So whats different in NZ?

**gixermike** · 26th January 2006, 00:38

My fiancee are I are looking to move to Nz in about august / september as I have been offered a job around Auckland. We just came back from 3 weeks there on hols checking it out, and will definietly add to the 'not more bloody Poms ' category. We both ride bikes in the UK.

So the question is, for those who have riden in the uk, and NZ, what are the main differences (other than more space). I've been reading the recent post about filtering etc but what about;

Filtering, overtaking, insurance (can't seem to find if it's mandatory or not..if not what happens if/when you get spanked by a cage?).

My work is likely to be around AKl, so I'll try and commute by bike if I'm still allowed to filter passed traffic...

Mike

**Karma** · 26th January 2006, 00:41

Hey Mike..

- Insurance - not necessary, but you should get it anyways... loads cheaper than the uk... but make sure to convert your licence ASAP as it usually adds another $500 or so to your excess

Difference 1 - Speed... national speed limit of 62mph... yeh I know, crap eh? Just have to slow it down around town, then head into the hills

Difference 2 - Ignorance... higher percentage of wanker drivers over here... nobody gives you a wave if you let them out, and will tend to just do what they want anyway... don't ever think you know what they're gonna do because it's usually something 10 times stupider!

Other than that the people, the atmosphere and the lifestyle are all good!

**Korea** · 26th January 2006, 02:37

Don't forget road aggression!
When overtaking a car driver, they will often speed up in an attempt to thwart you getting past... then slow down again at the next corner.
Outside of a car and away from the roads we're luuurvly.

**gixermike** · 26th January 2006, 02:46

yeah, the speeding up things makes me laugh....as long as there's enough of the road to still get by.
A tvr did it to me on saturday....it was a nice long straight...he gave up 'eventually!!'

**Troll** · 26th January 2006, 18:22

standard of driving in NZ is shocking, it is approaching 3rd world standards

re insurance nz insurance is £$%ing expensive after the UK

have 4 harleys insured in the Uk for less than the cost of insuring one HD in nz, add to this the incredibly high excess's in NZ

fortunately you do not have to have insurance in NZ

vehicle registration in NZ is another rip off the ACC levies cost more for bikes than cars

also in the UK you can tax a bike for 6 months, in NZ they run a systems on continuous registration meaning that unless you notify them that a vehicle is being taken off the road you are trapped in a continuous registration

also mot / wof, uk it is every 12 months, nz it is every 6 months and the NZ wof is a lot tougher than the UK mot test

**Zebedee** · 17th February 2006, 12:48

Originally Posted by Weasel

... don't ever think you know what they're gonna do because it's usually something 10 times stupider!

... what that man said. Particularly the Asian drivers around Auckland.

Originally Posted by Korea

Don't forget road aggression!

… and what that man said too. Particularly the spotty little oiks in WRX's

**sugilite:Me** · 26th February 2006, 17:51

Originally Posted by Troll

standard of driving in NZ is shocking, it is approaching 3rd world standards

re insurance nz insurance is £$%ing expensive after the UK

have 4 harleys insured in the Uk for less than the cost of insuring one HD in nz, add to this the incredibly high excess's in NZ

fortunately you do not have to have insurance in NZ

vehicle registration in NZ is another rip off the ACC levies cost more for bikes than cars

also in the UK you can tax a bike for 6 months, in NZ they run a systems on continuous registration meaning that unless you notify them that a vehicle is being taken off the road you are trapped in a continuous registration

also mot / wof, uk it is every 12 months, nz it is every 6 months and the NZ wof is a lot tougher than the UK mot test

Hmmm, no positives in there, well one sort off...You wouldn't be originally from England would you old chap?

**jonbuoy** · 26th February 2006, 20:37

The drivings really not that bad mate - lets just call it "pacey" on the open road. I think its all hyped up, I've only had one real incident of road rage in 5 years and I'm pretty sure he was english as well as he gave me the wanker sign. I've seen just as bad driving in the UK - Dorset to Plymouth (A338??) if I remember just as bad. People get frustrated on single carriageways thats all.

Theres some amazing roads for riding on, head down the bottom of the North Island or South Island stay off the state highways and you can have a whole road to yourself all day. Even in Auckland you can head north and find your own little bit of space.

Police seem less anti bike here too, go hard for the first year as youll have your UK licence

I've racked up a few points (75), all fairly awarded for speeding, mostly the cops are sweet, no one hassels you for loud pipes

Get fully comp insurance - it costs me $800 a year for a VTR1000 I'm 29 - thats fully comp, my no claims is non existent after binning a GSXR last year

Good luck.

**White trash** · 26th February 2006, 20:42

Biggest difference you'll have to adjust to is the beer is cold and tastes good.

Bikes are bikes, roads are roads and corners are corners.

Bring your own woman because I get pissed off with you poms coming over and nicking all the good looking ones. Had to score myself a mint Ex UK girl myself just to even the score a little.

**Edbear** · 27th February 2006, 06:32

Originally Posted by gixermike

A tvr did it to me on saturday....it was a nice long straight...he gave up 'eventually!!'

Sounds like fun...

**Grahameeboy** · 27th February 2006, 06:39

Hey, don't worry about the drivers mate.....you just have to adjust and don't listen to all this Asian driver crap.....just another Kiwi "pass the buck" syndrome.....

Great roads, lovely country....traffic congestion nothing compared to UK and that is all they moan about which tells you how wonderfull the rest of NZ is.

Just watch out for a Gixxer with No 3 on the screen...that is all.

Enjoy, you will never go back.

**gixermike** · 28th February 2006, 05:03

worryingly enough NZ immigration have just given us the ok....and LTSA have sent me a letter for the girlfreind to carry with her as she has a uk full restricted licence (power output limited to 33bhp for two years as she took test on a 125). they say she can ride to the limit of her uk licence, so other than the power limit (rides a restricted RVF400), there's no messing around with pillions or night restricitons etc. she'll take the full NZ test pretty soon anyway, then it's game on. Hopefully the letter should smooth things over if we get to make freinds with the HP, otherwise they won't know what the F$%k she can or can't ride!

**R1madness** · 28th February 2006, 09:50

Dude, Welcome. Another nutter for us to pass the buck to. Its a kiwi thing to bag imigrants (wineing poms, asians cant drive, ausies bowl underarm) etc. Dont worry about it its mostly in good fun you just have to have a good come back line. Try something about the rugby world cup. That should make you some friends (no dont pick on rugby most Kiwis cant take a joke about that)

Traffic here is light and most drivers are fine by world standards. Most cops would not know what bike has what power, just wing it.