Pride in New Zealand

[Blackbird]

There have been a few threads in recent times where people have either bagged NZ in general, roads, police and so on. Some of the criticism is well-deserved and long may it continue; some of it is not and as with most things, it depends upon on your perspective.

We’ve been hosting a couple from the UK who are both keen bikers (Blackbird owners of course :2thumbsup !) and it has been interesting to see the country through their eyes. They are well-travelled and can therefore presumably make balanced judgements. They were very complimentary about the scenery, the standard of roads compared with much of the UK and so on, but one remark they made was particularly telling. They thought that NZ’ers were the most friendly, open and generous-spirited people they’d ever come across. Fair brought a lump to my throat.

We get caught up in the daily crap that flies about and it’s interesting to occasionally get a reality check from people who are from elsewhere.

We don’t need the American style of ra-ra, but I reckon we’ve got an awful lot to be proud about. I don’t know about others, but I always feel awful when there are tv and newspaper reports about tourists having stuff nicked or being mugged – I take it personally.

Phew, that’s all a bit deep for a Tuesday, but wonder how many people have similar views? :done:

Geoff

[Big Dave]

Phew, that’s all a bit deep for a Tuesday, but wonder how many people have similar views? :done:

Geoff

Good for you - I've been trying to tell everyone you how good it is to be a biker here for ages.
(Even though I just got nicked half an hour ago for doing 66kph down Nelson Street on the Tbird :thud:)
bd

[Paul in NZ]

Could not agree more... And bloody good onya for saying so.

It's a damn fine place made better.

Paul N

[RubberSideDown]

Ive done a fair bit of travelling overseas and I quite honestly say that Nz is one of THE best places in the world.

I can think of no other place that I would want to grow old and have children (touch wood it aint for many more years).

Nice thread Blackbird, very patriotic

[bear]

Nice to hear, I also feel bad when I hear tourists get done over.

[Blackbird]

Thanks for the great feedback and I'm glad I'm not alone. I was actually born and educated in England but have been here 30 years next month. Absolutely proud to call myself a Kiwi.

[jrandom]

Nah, I hate it. Pile o' crap. Nasty little junkyard stuck down in the arsehole of the world. I'm only here because, as a native of this forsaken wasteland, I'm too lazy and disadvantaged to afford an airfare out of it.

[RubberSideDown]

Nah, I hate it. Pile o' crap. Nasty little junkyard stuck down in the arsehole of the world. I'm only here because, as a native of this forsaken wasteland, I'm too lazy and disadvantaged to afford an airfare out of it.

:killingme :p :killingme :p :killingme

[inlinefour]

Just need to get back over to the South Island on my bike...

[Wolf]

Good for you - I've been trying to tell everyone you how good it is to be a biker here for ages.
(Even though I just got nicked half an hour ago for doing 66kph down Nelson Street on the Tbird :thud:)
bd
At least you didn't get your Tbird nicked from Nelson Street...

I reckon we do have a lot to be proud of here in NZ and it's a great place for bikers, too - so many places to go, interesting roads, rapid changes in terrain (and climate) from plateau to beach in a matter of hours.

Glad to hear some positive feedback from obviously experienced and intelligent people.

[Sniper]

Too true Blackbird, very true.

Why bag others when we need to look at ourselves first. blah blah blah.

PT

[Holy Roller]

Ive done a fair bit of travelling overseas and I quite honestly say that Nz is one of THE best places in the world.

I can think of no other place that I would want to grow old and have children (touch wood it aint for many more years).

Nice thread Blackbird, very patriotic
I enjoy travelling but its always good to get back to good ole NZ. We certainly take it for granted this great land of ours.


Nah, I hate it. Pile o' crap. Nasty little junkyard stuck down in the arsehole of the world. I'm only here because, as a native of this forsaken wasteland, I'm too lazy and disadvantaged to afford an airfare out of it.
The prices of airfares these days you sell the bike for a one way trip to OZ... wait a minute its a Yamaha you could take the whole family return :Pokey:

[jrandom]

The prices of airfares these days you sell the bike for a one way trip to OZ...

If New Zealand is the arsehole of the world, Oz is its dangling, hairy, fungus-infested scrotal sack.

[ManDownUnder]

Lemme see...

Lord Rutherford ... the first person to split the atom... a KIWI
Bill Pickering - headed up NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab for 22 years ... a KIWI
Hillary - first man to climb Everest... a KIWI!
First country to give native people the vote...
First country to give women the vote...

list goes on and on...

Yup - proud to be a kiwi and the more I see of the rest of the world, the more I am proud to come from this part.

MDU

[Big Dave]

If New Zealand is the arsehole of the world, Oz is its dangling, hairy, fungus-infested scrotal sack.

YOU need to travel more.
bd

[jrandom]

YOU need to travel more.
bd

Sigh.

YHBT. YHL. HAND.

Look.

I love the place, OK?

Even Australians aren't that bad. They're mental as anything, but not too bad, otherwise.

But I can't go around bloody SAYING that kind of stuff, can I. Me nuts would fall off.

[MSTRS]

I don’t know about others, but I always feel awful when there are tv and newspaper reports about tourists having stuff nicked or being mugged – I take it personally.



Geoff
We do have the bestest little corner of the world. Tis a pity that more of us don't seem to think so (at least vocally). Treason is still on the statute book - it should be used as the charge against the bartools what ripoff tourists. I also believe that the sentence is still death for that charge. We should be using it.

[Krusti]

Yeah we are just a bunch of spoilt little brats who dont appreciate how good we have it. We should all get a good spanking. Bad children, go to your rooms!:bash: ......NZ is :first:

[TwoSeven]

Personally I was born and bred English and proud to be. I feel sorry for other foreigners that are ashamed to refer to their country of origin. I think people should be proud of the country and culture they were born in, no matter where they live. One of the few things I like about the maori culture is that they have the guts to remember who they are.

I've lived here for over 30 years, but I'm still british. The people here are no more friendly than in other countries, nor does it have anything that others dont have or cant be found elsewhere. I stay here because its cheap and its out of the way, so I dont get bothered by any hustle and bustle (I often travel overseas), but to be honest I can think of many places I've been to that would be better to here, just that I'm settled now and here is more convenient.

There is nothing wrong with living in a foreign country, while you may do as the romans do, doesnt mean you actually have to be one.

I do think that kiwis need to learn how to stand up, salute the flag and shout long live Helen (I was going to say Hilda Ogden for some reason), rather than spending all their time worrying about what other people think of them, because at the end of the day, no-one else really cares (I think Aussie has learned this, which is why they are on about independance so much).

NZ is one of the few countries i've lived in where this kind of thread is quite common (heck even the TV and Radio stations harp on about it). :)

[FlyingDutchMan]

I'm born NZ, but bred dutch (literally!) now was that TMI?. I was bought up as a NZer for intents and purposes, but I still think some kiwi habits are odd (pancakes for breakfast?). I've over to europe a couple of times, and while I enjoyed it lots, I'd still pick NZ over anywhere else.

Yay 100 posts :whocares:

[jimbo600]

What I'm in New Zealand? Fuck I though I was in Australia. Never mind I'll just catch the ferry over.

[Big Dave]

Sigh.

YHBT. YHL. HAND.



Fair enough - piss taken.
bd

[Blakamin]

Lemme see...

Hillary - first man to climb Everest... a KIWI!

list goes on and on...

Yup - proud to be a kiwi and the more I see of the rest of the world, the more I am proud to come from this part.

MDU
shhh... actually, he was just the first to make it back down alive... what about mallory and irvine in 1924??? :spudwhat:



You all gotta stop wanting to be someone else.... and enjoy where/who you are :niceone:

[Blackbird]

Two-Seven .... we agree (I think) that we should have genuine pride in who we are and not need other's reassurance, much of which I suspect is drummed up by politicians and the media. Neither should we get all patriotic like the Americans. The Aussies have it about right (deeds, not words).

I'm also proud of my heritage but I became a naturalised New Zealander 25 years ago as a matter of personal choice to vote with my feet. I'm not so proud of where Britain is heading.

To each his own. I'm here because I want to be, not because of convenience/apathy.

There.... proud and not needing reassurance :2thumbsup

[murhf3]

:2thumbsup MATE I RODE FROM CH-CH TO KIAKOURA AND BACK ON SUNDAY,THAT ROAD IS BRILLANT, SAT ON 110 90PER CANT OF THE WAY,SWEET CORNERS ,GREAT CANBER, EXCELLENT ROAD .THE WHOLE SOUTH ISLAND ROADS ARE GREAT NOW.10 YEARS AGO THEY WERE A BIT POOR BUT NOW :2thumbsup

[Ixion]

Yep. God's Own Country after all.

What was it Kipling said "l Last, loneliest, loveliest, exquisite, apart". Mind you he wasn't a biker.

She'll do me. :2thumbsup

[bugjuice]

thankyou BB, something I've been saying all along..

[Storm]

She'll do me. :2thumbsup[/QUOTE]


What he said

[Skyryder]

I'm born NZ, but bred dutch (literally!) now was that TMI?. I was bought up as a NZer for intents and purposes, but I still think some kiwi habits are odd (pancakes for breakfast?). I've over to europe a couple of times, and while I enjoyed it lots, I'd still pick NZ over anywhere else.

Yay 100 posts :whocares:

No where I can get a bottle of Berenburg?? Think I have spelled it right

Skyryder

[N4CR]

Of all the countries I have been to, NZ gets the cake - it has (mostly) the best of everything.... Good looks, nice people, freedom, no streets covered in chewing gum :\ like London, parks that are not muddy pits, water that does not cause taps to go green and clog up, decent healthcare stuff, no problems with seawater breaching Dykes (my 1/2 dutchness ;) ) etc etc - I could list many more reasons.

Only thing that aint really working is public transport - No tubes and the buses are not always on time (thats dorkland for ya anyway).

[Biff]

I've travelled to every continent, driven, drunk and socialised in most (even in Muslim countries, albeit in special compounds), and there is absolutely no doubt about it; New Zealand is a very special place, and that cwowd of rowdy wabble (rep points if you can name the film that phrase is taken from) that are Kiwis, are very special people. Combine that fact with the way of life, scenery and general well-being that this beautiful country has to offer and you have a country I'd very much like to settle down in with my family. Oh yeah, I'm already here.

The grass is always greener blah blah blah.

[TwoSeven]

Funny, I've done the same, and I would say almost the opposite.

I drove to tech this morning in chch and I had to skirt the broken glass covering the street outside the gas station. There is garbage all over the place in the center of the city, and most women I know wouldnt be seen dead alone after sunset for fear of their safety. There has been one armed defender call out, 1 stabbing, umteen fights and you cant get thru a weekend without the old bill parked up outside someones house around the waltham, beckenham, sydnem area (and I consider this part of town quiet).

This is supposed to be our "garden city"

I've been in a few muslim countries, french, german, italian, american, chinese cities and various other places that would be easily better, cleaner, greener, safer than christchuch, and i've also been in a few that I would say are worse.

I just think kiwis perhaps have their head in the sand more than other people do - or perhaps they listen too much to their own marketing.

[Big Dave]

I've travelled to every continent, driven, drunk and socialised in most (even in Muslim countries, albeit in special compounds), and there is absolutely no doubt about it; New Zealand is a very special place, and that cwowd of rowdy wabble
The grass is always greener blah blah blah.

Life of Brian - Pontious pilot - welease wodger the wapscallion

[c4.]

home is where you hang your hat.
Don't hang it on the floor

[FlyingDutchMan]

No where I can get a bottle of Berenburg?? Think I have spelled it right

Skyryder

Friesland in north of the netherlands... All I've found was "Berenburg is een typisch Friese (sterke) drank." which amounts to saying its a typical (strong) friesian drink and a song which rambled on a lot about spices. So my guess is that its a "kruidenlikeur" or spice liqour or spirit. I took myself a bottle (ceramic bottle) of Uitgeester Kruidenlikeur home last time I was there... I just love the stuff, but its seems to be impossible to find here.

I found this website: http://www.lekker-hollands.nl/WinkelUK.asp?mode=3&id=34 which seems to have it for sale, but it is an absolute ripoff. They're charging 14.50 euro for a dozen Heineken when you can by 2 dozen there for about 8 or 9 euro (ahh the land of cheap supermarket beer). So for 57euro for 1litre + 20 euro for postage it'll be ~$150 wack in your pocket.... I doubt you want it quite that much. I got my 700ml of liquor for 20fl ($20).

[Biff]

Life of Brian - Pontious pilot - welease wodger the wapscallion

Rep Points for Bid D

[Biff]

Funny, I've done the same, and I would say almost the opposite.

I drove to tech this morning in chch and I had to skirt the broken glass covering the street outside the gas station. There is garbage all over the place in the center of the city, and most women I know wouldnt be seen dead alone after sunset for fear of their safety. There has been one armed defender call out, 1 stabbing, umteen fights and you cant get thru a weekend without the old bill parked up outside someones house around the waltham, beckenham, sydnem area (and I consider this part of town quiet).

This is supposed to be our "garden city"

I've been in a few muslim countries, french, german, italian, american, chinese cities and various other places that would be easily better, cleaner, greener, safer than christchuch, and i've also been in a few that I would say are worse.

I just think kiwis perhaps have their head in the sand more than other people do - or perhaps they listen too much to their own marketing.

There's nothing you've described there that sets Christchurch apart from any city in the world, apart from maybe the Vatican city. But if you take a look at the crime stats (I haven't) and compare them to cities around the world I'll bet you that ChCh is somewhere near the bottom.

Having lived in big European cities Christchurch is very quiet and hassle free in my opinion. Then again ask me this time next year and I may tell you something different. Maybe I'm still experiencing a 'honeymoon' period.

[BM-GS]

Right on, Blackbird. That's why I moved here.

The trouble is that once people get settled into a routine, you stop seeing the good bits - it all gets too familiar. The unusual is more likely to be bad (cops, broken glass) than good (seeing a fit streaker, finding $100 down the back of the sofa) but coming over the hill every morning & seeing the sea makes it for me every time.

That, and the fact it's only 20 mins home from work, there's a beach at the bottom of the hill, everybody you walk past says hello, or at least acknowledges your existence, you stand a chance of meeting someone you know every time you go out the door, etc. That stuff's missing in lots of places.

[vifferman]

Having lived in big European cities Christchurch is very quiet and hassle free in my opinion. Then again ask me this time next year and I may tell you something different. Maybe I'm still experiencing a 'honeymoon' period.
Well, Mr Biffery Baff - I used to live in Christchurch, albeit for only a short while (27 munce), and I'd have to say it's got a great lifestyle, and I miss it. One of the dumbest things I ever did was leaving there. :confused:
It's not perfect, but it can be pretty good.
Some of that is situational, and our circumstances changed when we left there. However, we've been back to visit a few times since, and each time we feel like we're home, so look out (!!) - we'll be back some day....

[Paul in NZ]

Sadly - There are dickheads, thugs and bullies everywhere on the planet. And guess what, they have cars too....

Christchurch is no exception and if you want to find trouble you won't need a map and it won't take you long. However if you use sensible precautions you would be pretty unlucky to come to serious grief their.

Having said that, I was ChCh born and bred and I would not fancy a stroll down Manchester street at 1am. I mean to say, does chch have the ugliest hookers in the world - shudder - the cathederal has softer looking gargoles - SCARY stuff. I rolled in late one night on the bike, raining, cold, full luggage, obviously done a few miles and still got offered stuff I had to look up on the net by creatures I'm not even sure were human..

ANYWAY!

On the whole. This is a bloody great place!

Paul N

[Lias]

On the whole. This is a bloody great place!

I concur.. I just wish people would stop trying to americanise us.

Oh how I loathe America.

[outlawtorn]

You guys are really spoilt you know that? Think for a minute why there are hordes of people trying to get into this country. Myself and my family have just been told this week that we have been accepted for permanent residence and we are as happy as pigs in shit. We left South Africa because we got sick of living in our home which doubled as a prison, we never went out at night because the roads are so dangerous, we left South Africa because over here there are parks which your wife can take the kids to, there is nothing like that in SA, and if there is you can bet your bottom dollar that crime will take place there.

We became so numb to the crime and that is wrong, if someone got robbed we would say that at least you didn't get stabbed, if someone got shot we'd say well at least you are still alive. I got a gun in my back while drawing money out one day at a petrol station, the bastards made me draw out R1000 ($300) which was my daily limit, I thought that they were going to shoot me afterwards, scared the living fucking daylights out of me.

NZ is a beautiful country with all the right things going for it, it is true that you tend to take everything for granted, but step back and take another good look every now and then. You guys have a wonderful country, thats why we are now living here and so will our best friends and other family members too.

[vifferman]

I mean to say, does chch have the ugliest hookers in the world - shudder - the cathederal has softer looking gargoles - SCARY stuff. I rolled in late one night on the bike, raining, cold, full luggage, obviously done a few miles and still got offered stuff I had to look up on the net by creatures I'm not even sure were human.

Heh heh... Every time I go to a mall, I look at the 'people' walking past, and I'm sure most of them are trolls, goblins and other creatures pretending to be humans and hoping they'll blend in.

It'd be a good premise for a novel, if it was original...

[sels1]

We shouldn't go on about how good it is here - word will get out and everyone will want to come.
Interesting how many KBers are immigrants - Kiwi by choice eh?

[outlawtorn]

We shouldn't go on about how good it is here - word will get out and everyone will want to come.
Interesting how many KBers are immigrants - Kiwi by choice eh?

Hell yes, I'm proud to call myself a "Kiwi in training".

[Paul in NZ]

Well thats a point really...

Without getting labelled a racist or whatever. (I work for a japanese company for gods sake) Why do we have those nutters on the business round table side of the argument that reckon we need another couple of million or so people so we can build a strong domestic economy (yada yada yada)

Stuff that! I reckon a few less (carefully selected) would be far better.

I have NO problem with immigration and from a mixed / diverse background as well but what I'd like to see are people that value what we have here and want to preserve the way of life instead of millionaire rock stars buying high country stations or plunderers strip mining our beaches etc. It IS a special and unique place. Last thing we want is to import all the same problems other countries have. (Or have I got that wrong somehow?)

Recent immigration seems to have been (on the whole) pretty good but perhaps the population level needs to be managed some how and NOT but people in retail that just want a bigger market to sell too....

Small is good.... (or so Vicki tells me)

What I'm thinking is that I really think people need a bit of space around them. Crowd them too much and the bad stuff happens... We still have a choice about that.

[vifferman]

Last thing we want is to import all the same problems other countries have. (Or have I got that wrong somehow?).
No, you're spot on. :niceone:
And it's happening: we didn't have problems with gambling rings, kidnappings, etc. before we adopted that crazy immigration policy.

Here's a semi-related thing: when the casino proponents were trying to get the first casino built here, one of the arguments they used was: Tourists expect it. They can gamble overseas, and they won't come here if they can't gamble here as well.
Why? Why should they come here and expect it to be the same? Surely any uniqueness we have is a good (attractive) thing?

(In any case, all the arguments for the casino were bullshit. I was living in Chch when they reviewed the first year of its operation. While it posted a bigger profit than expected, summat like 90% of the customers were local, most of the employees were not locals or NZers, local businesses (restaurants and entertainment facilities) were adversely affected, gambling addictions did become a worse problem, etc etc.)

Anyway, this is my second triple whoredomness.
woo hoo.

[Lias]

Bloody SAffers invading , I dunno :-)

Gaan kak in die mielies, jou bliksemse meidenaaier (or someit like that :-P )

Me have SAffer mates? never :-)

[Biff]

Don't forget Viffie, if you're ever find yourself in this neck of the woods there’s a Bird here waiting for your sumptuous arse to sit astride it and take it for a spin. :niceone:

[vifferman]

Don't forget Viffie, if you're ever find yourself in this neck of the woods there’s a Bird here waiting for your sumptuous arse to sit astride it and take it for a spin. :niceone:
Dunno 'bout sumptuous - it's got fatter since I became a professional KB contributor, but it's not huge. However, if I lost 10kg, I'd be happier, and the same weight I was before I became a Blob.

Oh yeah - thanx for the offer. :niceone:
Same goes for you.

[Paul in NZ]

No, you're spot on. :niceone:
And it's happening: we didn't have problems with gambling rings, kidnappings, etc. before we adopted that crazy immigration policy.

Here's a semi-related thing: when the casino proponents were trying to get the first casino built here, one of the arguments they used was: Tourists expect it. They can gamble overseas, and they won't come here if they can't gamble here as well.
Why? Why should they come here and expect it to be the same? Surely any uniqueness we have is a good (attractive) thing?

(In any case, all the arguments for the casino were bullshit. I was living in Chch when they reviewed the first year of its operation. While it posted a bigger profit than expected, summat like 90% of the customers were local, most of the employees were not locals or NZers, local businesses (restaurants and entertainment facilities) were adversely affected, gambling addictions did become a worse problem, etc etc.)

Anyway, this is my second triple whoredomness.
woo hoo.

Yup. Thats a classic example... Really, we got along just fine without Casinos... Who got the biggest gain from them? Sure, a few extra jobs but a few big companies made heaps and the rest of us paid more to pick up the pieces.

[Lias]

RANT

I think we NEED radical change to our immigration policies to protect our way of life. Some of the things I'd like to see (but dont have a hope in hell of seeing under Comrade Clark)

I think all immigrants need to speak GOOD english for a start. Preferabbly they need to have a decent amount of moolah in the bank, and good skills & certifications (dodgy third world universitiy degrees that are prolly faked need not apply.

We should stop taking refugees, and "quota" migrants (IE open door policy for xxx many thousand pacific islanders a year).

Any country which consitantly sends us people who become overstayers should be cut off. Anyone from that country wanting entry to NZ AT ALL should have to post a a large ($100k+) bond to get past customs.

End to chain migration for extended family, only allow spouse/kids.

Eviction of all current migrants who are not yet full citizens who do not meet basic english language ability criteria.

Charging all non citizens for health care, schooling, etc etc.

No benefits for non citizens, if they cannot support themselves, deport them.

Instant deportation for any immigrant who commits a crime within ~10 years of arrival. Regardless of whether this may sentence them to death at home.

As it stands our immigration system is completely FUBAR'd. I have a mate who used to be a WINZ case manager, I used to spend alot of time down at his work because it was close to my work and his lunchroom was better than mine. Every single case manager there regardless of race (vast majority were not european, mostly maori/PI) wanted to ban somalian/ethiopians from ever entering the country. I could go on for hours on the stories they told me but suffice to say it sounds like the vast majority of them destroy their passports so they cant be identified/deported easily, lie through their teeth to chain migrate each other, and almost universally speak no english and stay on the dole for a long long time. Aside from letting in trash like this, we also have this freak Zaoui being allowed to stay in the country. Hell if theres even a chance he's what the SIS say he is, we should be deporting his ass. Then we have this Tuvaluean overstayer, who has beaten his wife twice, but hasnt been sent to jail or deported, because the fat cunt will die without the horrendously expensive dialysis we are providing for him.

On the flipside I've had two friends (one a afrkiaaner chap, the other a african-american lady) who've seemed to me to be ideal immigrants, and both had all sorts of troubles. The bloke was married to a Kiwi, had a good solid job, had the support of his church, & his wifes family. The american lady had two university degrees, over half a million NZ in the bank, and support from friends & family over here. Both of them had to jump through all sorts of bloody hoops trying to get residency, let alone citizenship yet we seem to give these same things away to all sorts of non english speaking useless wastes of space.

If that doesnt make our system FUBAR'd then I dunno what does.

/RANT

[Wolf]

What I'm in New Zealand? Fuck I though I was in Australia. Never mind I'll just catch the ferry over.
Nah, ride over on the Auckland-Sydney Harbour bridge taht all these yanks talk about... (No offence to our resident Umerkins)

[MSTRS]

RANT

I think we NEED radical change to our immigration policies to protect our way of life. Some of the things I'd like to see (but dont have a hope in hell of seeing under Comrade Clark)

I think all immigrants need to speak GOOD english for a start. Preferabbly they need to have a decent amount of moolah in the bank, and good skills & certifications (dodgy third world universitiy degrees that are prolly faked need not apply.

We should stop taking refugees, and "quota" migrants (IE open door policy for xxx many thousand pacific islanders a year).

Any country which consitantly sends us people who become overstayers should be cut off. Anyone from that country wanting entry to NZ AT ALL should have to post a a large ($100k+) bond to get past customs.

End to chain migration for extended family, only allow spouse/kids.

Eviction of all current migrants who are not yet full citizens who do not meet basic english language ability criteria.

Charging all non citizens for health care, schooling, etc etc.

No benefits for non citizens, if they cannot support themselves, deport them.

Instant deportation for any immigrant who commits a crime within ~10 years of arrival. Regardless of whether this may sentence them to death at home.

As it stands our immigration system is completely FUBAR'd. I have a mate who used to be a WINZ case manager, I used to spend alot of time down at his work because it was close to my work and his lunchroom was better than mine. Every single case manager there regardless of race (vast majority were not european, mostly maori/PI) wanted to ban somalian/ethiopians from ever entering the country. I could go on for hours on the stories they told me but suffice to say it sounds like the vast majority of them destroy their passports so they cant be identified/deported easily, lie through their teeth to chain migrate each other, and almost universally speak no english and stay on the dole for a long long time. Aside from letting in trash like this, we also have this freak Zaoui being allowed to stay in the country. Hell if theres even a chance he's what the SIS say he is, we should be deporting his ass. Then we have this Tuvaluean overstayer, who has beaten his wife twice, but hasnt been sent to jail or deported, because the fat cunt will die without the horrendously expensive dialysis we are providing for him.

On the flipside I've had two friends (one a afrkiaaner chap, the other a african-american lady) who've seemed to me to be ideal immigrants, and both had all sorts of troubles. The bloke was married to a Kiwi, had a good solid job, had the support of his church, & his wifes family. The american lady had two university degrees, over half a million NZ in the bank, and support from friends & family over here. Both of them had to jump through all sorts of bloody hoops trying to get residency, let alone citizenship yet we seem to give these same things away to all sorts of non english speaking useless wastes of space.

If that doesnt make our system FUBAR'd then I dunno what does.

/RANT
Thought of running in the next election. I'll vote for you

[Biff]

Hmm general principles are ok, but some of your views are a bit extreme for me.

Even us poms (benefiting from having a wad of cash to bring here due to higher property values in the UK) would have a problem getting together the kind of bond you refer to, and I'd hate to think that you'd want to keep the likes of me out!

But I agree with some of your views re' immigration. Particularly those economic migrants from third world countries playing it dumb and burning their passports.

I don't however agree that you should stop accepting genuine immigrants as defined by the UN. I believe that every country in the world has a degree of moral responsibility to offer sanctuary to the persecuted. But scroungers and extended families? Ship them back home.

[Big Dave]

I concur.. I just wish people would stop trying to americanise us.

Oh how I loathe America.

loathe? strong word. You've never driven a 1964 Mustang?
bd

[Oscar]

loathe? strong word. You've never driven a 1964 Mustang?
bd

Slightly off topic (what me? Hijack a thread?), but do you read Fred?
Fred On Everything (http://fredoneverything.net/)

He's described as "America's Leading Expatriate Curmudgeon", and his latest missive is aimed at TV (and as a result at the Americanisation of Planet Earth):


...Denunciations of television have become as routine as breathing: the programming is crass, stupid, propagandistic, so bad that only an idiot would watch it yet everybody does. Actually things are worse. They are much worse.

To see what is happening, start with what may be the crucial truth of our times: People will watch a screen. They will watch anything in preference to nothing, watch programs they don’t really like, comedies so unfunny that only the laugh track tells them when to respond. The bright know that the fare is witless, that it is directed at fools. The ads irritate them. Yet they too watch.

People cannot not watch television.



...In the living rooms of the whole world, Hollywood has a little window open to the minds of the people. Nobody can escape. In remote towns in the Bolivian altiplano, the values of Hollyork dance on screens. Children in India, in Iran and Uruguay, day after day gradually become what Barbra Streisand and Sylvester Stallone think they should be. Such people know and care nothing for civilizations that have existed for thousands of years.



..What does Hollyork promote? Toleration of foul language and a concomitant coarsening of society; hostility between men and women; truculent illiteracy and the values of the black ghetto; the elevation of homosexuality and promiscuity; disdain for religion; use of drugs, interracial sex, destructive feminism, eradication of the remnants of Anglo-European Christian civilization. It is not accidental.

Do I exaggerate? Think. Every night you see blonde women reading the news. When did you last see a blond man on the screen? Do you think this a coincidence in an industry that calculates motivations to four decimal places? Consider the constant scenes in which women slap men around, kick them in the crotch, participate in gunfights while men cower. Can you believe that the sudden disappearance of the word “Christmas” from permissible discourse wasn’t deliberate? That the rigid exclusion of any but politically correct views from discussion is a coincidence?

My point is not that all these things are in all respects bad, but rather that they are being decided remotely and imposed without consent. American society is being carefully, calculatedly sculpted. A small group of unelected people, having no obvious qualifications of morality or taste, now control the culture of the United States. Our souls belong to Ted Turner and Jane Fonda.

[Lias]

loathe? strong word. You've never driven a 1964 Mustang?
bd

To clarify, I hate the way America as a country tries to bully the rest of the world, and looks down on everyone else. I hate the average Americans lack of knowledge of the world beyond their borders, and the seeming ingrained belief that they are better than the rest of us, etc etc.

Not all of them are ignorant, arrogant twatwaffles, but far far too many are for my liking.

I'd still happily take the mustang for a spin thou :-)

[jrandom]

What does Hollyork promote? ... interracial sex

Unfortunately, with this one remark, the author paints himself as a brain-dead bigot. He's as loathsome as the Hollywood pinkos he rants against.

[Oscar]

Unfortunately, with this one remark, the author paints himself as a brain-dead bigot. He's as loathsome as the Hollywood pinkos he rants against.

Yeah, I wasn't fussed on that, but he does modify his remarks:


My point is not that all these things are in all respects bad, but rather that they are being decided remotely and imposed without consent.

[jrandom]

Yeah, I wasn't fussed on that, but he does modify his remarks:
My point is not that all these things are in all respects bad, but rather that they are being decided remotely and imposed without consent.

Sure, but it takes a certain kind of person to even *notice* something like 'interracial sex'. The fact that he finds himself capable of identifying that as a presumed 'agenda' betrays his thought patterns, and discredits him as a commentator.

In any case, you can tell that his last sentence, there, was just tacked on as a palliative, nothing more than lip-service. Ill bet you that in reality, he's as far away from the "I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it" position as one can be.

In fact, he's just another facet of what makes Murka an unpleasant place. Far as I can tell, there are no sane, intelligent people over there, just Bible-thumping bigots and mad gay tree-huggers sniping at each other across a dead wasteland of shattered ideals.

[Oscar]

Sure, but it takes a certain kind of person to even *notice* something like 'interracial sex'. The fact that he finds himself capable of identifying that as a presumed 'agenda' betrays his thought patterns, and discredits him as a commentator.

In any case, you can tell that his last sentence, there, was just tacked on as a palliative, nothing more than lip-service. Ill bet you that in reality, he's as far away from the "I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it" position as one can be.

In fact, he's just another facet of what makes Murka an unpleasant place. Far as I can tell, there are no sane, intelligent people over there, just Bible-thumping bigots and mad gay tree-huggers sniping at each other across a dead wasteland of shattered ideals.


My favourite example of recent days is the Bush Administration telling Syria they have no right to occupy Lebanon...

[jrandom]

My favourite example of recent days is the Bush Administration telling Syria they have no right to occupy Lebanon...

Heh.

Did you read The Onion this week? My favourite article:

Bush Announces Iraq Exit Strategy: 'We'll Go Through Iran' (http://www.onion.com/news/index.php?issue=4110)

[Blakamin]

Just found a problem with this country...THIS (http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3213480a11,00.html) is a national news story.... ffs.... :brick:

[jrandom]

Just found a problem with this country...THIS (http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3213480a11,00.html) is a national news story.... ffs.... :brick:

You're obviously not a Coro fan.

[moko]

I loved it when I was there,if I could move there then I would but dont have the relavent skills e.t.c. For those of you taking your country for granted here`s what you`re missing.Apart from our notoriously erratic weather we have over-crowded roads,filth and litter everywhere to such an extent that most dont even notice it any more.Local taxes,petrol,income tax e.t.c. way higher than you pay.Vandalism and street crime is epidemic and if you venture into any town centre on a friday or saturday night then you stand a very good chance of getting attacked for no reason other than you were just in the wrong place.There are beggers in the street,mostly local but organised gangs of east europeans are spreading from London.Get burgled and the most likely response is for the Police to give you a "crime number",this is what you need to claim on your insurance,often the Police interest ends there.Not their fault,while crime is rife they`re forever having their hands tied by politicians who tell them things like "dont stop and search black males in brixton because it`s racist".The fact that Brixton is 90% black and with a horrendous crime level,particularly muggings,is apparently irrelavent.Gangs of asylum seekers fighting,and maiming, each other(not media scare-mongering,3 serious incidents in my city over the last year).
N.Z`ers are indeed a lot more open and friendly than Brits,most of whom tend to be very wary of strangers and with good reason.A large proportion are ignorant,arrogant and aggressive,say "Hi" to a stranger in the street in hamilton and most will give you a friendly reply,do that here and you`ll either get them very worried or you`ll get a dirty look or worse.
Ordinary people feel persecuted in their own country as the politically correct dicks in power chuck money and facilities at criminals,illegal immigrants,,junkies e.t.c. while pensioners die of cold in winter and people get arrested for protecting themselves against burglars or someone they`ve just seen chuck a brick through their window.For all the N.Z. govts faults at least you dont have some power-junkie running rough-shod over democracy with all manner of ancient laws he`s managed to dig up that apparently give him the right to do so.you dont like the Royals?Neither do I but the bastards live here and I pay for them all the time,not just when their on their hols.
Most of this shit has started in the last 30 years or so,standards are slipping all over the place in all kinds of areas,it wasn`t always this way here so maybe a little warning for you guys,things start to slide then the avelanche starts and it`s the apathetic that let it happen.

[Lias]

Assuming the pic on his website is him, hes not a young bloke and the time/society he grew up in didnt exactly condone interracial relationships. Would it be any wonder if some of that rubbed off on him?

To write off anything he has to say because he MIGHT be racist is exactly the sort of intolerance you appear to be accusing him of. How very liberal of you :nono:

[Blakamin]

You're obviously not a Coro fan.
simpsons going from 2 to 3 wasnt a major news story... :shake:
seriously, Its a TV show... who gives a farq.... it wasn't in entertainment either.. it was in NEWS... :spudwhat:

[Oscar]

Assuming the pic on his website is him, hes not a young bloke and the time/society he grew up in didnt exactly condone interracial relationships. Would it be any wonder if some of that rubbed off on him?

To write off anything he has to say because he MIGHT be racist is exactly the sort of intolerance you appear to be accusing him of. How very liberal of you :nono:

Whereas I think jrandomn's comment was valid, I think you have to take Fred's comments and Fred in context.
He is an older man, very conservative, from the South.

[Big Dave]

He is an older man, very conservative, from the South.

You obviously have some 'curd-muncher-istic' alignment.
Wouldn't be my choice for a dinner guest - we don't have servants.

FWIW i'd tell fred i don't watch much 'television' - plenty of Sky sports, occasional comedy on UK TV and NADA American at all.
Last 3 films I saw at the cinema were 3 LOTR - a year apart.
Hollywood etc is completely irrelevant to me. Another great thing about living here!

Still haven't heard from vege re tdm btw

bd
O I C A F E G - benny hill 1976

[Oscar]

You obviously have some 'curd-muncher-istic' alignment.
Wouldn't be my choice for a dinner guest - we don't have servants.

FWIW i'd tell fred i don't watch much 'television' - plenty of Sky sports, occasional comedy on UK TV and NADA American at all.
Last 3 films I saw at the cinema were 3 LOTR - a year apart.
Hollywood etc is completely irrelevant to me. Another great thing about living here!

Still haven't heard from vege re tdm btw

bd
O I C A F E G - benny hill 1976


I struggle with that old time thinking. I'm a 21st Century Curmudgeon...

vege must have summat you can ride...waddabout his GS?

[Big Dave]

vege must have summat you can ride...waddabout his GS?

Bluster, choke, exclaim - Oscar! I'm a styley guy! :cool:
I'm over there on Monday (It begins!) - will advise.
chz
bd

[Lou Girardin]

Well Moko, is it possible that Enoch Powell was a little bit correct. Maybe not "rivers of blood" but certainly some trickles.

[Oscar]

Bluster, choke, exclaim - Oscar! I'm a styley guy! :cool:
I'm over there on Monday (It begins!) - will advise.
chz
bd

Don't be a baby...anyways if it comes to that I'll ride the pig, er I mean the GS and you can ride the LC4.

I think he's workin on a KTM525 for you.

[Paul in NZ]

Yes, it is easy to gain the impression that the 'merkins are all gun totin' nutters and that the place is some sort of vast waste land of burnt out ghettos between movie stars walled compounds.

It's not like that at all...

I've been lucky enough to live and work with some really nice people over there (as well as a few stereotypical ones I admit)

I participate in an merkin Guzzi board that has featured a few spats lately and out of the blue comes this post from Joe. I have placed it here to demostrate that not all merkins are mad.

------------------------

Not so long ago, the good people on this board raised almost $3,000 to help the widow of a fellow Guzzi rider. No questions asked. No smart aleck comments. One of our members here won the bike that was raffled off to raise the money----and turned around and donated the bike back to be sold to raise more money for the family.

Not so long ago, some body said, “pick a date”, and the first Gaggle was born. Guys and gals came to a small place in Alabama from places as far away as Texas, Tennessee and Ohio. And lots of places closer. Folks from all walks of life got together, discovered their common interests and accommodated their differences. No questions asked. No smart aleck comments.

Not so long ago, my oldest son was severely injured. People from all over the world sent their love, prayers and support to him, my family and me through this board. No questions asked. No smart aleck comments.

Not so long ago, one could come to this board, and want to share everything on it with your wife, children, friend or a stranger.

A long winter is no excuse for what has gone on here lately. Some of the most vitriolic and disrespectful posts have come from places like California and Texas. I don’t recall anybody in those two states being snowed in this winter, and if they were, that’s sill no excuse.

Contrary to what is claimed by a few, this is not a matter of political correctness. Some years ago, William Alexander Percy wrote a short book called “Lanterns on the Levee”. He took the title from the night in 1927 when the Mississippi River broke through the levee at Greenville, Mississippi. Those lanterns were carried by people from all walks of life---in 1927, some of the people on the levee that night had been owned by other people on the levee that night. All of them worked together that night to save their homes. In that book, Mr. Percy discusses the difference between a “good manner” and good manners. A “good manner”, like the current political correctness, is false façade put up to convince others that you are something you are not or shoved in another’s face to silence a different point of view.

Good manners, on the other hand, stem from a fundamental respect for other people and the views and beliefs that they hold. Good manners are not the same thing as etiquette. Good manners are not about which fork to use or who extends their hand first. Good manners are the social lubricant that we all use to get through the day. They are the tools that we use to establish some common ground and help us frame the ground rules for our disagreements. A good example of good manners can be found in the 4 simple rules that govern discussion on this board.

If I want rude behavior, all I have to do is listen at any stop light I come to. Chances are I can hear the worst sort of vulgarity coming from a car within earshot, along with its chrome trim vibrating off due to the bass and volume.

All of us that use this board have been invited into Luap’s living room and each and everything said here winds up in all of our living rooms. He has posted 4 simple rules at the door. Each and every person that posts here is capable of living up to those 4 simple rules.
_________________

[Blackbird]

Got to agree with you Paul - excellent post!

I work for an American-owned company and when I spend time over there at our southern states mills, they are really nice people with very few exceptions. The commercial people from upstate NY are somewhat different and I'm wondering whether the everyday pressures contribute in no small way. The southern good 'ol boys are much more laid back. I'd have to say that neither group are particularly aware or interested in what the rest of the world is doing though. Not ignorance, just the self-sustaining nature of the American economy causes that.

Right, off soapbox, the weekend beckons. Domestic stuff tomorrow and Toy Run on Sunday. Maybe catch some of you guys there... :done:

Cheers

Geoff