2 comments about A New Life in New Zealand.

1. Paul Goddard and family picked up and moved from the UK to New Zealand to start a new life, slow down, and find a better place for their children to grow up. While in the process of emigrating, they became a feature family on the BBC TV Series 'Get a New Life', which followed them through the ups and downs of moving to a foreign country, dealing with homesickness and financial hardship, and having to make new friends and adjust to a new culture. Paul then wrote this book as a follow up to the series, to tell people in his own words what it was really like to emigrate, and to give people the sort of information you can't get by doing research and looking at facts and figures.
   
   In theory, this all sounds like a wonderful idea, which is why it's a pity that this book falls flat very early on. I picked it up at the library, not so much because I was considering moving to New Zealand (although occasionally I think about it), but because I'm travelling there in a month and I wanted the perspective of someone who'd lived there but who wasn't necessarily a native New Zealander. I was specifically trying to avoid 'tips for tourists' type information, because there's a wealth of that already, and I know a lot from my parents and friends who have travelled the country extensively. So bearing this in mind, I never expected this to be a 'useful' book in that sense.
   
   I suppose the earliest chapter or so was the most interesting: the reasons why they were attracted to New Zealand in the first place; how they decided on where to settle; their first impressions of the culture; and how they responded to the challenges of being in a new country. After that both the quality of the writing and the level of interest wanes, and Paul talks almost entirely about his struggle to get his business off the ground and make ends meet (he buys a Car Care franchise, and later tries to set up a rehearsal studio for local bands). While this is probably useful to those who try to start similar businesses, the book becomes less about trying to start a new life in a different country, and instead heads down the path of a 50-page whine about the fact that no one is signing up for the services he offers and that money is tight. It seems like a dozen or more times that he writes something along the lines of: 'I kept thinking it wasn't worth it and we should just give up and go back to the UK'. The point is well made; in fact, he beats the reader mercilessly with it, over and over again.
   
   One thing that I would have found interesting would have been some discussion about his experience or understanding of Maori culture after having lived in New Zealand for a year. Yet he barely even mentions New Zealand's Indigenous population, and instead dismisses it by saying that he hasn't 'had any time to look into it'. I find this surprising given that he moves to Tauranga and takes a couple of jobs in Rotorua, both of which are small cities in the Bay of Plenty, an area with a huge concentration of Maori people. The influence of Maori culture is just about inescapable in much of New Zealand, but especially here. He even visits the Te Papa museum in Wellington and, instead of talking about anything to do with Maori history or culture (one of the museum's primary areas of focus), he talks about earthquakes. Apparently the most amazing thing about the museum to him is that it's free.
   
   For such a short book (120 pages), I really think that only about half of what he says would be of any interest to someone wanting to either emigrate or travel to New Zealand. There are some useful tips, such as knowing the relative cost of living, a bit about crime rates, politics, road rules, and the Kiwi sense of humour, but ultimately it's a dry read. I read it in one sitting, mostly because there's little to engage with. He does list a considerable number of resources and organisations that one might find helpful, though.
   
   The final point I have to make is that the book really could have done with a good editor. Many readers, of course, will neither notice nor care about grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, but if you're a stickler like me, you'll identify with the frustration of seeing apostrophes where they shouldn't be, dashes and commas in the wrong place and misspelt words ('addmission' and 'Antartic' are the two that spring to mind!) Yes, we see this sort of shoddy writing all the time in everyday life, but it really isn't acceptable in the publishing world.
   
   Bottom line: If you're seeking to move to New Zealand, there may be some useful hints to be found here, but perhaps try to borrow rather than buy. If you're going for a holiday and want to read about the country in something other than a guidebook, I'd give this one a miss (although you may like Kate Llewellyn's 'Lilies, Feathers & Frangipani', for an altogether more insightful and better-written exploration of New Zealand).



2. I purchased this book hoping that I would discover a more personal perspective regarding emigrating to New Zealand. The beginning of the book did touch on the reasons why Paul and his family left the UK which was of interest. However, I wanted more details about the whole process of emigrating such as the NZIS application process, actual packing of belongings which entails deciding what one should take and what one should leave behind, etc.
   
   I also found that there was little detail in his experience with the education system. While I was thrilled that his daughter was doing well, I wanted more details such as course of study, academic standards, homework details, etc...information that people like myself are craving when embarking on such a huge life change. In addition, when Paul's son had to go to the MD for his arm, I would have liked to read more about the New Zealand healthcare process...particularly since Paul and his family did not have permanent residency status at the time.
   
   I would highly recommend this book if one is going over to start a business. The book is primarily geared toward that experience. But if you are planning on working for a corporation or the government, and want to know the details of living in NZ, this book will not help you.
   
   I agree with the above reviewer regarding the lack of editing on this book. There are spelling and grammatical mistakes, which may not bother most, but will bother many.

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2 comments about Untamed Coast: Auckland's Waitakere Ranges and West Coast Beaches.

1. Nobody alive on earth today can adequately describe the magic that is the Waitakere Ranges -- a unique place on this planet, unrivaled in beauty anywhere at any price. Travel around the Ranges, either on foot or by automobile, and you will be enchanted, spellbound.

   Because words are horribly inadequate tools to describe beauty, the Waitakere Ranges must be experienced to be believed. However, _Untamed Coast_ comes about as close as possible to doing this place justice.

   A magical book, for a magical place.




2. This is a great book. I grew up in this area and spent many happy hours on these beaches. It truly is a great present to share with friends overseas and with family.

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