Auckland

We’ve been in Auckland for more than 6 months and I feel it’s time to give a review of the place. WARNING: This is going to be particularly negative because the past couple of days have been hot and humid and I got sunburnt today…again. I wore a hat all day and put sunscreen on but there’s always some bit of skin that gets missed and then burns.

They say living in Auckland offers a good quality of life. Compared to Kabul, I would say this is correct. But if you want the privilege of sitting in your car in traffic jams for long periods as well as the heightened risk of developing melanoma, then Auckland is the place for you. Add to this mix the obscenely high price of housing and the very poor wages – minimum wage here is $13 per hour.

With Daniel starting school, I am now able to walk him to and from the place each day as it’s closer than his kindy was and we used to have to drive there. I am totally in favour of walking everywhere and love it. I could go for days at a time in Christchurch without ever using the car. The problem here is that it’s so hot that I get home feeling hot and bothered and looking like a beast of burden. It used to be like this when I lived in Brisbane.

I have heard it said that hot climates offer the chance to enjoy the outdoors but in my experience this is not true because you end up waiting for the weather to cool before going outside. The only time I used to enjoy the outdoors in Brisbane was very early or very late in the day. When we lived in Christchurch, I could walk at any time of day all year round. If it was cold, I rugged up and stayed warm. To walk in the middle of the day here and enjoy it, I would need an air-conditioned suit.

Another annoyance: the insects. There are mosquitoes, fleas, flies, ants, cockroaches, spiders and all sorts of creepy crawlies waiting to snack on anything left on the bench for more than 2 minutes.

And did I mention there’s an active volcanic field lurking beneath the city getting ready to pounce at some unknown future date?

The other week we ventured out on one of the harbour ferries. I have been wanting to do this ever since we got here because the harbour is very beautiful and ferries are a lovely way to travel. The ferry from Birkenhead to the CBD only goes once an hour. How hopeless is that? It’s a beat-up old boat that just goes back and forth and does not cater to push-chairs or wheel chairs because you need to go down stairs to board. Hopeless.

I would say that overall, I don’t care much for the place.