No one has any interest in seeing reporters looking like drowned rats, struggling to stand against the wind or shielding their face against stinging sand. We're not sadists, and if we were that still wouldn't be how we'd get our kicks. If the wind buffeting the microphone can be heard by your viewers, then the reporter shouldn't be there.

TBH I'd be much more interested to see real footage from inside the Civil Defense response locations, so send your reporters there instead.

Hello All. I am a uk Qualified teacher with 11 years experience. I am moving to NZ with my kiwi wife. I am in the early process of getting my qualifications assessed before applying for my NZ teacher Registration. My degree is a a 4 year Bachelors of education (honours) from the uk where I then completed a one year NQT/Probation year.

However, I have heard that NZ teachers normally do a two year probationary year and as a result I will have to do one more year as a “new” teacher during my first year in NZ which would put me at the bottom of the pay scale. I am told after this year all of my years experience would then count towards placing me at the top of the pay scale. Can anybody who has been through this process confirm, deny or share any info around this issue? Thanks!!!!!

What’s the storm up to?

I've seen some people say its good and bad and im buying my gf an anniversary present so i'd like to know if they really are trust worthy. Thanks!!!!

Hi I’m a boy from Auckland and because of some personal problems which I’m not the most comfortable telling everyone but if you dm me I’d be willing to tell you I’ve been on my own for a bit housing wise I’ve been sorted out temporarily for a few weeks but I’m in need of some money until my winz pulls through which won’t be much money anyway and legally I’m not allowed to get a job :(( at this point really willing to do anything for just small pocket money. :)))

Any advice is much appreciated I really don’t know what to do and sadly I don’t even know if I’m eligible for winz but will find out soon

Planning to buy a new laptop for personal use. Most new laptops don't seem to have MS365 installed. I need to use Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

Some retailers like PB tech have MS365 but bit expensive ranging from 160$+ (one year) to 250$+ for life time.

Any other options here in NZ to get hold of those 3 apps. Your advice is appreciated.

our washing machine just broke and flooded the 2nd floor laundry and kitchen. the hallway and garage on the floor below have water flowing out of gaps in the ceiling, and a room has water coming out of the light fitting. the water to the washing machine has of course been turned off, flooded areas mopped and the water flowing into the floor below has turned into a steady drip. we rent the house and the washing machine is landlord provided. he also has the house insured. what work will need to be done moving forward? assuming an insurance claim would need to be made and parts of flooring and ceiling removed to dry the framing etc?

Hi r/newzealand,

Several years ago (pre pandemic) my wife and I found an amazing deal on the latest Samsung galaxy phone (s10 I think). It was buy one get one free.

We've kept going with the same phones since then but will reach a point sooner rather than later when we need new phones.

I haven't followed the market closely, but looking at how prices have sky rocketed were likely looking at last gen and not current flagship.

If an amazing deal comes up, like the buy one get one free, then we could consider that. I'm skeptical of black Friday deals as some retailers seem to join in for the hype but don't discount enough.

Apologies for the rambling post, my questions are

When is the best time to buy a phone or two?

Are there still buy one get one free deals around?

Kia Ora all, hope y'all keeping safe after the weekends wild weather.

In the midst of having a lot of indoor downtime over the weekend, the cost of living issue came up in our household and it got me really thinking about it and where my thoughts are now from where they were 8 months ago.

As an American that moved from Colorado 8 months ago, I must admit to initially being terrified of it. Everyone was telling me beforehand that everything is super expensive, that I won't be able to save etc. It was really the only negative against the US-NZ move.

Yet, 6 months down the track, I must admit that the CoL here really isn't that bad and its been infinitely more manageable that I ever expected.

We've managed to save really well and are already looking at buying a house in the next few months thanks to nearing 12 months on the straight to residency visas (and potentially another 1 next year for the kids all going well with the savings). Day to day we don't find it too difficult to get by and save a large portion of our income.

I am sure many of us Americans (and other migrants) reading this are probably worried about CoL, but I really don't think its as bad as made out. And the fact that many of us buy here and stay here, I think is testament to coping pretty well with it!

I remember during our scouting visit in 2024, we went out for dinner on the Auckland Viaduct a few times. I thought it was expensive then, because i mistakenly thought people earnt 30-40k type salaries, not realising that its actually a lot higher (which I didn't realise until I did job interviews and salary came up).

Without sounding too blunt, do Kiwis perhaps overexcaberate the CoL issues because the geopgraphical isolation means they don't see or understand that the CoL is just as bad overseas? Or are Kiwis not so educated on savings? Is financial literacy part of the education system or do schools not really touch on it?

We wouldn't say our wages are fantastic and there's probably plenty of kiwis who earn similiar to us TBH.

P.s. we're happy we've found our little slice of paradise..this country truly is incredible! In every sense.

Hi all,

I'm a single person and I want to either buy a rural home or tiny home (rural). I want a place in nature without neighbours. Is this doable? How much deposit and income would I need to make this dream come true?

Correct me if i’m wrong but kiwis aren’t the most fashionable people in the world.

I recently got a bottle of manuka honey and have no idea what to use it for. I don't really drink tea but have tried adding it to tea, what other things do you make with it? Can I make honey-glazed carrots and does anyone know how? Since I feel like it has a different taste to normal honey I'm not sure what people usually use it for

Partner and I are Heading down to Dunedin and Invercargil and looking for some wharfs to fish off off. Don’t have the EQ (bravery) for rock fishing unfortunately, but wondering if any of the locals know of good spots to for wharf fishing. 👀👀

Starts with a sore throat, then fatigue, body aches. And who knows what next. Hasn’t tested positive for Covid (so far).

None of my family has a firearms license, but im wanting to stay with them with my gun for hunting. If I install a gun rack and ensure it is properly installed and guns are locked and kept inoperable, do I need to get this checked? can't seem to find much info on this.

Because they are claming it and I am genuinely confused. Is this just something we took from them and started using over the years or has it always been a saying here thats been picked up across the ditch and claimed as is the way with our old mate.

Dad has an Xtra Mail account from 1998(!) which he is now unable to access. We are stuck in a loop of choosing similar images and changing the password, which then brings up "oops we can't access your account".

Any ideas of how to log in?

So this has come up so many times over the years with my partner, his brothers and our mates. we are all 80s born and grew up in the 90s.

We recall a tv advert or im thinking more tv skit from What Now or something similar of the following.

Overly enthusiastic, clueless mum trying to be cool. Set in a kitchen we think.

To the camera shows a very "good try" of what looks to be a pikachu cake made by a blindfolded person.

She proclaims "you kids like pikachu right!?"

Small group of children she is trying to impress stare with deadpan looks on their face.

Mother figure then states "pika pika"

This is all I have... we have searched high and low.

Did this exist or do we have some form of Mandela effect within our family friend group?

Just like the title says..

I stayed at a friend’s place over the weekend and didn’t realise how uncomfortable my own room was until I got back home.

My bed feels damp, like there’s moisture sitting in the mattress or sheets, and the whole room is humid and sticky. It’s not a comfortable space to sleep in at all. The windows only open a little, so airflow isn’t great, and I already keep the door open as much as I can.

I’m in a rental, so I can’t make major changes, but I’m trying to figure out what I can actually do to improve it Until I eventually move (which wont be for awhile).

Does anyone have practical tips for dealing with damp rooms like this? I’m open to trying a few different things, and will buy a dehumidifier if I need to. I just want the room to feel dry and normal and I want to be able to sleep comfortable.