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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

#351

Post by lostlogin »

gravypod wrote: post #326
lostlogin wrote: post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 pro…

I don't see it as jumping to others pocket - I see it as paying my way and paying a little towards others too. Relying on some mythical good guys to pay for us all seems a little hopeful.

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

#352

Post by HXFIVE »

abalashov wrote: post #74
bspn wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

One concern I always have in the back of my mind about NZ is seismic activity. I thought of it since you mentioned Christchurch. It's unlikely to be seen as a major downside by those living in California and along the Pacific Rim, and it's clear NZ is no worse than Japan in terms of seismic risk, yet an advanced economy with plenty of people thrives there, to put it mildly. But coming from the US midwest and then the…

Christchurch should be pretty safe now with all the dangerous building having come down and new buildings being built to high seismic standards. I personally would never consider Wellington as I believe the earthquake risk is too high.

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

#353

Post by lacampbell »

santaclaus wrote: post #348
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…

> Salaries Are salaries that bad? I know a bunch of developers in the Wellington area (and used to be one), and most are making around ~100k USD a year. Yea, it isn't Bay Area Google money, but also not terrible. > the size and quality of the roads I can't speak too much for the south island, but on the north island the roads seemed fine. The roads in San Francisco and Oakland where I live now are way worse then I ev…

140,000+ NZD for permanent devs in Wellington? Doing what?

From what I can tell that's management salary in Wellington.

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

#354

Post by lacampbell »

HXFIVE wrote: post #345
lacampbell wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the reason that NZers are so opposed to denser housing, is because the housing quality is so poor. How close to neighbours do you want to live when your walls aren't insulated and your windows are single pane?

You wouldn't be allowed to build a new house today without proper insulation and double glazing.

Right, so the new high density housing would be completely unaffordable for most NZers, as those are both still luxuries.

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

#355

Post by santaclaus »

lacampbell wrote: post #353
santaclaus wrote: post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Salaries Are salaries that bad? I know a bunch of developers in the Wellington area (and used to be one), and most are making around ~100k USD a year. Yea, it isn't Bay Area Google money, but also not terrible. > the size and quality of the roads I can't speak too much for the south island, but on the north island the roads seemed fine. The roads in San Francisco and Oakland where I live now are way worse then I ev…

140,000+ NZD for permanent devs in Wellington? Doing what? From what I can tell that's management salary in Wellington.

In 2014 I was making 141 NZD writing C++ at Weta Digital (I had colleagues breaking 150). They were mostly contract jobs renewed annually, but I didn't know of any tech people there who were not renewed.

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

#356

Post by lacampbell »

santaclaus wrote: post #355
lacampbell wrote: post #353

Earlier quoted context omitted.

140,000+ NZD for permanent devs in Wellington? Doing what? From what I can tell that's management salary in Wellington.

In 2014 I was making 141 NZD writing C++ at Weta Digital (I had colleagues breaking 150). They were mostly contract jobs renewed annually, but I didn't know of any tech people there who were not renewed.

Interesting. Is this C++ anyone could do, or were they wanting maths and physics qualifications?

That salary doesn't sound far fetched for a contract though.

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

#357

Post by sitharus »

0xADEADBEE wrote: post #333
sitharus wrote: post #321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I think you're on the money; bland food is not only tolerated but revered, at least in my experience, and I'm not particularly 'foody'. Recently moved here from England via Thailand and Indonesia so take my opinion for what it is worth. Food is better in Wellington than places like Christchurch but still not generally up to scratch. Planning on starting something to fix this after a little contracting but while COL i…

Auckland is definitely more multicultural, but in my experience as an ex-wellingtonian it's more divided. Wellington's size and geography tends to force people together, whereas Auckland keeps them apart.

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

#358

Post by sitharus »

doubleunplussed wrote: post #318
sitharus wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Remember that 30% is it for tax, other than the 15% GST built in to all purchases. There's no city or state taxes, no payroll tax, no additional costs for health insurance and no cost of compliance - as an employed individual you don't need an accountant to do your taxes.

This. I'm on 55k USD in the US, and my average (not marginal) income tax rate (including FICA/med, state and local taxes) is 32 %. For the sake of comparison that's including the employee health insurance contribution, which I wouldn't pay if I were in NZ. If you don't include that my average tax rate is more like 29%. In either case a marginal tax rate of 30% in a tax system as progressive as New Zealand's would res…

30% is the highest tax bracket, in NZ on the equivalent of USD 55k pa (NZ$77600 right now) you'd pay $17835 in tax, or around 23% marginal.

There is the matter of 15% GST to consider, but it's not something you often think about and factors in to the cost of living comparisons.

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

#359

Post by 0xADEADBEE »

sitharus wrote: post #357
0xADEADBEE wrote: post #333

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're on the money; bland food is not only tolerated but revered, at least in my experience, and I'm not particularly 'foody'. Recently moved here from England via Thailand and Indonesia so take my opinion for what it is worth. Food is better in Wellington than places like Christchurch but still not generally up to scratch. Planning on starting something to fix this after a little contracting but while COL i…

Auckland is definitely more multicultural, but in my experience as an ex-wellingtonian it's more divided. Wellington's size and geography tends to force people together, whereas Auckland keeps them apart.

Why do you think that is? Aucklanders ostensibly lament mobility in my experience, but I'm new and thus open to the views of people who've lived here longer.

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

#360

Post by antome »

bootload wrote: post #311
lacampbell wrote: post #301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How so?

Waitangi. The successful negotiation of land with Māori. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Waitangi

Kiwi here, what happened is moreso that the British accidentally gave the Maori more rights than they anticipated in the translation, and as the country became more progressive in the 20th century, the govt decided to respect those rights.
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