Busytown by Jolisa Gracewood

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Busytown: Sons for the Return Home

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  • Sacha, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    a beatup on academics

    does my mortgage look fat in this anti-intellectualism?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Carol Stewart,

    Threadswerve - is anyone else mildly distressed at the Labour election pamphlet that arrived today in the post?
    Picture of $100 note - message that Labour policies will put more money in your pocket.
    Since when did Labour stand for naked self interest? In the last election, I seem to remember that National's schtick was that tax cuts would put more money in your pocket.
    I have voted Labour all my life but I really am on the verge of voting Green this time round, as I think they have done a far better job of articulating their values. Their 'For a richer New Zealand' campaign is brilliant.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    Since when did Labour stand for naked self interest? In the last election, I seem to remember that National's schtick was that tax cuts would put more money in your pocket.

    There's the problem right there - it worked. And with Labour so bereft of ideas and vision at the moment, "well it worked for them!" might just be a tempting strategy.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Venetia King, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    I even went into the local NZ Immigration dept office in Dunedin asking if they had any giveaways for new immigrants ... I walked away empty handed.

    I looked for that kind of information a while back, for an English relative who didn't end up leaving the UK (so what we found wasn't tested). Local & central government seem to have got better at this, e.g. the Immigration NZ sites like the SSNZ one that Sacha pointed to, and New Zealand Now which is maybe more appropriate for returning NZers.

    Auckland Council just provides a series of links, whereas Wellington provides a fairly comprehensive PDF (although it's a little out of date, with an intro from our now former mayor, and obsolete information about the recycling service).

    There are probably non-govt sites with better information, but PA System may well be all you need :)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 117 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Still for new settlers rather than returnees and only for the Auckland region, the migrants service have launched a new website:
    http://www.settlement.org.nz/

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    still doesn't answer the questions I had - which were mostly those things one picks up by osmosis from others the same age with kids as they grow (how to sign up for medical stuff, how to sign up at school) - the answers (just choose a doctor/school and go along with your passports) are probably so simple and obvious no one ever bothers to write them down - but if you've ever dealt with the US systems and the myriad associated form filling one expects a lot more

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    In a word - no.
    The editorial I mentioned was a beatup on academics in general and Auckland University academics in particular. not very edifying.

    Attacking the privilege of those who work and attend universities - and those who work and attend polytechnics and other tertiary institutions by default - became the new black in the 1990s.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh,

    It may be a bit late to resurrect this thread, but I read this post at kiwipolitico and it didn't so much as strike a chord as play a symphony on the old heart strings. Then I remembered this post of Jolisa's and my own abject terror, but determination to get my family back to somewhere civilised where people don't always wear shoes and Christmas is in summer like it's bloody well supposed to be, and I thought I'd share.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • chris,

    play a symphony on the old heart strings

    Beautifully put Chris. Thanks for sharing that link, it resonates.,,

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh,

    So I come to resurrect this thread again? Well, as for advice being aimed more at immigrants than returning Kiwis, I'm starting the process of shifting back and looking around, and... This is search result number 1 - a worthy attempt, but stalled a year ago? And results numbers 3 and 5 are not encouraging. Just where does one get useful information?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    What do you need to know?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Hebe,

    What do you need to know?

    Everything! Actually, we've got a few months to prepare, so nothing urgent, I'm just looking for general "moving back" information at this point, and this thread is the best I've come across.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Guess I should clarify: I remembered this thread had lots of good advice, came back to refresh my memory, and found talk about websites like Settlement Support, which are still very much focussed on helping new immigrants. There still seems to be a lack of info for returning Kiwis. Still, the good advice that is here is still good, and I expect over the next few months I'll be stopping by a few more times to remind myself of the wisdom shared here.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

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