I Have An Intense Urge To Move To New Zealand
 

This may be entirely because I love nature-y places, full of green and flowers and wide open country places, so I don't know if it means anything really besides that.

I've always wanted to live in New Zealand too cos its the furthest point on the map.

60 Minutes had a story of a woman who moved to Africa within a
month after having visited it (she runs a school there now).
here's a New Zealand pic:

I also love the Lord of the Rings films, so that's another major factor!

Would that be to live or a visit? Every year more and more of the beauty of Mother Earth is taken away. Mother Earth has been stripped of her beauty so people can whack a ball around a huge field that use to be full of Native trees. There are more retarded reasons why Mother Earth is being stripped, one just needs to look at all the cities to realise how deforestation looks after the fact.
Even if you are to move to AoTeaRoa and live, a little knowledge about the local lingo of the indigenous and their customs would go a longway for you and them. With that in mind Id say The Waka of Maui which you may know as the South Island has most of the scenic Beauty. Be Blessed

The weird part is that whenever I try to tell other people about my plan to at least visit NZ, they often come up with a list of reasons why it's so expensive, so far away, and basically reasons not to move/visit there. :confused: Maybe it has something to do with my ego trying to convince me not to follow my dreams. I guess another reason I want to go is because I can't stand the winters here anymore. I get sick, I get cold, I get depressed. But then I keep thinking that moving to a different country from a country that is already fairly well off is just running away from my problems...whatever my problems may be. As usual, I'm overthinking everything.

And where would you be moving from? By all means follow your dreams. Unlike what you see in brochures it's best if you get local knowledge. Yes well when you get a Person running this country and has his hand in the federal Bank of America it's no wonder why there's tax on tax on tax making it expensive, yep he has a thinly hidden agenda, with a conflict of interest selling off assets to foreign buyers.
Just so you know some of us Maori do not recognise this place a New Zealand, we prefer AoTeaRoa, which means Ao=World or way of life, Tea=Bright and Roa in relation to time/being means long. Be careful though some of the whitest people here are actually Maori(long story). It might be a good idea to be welcomed onto a Marae by the local hapu/sub tribe. Depending on where you go you get a Powhiri/welcoming. Under the ancient code you as a munuhiri/visitor will be well looked after. Before you get to the gate of the Marae you will hear a woman doing a Karanga which is translated into English as Calling. It's significant that a woman does this. At some stage and if that Hapu does it, you will be met by a Toa/warrior doing his wero/challenge. This is to see if the visitors come in peace. He will then lay down a branch which is significant. When one of the visitors picks it up, it should be picked up with the palm of the hand facing upwards. This is also significant but in this day and age and foreigners that don't know we are quite lenient if certain things are ignored. By picking the branch up it is confirmed that the meeting that is about to take place is of peace.
So now the visitors are to move to a place called the Waharoa, I prefer not to translate this into English. When the visitors are there the speeches will begin. All this differs from Hapu to Hapu/subtribe. After the speeches are done the handshake(modern) and Hongi are started, this is the completeness of Peace between two Peoples ie the Tangata Whenua/People of the land and the Manuhiri/visitors. This is what the Maori word Wairua can also means. Wai=Water and Rua=two which means the coming together of two waters in this case two People's, btw Wairua is translated as Spirit. after this its off to the WhareKai/house of food, where a feed has been prepared by the Tangata Whenua/People of the Land. Later the Manuhiri will set down a Koha/gift/payment according to the hospitality of the Tangata Whenua. The Koha system is a very old system, long story.
Again this differs from hapu to Hapu. Doing it this way you the Manuhiri are treated as one of the Tangata Whenua but you do not have the same authority as the Tangata Whenua but you are now under their protection while you stay on the Marae. What's good about this system is that you get a better knowledge of the area, best fishing spots if there are any in that area, you may even get to the plants in the forest that you can eat and whole bunch of other stuff that won't be found in any brochures if you talk to the right people. This is just a brief summary of how things work here so if you do decide to follow your dream at least consider this post. Be Blessed:smile:

Come over, CrystalKitty777! I will be waiting for you :D :D :D

CrystalKitty777 I am not going to lie, it is expensive indeed, VERY different from america or even Australia, shops all close at 5 pm, nothing exciting to do, but it is a beautiful and safe country with lovely people! :hug: :hug:

Yeah watch what you've been told, this place can be dangerous for tourists that think its totally safe. That's why they end up returning to their country in body bags. Just a message for Crystalkitty777 and others wanting to fulfil their dreams of moving/visiting here, its best to come here in a group especially if you are touring or have a Marae experience with a group. If you know someone that lives here that would be a great way to stay safe if you stay with them. If I haven't mentioned it before the South Island has many of the picturesque views as shown in this thread.
We also have night markets here that you could buy things you can take home for memories of your stay here. Be aware we have people of all cultures selling their stuff and some it looks a little like Maori but we Maori know whats fake. I could tell you but it will end up being a book.lol just be safe.

Hum... For me this is the SAFEST COUNTRY EVER. I am from Brazil and BELIEVE ME, this place is just the SAFEST COUNTRY. Safer than America. Safer than Australia. You can basically walk on the streets at 2 am and nothing is going to happen to you. I've done that maaaaaany times.
Honestly AHIYAH, are we talking about the same country? :)
But yes, like I mentioned before prices are expensive and people from big cities/countries can find New Zealand bit boring.

Oh sorry I am not from here and I have never heard of tourists being killed here thinking it was the safest place on Earth. That must never happen.

Btw you probably in the city where the cameras are everywhere and even then that doesn't help much when you think of that guy in the suitcase floating in the harbour. I mean that wouldn't happen to tourists surely. My Maori people have been here for only five minutes unlike your Brazilian side which has been here for centuries, oh Im very sorry.

What you are feeling is not to be taken lightly. It is your inner guidance communicating to you. You are feeling it strongly because it is something that you have to do. It has nothing to do about you liking nature or Lord of the Rings. Think about it. With your other interests, do you have these strong feelings for them, too? Probably not.

I went through the same experience. After my first trip to France, I had a strong feeling inside of me that I had to go back but I had no idea why. I was miserable in my job the entire time and the feelings I had inside for going back to France were still there the entire time. Four years after that first trip, I finally made the trip back. I enrolled in a language school in their fourth biggest city (and by doing so, I was able to stay much longer than if I had gone to Paris). Shortly after I arrived, I did find out why I had those strong feelings. I returned home after 6 months.

For now you can just plan to go to New Zealand for a few weeks (longer, if you like). You won’t know how long you will stay there until you get there. You don’t have to book your flight right this minute but figure out when you can. In the meantime save up some money and do as much research as you can (compare cost of living in different cities – big, small, and medium-sized cities, visa requirements, etc)

Don’t listen to the people around you. They are just speaking from fear. Even if it is expensive to live there, there are ways to live on a smaller budget. If you are planning on buying a house or a car, then you can worry about how expensive things might be, but you can find ways to live within your budget. You can always find someone who needs a roommate or is renting a room in their house. If the city has a public transportation system, you’ll be fine. Avoiding their most popular big cities also helps bring your costs down.

As long as you do your research before you leave, you’ll be fine. However, you need to go eventually. Those feelings will not go away until you do.

New Zealand is a beautiful place and both Islands offer up beautiful scenery that will take your breath away. The South Island does have a special magic about it though :)

I agree with Calla Lily - just go and see what it is you need to see or find. Have fun adventures while your at it.

New Zealand has its highs and lows - yes it is an expensive to live there in comparison to other countries ( I am a Kiwi but currently live in Australia - Australia offers a better lifestyle as far as Ive experienced it in terms of opportunity ) , however NZ will always be home to me and I will return there eventually - despite the differences - Cost of Living appearing to be more expensive etc - it can be managed.

NZ is a place where life is slow and easy - no rush really. If your seeking the fast lane in life then the bigger cities might offer you that, the smaller cities are fairly laid back. Overall the hospitality offered is something that is quite unique i feel - Kiwis are more like one big family and we have quite a warm and welcoming nature . Of course :) you'll find some people are not really that genuine and travelling alone - you'll need to be the judge of someone's character.

I wonder what draws you there :) Anyway - enjoy it if you do go. Until you do go, this may not leave your system

All the best

:hug2: I thought I had better return the Hongi. What an awesome couple of posts to read, well put. I've always wanted people of different nationalities to come here enjoy themselves and if they decide to return home, they'll have life long memories and stories. I have been known to go overboard on safety. This is me being a far cry from where I use to be.lol.
Btw do they still call each other cuz among our cuzzies in Oz. coz that's why my daughter has been known to call me by, when we joke. The Rangatahi are funny cool. Kia Tau Te RangiMarie :hug2:

Tena Koe Ahiyah:hug2:

Safety anywhere in the world when traveling alone is important and should be a priority. My eldest daughter traveled to Europe , USA and UK recently and I was so worried - but she reminded me she wasn't silly either :) She had a great time and came to no harm , made good choices and I am very proud of her and HAPPY she came home safely! We probably need to keep this in mind no matter which country we travel to. I appreciate your honesty in regards to traveling safely in NZ too.

Lol - yes we still call each other cuzzies over here - Kiwis don't change much when living over here I've found - especially the ones raised in NZ. It's a nice touch of home when your passing another Kiwi or Maori in the street here - in Perth - there is always acknowledgment of one another. Whanau! :) gotta love it.:hug2:

To tell the truth, it's rather noisy here where I live, and I'm a country girl at heart, so living in town for the last four years has kind of taken its toll on me. When I spent a few days at my aunt and uncle's farm just recently, I was so filled with joy that I spread my arms wide as if to embrace the sun and grass and flowers and nearly fell over! :D [I read six books during my stay, and then I got sun burnt, but it was totally worth it!] I actually cried the night before I had to leave. I am currently working on getting my first fantasy novel published; writing a new story with another one floating around in ideas; have painted a folder full of fairly good paintings; have a small notebook of poems that I intend to publish one day; and am quite good at singing and dancing. :hug3: Honestly, it doesn't take much to make me happy or at peace.

Atamarie mArIya, :hug2:
Nga mihinui ki a koe. Kore au te mohio ki taku reo. As they use to say, "it is already in you it just needs watering. I will be heading back to my Papa Kainga to immerse myself in the Taonga o te reo. On my journey thus far I've found that Hebrew has at most times the same sentence structure as te reo Maori which would be the same as all our island cuzzy bros. interesting fact, I was reading up on TaneNuiARangi and came across the words "Te Tihi o Manono. It didn't mean much to me until I remembered a Samoa friend/bro saying he's from an island called Manono in the Samoa group of islands. I believe we have a strong connection of old with them. As you would know Maori call north Te tai Tokerau and south they call te tai Tonga, if we look where Samoa(Niue included) that north of Samoa is Tokelau and south of Samoa(Niue included) is Tonga and Tonga also means south in all our languages. I like to think its more than a coincidence.
We(Maori) have come a long way since the days of the mindset 'Kids should be seen and not heard' gone are the days when Mama use to say to us "go and get a stick" and Maori boy returns with twig.lol some people just don't know how infuriating a simple twig can be.lol. I'm glad the Rangatahi take the initiative to venture into the world chalking up life experiences. In this day and age we raise them to be leaders with Kotahitanga being of the upmost importance.
In respect to sight seeing over here most tourists head to the South Island and I know from one of my PapaKainga we have a road called "The million dollar view rd" that's not its actual name. It overlooks Matauri bay and the ocean. I could also say that the Coromandel(another place of resting bones) has some good fishing/touring spots. Rotorua and surrounding areas is another tourist destination and then there's the beautiful East Coast.
It's funny we don't hear the sayings "go on ow" or "not even ow" as much as we use to, but the Rangatahi and I when we get into mocking sessions of our own we get our inspiration from Once were warriors. "You'll be back" and "do you value your teeth?"or "cha bro you got some big muscles, where did you get your muscles from?" too funny. Yeah Nah we still have the odd churr going around. Since my better half has Niue blood it can get a bit fobby too. Generally speaking Niue people are quite placid so Ive noticed.
I've taken up enough of your time my Sis and I gotta get to my daily man job ie dishes,laundry, vacuuming, cooking eggs etc.lol. May the Taonga of our Tupuna/Tipuna be evident in your voice and deeds that brings about Kotahitanga with all people in the Whanau Aroha.:)
:hug2:

Hi AHIYAH,

Just letting you know I have no interest at all on trying to make your arguments look invalid - I was just telling people how I find New Zealand amazing and how I am totally happy and safe living here.
I might not be born in New Zealand but my partner is - and he is MAORI as well :redface: :redface:

Como voce estah, I believe the Brazillian greeting is. It's just as well you mentioned your partner being male because I was going to address you as a bro, mind you the females here call each other bro now.lol. I'm glad your experience here has been one of safety. There's alot about the Brazillian culture I/We like, as Maori it's often the food from other cultures that keeps us interested, another thing I like is that capoeira(???). I believe if you were to take some of Taonga to your partners Marae you'd have the young kids in total amazement with Kapoeira(???) as for the food that would just delight my Marae when knowledge is shared. Continue to be blessed Mah Sis.

[quote]AHIYAH

[quote]It's funny we don't hear the sayings "go on ow" or "not even ow" as much as we use to, but the Rangatahi and I when we get into mocking sessions of our own we get our inspiration from Once were warriors. "You'll be back" and "do you value your teeth?"or "cha bro you got some big muscles, where did you get your muscles from?" too funny. Yeah Nah we still have the odd churr going around. Since my better half has Niue blood it can get a bit fobby too. Generally speaking Niue people are quite placid so Ive noticed.
I've taken up enough of your time my Sis and I gotta get to my daily man job ie dishes,laundry, vacuuming, cooking eggs etc.lol. May the Taonga of our Tupuna/Tipuna be evident in your voice and deeds that brings about Kotahitanga with all people in the Whanau Aroha.:)
Now that just cracked me up LOL....I hate to overtake this thread with our back and forth banter - but hey! Here's some true kiwi spirit lol

Awesome brother lol- that gave me a laugh before I go to work! xo

^Go right ahead! :biggrin:

I looked at some pictures of New Zealand on Google Images last night, and as I looked at them, I almost cried tears of joy. :hug3: :cool:

I agree, for me I found NZ much safer then other places, far safer then Australia.

I got stranded moneyless there and several different strangers actually invited me into their homes and took me in till I could save to get back home to Australia. The people were far friendly then even those in Australia. I was there for 6 weeks and didnt even once meet a person who didnt want to help me.

As far as expensive goes.. take away shops were far far cheaper then those in Australia. I was amazed at how cheap the food was (half the price of some of the things I buy in Australia)

CrystalKitty, it is an amazing country. I'd love to go there again. One thing I really loved about the country was its energy. As we flew into NZ, we went over volcanoes.. even before we got to those I could feel the energy of NZ. The energy to me felt very ancient.. in a good kind of way. I cried when I felt this ancient energy as I was in awe of how it felt.. I resonated to that ancientness so much (It felt way older then Australia). The energy still makes my heart sing.

^Yes, that's exactly what I feel when I look at those pictures: ancient islands, "old" just like me [my soul feels old and young all at once], but full of magical awesomeness, too, just like me!

I suppose it wasn't Cape Reinga we call Te Rereinga Wairua, if you're ever there and you look out you can make out where the Tasman meets the Pacific, although both are included as Moananui A Kiwa. It's just that there's an under water trench and if you were to follow that trench it will lead back to another set of Islands. Seems a long way to go to see a lighthouse and an expanse of water. I suppose its not the Tane Mahuta tree in the Waipoua Forest. Seems like a long way to go to see a tree. There's the 90 mile beach that is only about 64 miles long. I'm guessing the curse of the Chinese 6 has plagued the mathematics in this when they rounded it off.lol I know it wasn't the pink and white terraces that aren't there now. Not far from Matauri that's Mah Toe rrrreeeee beach is where the Rainbow warrior was sunk, they might still have horse treks there btw. You might even get to see a replica of the carved Waka/Canoe there, if not its probably in the next bay Takou or somewhere near by. If you go anywhere around there because Kerikeri is down the road approx 20-40 mins away. Mostly oranges from the many orchards in the area. I believe there are historical places there. There the hot pools and geysers in Rotorua you could see and lake Taupo in the area as well as Turangi and other places. From there I would hit the Napier Taupo rd to visit the beautiful Central East Coast. Don't be surprised to find out that the Waikato river flows northward which in times past that Maori would say things like "ok lets go down to Whangarei when they would leave a place like Rotorua for instance. If you see the North Island as the Fish of Maui that's the direction the blood should flow. These are just some more suggestions if you should venture here.

In my understanding the original inhabitants of that land that is now called Australia have a very real ancient history. I believe they are ancient Africa and would've travelled there when the Original I dina still looked Africa. They may have even journeyed when there was no water separating Asia from Australia. Like this land there would've been multiple voyages to and from. I have a special place in my heart for these Indigenous Earth People. Some of those abrasive people say to us Maori that we are half breeds. I say to them that they don't even know the half of it. We are a mixture of many people. Then you get some Maori that say that they originated here. This could be true. I believe one of the sayings of the Originals from that land is Yothuyindi, which has to do with being a child of the Earth. Don't quote me on that. Thanks for your kind words. Many blessings to you.

I can see the Being of everything. Much love to all.

I would like to attend Anglican mass at the Cathedral in Christchurch. I heard it was damaged during an earthquake a few years back...