Mrs PB and I are doing a bit of forward planning at the minute and we're seriously (i.e. more than a pipe dream, less than actually applying yet) considering me joining the RNZN o/c my 22 (3 1/2 years yet!).
Does anyone have any worthwhile feedback of spending extended periods out there? I've read a lot of testimonials on their website and the NZ Immigration site and they seem to be overwhelmingly positive, but a friend of mine who was due to go out in Feb next year has 'put it on hold' because he's heard reports of lots of gang problems in Auckland (where I'd be) and drive-by shootings.
I'm a sensible enough chap to realise that everywhere has it's problems and coming from Belfast and growing up there in the 70's and 80's, I'm not one to take these things out of proportion ...
I've heard reports that native Kiwis, whilst being generally warm and welcoming, occasionally take umbrage at people coming over to take their jobs. There'll be some truth to that (you get morons everywhere), but has anyone encountered any real problems?
I'm a CPOMEA (LSM) (or CPOET(MESM) in new money), and I appreciate that the RAN has both more postings and boats, but with my pension in GBP, that should more than make up for relative loss of spending power, and I've been led to believe that NZ's quality of life is much better!
Does anyone have any feedback on the work ethos out there? I've heard that their rank structure is less rigidly enforced, but I don't think that would be too much of a problem ...
I've always found that it's the things that you don't realise you don't know that'll bite you in the ass every time, so any comments would be greatfully recieved!
Can I ask that where possible replies are via the thread rather than PM, as I've found several posts on here that started like this, but the replies were private! There are probably more than me thinking this way!
And if anyone has experience and is either in Guz or Faslane, I would be happy to buy you a pint in return for picking your brains!
Cheers in advance,
Justin
Does anyone have any worthwhile feedback of spending extended periods out there? I've read a lot of testimonials on their website and the NZ Immigration site and they seem to be overwhelmingly positive, but a friend of mine who was due to go out in Feb next year has 'put it on hold' because he's heard reports of lots of gang problems in Auckland (where I'd be) and drive-by shootings.
I'm a sensible enough chap to realise that everywhere has it's problems and coming from Belfast and growing up there in the 70's and 80's, I'm not one to take these things out of proportion ...
I've heard reports that native Kiwis, whilst being generally warm and welcoming, occasionally take umbrage at people coming over to take their jobs. There'll be some truth to that (you get morons everywhere), but has anyone encountered any real problems?
I'm a CPOMEA (LSM) (or CPOET(MESM) in new money), and I appreciate that the RAN has both more postings and boats, but with my pension in GBP, that should more than make up for relative loss of spending power, and I've been led to believe that NZ's quality of life is much better!
Does anyone have any feedback on the work ethos out there? I've heard that their rank structure is less rigidly enforced, but I don't think that would be too much of a problem ...
I've always found that it's the things that you don't realise you don't know that'll bite you in the ass every time, so any comments would be greatfully recieved!
Can I ask that where possible replies are via the thread rather than PM, as I've found several posts on here that started like this, but the replies were private! There are probably more than me thinking this way!
And if anyone has experience and is either in Guz or Faslane, I would be happy to buy you a pint in return for picking your brains!
Cheers in advance,
Justin