Actually Mt Hikurangi in the North Island,  (east coast area) is the first place to catch the sun in the world.   Howie and Ihave climbed it.

I love Australia,   we would never go back.  
My great great grandfather was part of the Burke and Wills expedition, camel driver, with the sepoys (afgan traders).  He was a 6ft 7in welshman,

So I guess I was supposed to live in australia, as I have the wanderlust in my blood.   Australia has been good to us.  

We consider ourselves australians now, that were born in nz

Happy new year to one and all where ever you came from.

Delta18 wrote:

---

animalcarer wrote:

---

 

We consider ourselves australians now, that were born in nz

 

---

 Funny that, I think most people born in NZ think they are Australians.  Must be something to do with more generous dole payments!

(try that for bait ha ha)

---

 Can you explain that for me?

I  thought there was no "Dole"  for people who had not paid tax here,    (that is had a Job)

I realise refugees get some payments   How much does a person get per week !

Anyone got the proper figures for Dole payments and how you get them. What the are  true  $ paid per week.

I am an immigrant and have never ever been on the Dole in any country.

Here are some time zones, dates, and other stuff for your consideration..

Both Kiribati and Kiritimati (Christmas Island Pacific) are west of the 'nominal' 180 degree International Date Line, but both places take their date and time as - 'East of Greenwich'..

That is - Both those island nations are GMT + 14 hours..
(New Zealand is GMT + 12 hours..)

Both Kiribati and Kiritimati (Christmas Island Pacific) don't take any daylight saving time - so during summer New Zealand catches up to them by one hour 'on the clock', but is still one hour behind both the above places.

So in the political scheme of things both Kiribati and Kiritimati see the new day before New Zealand.

Lynette - I'll take you to task - in a nice way of course..
You're correct in saying..
'Mt Hikurangi in the North Island, (east coast area) is the first place to catch the sun..'
But - Mt Hikurangi is the first place on mainland New Zealand to see the sun..

Kiribati, Kiritimati and (soon) Samoa, (and some other smaller islands) see in the new day before New Zealand.

(By the way - The top of Mt Warning is the first place on mainland Australia to see the sun)

Of interest..
Kiritimati (Christmas Island Pacific) is due south of Hawaii - but is a day ahead of Hawaii.

(Hawaii's time is GMT - (minus) 10 hrs.. Two hours behind the West coast USA.

(In time parlance - Plus 14 hours east and minus 10 hours west, are the same time, but a day different)

Still of interest..
Samoa sits right on the (now nominal) International date line..

In May this year Samoa decided to skip over the 31^st December 2011 (in a few days) and leap from 12 hours west of Greenwich to 12 hours east of Greenwich - to align more with NZ, Australia, Asia and China.

Off the track a bit more, but still interesting..
In 2009, Samoa enacted a law that switched driving from the right to the left side of the road, to bring Samoa into line with Australia and New Zealand.

It was said the change would make it easier for Samoans in Australia and New Zealand to send used cars home to their relatives.
Opponents predicted traffic disruption, but this did not happen.

Tuilaepa (The Samoan Prime Minister) said:
"Today we do a lot more business with New Zealand and Australia, China and Pacific Rim countries such as Singapore."
The change of date would make commerce with the Asia-Pacific region "far, far easier".


This reinforces what I keep suggesting to the - 'Yanks online' (Who also cannot see any sense in the Metric System but that's another story)..

The left side is the right side, and the right side is the wrong side

But I digress..
I'm writing this from New Zealand's north island now and some observations and comparisons are..

Observations..
*..
It sure helps when the whole country is in one time zone.
*..
It sure helps when there is one set of road rules for the whole country.. (That's a biggie)
*..
It sure helps when fuel prices dont vary - or prices vary very little from one end of the country to the other..
(They may be higher than in Oz, but you know what the price is going to be)

Times..
(Approx Local time now - Kapati Coast.. 8.00pm)

In Kiribati and Kiritimati (Christmas Island Pacific) it's now about 9.00pm.
Throughout New Zealand it's about 8.00pm (DST).
NSW, Vic and Tas - it's 6.00pm (EDST)
SA - 5.30pm (EDST)
Qld - 5.00pm (No fading curtains there - I'll bet)
WA - 3.00 pm..
etc..

I hope Ive confused 'you all' with all the above information, enough to get you checking things to find the mistakes Ive made..

Brandt and Lorraine - surely your nickname should be - 'Kiwi-es'..(bro)?
I hope you have great adventures around Australia in your new van and truck - and you write stories about it all.

Jim

By the way..
As an Aussie with connections to New Zealand, I would comment..
If anyone wishes to start a thread about benefits, and what happens with them between the two countries please do so..

But I feel this thread is about time zones where we see the sun and stuff like that.

JustJim, your smiley avatar just died

Thanks for your support Beth..
Anyone who has a problem with 'whatever' - should start a thread about the particular 'problem' they see..

I've been reminded by my Kiwi partner - The Chatham Islands are part of New Zealand.
(These Kiwi chicks are a stroppy lot.. or is that also straying off the subject too much?)

The islands are roughly 800 km's due west of Christchurch - off the coast of NZ's south island - and are close to the International Date Line..
The Islands take their own time - 45 minutes ahead of New Zealand time..

I guess the question is not all that simple as to who sees the sunrise first on a new day?

I feel one might have to take a tour around all the Pacific islands - to see for one's self just when and where the sun rises first on a new day..

It may be a tough job - but someone has to do it..

Jim

if you want a good world clock on your computer this one is great, it has a map of the world
and you can choose to have the locations you want on it,

http://mapmaker.com/Sun%20Clock/Sun%20Clock%207.htm

It is sad that the day seems to have come that the good humoured banter between ozzies & kiwis has gone down the 'politically correct' path along with all the other things that we once took for granted.

No more nursury rhymes, eny meeny minee moe...baa baa (has to be coloured now) sheep.  Heaven help the guy that whistles at a pretty girl and now, obviously, no more taking the micky out of our Tasman neighbours.

Sorry folks if I offended anyone with my, sometimes, offbeat humour, it is the only one I have.  I think Val & Rob know where I'm coming from though.

Happy New year

Neil.