Many years ago my best friend planned a trip of a lifetime - 2 months, the first month in New Zealand and the second month in Australia.
He and his wife liked New Zealand so much that they cancelled their trip to Australia and spent the entire two months in New Zealand.
That told me all I needed to know about the place.


>But don't you feel like you are living in the 'Lord of the Rings?' :o) From the backgrounds in the movie, it is absolutely beautiful there! It looks like a combination of the beautiful green landscapes of Kentucky and the mountain peaks of Colorado!
>
>Tracy
>
>>Dragan
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>>>>I'm beginning to like the place. How about your immigration laws? <<
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>>We have a points system based on skills we need. IT is right up there. Recognised Qualifications count as well. If you have a degree and a job offer in IT and as you are obviously highly articulate in English, you could probably emmigrate tomorrow.
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>>>> Sounds like a good place to retire to. And my wife will surely be pleased to hear this. <<
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>>The dollar is worth <50% of the US dollar so you can buy a nice 4-bedroom house on a quarter acre in a town of (say) 300,000 people within 1.5 hours of Auckland City and within 3 hours of snow fields, 20 minutes from uncrowded surf or safe beaches, on a river, for about $US150,000. More expensive in Auckland, an inner-city (inner-city being regarded as a premium suburb rather than what you may think of) similar house will set you back >$US300,000. You'll be in good school zones and near good quality medical, schooling and urgent healthcare being free.
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>>Oh but you won't be able to vote straight away, hopefully that won't be seen as too much of an infringement on your rights. ;-)
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>>>>and of course there's a male in the position of the minister of men's affairs?<<
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>>Yes, he is generally referred to as "Minister of Sport" < g >
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>>Take a look at http://www.purenz.com/?F2227EC9-DC8F-4C09-811E-D8D80CA10BBF for more details.
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>>Regards
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>>JR