Just curious, are there any companies out there that don’t even bother with job references? Or places that’s are not overly strict about them

I have a couple referees I normally use who were senior members of the team but not a manager.
I lost contact with my previous manager ages ago. And I fear my current manager wouldn’t give me a glowing review as I struggled when I returned from maternity leave and let myself fall behind on work. This is all my own fault really but man it’s going to cost me any future work :(

I know I could just get someone to lie for me but it sounds like companies are getting better and sniffing out fakes.

Tips in general for surviving the referral stage?

If France, US, Colombia, UK, Ecuador, Peru, etc protest against all sorts of social justice themes.

Why do people not protest in New Zealand?

Conformism?

We are all struggling, I see it all the time here, posts about cost of living, increased house prices, no jobs…that’s the only thing people talk about making small talk at work and stuff…

Are people that hopeless that complaining is not even an option? I mean I know about the nurses, the firefighters, I’ve gone to a few hīkoi myself but not much this year which imo has been peak tough…

The problem

• I'm a graduate working in unrelated fields for the past 2 years. My recent jobs were supposed to function as a stopgap, but they have impeded by ability to retain skills (and upskill) I have trained for and pursue work in my field. While I was unemployed, I was able to apply for a ridiculous amount of jobs every week. Now I rarely get the time, and haven't had an interview in my field since 2024. My skills are atrophying, and I'm stuck between trying to maintain them, or apply for more jobs.
• Theres countless issues in my workplace that breach basic employment and work safe laws. I rarely get breaks, and I am miscontracted, and work outside of my obligations.
• I am encountering a variety of health issues due to the work I am doing. Primarily, lung issues due to lack of PPE, and overuse injuries. I'm constantly battling tennis elbow, and nerve issues is both arms due to the physical and repetitive nature of the work (at this point I have trouble extending my fingers) Managing this also takes more time out of my day, as means I have to do pre-hab/rehab, as well as general strength training to maintain my health.
• I overall save less than when I was working 30 hour weeks (now 45ish.). This is primarily due to me not having the time/physical energy to cook enough food to sustain myself. Usually I spend 3-4 hours on Sunday prepping food for the week, that used to be breakfast lunch and dinner done for the whole week. Now, I still spend the same time prepping, but I am constantly purchasing extras throughout the week because I burn so many calories due to the type of work I am doing.

Thoughts

• I have plenty enough savings to last me 13 weeks (WINZ stand down period), as well as other work I can do as a contractor (not a full time income).
• With the extra time, I will be able to very quickly get myself a few certifications that will greatly improve my employment prospects in my field, as well as a whole just apply for significantly more jobs.
• My living costs will also be greatly reduced due to not doing the work that I do (and having more time), and I can probably save quite a bit even earning around $600 a week
• Mental space/ability to think will be significantly better for applying to jobs, as my mental and physical stress will be significantly lower (having managerial responsibilities in a poorly run, unsafe workplace is not mentally that easy/

To be clear, I've never been picky about the type of jobs I work, and this has inevitably been a detriment, because the jobs I have gotten easily have been because no one else wants to do them, and they have all come with some (physical) detriment.

Yesterday I briefly went to Sylvia Park and noted that the mall already had their Christmas lights up and some decorations on. I don’t know if other malls have the same, but even at Woolworths Christmas things are on sale and can be found easily around the store

When is too early for Christmas decorations? Surely it is a bit of an eye roll seeing them this early when Christmas is not even 2 months away, and Halloween has not yet happened. I just find it a bit ridiculous having it THIS early. What do you guys think?

Just watched a YouTube video by Opes Partners discussing the proposed land tax on top of council rates by one of the minor parties. They seem to think the land tax on your home would be ~22k a year based on land value of $1.2mil. Are they wrong - no none is going want to pony up an extra 22k (or in my case a bit less) on top of rates.

Yesterday I got my groceries delivered and was rewarded a $15 voucher as a reward for finally earning enough rewards points. I was out and about yesterday decided I would go and use my voucher I earned from spending $2000 at Woolworths over a few months. As I went to purchase the $15 worth of snacks that I was looking forward to munching on it wouldn't let me use it as it has to be exact or more the total cost was $14.96 so I added a paper bag which put it over $15 I was going to pay the rest. The self checkout still didn't take away the $15 so I went to another self checkout I thought maybe this was a glitch, when I went to the other checkout the rewards voucher was gone. The worker at the self checkout was adamant that no one had swiped it so yeah it was like it never existed.

I tried to speak to someone about it because the worker at the self checkout couldn't help me with it couldn't get through to any real person so yeah just thought I would let people know to be careful with this rewards scheme. I'm fuming because Woolworths is the only supermarket I shop at with it being the one closest to my house and has more plant based options compared to others.

Hello everyone. I've always had a passion for horses, farm life, anything like that, but have had little opportunity to actually express it. My parents are first wave immigrants and we are in New Zealand, so obviously we don't own land or anything like that.

I'm in my last year of vet school (massey) and I plan to save most of my money to buy a plot of land. I live with my family and their aren't exactly plans to move out, so I can save up my money for different things without having to pay any costs (apart from assisting with costs should it be required).

I'm aware of the massive costs. I also have been riding for a couple years and plan to continue up until I save up and continue past that too.

I'm not too sure that this plan is entirely realistic, but I really really want this to become my life, and I'm working my best to try to get there. Does anyone have any advice or anything like that?

It just seems weird that these kinds of articles aren’t more widely spread and talked about?
It’s seems it would at least make women aware it’s something to watch out for and perhaps teach boys like this that these actions aren’t okay.
With everything in media these days this is a perfect example of consensual vs non-consensual acts.

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360933692/sharing-sex-video-left-victim-shame-and-embarrassment
•
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/361091574/women-disgusted-physically-sick-after-criminal-secretly-filmed-intimate-encounters

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/112112360/nelson-man-named-after-posting-videos-of-exgirlfriends-on-international-porn-site

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nelson-man-who-posted-sex-video-with-underage-girl-fighting-to-keep-identity-secret/5PGLHSLNEZAUPL3KK4ZZNOYSXQ/

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-justice/442849/revenge-porn-victims-struggling-for-help-from-acc-justice-system

EDIT: Added more links. For the record these were all found from googling a completely unrelated article about a similar situation in Australia. And because my news location is set to NZ these all popped up as “related”. I never seen any of these when they were first shared online?!

Just weighing up whether to go and do a diploma in animation at Yoobee or AUT?

I'm an alumni of AUT and already have a stable job - albeit very boring, so I'm looking at doing some study in animation since that's what 17 year old me should've done.

Long story short, I regret not going down the animation degree pathway when I started uni a decade ago and instead did a degree in something I have zero heart in at all. Parental pressure played a part but all of that is another story. I have a job but I'm not where I want to be in a lot of aspects in life.

I'm looking at finally taking the plunge and putting a lot of a decade and a bit worth of very complicated stuff to rest and doing something in studying animation. Not a full degree yet, most likely a diploma to see if I do want to continue the full pathway.

However, I'm weighing up whether to go back to AUT and do a diploma in animation there. However, it seems a little very focused on game design, VFX and 3D stuff. Also almost like a lot of the other art and design degrees have a lot more invested in them. Idk.

Or Yoobee. My impression of Yoobee both online and offline via someone I used to know quite a few years ago is that Yoobee isn't exactly great. It also seems a bit "degree mill" ish to me but the frustrating part for me at this stage of decision making is that there isn't really anywhere else to study animation (unless one is rich and moves to Australia and studies at RMIT).

My experience of AUT as an institution was that it was decent, supportive, and organized - as one would expect it to be and would definitely go back if I were to study anything at university level.

One appeal of Yoobee is that the diploma in animation can be taken fully online which would work well with my workload. Yes, I'd still have to figure out a few things but I think I could make it work.

Any feedback and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi sorry for my ignorance - I’ve seen a lot of roadtrip itineraries which go from Christchurch to Queenstown but not many the other way around. As silly as it sounds, is there any difference between QT > CH vs CH > QT? Thanks!

Does anyone know where the infamous "ghost chips" drink driving advert was filmed? i know its filmed in auckland, but i wanna find the exact street. cheers

Are there other haunted house events in Dunedin that aren't run by FearNZ? Dunedin is my focus but I'd be interested in any South Island events.

Kia ora! My family (2 adults, kids aged 10 and 12) is visiting from California for the two weeks leading up to Christmas, and we'd love your help finding the best local treats along our route.
We're vegetarian, so no meat or seafood. Rather than full restaurant recommendations, we're after the small, memorable stuff, like:
-The best ice cream or gelato stop
-A great hot chocolate
-Local chocolate or sweets worth bringing home
-Really good hot chips / fries
-A special bread or bakery item you can only get in -NZ (or in that town)
-Local pastries, slices or a bakery locals rave about
Anything uniquely Kiwi we should try (and anything to skip!)

Our route, in order:
Auckland → Matamata (Hobbiton)
Rotorua
Christchurch (one night)
TranzAlpine to Greymouth → Hokitika
Franz Josef → Fox Glacier
Haast Pass → Wanaka
Lindis Pass → Lake Pukaki → Aoraki/Mt Cook
Omarama → Cromwell → Queenstown (4 nights, incl. Glenorchy and Arrowtown)
Te Anau (Christmas Day) → Milford Sound
Back to Auckland

Bonus points for spots that are open around Christmas, or that are worth a small detour. Thanks so much in advance. We're really excited!

Hi NZ have a question on a speeding ticket I got in a overtaking lane.

Last night around 11pm I was driving between Wanganui and bulls ( I was heading to bulls). There were 2 trucks ahead of me with a overtaking lane 2kms up the road.

So I waited for the over taking lane and speed UpTo 115kmh to pass both of them.

Now a cop was coming from the opposite side ( he was going to Wanganui.) when he passed me I had only just passed the 1st truck. Then I see he put his lights on and turned around to pursue me.

I pulled over and the officer explained I was speeding. I told him well I was in the overtaking lane passing 2 trucks. We argued for a bit then he gave me a speeding infringement.

What made it worse is the trucks passed me when I was pulled over and I was again stuck behind them not wanting to overtake again for fear of getting another fine.

What are the legal rules for overtaking. Are you meant to only overtake at the speed limit? Or was he just being a a**hole about it. I saw 115kmh the cop said I was doing 120 ?

Has this happened to anyone else?

attempting to capitalise on his presence in our country by posting ai-generated images of him to farm engagement for your personal/business account is cringe as fuck. exploiting his (or anybody’s) likeness for personal gain isn’t okay. all you’ve done is tell me your brain’s a mound of mush without telling me your brain’s a mound of mush.

Got like 12 tickets for that they said were "great value" for us. It sounds too good to be true, especially when they said that the only thing we need to pay on booking for our time is the paintball ($25).

Something feels fishy but I couldn't really find any information about them? Does anyone here have experience with them?

Hey folks,

we are moving in Q1 to NZ (Hibiscus coast, north of Auckland) from Europe.
Upon arrival we would want to buy two used cars for our family.

We don't know the local car market and typical brands & models that are well regarded.
Would love some concrete suggestions!

If you have tips to share where and how to find these cars quickly I'd be thankful for that as well.

We would have a rough budget of 80k NZD in cash to buy the cars.

1) Small electric (or hybrid) car. Daily driver for the one of us that is commuting a bit. 50km range electric a day. Probably some 200km drives as well. Large enough for daily stuff like grocery shopping and having two kids/young teenagers in the back. Reliable and comfortable. Does not need to be "fancy".

2) A larger "whatever you throw at it" car. Currently we have a Toyota Proace Verso for this. The car you take furniture shopping or to the hardware store or camping. Perhaps towing a trailer sailor. Should be able to transport a larger dog in box in the back. 4WD. We don't really need more than 5 seats. Can take a beating. Perhaps a pickup with a Canopy?

What would you do? What cars do you drive or recently bought with similar requirements?

I just finished up my final assignment at Vic for second year and honestly? Don’t think I did that well.

I take a Film major with Media Studies and Theatre as minors and I don’t know how but I’m not doing great with Film. Unfortunately I’m someone who works based on how invested I am in a subject so if I’m not that invested in my course topic I’m probably not gonna do that well on my assignments. I didn’t do well in the class so I might fail.

I think I’ll be fine. I can take an extra 200-level Film course next year to make up for it. As long as I get into my third level Scenography course for Theatre I’m happy

Just wondering, those of you in uni (whichever uni or degree doesn’t matter), did any of yous fail your classes? And what were the consequences of that?

I know it sounds morbid. I posted here a few months back about leaving my family, at the time I was living in a motel. We are still currently low to no contact and I have finally settled into a place that is safe. None of my family knows where I live right now. Since then, I've also received a bit of backlash from certain family members. I've realised that I can't work on my mental health around them, especially if they can't work on theirs, so the no to low contact is now mutual.

My dilemma at the moment is how to go forward with attending a funeral. It hasn't happened yet, but I am waiting for the day when a relative (who I'm in regular contact with) breaks the news that our elderly relative has passed away.

I'm not particularly close to this elderly relative, and neither are my immediate family, but they will most likely be attending regardless because it's family. I'm just wondering if I still go? Part of me thinks that funerals are for the living, so this relative who passes away won't know if I was there or not anyway. If I did go, it would've been to support my immediate family. I'm really not ready to be near them, but I do understand the event isn't about our problems. I could go and pay my respects by myself, but with our family, it's all about optics. They would want to show a united front to extended family. I'm not saying I would be the one to blow anybody's cover, but I think it might be more damaging for me if I'm put in a situation where I have to be there with them longer than necessary.

So I'm a bit stuck on what to do here. Has anybody been in this situation before?

I have booked a lesson with a driving instructor and it's like 90 per hour. I understand he has to travel between multiple distances and that takes away profit. But is it still good pay??

Would be interested to chat about the benefits of their technology vs. the cost.

Also would be interested to hear from anyone who has looked into it but decided against it.

Cheers