Hi there - Brit, 23, coming to NZ. Few questions for you all. Thanks

[Rickie]

Hi,

My name's Rickie. How we all doing? :scooter:

Just finished college, going to travel to NZ on a working hol visa, hope to study and stay for a few years.

Few questions really...

- Is there a seperate motorcycle test (like the UK, which i have passed)? Are there any restrictions etc.

- Secondly, any of you guys manage a training school and fancy hiring a 23 year old Brit with 7 years riding experience? Hehe.:innocent:

- Auckland or Christchurch. At first glance, i'm thinking Auckland because it's bigger, more urban evironment (which I like) but my Kiwi mates I met in Melbourne all swear by Christchurch.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Stay safe on the roads!

Rickie

[kwakalover]

Hey Rickie,

there is a seperate motorcycle test here but if you have a full uk one that won't be a problem, you're supposed to get a kiwi one after a year but i've been here 5 yrs now and still riding on my uk one, been stopped heaps too, nobody seems to mind.

can't give too much of an opinion on aucks or chrch, i like both, only had a flying visit in chrch, loved it though, auckland is just so much bigger - you can get anything there!

take care:rockon:

[Rickie]

Hey kwakalover,

Thanks for the reply. How are you doing? I'd be really appreciative if you could tell me what your thoughts are about NZ in comparsion to the UK (Yorkshire boy here:yes:)? 5 years..are you perm based in NZ now?

Excellent news on the license front. Sorry for all the questions hehe.

Thanks,

Rickie

[kwakalover]

ooh that could take some time, i'm gonna have to do some work now but i'll post a decent reply to that one later,

i am permanatly based here now, although not entirely through choice,

don't mind the questions, and i'm doing real good thanks,

chat later

[Hawkeye]

If you have a full UK then you will just need to do a scratchy test, stump up with the dollars and you will be sweet. The test consists of a multiple choice 35 (or 36) question scratch card. Your allowed to get 2 of the first 30 wrong but cannot get more than 2 wrong in total. (if that makes sense).
From memory, you should not have to do the practical. Even if you do have to do it, it is so easy compared to the UK test. Anyone riding for 7 years should just breeze through it.

There is an on-line test you can do which has all of the questions you can ever be asked. There are 20 different scratchy cards which you will be given one.
I will try and find the link. It will give you an idea of what it entails.

When you coming over?

(Geordie boy here - been here 14 years)

[Rickie]

Hey Hawkeye,

I've just moved back to Yorkshire a month ago after living in Newcastle for 3.5 years! Class place!

I'm hoping to be in NZ for Jan 2010 latest. (Flight was booked and sorted for this Friday gone, but sadly had to cancel)

Excellent news on the bike front:woohoo:. How did you end up in NZ? My original plan is to end up staying in either Aus or NZ, having done Aus for a year, I feel i'd like to give a NZ a try for atleast a year or two. People I know who have been love the place!

Thanks,

Rickie

[magicmonkey]

If you have a full UK then you will just need to do a scratchy test, stump up with the dollars and you will be sweet. The test consists of a multiple choice 35 (or 36) question scratch card. Your allowed to get 2 of the first 30 wrong but cannot get more than 2 wrong in total. (if that makes sense).
From memory, you should not have to do the practical. Even if you do have to do it, it is so easy compared to the UK test. Anyone riding for 7 years should just breeze through it.

There is an on-line test you can do which has all of the questions you can ever be asked. There are 20 different scratchy cards which you will be given one.
I will try and find the link. It will give you an idea of what it entails.

When you coming over?

(Geordie boy here - been here 14 years)

You don't even need to do the scratchy any more, just rock up to the AA with some ID and your license, it costs about 45 bucks and you can transfer all your UK licenses to a kiwi one..

[martybabe]

You don't even need to do the scratchy any more, just rock up to the AA with some ID and your license, it costs about 45 bucks and you can transfer all your UK licenses to a kiwi one..

Is that a recent change cause I want to transfer my truck license but didn't because I would have had to take two more scratchies on top of the 3 I'd already taken plus a medical. If I can just pay to transfer now I'd be interested :yes:

Oh. Hi Brit23. Brummy here mate, two years in NZ and loving it. Apart from a little bit of bureaucracy (see above) and 1 million and one little differences, which all add to the flavour, you will have a ball. It's a bit like Yorkshire but measurably better in most aspects. Come on down Mate :yes:

[ynot slow]

Is that a recent change cause I want to transfer my truck license but didn't because I would have had to take two more scratchies on top of the 3 I'd already taken plus a medical. If I can just pay to transfer now I'd be interested :yes:

Oh. Hi Brit23. Brummy here mate, two years in NZ and loving it. Apart from a little bit of bureaucracy (see above) and 1 million and one little differences, which all add to the flavour, you will have a ball. It's a bit like Yorkshire but measurably better in most aspects. Come on down Mate :yes:

Marty,with our class2-5(heavy trade)you have to have a medical if the last one was more than 5 years ago,great scheme dreamt up by boffins colluding with doctors.As we have 10 year licenses,if you want to keep your heavy trade class you have to undergo the medical at a cost and then pay for license.Am about to do my class 4 asap,but my license was renewed only 2 years ago so don't need medical.

[magicmonkey]

Is that a recent change cause I want to transfer my truck license but didn't because I would have had to take two more scratchies on top of the 3 I'd already taken plus a medical. If I can just pay to transfer now I'd be interested :yes:

I haven't checked out the HGV stuff as I haven't got one myself but the form does have a check box for it.

Having said that, just checked the site, looks like you'll have to do a scratchy but no practical:

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

there's loads of sites with the practice scrathy's on though and if you could pass one in the UK you'll piss all over the test here!

[martybabe]

Marty,with our class2-5(heavy trade)you have to have a medical if the last one was more than 5 years ago,great scheme dreamt up by boffins colluding with doctors.As we have 10 year licenses,if you want to keep your heavy trade class you have to undergo the medical at a cost and then pay for license.Am about to do my class 4 asap,but my license was renewed only 2 years ago so don't need medical.


I haven't checked out the HGV stuff as I haven't got one myself but the form does have a check box for it.

Having said that, just checked the site, looks like you'll have to do a scratchy but no practical:

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

there's loads of sites with the practice scrathy's on though and if you could pass one in the UK you'll piss all over the test here!

Cheers guys, I shall have to study for the scratchy cause at first glance a lot of your rules are different to the uk, I'm on it, thanks again :niceone:

[Rickie]

Thanks for the replies guys!

So how does the expense of biking compare?

When I was in Aus I noticed bikes seemed significantly more expensive than the UK, though I guess this is understandable given the geography and population, is it similar?

Hmmm can't wait.

The roads good? I imagine so.:yes: Hope there aint too many doddery cage drivers around to ruin the fun.:scooter:

[GOONR]

Hey!

I've been over here 5 years and love it, I'm in Auckland "more urban", urban in NZ is very different to urban in the Uk.

If you have a full Uk license you will be ok for 1 year then you will need a kiwi license but should just be able to hand over the dollars. Info here (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html)

Come on over, you will be in time for the sunshine :sunny:

[Slyer]

When I was in Aus I noticed bikes seemed significantly more expensive than the UK, though I guess this is understandable given the geography and population, is it similar?
The cost is probably a bit more than Australia... but we have a much more diverse terrain to explore. :bleh:

[martybabe]

Thanks for the replies guys!

So how does the expense of biking compare?

When I was in Aus I noticed bikes seemed significantly more expensive than the UK, though I guess this is understandable given the geography and population, is it similar?

Hmmm can't wait.

The roads good? I imagine so.:yes: Hope there aint too many doddery cage drivers around to ruin the fun.:scooter:

I think new bikes work out a bit cheaper than the UK and second hand seem on a par or slightly more expensive, not such a throw away society here though so there are plenty of serviceable oldy but goldys still whizzing round and insurance seems cheaper too. You may be surprised to find some bikes, long extinct in the UK, still being sold as new models here. Over all I think biking is a bit cheaper here than the UK but I'm sure there will be exceptions to the rule for sure.

The roads, oh the roads. They take you to some of the most beautiful places on earth and there are sweepers to die for but...by and large, outside the big cities, the road surfaces are cheap and awful. Tar and chip everywhere, which means loose gravel aplenty and molten tar in all the wrong places come summer. That said, it's one of the best places I've ever ridden, prepare to adapt a little and you'll have a mighty fine time. :yes:

[TOTO]

Hey Rickie, give me a yell when you get to Auckland and I'll show ya some real nice roads. Really :yes:


The most expensive segment of the motorbike market seems to be the 250cc because everyone is obliged to go trough this in order to get their full licence. Since you have your full from UK you should be fine with the big bike prices tho. You can sometimes get real good deals :)

Giz a yell when you get some wheels, I show ya round :niceone:

edit: when are you coming over ?

[Slyer]

The most expensive segment of the motorbike market seems to be the 2500cc because everyone is obliged to go trough this in order to get their full licence.
Toto's mistakes are always big ones. :bleh:

[munterk6]

Forget the North Island....come to ChCh and the best motorcycling country in THE WORLD!!!! The South is wicked, little traffic and scenery to die for, seriously. only thing is..do we really need more poms in the S.I?
Spose you lot aren't tooooooo bad (compared to Afghan refugees lmfao):woohoo:

[McJim]

All depends what you actually want to get out of New Zealand. If you like urban areas you will find Auckland uncomfortably rural - after living in London & Glasgow I found it very quaint. Christchurch is a bit of a smog pit and there are huge numbers of wankers trying to intimidate the general public with their boom boxes and lowered cars. They don't have the same stringent laws regarding vehicles and modifications as the UK so there are huge numbers of death traps being driven by 15 year olds with no skill or experience.

Insurance is not mandatory so you wil also get a couple of bikes written off from under you by people who will then proceed to pay you $5 per week for the next 115 years.

Give way laws are a bit vague and generally the guy with the bigger car and most dents wins.

Some pome people love the place though so who knows.

[TOTO]

Well said McJim

[ceebie13]

Forget the North Island....come to ChCh and the best motorcycling country in THE WORLD!!!! The South is wicked, little traffic and scenery to die for, seriously. only thing is..do we really need more poms in the S.I?
Spose you lot aren't tooooooo bad (compared to Afghan refugees lmfao):woohoo:

Hey Rickie...
Have you ever been to Milton Keynes? Well Christchurch is like that. All grid roads and poor signage. And it takes a good two hours (at the national speed limit) to get off the Canterbury Plain from central CHCH before you see any twisties... oh, apart from Akaroa.
Seriously though... you'll love it here. Great riding, great scenery, great people, great chicks....ouch!! sorry love - didn't see you there.

Wellingtonian Pom with sore head..

[Rickie]

Hey Toto,

Thanks for the offer bud, i'll give you a shout.

I think around 3 months max, should be in Australia at the mo (fam. in Melbs) but finances kicked me in the balls...had a flight booked & everything but really need an extra £1k or 2 for security.

The reason I think Auckland is because my first priority is to find work(web/graphic/garment design) and a college to do a part time course. I'm a Yorkshire boy, so obviously love a bit of countryside (part of the attraction of NZ)

Awesome, sounds like y'all having fun on the roads. Has NZ been hit by the stringent 2stroke emissions laws we have here in the UK?

Thinking a DRZ or XR and slowly build it up to a basic SM spec over the year. Then if settled in get a 600 or import my RS125.

Thanks for all the replies and positive attitude guys, much appreciated!

[kwakalover]

i'd agree with martybabe about the roads, there's probably some of the best roads for bikes in the world over here, some are bumpy and crap, wouldn't want to go balls out until you've done the road at least once, but some of them are just made in heaven, sweeping bends with amazing veiws through mountains, coast and forests. i toured the north and south island with a mate on a KTM adventurer and it was just amazing.

that said i'm not sure if i would live here again given the choice, i have a 3 yr old daughter with my ex wife over here so i'll never leave now, but maybe i would if i could, its a great country if you like the sea, fishing and rugby, its what absolutely everything seems to revolve around out here, i loathe all 3 which is probably why i'm not keen on the culture.

the ppl are great, much freindlyer (is that a word?) than in the UK, although you'll find just as many brits and s.africans as kiwi's anyway.

there's heaps of little differences too, like the population is so small there's alot of stuff you can't get or have difficulty getting, take bikes, there must be loads of replica fairing suppliers in the UK, last time i tried you could get virtually anything for any bike, out here there's one!, same with lots of other bits, its really hard to get parts for alot of older bikes, i have an 86 cbr4 and a 90 zx10 and its almost impossible.

its like that with other stuff too, but theres heaps of good points about the place, i came over with alot of my family, most of them think its heaven over here, i can take it or leave it and my brother hated it so much he left after 6 months - i guess you just have to come over and find out.

PS if you love pot noodles (i'm guilty) DON'T come, you can't get them!

[TOTO]

Two websites you may wanna check regarding bike prices:

www.trademe.co.nz - most popular place. Private sales + Dealers

www.motorcycletrader.co.nz - mainly dealer listings

That will give you a feel for the market.

[rapid van cleef]

Hey. heres a few negatives, but on the whole, we love it here. Bikes are way more expensive here generally, than in UK. 2nd hand bikes hold thier value for a long time but insurance is very very cheap and you can do track days on your regular insurance usually(as long as there is no timing involved) I have seen the same bike model I sold in uk for 1100 quid 3 years ago, sell here on trade me for double that. Traffic cops can turn round here........theres no barrier up the middle on most roads. There are very few dual carriage ways like in the UK. which i forgot about and got me 1st ticket after being in NZ for 6 weeks. Cops here are red hot on speeding, not anywhere near as forgiving as in UK. The requirements for passing driving tests here is , well, not as strict as it is in the uk........lots of people have no indicators on their cars(apparently) and the give way rule does not appear to apply on most roundabouts. Public transport is non existant really(compared to UK) People here are generally way nicer than in UK. We can leave our car unlocked , doors unlocked, kids can play out and go off wandering in the supermarket and its not an issue here. I wouldnt let anything out of my site in UK. You get used to not being able to get certain things and the great weather for months and months more than makes up for sitting in traffic jams everywhere in the uk despite being able to get anything that you want.but you have to que for it in UK. Supermarket queues here are laughable, i remember standing in line for over and hour and a half during christmas time in uk at the supermarket...that never happens here. most shops look like they are about to close down as they are so empty compared to uk....thats great.no queues!!!! Sky tv is crap here. During the summer you will not be indoors much. When my dad came to visit he was amazed that there was no 'english type / country pubs' somthing i had not noticed, but i have not found any yet. Use the expat forums in the UK and keep doing your research. a few things have changed about the process since we moved here 3 years ago. all said and done, I wouldnt go back to UK except to visit family n friends. The quality of life here is generally way higher than in UK, not really cheaper, just different in terms of what you can do for free/ cheap and how accessable things are. Oh, And we are from Newcastle.

[martybabe]

i'd agree with martybabe about the roads,


PS if you love pot noodles (i'm guilty) DON'T come, you can't get them!


Hey. heres a few negatives, . Oh, And we are from Newcastle.


I've deleted most of what Kwakalover and rapid van cleef posted purely to save space but I suggest you read both posts in full because in all honesty, I've never read better accounts of what life here is like for us pommy immigrants.

Of course we all see things a little differently but those two posts combined are honest, well expressed, well observed, and pretty darned accurate in my Opinion . Well done guys :niceone:

P.s. Pak n save do a very tasty braised beef substitute pot noodle thing, It's from China I think so no actual food products are contained in it, but tasty! :yes:

[kwakalover]

Hey Martybabe, cheers for that,

are the noodles nice fat ones or the skinny one that makes it look like your eating human hair??

[Rickie]

Yo, Rickie here..

Thanks for all the replies, I'm overwhelmed by the responses! I will try answer each one throughout the week..

First off, the replies from this board have been amazing - never thought there were that many Brits riding in NZ, (but hey, we're all Brits at heart!)

Thanks,

Rickie

[Slyer]

(but hey, we're all Brits at heart!)
Fuck off! British scumbags. :bleh:

[davereid]

Insurance is not mandatory so you wil also get a couple of bikes written off from under you by people who will then proceed to pay you $5 per week for the next 115 years.


I dont agree with you about that Jim, I would hate third party insurance to be compulsory.

Here why.

1. It's not compulsory so its bloody cheap.
3rd party on my 650 is $65 per year. It would be $650 - $2000 like it is anywhere else if it were compulsory.

2. Even if it was compulsory, it wont help.
You can be sure that the guy who hits you wont have paid it, will be over the drink drive limit, or will have breached the terms of his licence, and his claim will be declined, leaving it back with you.

3. As long as you have third party insurance you are covered.
Most insurers will pay for repairs to your bike and get the loot from the at fault party even if you only have third party cover.

Please leave this one alone, we are well served by our third party laws !

[chasio]

Another expat here, lived in Yorkshire for many a year m'sen but escaped here from the South East getting on 6 years ago.

The people may be friendlier than you're used to if you move here from south-east England to anywhere outside Auckland, but I loved Yorkshire and Auckland is nowhere near as friendly on the whole (KB excepted) as the original God's Own County, nor the rest of NZ. Auckland is also a relatively expensive place to get a house.

The driving approach is a lot less co-operative in NZ generally than in Britain with more aggression overall. If the UK population drove like they do here, there would be constant gridlock and blood-letting. Luckily outside greater Auckland they're aren't many people to muck things up.

Also, if you're a gay vegetarian, stay in Britain as you will feel a complete outsider everywhere except Ponsonby (AKL suburb).

Otherwise get over here because, minor niggles aside, this is a fabulous place to live. I won't be going back and they can't even kick me out now as I have citizenship.
:2thumbsup

And if you fancy a bit of dual sport / ADV riding, this is a bloody good place for it. And that's just on the main highways...

[Geemsee]

Thanks for the replies guys!

So how does the expense of biking compare?

When I was in Aus I noticed bikes seemed significantly more expensive than the UK, though I guess this is understandable given the geography and population, is it similar?

Hmmm can't wait.

The roads good? I imagine so.:yes: Hope there aint too many doddery cage drivers around to ruin the fun.:scooter:

Roads are great.... once you get out of the city(s) that is!! There's some strange driving 'techniques' over here; cars/vans trucks undertaking is pretty scarey when you're not used to it!!

The cops seem to have little to do (relatively speaking), so they WILL pull you for speeding (+10kph over) but they mainly concentrate on the motorways so when you get out in the sticks you should be ok as long as you don't go tearing through towns at Mach1.

Oh, If you're still on your UK licence it will be a (hefty) fine as they can't put the points on btw!

New bikes are a little cheaper than in the UK, secondhand ones hold their value a lot better though.

So, NZ or UK??! I've been here for 18 months and I aint going back....unless they deport me! :innocent:

[Rickie]

Hey people,

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Muchly appreciated!

Well I finish my p/t college course next month, so ideally looking to leave after summer (World Cup n all...), possibly Sept, early Oct. Just wondering how does the weather of NZ compare to that of N.E UK?

Going to stay in a hostel in Auckland for a bit to find my feet and search for work...so if any of you guys know of anywhere that's looking for web/graphic designers or barmen give me a shout hey?! Hehe.

Won't get a bike until I get work, but was wondering if you guys have organised rideouts/pub meets, going to be alone and be nice to meet bikers (we all know bikers can talk bike chat forever )!

Anyway, stay safe all.

Rickie

[triple-bee]

Forget the North Island....come to ChCh and the best motorcycling country in THE WORLD!!!! The South is wicked, little traffic and scenery to die for, seriously. only thing is..do we really need more poms in the S.I?
Spose you lot aren't tooooooo bad (compared to Afghan refugees lmfao):woohoo:




Yes u do, we rock