Sailing into Wellington at 7am. On a lovely sunny morning, is an unforgettable experience. Tier upon tier of wooden houses, iron roofed, painted in gay colours - set in the hillside around the bay, and a profusion of flowers, give a welcome only outmatched with the hospitality of the New Zealanders themselves.

City and towns passed on route to our destination New plymouth are apt to give the visitor from Great britain and atmosphere of "Westerners" as seen on films and T.V. Shops with wooden verandah supported by pillars at the edge of pavement emphasise this impression. Flowers overgrowing onto walks make up for some unevenness and cracks.

Its a shock to find shops closed on Saturdays and Sundays. When a Monday holiday follows, then all the shops close three consecutive days. Only diaries are excluded from this order. Here it is accepted - although there is a " rumble " for Saturday morning opening.

Recent conferences of Retail Trades and Shop Assistants Union, both organisations stated unanimously " they would fight to keep trading days as presently operated ".
In the evening, after shops close, even a city can look like a back town village. There is a casualness about New Zealand life they are determined to keep. In Newzealnd, Trade Union membership is compulsory for trade, shop and general workers.
Exceptions are - under 18 years of age; owners; and shop managers. (Why the latter is hard to determine). Yet the membership of the union catering for shop workers is not so large as one would expect. Perhaps the " exceptions " are the reason.

An astonishing feature of New Zealand everyday life is the large number of private cars on the road, considering the smallness of the population. Most families have at least one many have two, some three and others four. Few People move around without them. They are used for all sorts of chores, especially shopping. When dad is at work, mother puts family in car and merrily goes on her way. At week-ends all the family go to the beach or get into the garden. Car licences are granted at 15 years, so often Dad's or Mum's car is used to get to school. The status symbol for " teenagers " is the number of surfboards one has on roof of car. It does seem an anomaly that a youngster can drive a car in a busy city, yet if under 21 years found in a public bar can be charged. Luckily the 6 O'clock " swill " has gone into oblivion, with the extension of drinking hours till 10.00pm. Prior to this closing hour of 6pm made many swill down in a short hour from 5pm when they left work, more than they could stand - with disasterous results. Somewhat proudly, New Zealand men regard themselves as beer swillers. Advertisments appear in the local press at times notifying admission to a private or social function Gents 1/2 Gee. Ladies a Plate. This means that the gent takes along a half gallon beer, the lady a plate of cakes, scones or sandwiches.

City buses are one man operated driver/conductor. Still they run at a loss. Probably so many have own car making some services superfluous. My first sight of a city bus caused me tóstare. I thought the corporation was running a removals service. Held on front of bus by hooks were four prams. When I got over the shock (coming from such a City of decorum - Edinburgh ), I realised how practical it was, saving embarrassment and confusion to mothers with babies and passengers.

Post Office enterprise is also to be commended. But don't expect mail to be delivered to your home. With most houses having a fair walk to them - all have fitted up at foot of path a box. This comprises space for letters ( which enables a " postie " to deliver without getting off bicycle ). A space for parcels. A roll of tin to put papers into and a box for milk. It says much for the honesty of the citizens that very rarely are coins missing from the bottles put out overnight. This honesty permeates most spheres of domestic life in New Zealand. This is the only country I know where tobacco and cigarettes are on self-service sale the same as other commodities. Speaking of my surprise to a super-market manager, he assured me that the leakage is minimal. This I thoroughly believed.

Telephones like cars are considered a necessity, and just as extensively used. Local calls are free. So whenever a thought comes into the mind affecting someone else - then onto the phone. Even the youngest school children ring each other to see whats " brewing ".

Traffic lights at City crossings is a tourist sight. The signal " Pedestrians Cross Now " actually means cross in any direction. When the buzzer goes, the waiting crowd is like a herd of frightened deer. They go right, left, diagonally and criss cross in all directions - but its fun.

Schools in number are adequate. State are free, but many " religeous " are staffed by brothers and are fee paying. They have excellent records and well patronised.

While Great Britain has a reciprocal agreement with the National Health service in New Zealand, it cannot compare with that obtaining in the home country ( as I learned to my cost, on consulting a doctor ). With some pressure from the right quarters it could be considerably improved with little extra cost to the New Zealand tax payers.

Taking all in all the standard of life is good. New Zealand is a great country especially for young people. On the brink of many developements due to natural gas and oil findings, and a steady expanding sheep, cattle and dairy produce industry, opportunity exists for those willing to work. And with an outdoor life in a sunny equable climate, what more could one wish for.