Category Archives: nz

Going more mainstream for NZ traffic rules

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Yesterday was a big day in the history of NZ traffic regulations. No: We still do not drive / ride on the correct side of the road. ;-) But at least some of the rules known to drivers in other larger countries are now also obeyed in New Zealand. Two rules of the “Give Way” rule changed yesterday for the better and in my eyes more logical rules.

In anticipation of this fundamental change, traffic lights were adjusted where there is a crucial intersection and every channel imaginable was used to transmit the information.

Signal changes in NZ

Signal changes in NZ

Fortunately, my daily commute is rather short and governed by traffic lights in both directions so that I can hardly go wrong. And I am more used to this new rule anyway from driving in before coming to New Zealand.

First Contact 2012

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On Friday, February 24, 2012, the New Zealand International Arts Festival opened. One of the premiers that night was First Contact 2012 by Michel Tuffery. It is being displayed on the outside of Te Papa until the end of the festival each night. The opening was a fantastic show with music and dance that conveyed the meaning of the exhibit: first contact in New Zealand in a number of different ways. The soundtrack can be downloaded from the web site and anybody walking along the waterfront after dusk should spend at least a few minutes in front of Te Papa to take in the display.

The Antarctic blast

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Sure, when the season you are in is called winter, any Northern European expects snow, Christmas lights and skate rinks. However, when you live in Wellington, snow would normally not enter your mind because the winter is wet, you are at sea level and generally the temperature doesn’t drop below 5°C.

But, you can be proven wrong, especially when an Antarctic blast moves over the country and brings severe weather conditions with it that do not only make it snow in Wellington but also up in sunny Auckland. As people here are not used to snow, the state of emergency is almost called: you should stock up on food and water, power outages are expected, schools and roads close.

Fortunately, it’s not all gloomy doomsday mood because people are glued to the windows, run outside to taste snowflakes, scrape all snow together that they can get to build their first snowman etc. It’s a land in wonderment of snow – at least the North Island.

Snow in Wellington

Snow in Wellington

Westlake Boys’ – Celebrating achievement in a multinational environment

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2,200 students, approximately 180 staff: That’s whom you will see at the formal assemblies at Westlake Boys’ High School in North Shore City on Mondays and Fridays. The auditorium, which was also the place for the two TEDxAuckland events in 2009 and 2010, is filled with students in their uniform of dark green or red polo shirts and green shorts. They all listen attentively to what’s going on on stage.

On stage, student achievements are celebrated, be it in academics or sports, perfect attendance, perfect behavior, or any other area where the students have excelled.

I was at Westlake Boys’ for a Moodle workshop because the school is going to roll it out soon for all their students and staff. During a break, Dave Hayden, the ICT Director at the school, told me that they have students from 65 different nationalities and that their staff is comprised of approximately 60% teachers from countries other than New Zealand. So far away from all these countries you encounter them again in New Zealand and can have your own microworld in a school of high reputation and a great location on the north shore of Auckland.

I helped fill the Basin for Christchurch

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Today, the cre?me de la cre?me of (New Zealand) cricket, other sports and actors played the charity Twenty20 match “Fill the Basin for Christchurch” in beautiful Wellington summer weather. New Zealand’s premier and traditional cricket ground The Basin Reserve in the city was an ideal place to hold this match.

12,000 tickets were sold (2,000 more than initially planned), but I was fortunate to get one as a few were still available at the gates right after the game had started. YEAH! This was also finally the time that I sat through an entire game – albeit a Twenty20 one ;-)

The game participants were high-powered and they had fun playing themselves entertaining the crowd.

The teams are:

Wellington Legends XI (team black)
Coach: James Nesbitt

Martin Crowe (captain; cousin of Russell Crowe), Andrew Jones, Bruce Edgar, Chris Nevin, Ewen Chatfield, Gavin Larsen, Jason Wells, Jonathan Millmow, Matthew Bell, Richard Petrie, Roger Twose, Tana Umaga

Canterbury Invitation XI (team red)
Coach: Russell Crowe (yes, the actor)

Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Geoff Allott, Marc Ellis, Mark Greatbatch, Sir Richard Hadlee, Rod Latham, Craig McMillan, Dion Nash, Adam Parore, Justin Vaughan, Shane Warne

Match Referee: Sir Ian McKellan

Umpires: Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith, Martin Freeman, Mark Hadlow (who also bowled one ball)