What I like about NZ

Usually, after about two years, immigrants start noticing the downsides of their new country - the honeymoon ends, and real life begins. I’m not quite there yet - it’s only been 1.5 years since I arrived. So, it feels like the perfect time to rant about why I like New Zealand and what makes it unique. Before it’s too late.

In my opinion, New Zealand has a combination of qualities that no other country can offer: ...

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YouTube channels and podcasts

Since 2011, as I planned to leave Russia, I’ve gradually replaced Russian media with English-speaking content. Here’s my current selection of the best YouTube channels and podcasts I’ve gathered.

The links below lead to selected videos that, in my opinion, best showcase each channel:

MKBHD (USA, tech reviews) – The best tech review channel. Perfect language (ideal for those who struggle with understanding verbal English), well-written, informative, entertaining, and filmed to a highest standard.

Auto Focus (USA, electric and hybrid car reviews) – another channel by the same creator. I watch it simply because I enjoy his style, and it’s useful to stay informed about the ongoing replacement of legacy petrol cars with electric ones.

Joe Rogan Experience (USA, long-form interviews) – A legend and the man who popularised podcasts. One of the few who didn’t censor his content during the COVID hysteria and Trump hysteria - a true beacon of free speech. I listen to him in podcast format.

Lex Fridman (USA, long-form interviews) – A friend of Joe’s and another excellent interviewer, he usually chooses more tech- and science-oriented guests. His focus is on knowledge and education. I listen to him in podcast form.

Triggernometry (UK, political discussions) – Two English hosts lead debates and conversations, sometimes featuring Russian guests. Topics are usually covered from multiple perspectives – a very neutral and well-balanced channel. I listen to them in podcast format.

Roman NFKRZ (USA, Russian news in a humorous way) – A Russian guy reviewing Russian political and media news in English. No deep analysis, just funny content spiced with memes. Some believe his English is the best that a Russian can achieve.

Tucker Carlson (USA, political interviews) – Another freedom of speech apologist. He has strange opinions on many topics, including Russia, but it doesn’t matter. He is not afraid to go against the mainstream. He is honest and open. And these simple qualities are enough to make him one of the best political journalists in the USA. I listen to him in podcast format.

In Moscow Shadows (UK, Russian politics analysis) – If you're into Russian politics, you'll be impressed by the author’s deep knowledge. He is a historian who’s dedicated his life to studying Russia, written many books about Russia, consults western politicians. I highly recommend him to anyone interested in the subject. His YouTube channel has only a few videos, one of which I've linked as a teaser. For the full scope of content, check his podcast.

Living Big In A Tiny House (NZ, tiny house reviews) – One of the most popular NZ channels. There is a small movement in NZ of fans building portable and movable houses, installing them in beautiful locations, and living there alone, surrounded by stunning nature. This channel reviews these houses in short and beautiful videos. All kinds of NZ accents are included.

How To Dad (NZ, funny short videos) – Another popular NZ channel. Just funny videos about family, raising a baby, household, accents, and whatever else, all with a NZ accent.

The Aotearoa History Show (NZ history) For those truly interested in NZ, not just as tourists. the channel offers a series of short animated videos explaining the country’s history in a simple and interesting way, with fully authentic NZ accents.

The Working Group (NZ, political news) – Only for those deeply interested in NZ. It’s the best political discussion in the country, full of humour, offering various perspectives with a range of guests, including prime ministers. I listen to it in podcast format.

Dr. Layne Norton (USA, nutrition and fitness) – Many channels claim to cover this topic, but in fact, 90% of them are non-science-based rubbish. This one is not only science-based, with in-depth analysis of research, but also short-formed, interesting, and full of irony. Science can be entertaining.

If you know any good English channels worth watching, feel free to recommend them.

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I couldn’t believe my ears when I first heard it (exact timestamp added). This is how journalists address the Prime Minister of New Zealand (de facto the top official in the country, in power at the time) in person during an interview:

- "Chippy", a nickname based on his initials, CH (Chris Hipkins)
- "recreational high-ranking Jedi"
- "blonde Harry Potter"

Of course, it’s just humour, and there’s nothing humiliating about it. There are also debates and more formal interviews where everything is serious. But just look at how at ease they are, joking together. I don’t even need to explain why I was surprised when I first heard it and how it differs from what I've gotten used to. You understand me.

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An old cemetery from 1840 that was transformed into a park in Wellington. In NZ cemeteries, citizens typically stroll around freely, like in parks, and there are no fences – probably because locals don’t see the need for them.

Obviously, they are naive people – it’s a well-known fact that without these fences, the city will be doomed to a bloodbath during a zombie apocalypse.

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Legal immigrants

New Zealand’s population has doubled since 1960 (see chart above), mainly due to immigration. A lot of immigrants come from Western countries similar to NZ, but there is also a large inflow of people from different cultures like India, China, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Samoa, the Philippines, and others, including Arab countries and Israel.

With all these people mixed together, there are no national conflicts or nation-based crime. No districts where only immigrants live. No dangerously-looking groups speaking their own languages on the streets. Meetings for Israel and Palestine took place many times one after another every weekend, with no conflicts.

And I have an idea why there are no conflicts. It’s because ...

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The best PC translator

I've tried many programs for translation on PC. None of them was perfect, except for one I discovered recently.

The name of the program is Lookupper.

It takes 1 minute to install and 1 second to learn how to use it. No setup is required. You just install it, and it works straight away, doing exactly what is needed without annoying bells and whistles.

How does it work? You hover the mouse cursor over a word and press a button (Ctrl+D by default). A small window with the translation pops up. That's it.

It works everywhere – in any document, software, interface, game, and even on pictures. You just point at a word, press a hotkey, and get a translation. Easy as.

Another great feature is that it provides both En-En and target language translations. English is richer than other languages, so it's always best to read the word's meaning in English for a deeper understanding. An example of such word is on the picture above.

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A timelapse from a bus trip starting in North Auckland, where we lived back then, to Central Auckland.

It was winter (late May), but Auckland looks much the same in every season: blooming lemons, grapefruit, flowers, and green grass everywhere, all year round. It's just usually sunny.

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Lost in translation

The Māori Party in the NZ Parliament performed a haka (a ceremonial dance) to protest against a proposal for equality of all New Zealanders. Sounds odd, doesn't it?

Here is the background:
The main document outlining relations between the British Crown and Māori, called the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed in 1840 and has two versions:
- English states Māori are to be governed by the British Crown.
- Māori states a partnership between the sides.

Basically, the parties signed different documents, which caused unfair treatment of Māori in the past. To fix the past, modern Māori have been granted privileges:
- Reserved parliamentary seats (7 out of 120).
- Subsidised healthcare, culture, and language.
- Financial and land compensation.

A week ago, the ACT party, proposed to make all NZ citizens equal and remove race-based privileges. The Māori Party answer is on the video.

It will take a few months for Parliament to discuss the issue and vote on it.

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The most beautiful tree on Earth (according to my personal rating) is located a 15-minute walk from my house. Here.

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Myth busters! Utilities prices! 🔥

There is a quite popular opinion in Russia that after you move to another country, you won’t see the expected income. Instead, you’ll be instantly ripped off by utility providers! Nothing will be left, and you’ll die starving.

Actually, this is not quite correct. In the picture above, behold my shocking statistics for Moscow and Auckland properties I’ve lived in during recent years!

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5 Things I love about NZ culture

There are a few cultural traditions that I like in NZ way more than their counterparts in Russia. Here are they:

1. No tips. You are not expected to pay tips anywhere. Nobody stands nearby, silently expecting extra money. You simply pay the stated price, and that’s it. It’s very logical and convenient.

2. No long parties. If there is a birthday party at work, it’s usually quick – people celebrate, eat a piece of cake, drink a cup of tea, have a brief, relaxed chat, and then get back to work. Speeches are optional. No toasts by turns, no "come on, say something" stuff. If you want to speak, you do. If not, you don’t.

3. No heavy drinking. At larger parties, such as an all-evening barbecue, guests drink moderately – a glass of wine or a couple of beers. Nobody gets drunk; everyone stays mostly sober, maintaining a slightly tipsy state. Instead of drunken mumbling, people chat, play games, sing, or make music. Then, they simply get in their cars and drive home. In New Zealand, you can have a glass of wine before getting behind the wheel.

4. No handshakes. There's no strange ritual of shaking hands every time you meet someone - you just greet them, and that's enough. The problem with handshakes is that people's hands are not always dry or clean. Some people shake your hand with a wet or sticky palm, some shake firmly, others weakly, some are busy, and you interrupt them with your handshake, and some you have to reach out to. This unnecessary ritual persists in Russia simply because it's a tradition, and there is no real need in it. In NZ, there’s no such issue. So easy and convenient!

5. No you/thou. That’s a real gamechanger in communication! There is no division between casual "thou" and respectful "you" in English since 18th century. You address every single person on Earth with “you.” No awkwardness when transitioning from one form to another with someone – you just use the respectful form “you” for everybody. It’s super convenient.

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Freedom

Another story from NZ that made world news recently.

On the right in the picture is a woman who changed her exterior to male by taking hormones and removing her breasts. After transitioning, she still wanted to have relationships with men and married one (on the left). Then they tried to have a baby, and after a few miscarriages (probably due to the hormone therapy), they succeeded.

As a result, they are a trans couple raising their own baby. They also turned their private life into a media story and created a TV show for NZ television.

If you are fearless enough, you can see more pictures of them on their Instagram.

Opinions on this fact are divided even in NZ. For instance, here is a conservative one.

My thoughts on this are …

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Money

When we moved to NZ, 1 New Zealand Dollar was worth 50 Russian Rubles. It was a convenient figure for quick calculations – useful for comparing prices, taxes, and salaries.

The exchange rate is now 60 RUB per NZD. With the new rounded number, when I explain NZ salaries and prices to my Russian friends and family, the rouble figures will be 20% higher. My salary will appear larger to them, even though it has remained roughly the same in NZD.

I highly doubt that, had we stayed in Russia, our current salaries would have risen by 20% over the last 1.5 years. Of course, this doesn’t mean we’ve become richer in NZ. It simply means that everyone earning in roubles has become 20% poorer compared to those in currencies with slower devaluation.

I remember life in Russia well, constantly worrying not only about earning money but also about protecting it from government theft (aka inflation). It was a very unsettling feeling. I hope everyone escapes the sinking ship of rouble earnings asap.

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On the banknote in the previous post, next to the image of Elizabeth II, is "The Beehive" building in Wellington. It houses the executive branch of the NZ government. The Office of the Prime Minister is located on the upper floors.

I photographed it during a recent trip to Wellington. There were no fences, no police, and no armed guards. People were relaxing on the lawns around it. It seems that New Zealand officials do not protect themselves from the public.

To support this, a story from one of my colleagues: a few years ago, she met former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her local grocery store. Jacinda was shopping with her baby, and the only difference from regular people was the presence of two bodyguards waiting for her at the entrance.

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Crime in Auckland

A video where I walk and talk in Russian about the criminal activity I’ve seen in Auckland since we moved.

Just don’t get me wrong – Auckland is the best city. However, it’s always important to consider the full picture and take all perspectives into account. No place is ideal, and while New Zealand comes close to perfection, there’s always room for improvement.

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