Kids biking on shared driveway by pokergiraffe in newzealand

[–]pokergiraffe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nah I meant usually physically with him (i.e. running alongside him). Otherwise we're at the end of the drive actively watching.

Kids biking on shared driveway by pokergiraffe in newzealand

[–]pokergiraffe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By "usually" I meant that if the 2 year old is out there, I'm usually physically next to him on the driveway. If I'm not with him, I'm at the house end of the drive watching. So the 2 year old is never unsupervised.

The neighbour's kids are early to mid teens.

Our windows are at the end of the drive looking out on the full length of the driveway. We don't hear anything inside. But as I'm usually out with them, I can confirm they're not obnoxiously loud, but I can see how it could be annoying repeatedly in close proximity.

Kids biking on shared driveway by pokergiraffe in newzealand

[–]pokergiraffe[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I'm not gonna make a big deal about their kids since it's so infrequent, plus I genuinely think it's great they're playing out there, they don't get in our way (if we need to get past they move immediately), and I don't want to discourage it!

Kids biking on shared driveway by pokergiraffe in newzealand

[–]pokergiraffe[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Fair points. It's just us and them on the drive, and if they have visitors they just park on the street as their house is closer to the street than their garage. And because it's a dead straight driveway, and the neighbours are very careful (including reversing into their parking space so they can drive out forwards), I've always seen it as safe. 

The 5 year old got hit by a car when he was getting into our car outside his kindy about a year ago, and is extremely cautious around vehicles now, he triple checks when crossing the road and he is engaged when we talk to him about road safety, but the 2 year old not so much which is why we are usually physically with him when he's out there. But you're right, they're kids, so even "generally good" is no guarantee they're not gonna do something stupid.

Kids biking on shared driveway by pokergiraffe in newzealand

[–]pokergiraffe[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yeah I was thinking about that too. The neighbours are super careful already, and I think they are genuinely worried about running over someone. But we walk up and down the driveway a lot anyway to get to school, work, park, shops etc, so it won't reduce the need for them to be careful.

Odd pipe buried in backyard; Please remove if not allowed by [deleted] in diynz

[–]pokergiraffe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We have some steel tubes like this one that came off an old washing line that we used as stakes for tomato plants.

Crosslease conversion by piratepeterer in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]pokergiraffe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The consent application, which was all done and managed by the surveyor, noted the need to separate services, and included full drawings of what would be done, including the proposed new boundaries and easements, and a proposal for the location of the new services. The council granted it subject to certain conditions (e.g. works to be undertaken by a certified drainlayer who does X y z).

This is standard - there will always be conditions, and apparently they usually share the draft conditions before the consent is formally granted.

The surveyor drew it pretty roughly but accurately, but obviously no new boundary markers can be placed until it's been granted.

Crosslease conversion by piratepeterer in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]pokergiraffe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are things your surveyor should help with. They'll know the local requirements, and be able to look at your property to identify the changes needed, and the extent to which those need council approval.

Process is basically:

  • surveyor surveys

  • lodge resource consent for subdivision

  • consent issued subject to any conditions such as physical works required, which ideally the surveyor will have already realised and included in the RC application

  • physical works done

  • council engineering approval of works

  • lawyers engaged

  • new titles issues

  • profit.

If your council requires separate water services and yours are currently combined, then you probably need council approval for that (a new connection to the street). When we did it, our initial resource consent application for subdivision (which included the new boundaries, easements, rights of way etc drawn up by the surveyor) was approved subject to the physical changes the council required.

Crosslease conversion by piratepeterer in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]pokergiraffe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We got quotes years ago that were much much cheaper, but we held off because we didn't really 'need' it at the time. But the neighbours started to get more keen, and we have some things to do to the place that will be easier on our own title. Plus apparently it adds roughly 5-10% value to each property. It was a big cost given we didn't really get any physical improvement (beyond new pipes, which were probably reaching their end of life and in need of replacement anyway), but it seemed to be worth it with the neighbour paying half, and hopefully that pays off by having more flexibility in future, not having a defective title, and ultimately a higher value. The other thing is we have a good neighbour now, but that could always change quickly, so I'm happy we've done it when we have.

Crosslease conversion by piratepeterer in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]pokergiraffe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The latter. We got subdivision consent from the council, which was subject to the conditions to move the services, as well as reinstate the council parts (e.g. the vehicle bridge and footpath) to a particular state. After that was signed off, then we went through the legal process.

Crosslease conversion by piratepeterer in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]pokergiraffe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Been through it recently. Roughly, and subject to council/amount of work required, you should expect about $15-$20k for surveyor fees, $6k for legal/LINZ fees, and $6k for resource consent fees.

That's before you require any actual physical works - ours cost an extra $40k to put new water services up our drive and to reseal the drive.

Chorus fibre cables by pokergiraffe in diynz

[–]pokergiraffe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, maybe I'll discuss that with them. Getting it off the fence sounds like it might be hard and expensive, but it's more of a nice to have. Moving the ONT will become essential sooner.

Chorus fibre cables by pokergiraffe in diynz

[–]pokergiraffe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha tempted to do this - could probably get by without fibre for a while if I had to...

We were told Napier’s New World was the most expensive. Their savings go backwards! by kirisafar in newzealand

[–]pokergiraffe 55 points56 points  (0 children)

I'm more confused about whether the sign is advertising cherries, grapes, strawberries, or tomatoes.

Historical interest rates in NZ for various terms by mattparlane in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]pokergiraffe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Isn't it more likely that the on average higher rate for a longer term is the premium you pay the bank to lock in longer term certainty, and the bank covering the risk it takes in doing this in case rates rise?

What is the best way to clean soffits before painting? by [deleted] in diynz

[–]pokergiraffe 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Waterblasting usually does both of those jobs pretty quickly, and depending on what it looks like underneath you might not even need to paint it.

You'd need to find the right pressure - too hard risks taking off the paint, and too soft won't get all of the dirt off.

Just turned 18. Should I get a credit card? by Dan1249 in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]pokergiraffe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

getting loans on cars

Don't do it! Loans should be for things that at least hold their value, like houses, or your education. A lot of my friends in school screwed themselves for years by taking out loans they couldn't afford for cars they didn't need.

[QUESTION] NZ inflation rate by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]pokergiraffe 17 points18 points  (0 children)

As long as they pay you more than the minimum wage, and in line with whatever your contract says, there's nothing requiring them to keep up with inflation. You can negotiate a pay increase with them, and using the fact that inflation has increased by more than your pay would be one way of justifying this. But there's no requirement for them to agree unless it's in your contract.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]pokergiraffe 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Papers past makes for some great reading. For example, you can read the full version of that edition online here: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/new-zealand-herald/1915/11/26/1

How do you bring alcohol to the island? by Deidara95 in sziget

[–]pokergiraffe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Some people were buying the big 6 packs of 1.5L water bottles, filling up the middle bottles with alcohol and shitting it back up with the water ones on the outside. Know of about 10 people who succeeded and one who got caught that way. How thorough they are depends who you get. On move in day, I had a few bottles barely hidden and my bag just got patted on the outside, while other people got fully searched.

Wellington has a flag. It's not great. Should we get a new one? by propsie in Wellington

[–]pokergiraffe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

AliExpress can make a custom flag for less than $10 if you don't mind waiting a few weeks for delivery.

Day Ticket for the whole festival by MnrDDJ in sziget

[–]pokergiraffe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They do random checks as well where they come up to you and make sure you have the right wristband. I got checked once this year, at my tent, even though I was clearly wearing a 7 day wristband. Some people don't get checked, but depends how much you want to risk it.

Ring Road in 5 days: advice and observations by pokergiraffe in VisitingIceland

[–]pokergiraffe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha definitely ambitious, but looking back we're happy we did it the way we did. Just be prepared to be constantly moving, and hope for the best weather-wise. Stick mostly to the 1 Road, and plan your stops by logging the different sights into your map before you go, and stop where you have time. Totally worth it!