Our year abroad started in China and finished in Australia. In between we spent most of our time living and working in Wellington, the City at the Heart of the Edge of the World and the capital of New Zealand. Having written our last post from New Zealand we've now returned to our previous address in Chesterfield (near Sheffield, in the Midlands) where we've found that some things have changed, and some things never change. For all intents and purposes Project Koru has run its course, although we would like to think the essence of our experience will endure.
Continue reading 'Back in Britain'
Willkommen! Welcome!
Willkommen auf der Projekt Koru Seite, wo Simone & Bruce die praktischen Aspekte eines Jahres in Neuseeland mit Euch teilen wollen. Eine Einführung findet Ihr hier zusammen mit einer Erklärung warum wir das Koru als Symbol unserer Reise gewählt haben.
Welcome to Project Koru, where Simone & Bruce share insight into the practicalities of organizing a year in New Zealand. You can find an introduction to the project here together with an explanation of why we chose the koru as the symbol for our journey.
Archive for the 'Project Koru' category
We've left Wellington and will shortly leave New Zealand and begin our journey back to the UK via Australia. Project Koru, our "year out" from life in the UK, has essentially run its course.
Continue reading 'Last post from New Zealand'
Planning on working in New Zealand? How much tax you pay depends on the length of your stay, your income level, and whether you qualify for tax exemption on foreign income. If you'll be self-employed you may need to be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST), and just like employees will need to pay levies to New Zealand's no-fault personal injury insurance scheme (ACC). Most of your banking, like the filing of your tax return, can be done online.
Continue reading 'Financial affairs in New Zealand'
So you're going to live in another country (or go travelling) for a year. What do you do with your existing house, car, and other trappings while abroad? The answers will depend in part on whether your house is occupied (by a tenant or sitter) or stands vacant, but in both cases there are several things to keep in mind as you plan your absence.
Continue reading 'Maintaining a base in the UK'
Sure, you can eat in and eat well, but there's good food to be had if you choose to eat out in Wellington. We hear that there are more cafés and restaurants per head of population in Wellington than in any other city worldwide. If you're taking in an event and need a quick bite, or in the City specifically to go menu shopping, the difficult thing is being confronted by too much choice. You can find reviews in magazines or online, but here's a quick summary of our dining out experience.
Continue reading 'Eating out in Wellington'
We've been a bit slack lately, not doing much in the way of walking (previous Wellington walks here and here). We did, however, take the ferry to Somes Island and managed the City to Sea Walk. We also visited Wanganui National Park and Havelock North/ Napier.
Continue reading 'Lower North Island sightseeing'
