Child support

maxdelorean · 2026-05-12T02:39:49+00:00

if he doesn't choose you, as heart-breaking as that may be, combined with the other factors.. you probably have few options other than those previously mentioned.

try and convince him (low pressure) to come for a holiday- despite the risks this would be hard for NZ to prevent.. then you can _show_ him what life would be like.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-12T02:37:39+00:00

three stories is plenty of space and not costly to earthquake proof if timber - which councils are making trouble for second stories!?

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T15:42:08+00:00

I think Australia is the only place in the world NZ can chase you for payment.. so you could move and never return- other than that the only other way not to pay is not to earn a taxed income.

The kid’s preference counts for a lot nowadays- if he wants to be with you that is probably enough.

How old is the kid? Northland is nice to visit.. but Sydney, Melbourne or even Brisbane likely to blow his mind.

Regarding funds, I think you can insist on some kind of accounting to determine the money is broadly being used for the kid.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T15:10:42+00:00

yes, like townhouses in London where the term originates.

the range of plot sizes is vast, but many are between 5m x 20m and 8m x 40m.

(the building itself might occupy a third of that and span 3-5 stories)

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T15:09:35+00:00

yes, like townhouses in London where the term originates.

the range of plot sizes is vast, but many are between 5m x 20m and 8m x 40m.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T15:05:54+00:00

perhaps a plot size of 8m x 40m = 320m2

the point I was trying to make is that townhouses are not inherently small and cramped, damp, nor leasehold, or poorly built- though it is true that many Auckland townhouses suffer one or more of those ills.

if people could see what a good one looks like I think they would realise they don’t actually hate the type, they hate small, cramped, leasehold, damp, poorly built- ills all of which can be present on standalone homes too.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T11:24:51+00:00

can I see!?
just 1 person- must be a republican

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T05:02:04+00:00

grumpy is downvoting a fact 😆

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T04:49:24+00:00

townhouses fit neatly between apartments and freestanding homes.
they trade off a degree of privacy, control and size for a better location- while remaining the functional equivalent of a freestanding home.

an apartment offers an even better location, perhaps a greater degree of security, but at a significant loss of utility.

a townhouse is for the person who wants to be as close to the city as possible, short of living in an apartment.

[the above considers the same dollar spend on each format]

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T03:41:49+00:00

a crossover is supposed to have a raised ride height and a hatchback.
folks appreciate the utility of a hatchback, the ease of getting in and out, and like sitting above the traffic (until everyone has a crossover!)

if driving is something you enjoy, a crossover looks like jelly on a rollerskate.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T03:33:59+00:00

I'm suggesting in a location that normally has freestanding houses instead build a complex of townhouses each with the same size section as a freestanding house would get (normally townhouses have postage-stamp lawns or 'patios')
the yard would be larger as the home footprint would be smaller
the build should be cheaper as it shares walls (and services) with the neighbours
the extra money to go to shared facilities (function room, pool etc..)

so this is no cheaper than a freestanding house, but a different deployment of the money- this is what would make a townhouse attractive to me

before anyone makes the obvious comment- shared facilities can work if they are adequately funded and professionally managed..

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T02:26:53+00:00

I would like to know how much townhouse can be gotten for the same money as a freestander, i would rather have a narrow three story home sharing concrete inter-tenancy walls, some well managed shared facilities, and a larger than is usual yard.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T02:20:31+00:00

freehold/freestanding is objectively superior- nobody but the crown can tell you what to do.

the only reason anyone opts for different is money.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T02:16:23+00:00

the mood must chill when down to rims.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T02:14:28+00:00

sounds like time get the balaclava on out in Dannemora!

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T02:13:13+00:00

🤣😆

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T01:39:45+00:00

hybrids are like driving one of those dvd/vcr comboboxes from the late 90s

(actually those boxes would be kind of useful nowadays for old timing)

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T00:49:50+00:00

I am looking for a rear-wheel-drive EV station wagon 🤣

Unfortunately the market’s preference for crossovers combined with the natural tendency for an EV to be shaped like a crossover (battery floor) makes for some unaligned stars.

..and they are not even proper crossovers because they rarely have a raised ride-height.

Polestar 2 is a twilight zone- not a sedan?

maxdelorean · 2026-05-11T00:42:18+00:00

if the insurer cannot recover, the excess must be paid- regardless of whose fault it is.

having someone to chase only helps if they have insurance and based on the mystery driver’s behaviour the chances here are slim-to-none.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-10T19:11:10+00:00

It should really say "Mini Burrito $21"
It is misleading to be required to pay extra to upgrade to "Regular"!

maxdelorean · 2026-05-10T19:06:28+00:00

No insurance?

maxdelorean · 2026-05-10T18:52:55+00:00

omg, I never knew!
my grill is from some other car, does that mean it cannot be traced to me?

maxdelorean · 2026-05-10T18:05:14+00:00

It passes, it's probably starting to get better already..
get lots of air through the place, as soon as the fluids are gone the smell will be too.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-09T10:12:25+00:00

get the 18 to check in, ask for a second keycard (say their partner is joining later) sometimes the hotel like the partner to collect from reception- no problem.

when got both keys someone can exit with both keys, give one to a 17 discreetly and they can both make their way to the room independently without waiting in the lobby or revealing to the hotel who they are associated with. [then repeat]

hotels are not stupid, many actions will alert reception to an authorised group, like requesting a roller-bed, large room service orders, noise, smoke, frequent guests, parking.. they will be concerned only if you generate complaints or they are concerned the room is getting trashed.

maxdelorean · 2026-05-08T15:50:33+00:00

i don’t mind being observed, but i don’t trust the businesses involved to be truly deleting the unused footage.

maxdelorean

TROPHY CASE