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I'm considering a move in the next few years to New Zealand. I have visited Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
I grew up in an area of about 600,000 (growing everyday) that was very conservative and this is in part why I left. I currently live in the Los Angeles Area which has a population several times that of all of New Zealand.
I know New Zealand's government is friendly to gays and has wonderful gay rights. I would assume by default that it's residents feel the same way. I really enjoyed Christchurch and if I ever make the move I would hope that is where I could relocate. But I'd appreciate views on Auckland and Wellington as well. What is gay life like? Can two men or two women hold hands without issue? Ironically, I'm a private person, but still like knowing that I'm in an area I can feel comfortable being who I am. Also, at some point I'd like to raise a family. Whether it be by myself or with a partner. How is this viewed in New Zealand?
Furthermore, I know I can do further research myself but if anyone has information on the need and pay for Graphic Designers and/or Mandarin Chinese translators. I plan on majoring in both here in the US.
Thanks so much for your time!
Last edited by boi2socal; 10-04-2008 at 06:17 AM..
Reason: added question
Auckland is really not that big of a city... it is probably between boise and salt lake in terms of size.. but it is much more urban... therefore it has the feel of a much larger city....
I have friends that moved from australia to new zealand and they absolutely love it. They are personal trainers.
While it's not anything like sweden or denmark... its a very live and let live country...not to mention beautiful...
I know New Zealand's government is friendly to gays and has wonderful gay rights. I would assume by default that it's residents feel the same way.
This is a dangerous assumption. The NZ government is far more progressive than the average Kiwi on social issues. There is a lot of adolescent-like snickering about gays and lesbians here, which I suppose is better than American religious-right nutjobbery, but still no picnic. Coastal California is a huge improvement over NZ in terms gay-friendliness.
Quote:
Originally Posted by boi2socal
What is gay life like? Can two men or two women hold hands without issue?
No, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that, especially in Christchurch.
As a lesbian in NZ, you've got numbers working against you. 10% of half of 5 million people is what? How many of those women are single and looking for a relationship? How many are in your age range? How many themselves have no baggage? How many of those want children? With how many of those do you have chemistry? Fun times, I tell ya.
NZ's politics may be there on gay rights, but society and culture is not.
This is a dangerous assumption. The NZ government is far more progressive than the average Kiwi on social issues. There is a lot of adolescent-like snickering about gays and lesbians here, which I suppose is better than American religious-right nutjobbery, but still no picnic. Coastal California is a huge improvement over NZ in terms gay-friendliness.
No, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that, especially in Christchurch.
As a lesbian in NZ, you've got numbers working against you. 10% of half of 5 million people is what? How many of those women are single and looking for a relationship? How many are in your age range? How many themselves have no baggage? How many of those want children? With how many of those do you have chemistry? Fun times, I tell ya.
NZ's politics may be there on gay rights, but society and culture is not.
I'm actually male.
I have most certainly considered everything you have said, especially in regards to population.
I do find it perplexing that the government is forward thinking, yet the average NZer is not. Also, I really only find bits and piece of California to be gay friendly. In a good portion of California I would still feel uncomfortable holding hands, etc.
we are a gay friendly country i think. there are the odd people who are anti-gay but most people who 'voice their hate' are usually just immature school boys who really dont have any opinion, they just think its how they should feel on the subject.
I'm considering a move in the next few years to New Zealand. I have visited Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
I grew up in an area of about 600,000 (growing everyday) that was very conservative and this is in part why I left. I currently live in the Los Angeles Area which has a population several times that of all of New Zealand.
I know New Zealand's government is friendly to gays and has wonderful gay rights. I would assume by default that it's residents feel the same way. I really enjoyed Christchurch and if I ever make the move I would hope that is where I could relocate. But I'd appreciate views on Auckland and Wellington as well. What is gay life like? Can two men or two women hold hands without issue? Ironically, I'm a private person, but still like knowing that I'm in an area I can feel comfortable being who I am. Also, at some point I'd like to raise a family. Whether it be by myself or with a partner. How is this viewed in New Zealand?
Furthermore, I know I can do further research myself but if anyone has information on the need and pay for Graphic Designers and/or Mandarin Chinese translators. I plan on majoring in both here in the US.
Thanks so much for your time!
Are you from Omaha?
Hmm sorry about Pukeko, shes clearly a labourite lesbian who has a chip on her shoulder. I'm 19 and am in a city called Invercargill which is located in one of the most conservative areas in New Zealand, Southland.
Pukeko probably hasn't even been to California and is probably basing her opinions on the L word so I wouldn't listen to her for a second. I've been lucky enough to have traveled to America a few times and the first thing you notice when you land is how backward the populous is on social issues, no offense I just mean seriously, R21, and if you are from Omaha, R21 on porn too? It's totally insane.
So obviously, coming from one of the more conservative areas of New Zealand and finding the LA area ridiculously conservative myself, I think you'll find New Zealand to be a much more liberal country in any area. I myself am considered to be of the upmost right wing politics wise in New Zealand but if I were to vote in America I would be voting Green. That gives you an example of how much more liberal New Zealand is as a whole - especially on gay rights. So I think if you can afford to move then you should. New Zealand is an expensive country however with living costs comparable to Switzerland. So you need to be aware of this.
Of-course in New Zealand people will look at you if you hold your partners hand like anywhere, but in New Zealand if you meet there eye people will either look away (embarrassed at being caught looking) , or smile. In New Zealand gay people are not tolerated, they are accepted. So I totally advise the move from LA to Christchurch if your looking to be more accepted as a gay man. It's a much more forward thinking community here.
Hmm sorry about Pukeko, shes clearly a labourite lesbian who has a chip on her shoulder. I'm 19 and am in a city called Invercargill which is located in one of the most conservative areas in New Zealand, Southland.
Pukeko probably hasn't even been to California and is probably basing her opinions on the L word so I wouldn't listen to her for a second. I've been lucky enough to have traveled to America a few times and the first thing you notice when you land is how backward the populous is on social issues, no offense I just mean seriously, R21, and if you are from Omaha, R21 on porn too? It's totally insane.
So obviously, coming from one of the more conservative areas of New Zealand and finding the LA area ridiculously conservative myself, I think you'll find New Zealand to be a much more liberal country in any area. I myself am considered to be of the upmost right wing politics wise in New Zealand but if I were to vote in America I would be voting Green. That gives you an example of how much more liberal New Zealand is as a whole - especially on gay rights. So I think if you can afford to move then you should. New Zealand is an expensive country however with living costs comparable to Switzerland. So you need to be aware of this.
Of-course in New Zealand people will look at you if you hold your partners hand like anywhere, but in New Zealand if you meet there eye people will either look away (embarrassed at being caught looking) , or smile. In New Zealand gay people are not tolerated, they are accepted. So I totally advise the move from LA to Christchurch if your looking to be more accepted as a gay man. It's a much more forward thinking community here.
Haha WOOOOOOHHH, finally someone else from Invercargill, and the funny thing is I'm 19 too.
I can't say I'd move to CC, and definitely not to the West Coast.
It's true what pukeko says, the kiwi in the street is more socially conservative than the government's very tolerant stance. You'll have an easier time of it in NZ than in the US in some ways, but don't expect partners to be walking around openly holding hands either. I'd go to AKL or Wellington if I were you.
In New Zealand gay people are not tolerated, they are accepted.
Great comment
Yes, you will get a few immature little boys giggling and making jokes but for the most part I don't believe you will have any trouble. I live in Auckland and it's not that unusual to see same sex couples holding hands in public. Unusual enough that you will receive the odd glance and smile as south023 mentioned but not so unusual that you should ever feel you have to avoid making it obvious what your relationship is. Oddly though, In my experience I would tend to say it's more likely to see female couples than male. I don't know why that is though.
Just one correction to boiseguy's post though. Auckland is bigger than both Boise and Salt Lake with about 1.4 million people and growing. But I think he's right about not really being comparable to places like Sweden or Denmark in terms of our attitudes yet. We are heading in the right direction though
Oh, and I forgot to add, I'm not sure about the demand for Graphic Designers, but you should be aware that we have a very large Chinese community here in NZ so my guess would be that we are not short of translators. You never know though, it always worth exploring possibilities.
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Hi Boitosocal
