Great Southern Lands (Australia & NZ...)

[bodysnatcher]

when the time is PM in northern hemisphere, is it AM in the southern?

[E.H. Ruddock]

Yes exactly right

[bart]

No they all use metric time down there

[Ello Sailor]

The superior time.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I just tried savory shapes and they weren’t great

[wease]

I just tried savory shapes and they weren’t great

Did you try vegemite flavor?

[E.H. Ruddock]

Is that a thing? I enjoy Vegemite

[spike]

It is. Are you in Australia?

[E.H. Ruddock]

No. But i have some Aussie friends from back in my military days that send me shit all the time. One of them lives in the states, not sure how/where he gets stuff. Pretty sure he was laughing about the savory shapes. Apparently they are the least liked down there?

[spike]

I’m not sure I’ve had savory. Only pizza, bbq, and cheese & bacon come to mind.

[Ello Sailor]

I've never even heard of savory flavor.

[spike]

Shapes are overrated imo.

And Twisties are Cheetos’ ugly cousin.

[Self]

I have no idea what the fuck you guys are talking about

[spike]

salty australian snacks, pal.

don't concern yourself, i can assure you that america's are superior.

[Ello Sailor]

Finna get ass blasted by this cyclone. Literally dead center.

How about you, Rangi?

[Rangi Guy]

Finna get ass blasted by this cyclone. Literally dead center.

How about you, Rangi?

Pretty sure we're getting just the tail end......so typical Wellington weather. Been a calm sunny day so far though. About to start heating coals for the BBQ

[spike]

Unusual for a cyclone that way, yeah?

[Ello Sailor]

Not as rare as it used to be (dun dun DUNN) but still kinda rare.

[contamination]

World's safest countries: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2026 ... s-for-2026

2. New Zealand
Ranked second (up from third in 2025), New Zealand is the safest country in the Asia-Pacific region, with the region's lowest ongoing-conflict score. Its improvement came largely from a fall in weapons imports, and it remains one of the world's safest and least militarised nations.

Much of that peace comes down to geography. "Being this far from everywhere means New Zealand has largely avoided the geopolitical mess that drags other nations into conflict," said Warwick Woodley, a New Zealand citizen and founder of NZ Golden Visa. But he sees something in the culture too. People tend to be relaxed and straightforward, he said, "generally more interested in getting on with things than stirring the pot".

Safety here is so ordinary that it rarely registers. "Most people don't think about it much, which is probably the best indicator that it's generally not a concern," Woodley said. "Guns aren't part of everyday life here, and after Christchurch, the laws got even tighter." Neighbourhoods still function as neighbourhoods, he added, where people know each other and look out for one another. "That sense of accountability goes a long way in a country of five million, where anonymity is harder to come by."

Its sparse population also means easy access to nature. "Mountains, beaches and bush walks are all within reach depending on where you are," said Woodley. "Life doesn't feel like it's constantly running away from you the way it does in some of the bigger, busier countries."

I'd love to visit there one day.

[Rangi Guy]

World's safest countries: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2026 ... s-for-2026

2. New Zealand
Ranked second (up from third in 2025), New Zealand is the safest country in the Asia-Pacific region, with the region's lowest ongoing-conflict score. Its improvement came largely from a fall in weapons imports, and it remains one of the world's safest and least militarised nations.

Much of that peace comes down to geography. "Being this far from everywhere means New Zealand has largely avoided the geopolitical mess that drags other nations into conflict," said Warwick Woodley, a New Zealand citizen and founder of NZ Golden Visa. But he sees something in the culture too. People tend to be relaxed and straightforward, he said, "generally more interested in getting on with things than stirring the pot".

Safety here is so ordinary that it rarely registers. "Most people don't think about it much, which is probably the best indicator that it's generally not a concern," Woodley said. "Guns aren't part of everyday life here, and after Christchurch, the laws got even tighter." Neighbourhoods still function as neighbourhoods, he added, where people know each other and look out for one another. "That sense of accountability goes a long way in a country of five million, where anonymity is harder to come by."

Its sparse population also means easy access to nature. "Mountains, beaches and bush walks are all within reach depending on where you are," said Woodley. "Life doesn't feel like it's constantly running away from you the way it does in some of the bigger, busier countries."

I'd love to visit there one day.

Book it! We have a spare room you can crash in!