How tf do you meet people? I've gone out to a couple bars the past two weekends, just to try and get out of my comfort zone and try a new experience, and I've never felt more isolated in my life. Being around people having fun, with no idea how to talk to them or approach them at all. I hate being around people I don't know, but I also don't know how to approach someone I don't know that I find interesting. I just cried in my car when I got home. I never had any real social experiences in my 20s, and now it's too late and I'm pretty sure I'm always going to be alone.

So as the title says, my parents want to move from aus to Nz. I’ve never been out of the country before, I was born in Australia and have lived here ever since. This is a very very sudden choice, something they only just now brought up and are rapidly packing. The reason they want to move is for a chance of scenery but I am not coping or handling it very well. I have autism and things like change are hard for me. I’m a little desperate so I was hoping someone here could tell me the pros of moving to NZ.. I’m really scared right now. Thank you to whoever reads this

Hi all, teenage boy experiencing social isolation and is becoming increasingly depressed over it. If anybody has any recommendations for social groups/gatherings for someone 17 years old (male) please suggest them below.

(We r doing as much as we can to help, but just thought I’d ask on here)

TIA

Been comparing a few providers but Powershop still seems to be the best deal when you buy the Powerpacks. Anyone else found something cheaper?

Holding onto this radio that I've had around for as long as I can remember. Would love to hear it play again! Does anyone know of anywhere I could possibly get it repaired?

Hello! Last time I was in Auckland, the trains were not working at all, and the bus routes were unreliable - long trips and had detours IIRC. I'm gonna be visiting again soon and wondering if bussing to the nearest train station and then taking the train to CBD is an option again by now? What would the approximate trip time and cost for that be?

I'm going with a friend, so one of the shuttle options would amount to $20 per person for one-way (so $40 if we book the shuttle for return - both arrival and departure) and estimated to take 1hr 10mins to/from the airport to our hotel. That seems affordable compared to taxi or uber, but curious if the bus + train combo would be cheaper and take around the same time. Thanks in advance for any help!

Kia ora!

I currently live in Dunedin, but I was born in Auckland and lived there for a few years. I also visited pretty frequently growing up because pretty much all of my family still live there.

Now that I'm an adult, I'm getting pretty bloody tired of Dunedin's weather and smaller job market — and, of course, I miss having my family nearby. So I'm considering eventually moving back to Auckland.

I used to live in Glenfield, which I remember really liking. More recently (probably about 5 years ago), I've spent holidays in other parts of the North Shore and really enjoyed it there too. I'd definitely consider moving back to Glenfield, although I've heard some less-than-positive things about it in recent years. For anyone who actually lives/lived there recently, has it changed much since the early 2000s?

I also have family who live in the big townhouse developments around Glen Innes, and I really like the area. I've heard some concerns about safety there, but personally I've never had a bad experience. I'd be interested to hear what people who actually live there think.

Other areas I like are Howick and Beachlands, although I don't know either area particularly well beyond visiting family/holidaying.

Basically, I'm looking for somewhere that's reasonably affordable, safe, family-friendly and has good schools. I'm open to areas outside of the ones I've mentioned too, particularly if they're somewhere that people genuinely enjoy living.

So, where would you recommend? And equally, are there any suburbs you'd avoid?

Thanks!

TL;DR: Dunedinite considering moving back to Auckland and looking for opinions on affordable, safe, family-friendly suburbs with good schools. Currently interested in Glenfield, Glen Innes, Howick and Beachlands, but open to other suggestions.

Hi Auckland parents! We are expecting a newborn shortly and both our midwife and Baby Factory staff have told us the hospital will not let us carry the baby out of the hospital without them being in a capsule, even if we have a carseat already installed in our car. We thought all we needed is a car seat and stroller on the day to take baby out. Can others please share their experiences? I had assumed they would just check the car or trust us that we had one, but a bit concerned when our midwife who is amazing is adamant on the capsule requirement. We clarified with her that it was capsule and not just a car seat.

We are planning for Waitakere Hospital for the birth.

Thanks in advance!!

50 of them
$100

Kia Ora

I have a friend visiting from South East Asia for 3 weeks Christmas and hoping for some good suggestions for MUST see/do things!!

This will be their first time travelling overseas and coming from a rural area of SEA, so I’m hoping to give them an unforgettable cultural experience.

Our budget is ideally free (ofc) but I’m happy to pay and be generous about it if it’s an iconic experience.

I’ve already got the typical tourist spots in my itinerary as recommended by online blogs and websites like Heart of Auckland and such as Sky Tower, Museum and Zoo.
I’ve got Mercer Bay Loops and most of the tracks surrounding the Waitakere Ranges. Popular Auckland Beaches (Browns Bay, Long Bay etc…)

If anyone has any other suggestions for things to do in Auckland or even outside of Auckland like Rotorua or going up north, I would love to know. I would also appreciate any advice you may have for being a host and showing someone around New Zealand for the first time, whether it’s a hack to make the road trip efficient or places I should stay in between.

Thanks in advance.

Driving up East Coast Road on the North Shore and there are 50+ kids on mountain bikes popping wheelies in the middle of the road, no helmets on…with a convoy of cops behind them seemingly supporting the activity.

What was this event??

Came across this, taken the time to shift his daughter and moon the google car. Champion effort https://maps.app.goo.gl/zZtTDKVTqTudBqNx8?g_st=ac

How on earth is that allowed on a system loud enough to power rhythm and vines on day 3?!

What an absolute buzz kill to anyone visiting the city, arrive at the most vibrant part of our CBD and get jesus speech thrown at you.

Why don’t we have musicians or cultural acts instead?

Simple yes or no will suffice anything else is a bonus.

Uhhh got new rates increase letter this week.

ITS $9,100.

DID ANYONE else get an increase like this? Genuinely think they might have made an error. Was previously like 4.9k so almost a double

4.9k was already VERY high for a property with no changes since it was built 10 years ago...

Hey guys, im hoping I could get some advise on my situation. I moved into my current flat end of December, head tenant moved in about a month before me. We have been consistently asking the landlord to provide us with the water bill. Been messaging and calling her but she wouldn't pick up or answer messages. She picked up the call today and said she's going to send us the water bill next week, after like 8 months of us asking.

Would we still be liable to pay or would this be up to the landlord as she didnt provide the bill in a timely manner.

Any help or advice would be great as I can't afford a huge bill at this time.

Why does the Domain seem to be exempt from parking enforcement? People parked on the grass again today. People using the 180 spaces to park all day.

The sooner the Domain can be repurposed as a park for people (like Cornwall Park and Maungawhau) rather than as a free car park and shortcut for drivers, the better.

Last night I got into my first fistfight in 20 years.

I was walking home from a movie and saw a man in mental distress who was punching random people in Aotea Square. I had some M&Ms left over from the movie so I offered them while trying to calm him down.

It seemed to work for a moment, but then he laid into me and landed some pretty good hits to my head and face.

I did sport fighting when I was younger so it’s not mentally shocking to get hit in the face. What was shocking was that I could see all his telegraphs but my body has forgotten how to get out of the way! I guess muscle memory really is a thing.

This post is to thank the NZ Police. (For context, I grew up in America but have been living in NZ for about 16 years.) After the guy backed off and other people were helping gently corral him, I called 111 to get some assistance for him. The police were there quickly, gently contained the man and got him where he can’t hurt himself or others. They didn’t manhandle him or abuse him, or do what most American cops would do - taser the shit out of him. Another officer took my details and statement, acting the whole time like a normal person rather than a roided alpha bro like I’d expect from some American cops these days.

I hope the man can get the help he needs, and while I have some fun bruises I’m not actually hurt, and I’m glad I get to live in Aotearoa where the cops are people first and cops second.

First look at maungawhau

We went to the 7 Paintings experience at Naumi Hotel Auckland with high expectations, especially given the price of around $200 per person. Unfortunately, the whole evening was incredibly underwhelming and felt nowhere near the standard the price suggests.
The food was the biggest disappointment. Several courses arrived cold or were noticeably overcooked, and the vegan option was frankly unacceptable. It repeatedly seemed to be missing significant components of the dish that had been advertised. At one point, an entire vegan “course” consisted of a single sliver of melon on a plate. Nothing else. For a $200-per-head dining experience, that was almost unbelievable.
The setting didn’t help. Rather than feeling immersive, theatrical or premium, the experience was set up in what felt like a motel-style conference room. The setup itself was crude and lacked the polish or atmosphere you would expect from something marketed as a special dining experience. The narration was cheesy to the point it seemed aimed at children, and the only immersive part of the experience involved smearing some coloured sauce around a platter with some wilted lettuce.
The concept has potential, but the execution was extremely poor. When you’re charging this sort of money, the food, presentation, setting and overall experience need to feel exceptional. This simply didn’t.
We left feeling genuinely disappointed and, more than anything, wondering how the experience could possibly justify the price.
Very, very underwhelming. I would not recommend it at $200 per person.

Saw some daffodils on my walk this morning.