facts and news

For a really perfect preparation you should be well informed about news and facts of the country you´re going to join. Normally first touch to New Zealand are all these pretty pictures of nationalparks and the unbelievable nature. BUT this is not enough - you have to understand and feel-in into people living there, all do´s and don´ts - cause we stay for more than a few days, and we are gonna interacting with the locals. Hell, this will no "all-inclusive club vacation" ... this will be pure adventure at all!! ;-) So I read a lot of different stuff about New Zealand. I really tried to get an overview about history, basics, culture, lifestyle, food,..and so on.

some facts...

• New Zealand one of the last major landmasses settled by humans
• capital (Wellington) is not the largest city (Auckland)
• National language is English and Maori
• Area 268,021km² by 4,414400 habitants
• Calling Code is 0064
• Driving on the left side
• currency is New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
• 1st land of the world with female suffrage (18th September 1893)
• National sport is Rugby
• ... and so many ohter things, which will blow this list of bullets :-)

Credo by Kiwis:
"Beneath down under", you might be faced with the slogan ... "number-eight wire"  ... and u have the foggiest, and think WTF?!? Well, this is the simple description of their national myth, that everything can be handled and fixed by a wire size number 8 :-)


OK, knowing facts on the one hand you become more ore less sensitive to news and everday occurrences, too. Latest news?

• New Zealand win rugby world championship 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bajydp5cbJs
• helicopter crashes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kpM59bvbLg
• Wellington stroke by earthquake early December 2011
  
  

Staying tuned by national broadcast http://www.therock.net.nz/  to get used to the New Zealander accent. You are also uptodate of daily news by reading  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/