Thanks for you question, I love getting feedback.
Gosh let me start with a thought.
New Zealand is a small country and the press works is a strange way. I know I am connected with the media! In the UK you would believe that the New Zealand shock headline news of the day would be "Man Rescues Sheep!" Here in New Zealand you would believe that we are over run with gangs, crystal meth and tagging on every available wall!
The opposing view is that living in New Zealand and reading the press we would think the UK is full of drunk children, that children are stabbed every day of the week and teachers beaten on a regular basis.
The truth is that New Zealand isn't the land of calm, crime free streets you may think. If nothing else is true the death toll from the appalling driving is a national outrage. There is the most dreadful culture of domestic violence and child abuse in some sections of the community. There is a P problem and violent crime exists.
However, I used to live in the Eastend of London. Groups of teens would gather near my flat and create hell. I was pelted with stones and my car was damaged by a group of very violent teenagers from one specific ethnic back ground but they lived in the most dreadfully deprived inner city development, I lived in a riverside penthouse. No excuse but I mean to emphasize the tension in the community
In new Zealand teenage boys look at my children and smile. They will often say excuse me if they realize they have sworn in their earshot. They will help with the push chair, through doors, up steps - quite extra ordinary.
I get 3 hours a day to spend with my children that I'd spend commuting. They go to pre school of my choice with 1 caregiver to every 3 or 4 children. They run free on the beaches that are near deserted.
I live in a country where I never feel vulnerable and I feel my children are more safe and secure (apart from the driving) that at home in the UK.
My children are happy and relaxed because we are less stressed than if we lived in the UK.
In short New Zealand is not the Nirvana you may think but it is in my opinion a great place for young families. I think that teenagers are still vulnerable to drug and drink problems but that sport and the outdoor life give them a better chance of getting through than in the uk cities.
So there you have it, my personal view on the state of the community! If only it were that simple but I hope it gives an idea of the situation.
2 comments:
I appreciate your statement, my wife and I are looking closely into a move to New Zealand, and we have an infant child. my skew of the world comes from a style of travel only a poor college student could afford. so as you can see I mesh well in most invironments. my wife however was raised here in Idaho U.S.A. and its a giant farm and rural commercial community. so dangerous to her and dangerous to me have very seperate levels of intensity. with the back and fourth statements of this passive attack on whom ever the attacker feels are hoons? seams simply stereo typical. Im sure with a little respect a little can be retrieved. any ideas about the south island and Christchurch?
It has been great to read your comments about NZ.Myself & my hubby are int he process of applying to live in NZ, i have 5 kids ranging for 18- twins of 3. Having visited my sister in Stanmore Bay north of Auckland we got an feeling that we could give it a go of having a new fresh life.
My sisters faimly seemed to have done well[ nephew is one of the crusty demons fmx traveling Auz at the mo] i don't think he would have done so well had he stayed hear in Brighton. Have you got a 1-10 list of things that could get us started as things have changed since my sister moved 8years ago it would be very much app. Tracey
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