AmeriNZ 147 – End of the World

amerinz_podcast_150x150Today is the start of Anniversary Week! The AmeriNZ Podcast will be two years old at the end of the week, and to celebrate I’m planning to podcast every day this week (though Wednesday will be a 2Political episode). I talk today about some of the realities of living at “the end of the world” (from a US or European perspective). I also share what may be a sign of the other meaning of the phrase—the end of everything.

Please leave a comment, ring my US Comment Line on 206-666-5172, or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com.


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AmeriNZ 145 – Home truths

amerinz_podcast_150x150I begin today with a few a couple news items, including one about an American woman who was denied residence in New Zealand because she’s obese. For my main topic, I talk about some “home truths”, some truth and facts about New Zealand. This was inspired by some downright bizarre things I saw on some online forums. I talk about NZ houses, pay and taxes, public transport, crime and even prejudice. Whew! Feel free to ask about anything you’d like to know about.

Mentioned today:
Obese American woman has bid to live in New Zealand rejected

Please leave a comment, ring my US Comment Line on 206-666-5172, or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com.


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AmeriNZ 102 – Becoming Kiwi

I begin today by telling you about a couple items in the news, first, those missing Indians, then the NZ Census wants to identify the sexual orientation of New Zealanders.

The main topic today is about becoming Kiwi, essentially, being assimilated. I talk about my experience and my attitudes about it. I think that it helped me in unexpected ways.

Comments, a phone message and emails are next, which lets me talk a little more about the state of gay rights in New Zealand. Then I tell you about the schedule for Friday.

Please leave a comment or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ 101 – Getting to stay

In today’s snack-sized episode, I tell you what it was like to go through the process of becoming a permanent resident, what it felt like and what I was thinking at the time. I also tell you a little bit about the pope in Australia and a NZ connection to it. Soon, maybe Friday, I’ll be talking about becoming a Kiwi.

Please leave a comment or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ 93 – More moving to NZ and expats

Episode 93 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today I tell you a bit more about moving to New Zealand, including some things I didn’t mention in Episode 92. Then, I talk a bit about being an expat, inspired by a recent article, and I finish up with some bits and pieces about the podcast and some things that happened recently.

Leave a comment at amerinzpodcast.com, or ring my US listener line on (206) 339-8413. You can also email me at arthur{at]amerinz.com (or the old address at amerinz(at]yahoo.com).

Article I mentioned: With U.S. in slump, dual citizenship in EU countries attracts Americans


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AmeriNZ 92 – Moving to New Zealand

Episode 92 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today’s episode is inspired by listener questions about moving to New Zealand and what the country’s like to live in. Today, I try to answer those questions.

In some ways, Episode 90 Kiwi Kustoms was part one of this topic because I talked about some of what it’s like to live in New Zealand. You also may want to listen to AmeriNZ 55 Being an expat (also inspired by listener questions).

I start with the question, why New Zealand? From there it’s a wide-ranging talk about healthcare, crime, politics and even the availability of products. I give some advice on how to prepare for moving here, and what you need to know.

For more information on immigration, go to the website of the New Zealand Immigration Service, immigration.govt.nz. They have a lot of information that will help you work out if you’re eligible to move here and more about New Zealand generally.

Then, an update on my podcast move, which is mostly done (all episodes are posted). The new site is http://amerinzpodcast.com, and the new feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/AmerinzPodcast. You don’t need to change your iTunes subscriptions yet, but please start using the new site.

Leave a comment at the new site. Or, you can ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413. Email at arthur{at)amerinz.com. You can also still use my other address, amerinz[at) yahoo.com.

Links for this episode:
New Zealand Immigration Service
Spring Heeled Jacks Original Swinging Jass Band (on the Podsafe Music Network)


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AmeriNZ 90 – Kiwi Kustoms

Episode 90 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today I tell you some of what it’s like living in New Zealand. This comes from a question from a listener who asked about the character and pace of daily life in NZ compared to the US. So I tell you about a few small things you probably wouldn’t read in a book or article, and put those things into a larger context.

This is all in a lead-up to my episode about moving to New Zealand, which I’ll be recording next week. If you have a question about that, or about New Zealand generally, send an email to me at arthur(at]amerinz.com by the weekend.

I also have an update on the changes to my podcast hosting, including the new website/blog for the shownotes, though it’s too early to make any changes, like to bookmarks, etc.

After comments, I tell you about Episode 91, which will be a special episode.

Leave a comment. Or, you can ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413. Email at arthur{at)amerinz.com. You can also still use my other address, amerinz[at) yahoo.com.


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AmeriNZ 71 – Nik the AmeriAuck

Episode 71 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Joining me today is Nik Dirga, a journalist and a fellow American ex-pat who lives in Auckland (which makes him an AmeriAuck) with his wife and son. This is the first time I’ve had a chat with another American living in Auckland. We talk about Nik’s experiences as an expat, what his impressions of New Zealand are, and how all that relates to others who may be thinking of becoming an expat.

Check out Nik’s blog, Spatula Forum, where there’s a link to his book, Also called Spatula Forum.

Leave a comment. Or, you can email a comment to comment(at]amerinz.com, or send a personal email to me (won’t be read on the podcast) to arthur{at)amerinz.com. You can also still use my other address, amerinz[at) yahoo.com or ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.

Links for this episode

Blue Savannah by Erasure iTunes USA Store or iTunes NZ Store. You can also buy Blue Savannah through Amazon.com.


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AmeriNZ 56 – Kiwi Thanksgiving

Episode 56 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today I mostly tell you about my odd Thanksgiving Day in New Zealand, which was unusual, even for me. This gives me a chance to tell you about Auckland’s poor public transport system. The US Ambassador to New Zealand is a good one. Then there’s a visit to The Commonwealth: It suspended Pakistan until democracy is restored. Then, the Queen visited Uganda to open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and visited people with HIV/AIDS. Finally, there’s even something about the Australian elections, which will be held tomorrow. No comments today, but those will return on Tuesday, along with a wrap-up on the Australian election.

The closing music today is “Regifting for the Holidays” by The Alice Project from the Podsafe Music Network.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ 55 – Being an expat

Episode 55 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today I talk about being an expat, based largely on my own experience. I tell you some things a new expat can expect to feel, both good and bad. I also tell you how it resolves itself, eventually turning into “home”. I also share some of my general feelings about being an expat and what that all means. After comments from Episode 54, I say a little about my Kiwi Thanksgiving. Finally it’s a slightly revised version of my 30 second podcast promo. There may not be a podcast on Friday. We’ll see.

Leave a comment here or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.

Mentioned in this episode, posts from my blog:

Twelfth Anniversary

Eleven Years an Expat

Ex but not ex-


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