Nat Torkington

NZ Herald reports the government wants at least 47,000 skilled immigrants and will recognize skills in applicants from India and China for the first time.

Six months back in the country, I’ve formed some opinions about where NZ is lacking.

In the past month or more I’ve been working hard on making sure William had a good experience at school.

There were 1.24 million active internet subscribers in New Zealand between March and September 2005 (NZ pop = 4M, remember) 70%, or 869,300, were modem users Total residential internet penetration was around 30% Business uptake of internet connections inc…

Today was unsatisfactory.

We took William out of school for the day, drove down to Auckland, and went to Kelly Tarlton’s World (like the Monterey Aquarium) and then to a buffet for lunch.

The tuis (TOO-ees) sing outside my office window and it’s fantastic.

Some things I’ve found while surfing: Basics of Maori, Maori pronunciation, Interactive Maori conversations, Maori Language NZ Anthem, Background and recordings of the NZ anthems.

[I wrote up these thoughts for the NZ-2.0 list, but thought you might be interested] I’ve been thinking lately about Things To Do In 2006, and trying to figure out where technology will go in the coming year and where there are opportunities to ride that…

It’s been an adventurous week, weather-wise.

I’m reading Russell Brown’s collection of other people’s essays, Great New Zealand Argument, and at the same time I’m reading The Nationbuilders by Brian Easton.

Today I went to Auckland to meet Russell Brown of Public Address, to my uncle’s work, then finally to meet with some VCs.

It’s been hard to balance life and work here on the other side of the world.

Today I sent email to, and got replies from, the acting CEO of New Zealand On Air, and the general editor of Te Ara (the Encyclopedia of New Zealand).

Today Jenine helped out at William’s school, and we learned that there’s quite the gulf between the grouchy old woman teaching his class and the sweet old woman who taught him in Colorado.

I’d forgotten how amazing New Zealand’s weather is.

I think I’m probably doing it a favour calling it a conference: Convergence Oceania was a Wireless Forum sell shop, an expo hall with a room featuring the biggest exhibitors.

I’ve been stuck into work, and it’s interesting how the cycle of the day is different here.

It’s wonderful how easy it is to see a doctor over here.

Finally we went to the beach today (Sunday).

Another full day: we drove to Auckland to collect a fridge we bought on TradeMe, I cleaned the rusty grill, and began the rehabiliation of teh house.

I don’t know whether it’s the equinox or the move, but it feels like there’s SO MUCH TIME in the day.

The problem with flying to New Zealand from America is that if you get a well-timed flight, you don’t really have jetlag on the first day.

Great guest rant on Public Address by a CRI (formerly DSIR, government scientific research org) talking about insanity of current contestable funding mechanisms.

Flight summary follows.

Straight from the Ministry of Education comes 2006 Term and Holiday Dates.

I was prepared to think of the questioning of Maori rituals as more political bizarrity, until I read this eloquent explanation from Pita Sharples in Public Address.

I can see my house from here.

I can see my house from here.

Public Address is a “community of New Zealand-centric weblogs” from interesting people, such as Hard News by Russell Brown.

New Zealand Herald article on the Irish mobile phone ecosystem, framed as “perhaps New Zealand could do this”.

New Zealand Now is a site for expat Kiwis, hoping to lure them back with information they might want: How do I set up a business and register a name?

CallPlus, WorldxChange, FX Networks (perhaps).

New Zealand Herald article I’m showing all my (male) friends about why it’s a great idea to move to New Zealand.

Kea New Zealand is “global community of people who help each other achieve great things all over the world because of the connection they share with New Zealand.”

Fascinating report on the jobs that migrants with higher degrees or university degrees do when they get to NZ.

Anzac Day is Veteran’s Day for New Zealand and Australia.

We had a great run of a few weeks where the weather and family travels aligned: Dad and I were both back, so we got to do a lot of fishing boat activity.

Yesterday we went to the Silverdale A&P show (Agricultural and Pastoral) with our friend Pam and her two kids aged about 13 and 14.