Wanaka-time to leave
Trip Start
Sep 06, 2004
1
52
70
Trip End
May 22, 2005
Wanaka, New Zealand
Tuesday, March 8, 2005
My time in Wanaka has been varied. Work at new world was interesting to say the least, but I don't think it will be a career move.
Standing in the same spot for 8 hours a day is not fun and people please be nice to your checkout girls.
People really do treat you like shit. Here in NZ the checkout girls have to pack the customers bags, rap frozen food in news paper and always be polite even if you are treaded badly.
I think that there is a big problem in Wanaka at the moment which is bubbling under the surface and if it is not sorted soon it will be a very big problem.
Wanaka main economy is tourism, but a majority of the locals don't like this fact.
It's a catch 22, without the tourist the town will shrivel up and die, but they do tend to take over the town.
I found this out the other day when a customer started verbally abusing me, saying that I was a F*$#ing tourist taking all of the local jobs. I walked away and went to speck to my supervisor, the woman carried on and to cut a long story short the manager was called down and told the lady that he wouldn't have anyone speak to his staff in that way (wow management backing-that's was a new experience for me!!) and also explained that there were loads of jobs for the locals but they didn't want them and without the backpackers the shop would shut. She wouldn't have it and kept on with the abuse at which point the manager asked her to leave and if she didn't he would call the police.
I also got an extra 30min paid break. Cool.
The house I have been staying in has been wonderful; Lucas went on holiday and has been gone for most of the time, so it's just been me and LB. It's been great; LB gets up early for work as well.They are both really nice guys and when they are together they act like a married couple. I have loved having a nice kitchen to cook in again and have put on some of the weight I had lost.
I don't think that I will miss Wanaka. It is a pretty town on the surface, but scratch below and it's a town built on an industry that the locals don't want and seem to resent a lot.
The next stop will be Queens Town. The rest of the South Island has a lot of ground to make up, for to change my option of being a friendly bunch.
I am planning on getting around this Island as soon as possible and return to the north and nice people again. Sorry South but so far it's been like living in England again and it is bloody hard work.
