What's Wrong with New Zealand?

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Milford Sound
January 8th 2013

Published: January 10th 2013

I can’t remember whether I was coming or going, or where indeed that somewhere might have been. I’m not even sure if this particular conversation occurred before or after The Lord of the Rings had cast its spells over us all. I do remember I was stood on an Underground platform somewhere beneath the streets of London, with a backpack slung over my shoulder when a man in a suit made eye contact... Read Full Entry

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10th January 2013

RJT
Rachael

William Webb Ellis
Well there I was, enjoying reading your blog and observations about my homeland, admiring the photos, and then you ruined it all with that terrible sentence, "It is also a possibility that New Zealand may never again win". My heart stopped beating for a moment in time. Then I realised that of course you are wrong!! Here's to our successful defense in 2015.

10th January 2013

aspiringnomad
Jason

"My heart stopped beating..."
It was a powerful argument that also served in motivating my wife to chase Web Ellis around Hagley Park along with the entire population of Christchurch on our penulaltimate day in New Zealand. The next World Cup is in England...Rugby's coming home;-)

10th January 2013

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

Since you posted your last blog in July 2012 about your time in Tahiti in September 2011...
Linda and I have taken the repositioning cruise from Hawaii to Sydney via many islands, and then flew to Christchurch, the beginning of our two weeks in New Zealand. This blog about yout time there, a year before us, brought back to my memory many of the same reactions you had to the country. We also found it very expensive and desolate...where was everyone? And there we no wild animals to add depth to the country side. Although beautiful, something was still missing. We really didn't interact with the people who are supposed to be some of the friendliest people in the world, but we found Australians to be more outgoing. So although we enjoyed our visit there, I can certainly relate to comments in your blog. Thanks for continuing to blog, and for your perspectives.

10th January 2013

aspiringnomad
Jason

Right about the time scale...
However we loved it there, truly. The 'friendliness level' and the cultural quirks sit just right with me; after all I am originally from England. As a further gauge, Jennifer who hails from California and Wisconsin in the USA, similarly loved it. New Zealand certainly sits amongst our shortlist of possible countries to settle down one day, forever. If we had the money we'd do it tomorrow. As for the wildlife...I think the sandflies dealt with that.

10th January 2013

TinNiE
" Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness "

perhaps LOTR has made people's expectations a little too high? the photos are lovely, as always. x

10th January 2013

aspiringnomad
Jason

New Zealand exceeded my expectations.
Although we have all seen them, we are not especially fanatical about Lord of The Rings. I remember we were pit-stopping at Subway on the North Island and I looked out the window at a Mountain...I checked the guidebook to discover its name and stated to my disinterested bunch "I think that's Mount Doom over there" ... no response. Though I can do a pretty good impression of Gollum which my kids particularly dislike;-)

10th January 2013

Donna and Neil
Donna and Neil

Mount Doom!
Ha, we remember driving in NZ and Donna pointing at a mountain and saying 'I think that's Mount Doom' as well! We loved NZ, the people were so nice and the scenery breathtaking. Your blog and pictures (which are fantastic as usual!) brought back some good memories of our month there 6 years ago.

10th January 2013

colvinyeates
penny and gary

Nice weather
At least you had sunshine at Milford. That's like winning lotto.

11th January 2013

aspiringnomad
Jason

Winning the Lotto
In it to win it!

10th January 2013

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Perspectives
If I had not experienced your strong American accent in recent weeks I would assume you were a whinging Pom with your blog so coloured by the expense of basic commodities in NZ ( and OZ ). But your photos were confusing as they showed the stunning beauty of the place, why Europeans holiday there in European winters in droves, outnumbering locals. Now you are intimating you want to live there! Those in the Southern isles (OZ & NZ) like the fact we can walk without rubbing shoulders with the inhabitants of Mordor, can be the only ones on a beach, a mountain, etc, where it is great one day, better the next. So for any future blogs of this part of the World, please only drab photos, more about sand flies and driving rain in NZ, earthquakes go down well, and let us Aussies and New Zealanders enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the World. New Zealand, gotta love it, but don't tell anyone how fantastic it is. We like our solitude and, did I mention, the high prices are to keep it that way!

11th January 2013

aspiringnomad
Jason

Perspectives
David, although I think your paternalism is very sweet in coming to the defence of ‘OZ & NZ’ and in the process taking ownership of New Zealand's external affairs. I think it is important to remember that New Zealand is no longer part of New South Wales or Australia’s seventh state. They are all grown up and have their own country and everything, with their own money and even their own accent, 1500kms from Australia. Next you’ll be wanting to help them defend their shiny new trophy for them. But from what I’ve learned, there’ll be no more Waltzing with Matilda...Oh and Russell Crowe is a Kiwi.

10th January 2013

Jo Trouble
Jo McCarthy

Circa 2013
You said back in 2011 that it would probably be circa 2013 before you got around to writing your own 'Rugby World Cup' entry - I'm glad we didn't have to wait too long after the New Year! Fantastic writing, loved the photos - and the other comments :-) Hope to see you back here for the next parade in a couple of years!

11th January 2013

aspiringnomad
Jason

It was with tongue-in-cheek when I made that prediction.
But when the year turned 2013 and I still hadn’t gotten round to it I felt obligated to pull my finger out! I had actually planned to write a lot more about New Zealand’s relationship with Rugby and more of the actual tournament itself, but the sands of time have clouded my memory of things, and all I seem to remember are how small coffees were;-) Doubtless we'll be back with or without Web Ellis!

12th January 2013

Poobritney
non-member comment

Awesome
Good article to read. Keep it up!

13th January 2013

Anastasia78
Anastasia78

Wonderful writing!
And now I appreciate the $0.69 Big Gulp at every corner gas station in America even more.

1st May 2013

Geoff
non-member comment

Thanks
Good to read your articles, though I seldom comment. Mari and I recently toured NZ as well, and enjoyed it enormously. Met you in the Andamans post tsunami, then Mari and I had just met, 3 years later we were visiting the Togians, on your advice. Didn't make it to the Sudan though, maybe in the future. I've really enjoyed following you and your family, keep it up, you prove travel doesn't have to end with children.

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