else will touch unless invited). We think this is why everyone goes out so often – because it’s not expensive in money or preparation time.

When in a restaurant giving a tip is not expected – actually it’s not expected anywhere – hairdresser, hotel, taxi’s etc – so no stressing about whether you have any change or whether you give enough.

School

Kids tend not to wear shoes or jandals in school. They wear them to school then they’re left outside the classroom lined up along the wall ready for home time (they certainly don’t wear them at playtime). Actually kids tend not to wear footwear most of the time – shopping, doctors, library, visiting etc – all happen barefoot.

On the road

All petrol stations will fill your car for you (apart from the occasional self serve supermarket station)

Trying to find a house number out of the city is difficult too, as they work on the premise of how far the house is from the junction with the main road. The house number will be the distance in metres (or 10's of metres) from the junction. So although there are only 7 houses where our section is, our house number is probably going to be No 153 (we are next door to No 141) because of the length of the lane. It’s very easy to drive past the house you’re looking for as there’s no sequence.

The rules of the road are similar to the UK – with one important difference. All traffic turning right has right of way over opposite traffic turning left – confusing??? Well if you were on a main road trying to turn left and a car coming towards you wanted to turn into the same road as you they would have priority and should be able to turn in ahead of you. However traffic coming up behind you doesn’t always bother to stop and wait behind you – causing confusion!!!

Beware if you’re a pedestrian crossing at the lights – because usually the lights say you can cross at the same time as the lights turn to green for traffic turning left – so cars edge forward slowly waiting for people to cross the road – it can cause slight anxiety when you’re not used to it!

Invariably when driving along the road (out of the city) you can see birds of prey circling their next snack.

Personalised number plates are very common here too.

Leisure

Going out for the day can be expensive if you do the tourist thing but tends to be free if you visit local places i.e. Hamilton Gardens is free for everyone – and it’s much bigger than Birmingham Botanical gardens!

Oh and when you go out you have to be prepared for at least three seasons – so take your sunglasses, sunblock and sunhat, raincoat, brolly and a fleece – just incase.

Golf is BIG here – every small village has at least one golf course. Beware though – the golf course can also be used for other things. Pirongia Boxing Day races was held at the Golf course – with the track following the fairway (we can hear all you golfing fanatics gasping!!!) and you may find the lawnmowers (sheep) on the fairway.

Country v City life

It’s normal to keep chooks or goats in the country – everyone’s been asking what we’re going to have. The chooks for eggs (not meat) and the goats to keep the grass down.

Living in the country means space but living in the city is not good if you want privacy. The fences aren’t tall enough so it’s possible to sit on the deck and see the next door neighbour in his spa (naked)!

We’ve been adapting our garden plans as some of the plants that we wanted are considered pests like privet, pampas, periwinkle, buddleia, cotoneaster, some heathers, honeysuckles, jasmines and ivies (some are even banned by local councils).

Health

Going to the doctors can be expensive as you have to pay for appointments. Then again you get the doctors full attention and appointment times tend to be long (15 minutes or so). Hospital services are free but you still get the same quality of time and attention – from a consultant and a nurse.

For exercise many people speed walk each day – either alone or in groups. You can see them stepping out along the road at a good pace either before work, at lunchtime or in the afternoon (after work) – people don’t tend to work late.

Language

Word differences – trousers are called pants, sweets are lollies, wellies are gumboots, a punnet is a chip (so you buy a chip of strawberries), chickens are chooks, sandals are jandals and when you want to tell someone off you ‘growl’ them.

If you want some milk you pop down to the dairy or superette not the corner shop.

Kiwis tend to ‘switch’ their vowels around or so it seems to British ears. So when someone says they’re decorating their deck (patio) it sounds like ‘they’re dicorating their dick’ (mmmmmm)!

Finally - using language such as ‘bugger’ is considered normal and it’s common to hear kids using these words (so don’t think about visiting NZ if you will be offended by this or worried that your children will pick up bad habits).