Christmas in New Zealand

[PROUDNWLIBERAL]

It's Christmas here in New Zealand. We are under the leadership of a women Prime Minister. We have recently passed into law a Civil Union law. We now have no forces in Iraq. Our unemployment is at 2.8% and we have a surplus in the budget. How's Amerika doing?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our American friends from an ex-patriot. God it's nice to live in a progressive nation. My wife just found out she will be getting a 20% raise over the next two years as a nurse here in New Zealand. When my wife first started work one of the first things her boss asked is when she wanted to take time off. What a really neat country!!! We need more progressives down here if your tired of the B.S. in Amerika. The people are great here!!! Come on down!!! The very best to you and your families.

[Florida_Geek]

1. Big Tear .... I did not win the Lotto

Every year I look at World Cruises that include New Zealand.

Great country from what I have been told. And the Lord of the Rings showed off the mountains well.

Merry Christmas and have a great new year.

[chapel hill dem]

4. Check out the immigration and tax policies

We looked at moving there in 95 after a terrific vacation to NZ and AUS.

It takes three years to qualify for citizenship, which can be held jointly with US citizenship. Immigration is done based on a point system. My wife is a RN/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and her "points" would have put us at the top of the list. As an engineer I would have gotten a few points, but not many. Additionally, visitors cannot stay in NZ for more than 90 days unless they qualify for citizenship or have a waiver.

Their tax policies are all based on cause:effect. They want people to live in villages with little need for cars, so they tax cars something like 50% or 100%, making even the smallest car quite expensive. They want lots of small businesses so there is NO capital gains tax if you invest in a NZ company. Income taxes are fairly high to pay for social services but the service you get is very good.

They still have problems like burning coal in home fireplaces every night which causes dense black clouds of pollution in the evening beginning at 5 PM, but the winds clear that out by morning.

Great memories...

(BTW, all of the above is based on 9 year old info. I would be interested to hear any updates)

[0007]

2. I visited Auckland once.

I remember flying into New Zealand, from the air that day New Zealand looked like a green emerald lying on a beautiful blue velvet cloth.

[MaineDem]

3. Meri Kirihimete

And Kia Ora...my very few words in Maori!

You're living in one of my most favo(u)rite places in the world!

However, this will probably locked for not being LBN.

[KlatooBNikto]

5. I can't believe it! If I wasn't long on the tooth and want to be near my

grandkids, I would jump at your invitation. I will still plan on visiting.Thanks and Merry XMas!

[bikebloke]

6. I tried about 13 years ago

At the time, there wasn't any work to be found. I brought my bike and trekked around both islands. Loved it. I wanted to immigrate to proper way, though afterwards I wished I was less honest and hunkered down illegally. If there was a way, I'd still shift there. A freind of a friend was thinking of marrying me so I could stay. She wanted teh reciprocal right to come to the evil empire. I tried talking her out wanting to come here. But then she found a new girl friend, deciding to stay put.

While exloring the hills outside Christchurch, I chatted with a bloke who was an unemployed architect. He said, "If you have to be down and out, it's best to be down and out downundah." That's a good take on the society.

[liberalmom]

7. Something to consider.

I'm tired of this stupid country. I wish I could leave.

[cire4]

8. Apparently New Zealand is the most secular country in the world

I read a statistic where less than 15% of the residents actively practice a religion and an even lower number believe in God.

Sounds fundy-free to me!

[Ladyhawk]

11. That's where I belong...not here. :( :( :( :( n/t

[Ladyhawk]

9. Hey, I've seen very few nature documentaries done in NZ.

I know you have the kiwi, the kakapo (ground parrot), kakarikis and those cute little long-beaked parrots that tear up cars in the parking lots of ski resorts. Their name escapes me, but it begins with a "k" too...oh wait, the kea. :) Very cute and very destructive.

New Zealand is known mostly for its birds. Is there other wildlife of note?

P.S. I am more jealous of you than words can describe. My country died and I'm on social security. They want to dismantle it...um, how are you?

[roguevalley]

10. my uncle used to live in Aukland. I love NZ. Wish I was there.

Merry Christmas down there. :)