Christchurch Local Custom Tips by knerten

People in Christchurch are usually very friendly and accomodating to foreigners asking strange or stupid questions, but here's something about the way they are friendly among themselves so to speak:
When people get off the bus, they say thank you to the driver. Not only a silently mumbled thanks when they happen to pass the driver at the front, and only the driver can hear it, no, when they get off at the back door, people will yell it to the front and maybe even do a hand wave. Cool!
So, usually, you say thanks or thank you, and the bus driver goes cheers mate, or you go cheers and the bus drivers says thanks.
I like this custom. Everybody does it, young and old, except maybe for foreign students. It's weird, but it makes me smile every time.

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People are extremely friendly here, extreeeeeemly. Don't get that in Norway. Even my first impression, the customs officer, let alone the MAF people screening and searching my luggage for food at arrival and seizing the sausages I had brought with me from Singapore, they did it with a smile. I didn't even feel like I had been caught doing something I shouldn't have. If you've ever been to the US lately, you will know the difference.
Now, I've heard different tales from other parts of NZ, but as far as Chch goes I am really taken aback by all the friendly people around here.
I almost would like to move here, if it weren't for the trouser thing, as explained in this forum posting.

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This outdoor chess board is on Cathedral Square, and there's always someone playing it, even at night.

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