5 Tips on Driving in NZ

I wrote about travelling in New Zealand in another post. It was mostly about getting around the city. You can survive your entire stay at uni by using the public transport system like the bus, train, and ferry, but if you want to explore the country, you'd eventually have to drive (or ride) a car. And after experiencing driving in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown the past year, let me share with you some tips, just in case you find yourself behind a steering wheel. 

1. They drive on the left side of the road.

This is obvious. New Zealand follows the British road and traffic system where drivers drive on the left side of the road, not the right where we Filipinos are used to back home. This also means the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, and the gear shift is on the left of the driver. It takes a bit of getting used to, I perspired the first time I took the wheel even though it was freezing cold outside, but you'll manage.

The red car on the right has the right of way.

2. Give way to the car on the right when entering a roundabout.

Unlike in Quezon City Circle where drivers don't follow any rule when entering the rotunda, New Zealand traffic law requires a driver to give way to the car entering the roundabout on his right. Tatagalugin ko. Pag nagsabay kayong dumating sa roundabout, kung sinuman yung nasa kanan, siya ang mauunang pumasok. If you are unsure who came in first, best to just wait, turn your signal, and then proceed.

3. Do not slow down along curves on the highway.

In the Philippines, it's second nature for drivers to slow down when approaching a turn. Naturally, that's what I did when I drove up to Cape Reinga in Northland. Unfortunately, that pissed the drivers behind me as you are not supposed to slow down on the highway. Apparently, they expect you to keep you speed even though driving on a curve. Well, won't the car tip over? That's what I thought. I learned that turns on New Zealand highway roads are inclined to make sure cars don't tip on their side when approaching. So there, unless a road sign specifically indicates a slower speed, do not slow down on curves. Just maintain your speed.

Give way to incoming traffic.

4. Give way on one-way bridges.

For reasons eluding me, there are a lot of bridges on highways in the countryside that are single lane. Minsan napapaisip ako, naghihirap ba ang New Zealand at hindi nila kayang magpatayo ng two-way bridges? Anyway, the rule is to follow the road sign before the bridge. If you see a sign as shown above, that means you have to give way to the car approaching the bridge on the opposite side. If there's no sign, that means you have the right of way.

5. Flashing your lights does not mean, "I'm first."

Finally, be careful when flashing your lights. If in the Philippines it means, "Nauna ako dito, liliko ako, bagalan mo," it means the complete opposite here in New Zealand. In other words, if you flash your lights here, it means you acknowledge the other driver and you are giving way to him to make a turn and cross your lane (like on a signless intersection).


Note: Tourists and international students are allowed to drive in New Zealand for the duration of their visa, as long as they carry a valid drivers license from their home country and be at least 21 years of age.

Watched a Rugby Game (NZ vs England)

Since I came back for a second year of postgrad here in New Zealand, I told myself I'd do the other things I wasn't able to do in my first year. And watching a rugby game was one of those things.

So the minute I found out England was coming over to go up against the All Blacks, I immediately bought my ticket online, even if the game was two months away. It's the All Blacks, for Chrissakes! The reigning rugby world champions!

I convinced other scholars to watch with me and we attended the June 7, 2014, friendly match between England and New Zealand. The game was held at Eden Park in Kingsland, a short train ride from the CBD. The stadium was packed. The announcer said there were 47,200 rugby fans in attendance.

I don't know if it was the excitement or the venue, but I felt the game went by so fast. The two halves run 40 minutes each, with a 10 minute intermission in the middle. I've never watched a whole game before, and I hadn't played it, so I was guessing the entire time. I know the goal was to carry the ball to other side and score a try, which is 5 points. A team is given six attempts to so. If it doesn't--meaning to say, the other team effectively stops them from scoring, then they can kick the ball into the goal post for 3 points. That's all I know. 

The game wasn't as action packed as I hope for. I expected it to be like American football with lots of long throws and catches, and tackles and dives. But most of the points scored for this game came out of boring field goal kicks. There was only one try scored, and it was in the last few minutes. And I can only assume it's because both teams had good defense, that either side found it difficult to score against the other. Anyway, what do I know?

The point is to get to experience this when you're here. Rugby is New Zealand's national sport, much like basketball is in the Philippines. And this game against England is like Team USA playing Smart-Gilas at the SM Arena. It's worth going to. Andito na rin tayo eh, di ba? I probably won't watch another live rugby match again in my life.  

Oh, by the way, New Zealand won 20-15. :)