51本色

You are now Settled and Living in New Zealand

The first thing you will realise is that despite speaking English, driving on the same side of the road, and playing rugby, the countries are completely different

Food Shopping

For many people, this will be the first page you look at.

A word of caution. The food is different! And, just an assurance 鈥 it mainly has to do with brands. There is hardly any food you can鈥檛 get here. But some is typically South African. So, sweet steaks are rare. So is 3 sugars in coffee and chicken mayonnaise sandwiches. But the steak is grass fed not grain fed in feed lots, the coffee is amazing, and a New Zealand snack is a mince and cheese pie.

Supermarkets and Markets

There are three large supermarket groups in New Zealand

Broadly speaking,聽, is the cheapest. They are a large no frills supermarket.聽聽is a large group and is distinct in that they have an online shopping and delivery facility.聽聽is more expensive but has more imported foods, a bigger deli section and the like. And no, you will not find a Woolies here. That鈥檚 just how it is.

You will find many fresh produce stores and markets across the country. There are also butcheries which are in the main local.聽is a discount butchery, and聽聽is a small Auckland chain which sells good biltong and boerewors.

Weekend Markets

Look out for these all over New Zealand. Some of the most well known are聽聽which is a wonderful multi ethnic market selling anything from fresh vegetables to聽聽to cheap shoes. Every Aucklander needs to visit it.

罢丑别听聽in Dunedin is a must for locals, while the聽聽in Wellington is fantastic for locally made foods and of course the best New Zealand coffee.

Op Shopping

A New Zealand phenomenon. As a first world country we are unfortunately also a 鈥渢hrow away society鈥. So second hand clothes, worn once, and furniture in last years colour are readily available at a wide variety of Opportunity Shops. Don鈥檛 confuse these with a junk shop or an antique shop. Goods are generally of good quality.

Some popular op shops are:

Medicine and Health Care

Firstly, understand that because many medicines are subsidized in New Zealand, the range is much smaller. Also, the old fashioned remedies used in the Boer War like Lewensessens and Grandpa are not easily obtainable here.

罢丑别听聽is complex. Research it on this link. When you get to New Zealand, remember to register with a medical practice. And bring your medical records from South Africa and your child鈥檚 immunization record.

Accidents are treated free at A&E Centres, but these are very expensive for everyday ailments.

聽is free for children but is very expensive for adults.

Surgery is done on the basis of need and is free. However, the urgency will be assessed and you may wait a long time for a hernia operation, but a heart bypass will be done immediately. You will contact your general practitioner in the first instance.

惭补苍测听聽are subsidized by the government, and you may have to pay a small $5 fee or it may even be free. But you will not just be able to ask like you do in South Africa. Remember, there is no incentive in New Zealand to over prescribe or to prescribe medicines that have limited therapeutic value.

Pharmacies are everywhere, but over the counter medication can be expensive.

South African Food and Restaurants

There are dozens of South African shops that sell foods you may miss from home. But, because its all imported, its not cheap. There are also lots of butcheries that make boerewors or biltong. But boerewors is made to a standard where there may be less fat, and of course there are no Kudu in New Zealand.

Some of the South African shops sell online. And, they are wonderful places to meet expats if you want, especially on a Saturday morning.

There are also lots of places you will be able to buy freshly made vetkoek, koeksisters, bunny chow, Durban mutton curry and South African samoosas.

There are a few SA type restaurants, but obviously New Zealand caters for a Kiwi population, so our recommendation is just 鈥渂uild a bridge and get over it鈥 as they say here

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