Kiwisdom
Hello, from the nation that won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. All Blacks forever!
Some of the things I ‘ve seen and heard about here on the other side of the world make a lot of sense and I’d like to share some of them with you. I cannot be certain that someone somewhere else came up with the ideas, but I first encountered them here. No matter what an Aussie might tell you.
Toy libraries. Well maintained used toys can be checked out for a fee and returned if they are still in good shape when your child outgrows them. Brilliant. Pull-toys, tricycles, bikes etc. have a relatively brief period of usefulness with any particular child. Whey buy new toys each time?
Small two-wheeled bikes made of sturdy wood, which have no pedals. Children sit on them and push with their feet. Improves balance, takes a licking and keeps rolling along on replaceable sturdy tires. Helps children rely less on training wheels.
Larger and a greater number of women’s bathrooms than men’s bathrooms in concert halls, shopping malls etc. In the United States women’s bathrooms often have lines of people waiting when men’s bathrooms do not.
High mileage rental cars that come already dented and imperfect. As long as the upkeep is good, why not? Less to worry about when you rent a car. No need for a “white glove” inspection when getting or returning a car. I know some companies in the U.S. like “Rent a Wreck” have this business model. In New Zealand it is standard practice.
Three trash cans. One for compostable material, one for recyclable material and one for garbage. A simple idea for a greener planet.
Pellet stoves that burn recyclable fuel and give off a cheery glow.
There is no tipping expected in restaurants, taxis etc. Workers are paid a living wage. There is no incentive for a cab driver to take the longest route to your destination or for wait staff to hurry you out of a restaurant. In many restaurants you pay first so the owners, staff and patrons can all relax.
New Zealand has a one dollar and two dollar coin. Bills start at five dollar denominations. Coins last a very long time. Also the smallest coin has the value of ten cents. Making change is a breeze. I've read that in the United States a penny costs more than one cent to produce. Whose nation is smart in this world?
Aah welcome indeed to New Zealand!
ReplyDeleteA country in many ways behind much of the modern world by about 30 years; small population, not much traffic, polite smiling citizens who greet strangers with a cheery " g'day ". You can go out and leave your house unlocked only to come home and find your neighbour has left a freshly baked cake in the kitchen!
Also at the forefront of much that is considered modern and vibrant; A small but thriving and world-beating movie effects industry, one of the worlds biggest dairy producers, and a nation consistently punching above its weight on the stages of sport, art and technical innovation. Oh and we also have some pretty good thriller writers too! (check out "Milkshake" on Amazon.com)
What great ideas! I wish they'd spread to the States. I especially like the wooden bicycles for young children. And the three garbage cans. And the coins and change. Oh, well. I like them all. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit New Zealand. Thanks for the input.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline Seewald
THE TRUTH SLEUTH
Ah, but Warren, Americans so need to buy new now and fill up landfills later -- and not just with kids' used toys. Yard sales have only partially caught on in the States. I just moved from a neighborhood that had an annual, festive, multi-block yard sale (progressive!) to a neighborhood with no such thing. America's "everything-is-disposal" mentality is awful. Thanks for the look at smart solutions from other countries.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne Adair
Great ideas, Warren. But what about crime? Where would mystery writers find fodder for fiction without it?
ReplyDeleteThe ideas make senese but yesterday a TV report stated that consumer spending had increased during the month and therefore helped the economy. Companies will hire when consumers buy.
ReplyDeleteMy grandkids in Tennessee have that bike, so it's not exclusive to NZ. But toy libraries--what a great idea! As are the others.
ReplyDeleteMatt, Good on ya.' New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote and to have an old age pension.
ReplyDeleteAs for writers I recommend Vonda Symon, Alix Bosco, Paddy Richardson and Neil Cross among others
Paul Cleave won this year's Ngaio Marsh award for the best crime fiction novel. So there is an excellent group of mystery writers, including the ones I named aboue, EB.
ReplyDeleteSuzane,
ReplyDeleteMy neighborhood has a yard sale like the one you mention. It's been going on for longer than I have lived there and it is a fund-raiser for the local church.
I highly recommend New Zealand as a place to visit. Our four months is running out and we won't have time to visit all the places we want to see.
ReplyDelete