We are too easy on immigration.
It pisses me off, I can't drive out onto the street without seeing an ethnic face. I know it's an unrelated topic and probably something we shouldn't get into but it really annoys me (patriotic Kiwi = me).
Anyway, because of immigration Auckland has grown incredibly quickly (if the government encouraged immigration to other parts of the country it wouldnt be so bad, stop people coming in altogether is what I want but we're too PC for that and it would be racial discrimination, well **** me
) and the infrastructure hasn't kept up (actually, the government has been too slow) so we have jammed motorways, crowded communities and I can't get a bank account changed without needing a translator.
Okay, racial rant aside things are quite expensive. Housing rates continue to rise as well as mortgage rates (not to mention petrol) but there is no relief anywhere else so it's not easy owning a home and kids (it never is to begin with but could be a lot easier) and like most other countries we pay tax (generally ontop of another tax) and we don't see any improvements, our roads are poor, poverty is very real, healthcare could be better etc etc.
If you choose to holiday here then you will most likely fly into Auckland Airport. Feel free to hang around Auckland for a day or so but there is generally nothing to do here that you haven't already done at home (we have one theme park and an underwater world thats about it).
I would suggest the cliche 'campervan around the countryside' there isn't much in the upper North Island (you may find it beautiful but for me it's just part of the 3 hour drive to our holiday home) speaking of which, the Bay Of Islands is always a beautiful place to go with plenty of fun to be had on the water. From there you can head over to the west coast of the upper north island and drive through some awesome forestry (also where part of the International Rally is held).
South of Auckland is where the real beauty starts, the drive from Auckland to Taupo is nice, open country and the air just feels so fresh compared to the city. The final hour into Taupo (from Tokoroa) takes you through the 'I can't quite remember the name' Forest which is simply awesome.
From Taupo you have Mt Ruapehu (amongst other ski mountains) and The Desert Road. The drive up the mountains is beautiful and the view is astounding, the Desert Road is a few oddhundered metres above sealevel and you can feel the temperature drop as you get higher and higher, quite an odd feeling when the terrain somewhat resembles a desert.
Now from here on my memory is a bit sketchy, I've been driven down this part of the country many times, but mainly straight from Auckland which means we're in darkness after Palmerston North. But the main centre in this part of the country is Wellington.
It has nasty weather and houses the biggest collection of unemployed losers in the country - Parliament.
Now the South Island is something I really want to experience myself, I've only ever flown into Christchurch and can barely remember it but the most vivid thing in my mind is waking up, walking outside and feeling fresh, not ****ty like I do at home.
In a few years time I would like to fly into Chch, hire a car and spend a good 2 weeks driving the Lower South Island: Alexandra, Cromwell, Arrowtown, Queenstown, Wanaka, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound then over to Christchurch and up to the Upper SI: Nelson, Picton, Blenheim and Marlborough.
We have our poor qualities but I love my country, especially in light of the international actions of other countries, I'm happy we stay out of it and live our own lives
). And their 20c coins are the same shape and size as ours, so we can use them in our vending machines, and due to the Aussie dollar being better (like everything else Australian) than the New Zealand dollar, we can get slightly cheaper candy. 
What would you like to know? 
👍 I can elaborate more on the first post if you wish, continue it in otherwords? 
