Transport, lifestyle & property in NZ

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Life in NZ is surprising different from Australia. I didn't think so when I cam here 15 years ago. That was a superficial view based on first day's view. I even made the mistake of presenting $AUD to a carpark in Auckland City. But culturally it is different; even more so since Australia took on an ugly repressed pursuit of materialism. NZ preserves a nice balance of work and fun, relaxed living; how Australia used to be before the government started pump-priming the debt machine, giving baby bonuses, the illusion of tax cuts that didn't even adjust for all the inflation we didn't feel because food & energy were excluded from the index, and because our asset prices were soaring. NZ had that as well, but because all the ambitious souls went to Australia, it has remained remarkably protected from such trends, at least in a rural place like Wanganui where we purchases our place. My partner and I can't imagine such an idyllic place to life. It reminds me of those bars I'd discover when I was young which existed for just a few months before everyone would go there and ruin it. Maybe the same will happen to Wanganui. It might take some years yet because its just too far from Wellington to be destroyed. I guess the problem is a pre-occupation with money and material possessions. This is often liked in with some ugly psychology, e.g. the need to impress, to achieve security, not to mention arrogance and repression. You see it in city people who come to Wanganui. So why am I talking up Wanganui? Well the reason is to fight the tide that will overtake this town (small city) as new freeways and very fast train services in NZ to replace the poor train services that seem to under-service every English colony. :)
Wanganui is particularly attractive. Its well located; it has an attractive beach; its close to the city when you need it; it has lovely tree-lined streets, and cheap houses.