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As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

nytimes.com

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Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#321

Post by sitharus »

lacampbell wrote: post #295

A lot of Americans seem to have an idyllic notion of moving to NZ - often for political or LOTR movie reasons. If you're even toying with the idea, do yourself a favour and check out the following: - Salaries - Housing price - Housing quality - expect to pay top dollar for luxuries like insulation, double-glazed windows, and kitchens built within the last few decades. - The cost of a car, and the size and quality of…

Also while the food is high quality don't expect the variety you're used to. Until recently NZ had a pretty bland palette.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#322

Post by [deleted] »

kasey_junk wrote: post #267
jimmywanger wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Where I'm from, "good schools" is a nice way of saying "it's a white neighborhood" There is no need to inject race. Plus, in the bay area, many good schools are comprised of mostly minorities. Good schools in the bay area just mean good schools, as based on standardized testing methodology, class sizes, dollars per student, extracurricular activities available, and acceptance rates to selective colleges. You can de…

"Good schools" has been code for non-integrated schools for a very long time in this country. It might be true it doesn't mean that in the Bay Area, it doesn't mean that in my specific neighborhood either, but pretending like the comment is "injecting" race into the discussion ignores American history.

[deleted]

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#323

Post by [deleted] »

kasey_junk wrote: post #267
jimmywanger wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Where I'm from, "good schools" is a nice way of saying "it's a white neighborhood" There is no need to inject race. Plus, in the bay area, many good schools are comprised of mostly minorities. Good schools in the bay area just mean good schools, as based on standardized testing methodology, class sizes, dollars per student, extracurricular activities available, and acceptance rates to selective colleges. You can de…

"Good schools" has been code for non-integrated schools for a very long time in this country. It might be true it doesn't mean that in the Bay Area, it doesn't mean that in my specific neighborhood either, but pretending like the comment is "injecting" race into the discussion ignores American history.

[deleted]

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#324

Post by incompatible »

xxgreg wrote: post #266
boznz wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you end up in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch you could be just in another big city anywhere in the world, you may be within an hour or twos drive of some of the above descriptors but you wont be looking out of your home or office window at them unless you can drop a million dollars on a house. Get real guys.

Here's a photo of Wellington I took while commuting to work on my mountain bike. Trail head is 2mins from my office... https://goo.gl/photos/9AQWmraCss6U9uVp7 If you're in into biking, or windsurfing Wellington is definitely a stunning place to live. [edit] Also since everybody is talking about emus, this trail is actually called barking emu. But it is misnamed - since it's actually an Ostrich in the paddock up there…

Wouldn't the commute home be a bit tough on a bike?

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#325

Post by cgag »

kasey_junk wrote: post #267
jimmywanger wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Where I'm from, "good schools" is a nice way of saying "it's a white neighborhood" There is no need to inject race. Plus, in the bay area, many good schools are comprised of mostly minorities. Good schools in the bay area just mean good schools, as based on standardized testing methodology, class sizes, dollars per student, extracurricular activities available, and acceptance rates to selective colleges. You can de…

"Good schools" has been code for non-integrated schools for a very long time in this country. It might be true it doesn't mean that in the Bay Area, it doesn't mean that in my specific neighborhood either, but pretending like the comment is "injecting" race into the discussion ignores American history.

Sounds more like good schools happen to be white schools in a lot of places. Doesn't seem like code to me.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#326

Post by gravypod »

lostlogin wrote: post #296
gravypod wrote: post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not just then vote against tax hikes and instead donate your money to the government or to charity organizations? When you vote for tax hikes you're essentially reaching into your pocket, taking out money, and giving it to someone. Then you're reaching into your neighbor's pocket, taking some more out, and giving it to yourself and that other third party. Why not let people choose to give their money? Why vote to…

Because I don't believe that would work. Where has it been tried and worked?

Where has it been tried? It seems most people try and jump to their neighbors wallets.

Despite that, charity is still a huge factor for changing the world. The B&M Gates foundation is one of many organizations that sacrifices gains to try and make the world a better place for ideological reasons.

No dipping into someone else's pocket needed. The fact that a majority of people are willing to vote for more taxes is proof that this is either a) not needed because those people would donate because they think it's important, or b) the majority is just using the fact that they're the majorty as a reason it's ok to take from others.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#327

Post by incompatible »

dvtv75 wrote: post #316
Lazare wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> To my knowledge NZ and USA are two countries that will try to tax you wherever you live until you die unless you renounce citizenship. US yes, NZ no. The US is practically the only country in the world to do that actually. And they WILL hit you with an extra "exit" tax if you try and renounce your citizenship too.

NZ yes. My ex's family went and worked in Australia for a year or two. They boarded the plane, came back to New Zealand, and got a letter from the IRD demanding payment of taxes for the time they worked in Australia. Her father shot back that "They did not use any services from" NZ at all. The IRD responded that the services were available, and if they didn't pay their tax bill they were ready to initiate prosecution…

Did they fall foul of having "A permanent place of abode" in New Zealand? It seems that the IRD will consider you a resident in NZ as long as you maintain a house there, regardless of how long you stay away.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#328

Post by incompatible »

EdwardDiego wrote: post #218
ryandrake wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But, like Tulsa, I'd be worried about what happens when that tech company, which I moved myself and my family halfway around the world for, goes under and I'm out of work. I'm sure there is more than one tech company in Auckland, but how many? And how many of those will want to hire me? And out of those how many will I want to work for? And out of those, how many will pay enough where it makes sense for me to stay? T…

There's plenty in Auckland, Wellington, a lesser amount but still a healthy amount in Christchurch, and a few in Dunedin. http://seek.co.nz to get an idea. The developer of DayZ has set up a gaming studio in Dunedin, but it's still pretty sparse down there.

I'd be wary of Wellington just because of the terrible climate and the earthquake risk. That place will likely become a complete disaster area some day.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#329

Post by AOsborn »

bspn wrote: post #28
TheAlchemist wrote: post #13

That's interesting ! I'm intending to make a move with my family in near future, and we actually went to visit the northern island for 15 days last month. The country is really beautiful, and there are not a lot of people around, so you can't help but feel blessed by the surrounding nature. The people are great, probably the nicest I've ever seen (as a whole). I've noted some cons though (not blocking for us thankful…

I too am considering a move to NZ for family reasons, and visited Auckland last month. It truly is a spectacular city framed by an amazing harbor, but it's not without some faults. My thoughts on the cons you raise based on conversations I had with a few locals: > housing prices are extremely high. I don't understand that, there is plenty of space everywhere (maybe except Wellington) and somehow they manage to not us…

I live in Auckland. Agree with pretty much all your comments, I think you have a good handle on the environment.

One point to add - mentioned in other comments in the thread: the Auckland housing market is toxic.

No captial gains tax on property along with crowded population in Auckland means that this is the best investment available, hands down. The yield isn't in the rental market, but appreciation of 30-40% YOY has not been uncommon.

The major side effect of this that many people miss is that business investment has been stifled because property is a far safer bet. Auckland has a very weak startup/VC scene, and salaries have not increased in line with living costs.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#330

Post by wearsSweaters »

lacampbell wrote: post #295

A lot of Americans seem to have an idyllic notion of moving to NZ - often for political or LOTR movie reasons. If you're even toying with the idea, do yourself a favour and check out the following: - Salaries - Housing price - Housing quality - expect to pay top dollar for luxuries like insulation, double-glazed windows, and kitchens built within the last few decades. - The cost of a car, and the size and quality of…

>Completely unrelated, what's the going salary for an intermediate programmer/analyst in one of those really flat US states full of cornfields?

Just based on my job hunting over the past three months - ~55k usd

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