The Real NZ – Things they don’t tell you in travel brochures (Part 2)

Note: The following list is NOT a complaint list. They are just some candid observations seen through the eyes of an outsider after staying here for 2 years.

[Continued from previous post]

And now let's digest some of the grim stats...

1. The debts are mile high – High interest rates and high borrowing trends are crippling families. Sorry kids, you have to pay off your parents’ debts for the rest of your lives
2. The properties are hot – Yeah, right! Not only they are grossly over priced, they are cheapo in quality and need high maintenance too. And most of them are made of wood. With one torch, you can reduce your million dollar home into a pile of ashes. And if you don’t mind the risks of tsunamis or storm surge, then go ahead and throw your cash to buy those over-rated sea view properties
3. Say hello to your cold neighbours – I blame it on the weather. Nowadays you don’t even know who your neighbors are. Most of the time, they either give you a blank stare or they do not make eye contact at all
4. Teacher, I can’t spell! – The education system is a farce. It’s shocking that this country has illiteracy problems. You’ll get a pass even if you do not know how to read, write, spell or count. Now NZQA even allow you to use text abbreviations in school exams.On the other hand, NZQA insist on assessing some overseas degrees because they think those qualifications are not credible. Talk about double standards!
5. Shall we join the hospital waiting list? - The health system is a sham. With the doctors, nurses and radiographers who LOVE to go on strike every now and then, you better be rich so you can afford private health care or you get shove to the waiting lists only to be strike off later
6. Spare the rod and spoilt the child – Just because a few sadistic adults abused their kids, all the good parents get punished for disciplining their children. No wonder we have a plague of delinquency and it is all thanks to “great” efforts of Sue Bradford and her bunch of cronies
7. Let’s give driving licenses to 15 year olds – Heck! They can’t even look properly where they walk and they want to drive a car?
8. Drinking age at 18 – Who cares about alcoholics and liver problems? All the liquor companies and breweries care about is how to make more money. The lower the drinking age the better, so they can sell more liquor and create more alcoholics. Besides the locals seem to think that binge drinking is a cool thing among their peers. No wonder 20% of the populations are drunks
9. Pop those pills if you want to get high - Party pills and other substances abuse are rampant in the country.
10. Help me chase the blues away – 1 in 3 of the population suffers mental illness (any type ranging from mild to severe)
11. Violence in pristine land – In year 2005/2006 there are more than 50000 violent crimes reported in a country of 4.1 million people. That means 1 violent crime per 80 people. Thanks to TV3 for showing prime time shows that depict murder, violence and criminal activities (CSI, Numb3rs, SVU, Prison Break etc)
12. The justice system favors criminals – No wonder the criminals are more and more daring. Prisoners are better served than school kids – Nice food, comfortable settings and not to mention they can roam freely into wardens’ office anytime of the day. Apart from sitting around and do nothing at tax payers’ expense, they get to play PS2/Xbox games and attack prison guards!
13. Despicable characters stole the limelight – criminals, Brian Tamaki, Exclusive Brethen members and politicians

Need I say more?