New Zealand - Prices down but....

ninky_2

phil_b wrote: »

I'm sure I would definately crave the solidity of UK brick houses after getting so used to them!

i lived there for 18 months. i was told the reason for using wood and tin in construction was that just after the first european settlers arrived there was a massive earthquake so they realised the risk of heavy building materials. the buildings that are made of concrete (such as downtown wellington) have to adhere to earthquake proof building techniques such as mobile foundations. there's a vaguely interesting exhibit on it in the national museum where you can experience a quake simulation....although they've had quite a few real ones of late.

Strings

ninky wrote: »

i lived there for 18 months. i was told the reason for using wood and tin in construction was that just after the first european settlers arrived there was a massive earthquake so they realised the risk of heavy building materials. the buildings that are made of concrete (such as downtown wellington) have to adhere to earthquake proof building techniques such as mobile foundations. there's a vaguely interesting exhibit on it in the national museum where you can experience a quake simulation....although they've had quite a few real ones of late.

Plus timber was and still is readily available

neverdespairgirl

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Recall a coversation I had flying back from Sydney a few years back in the January. Was chatting to a couple that that emigrated from Cheltenham the previous February. During their time there it had rained almost continuously for 10 months. They couldn't wait to get back to England for a holiday!

IIRC, Sydney's annual rainfall is higher than London's is.