The Preppers and Survivors Thread

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#3475226 29-Mar-2026 18:34

MichaelNZ:

Tinkerisk:

If they're smart, they'll have a cabin somewhere safe in the world with everything they need and also know how to get there BEFORE a crisis hits

This is a slightly better option then being unprepared but my advice to anyone thinking they will buy a bolt hole in a rural area is don't. Instead build up your community and preparedness closer to home.

There is no shortcut for living local …

Aside from the fact that most you wrote is correct... I've already implied most of the points you mentioned.

Nevertheless, things 1) always turn out differently and 2) than people expect – depending on the situation, which is unpredictable. Besides, nobody wants to be seen as some kind of TEOTWAWKI crackpot or weirdo. It comes down to which skills one has internalized in everyday life. The crucial difference then arises from the contrast with the emergency situation.

It already starts with the personal obesity of 50-60% of the population, and someone is affected by it.

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#3475228 29-Mar-2026 18:47

All this Mad Max talk is fun but ultimately a bit over the top. Being prepared is being sensible; having enough of whatever you need that you don't suffer undue deprivation during an emergency. It is not living underground for years until the radioactivity subsides. Here in New Zealand we already live in a bolthole. That is why all the American billionaires want to come here. If things reach a point that people are eating each other, I don't want to survive anyway.

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#3475235 29-Mar-2026 19:03

Rikkitic:

That is why all the American billionaires want to come here.

But the very last thing I would orient myself towards is what American billionaires do. The mere thought of leaving Earth for Mars in a spaceship together with Elon Musk is enough to give one nightmares. 😎

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#3475236 29-Mar-2026 19:05

Tinkerisk:

Nevertheless, things 1) always turn out differently and 2) than people expect – depending on the situation, which is unpredictable.

Very good point which is why preppers need to work in groups. We all have different skills and blind spots.

Tinkerisk:

Besides, nobody wants to be seen as some kind of TEOTWAWKI crackpot or weirdo. It comes down to which skills one has internalized in everyday life.

Because some content on the internet highlights those sorts.

My general experience with the fringe is they are hopelessly ineffective at application and quite frankly their raving about the lizard illuminati (etc, etc) is a distraction. Likewise those who think the answer to everything is guns and ammo are also a risk.

Word of advice for preppers is keep these sort out of your groups.

Speaking for myself I don't plan based on an "end of the world" scenario (what you called TEOTWAWKI)

I do it because its a cool project and encompasses angles which are good at any time, like having a garden with food.

I also have a deeply held belief times could get tough and a big part of the reason I am convinced of this risk is plenty of historical precedence though in saying this i do hope for the best.

The lizard illuminati may be a conspiracy theory, but the following are not: war, plague, bad economic times, solar storm, natural disasters, astroids...

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Rikkitic

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#3475240 29-Mar-2026 19:26

MichaelNZ:

Because some content on the internet highlights those sorts.

My general experience with the fringe is they are hopelessly ineffective at application and quite frankly their raving about the lizard illuminati (etc, etc) is a distraction. Likewise those who think the answer to everything is guns and ammo are also a risk.

Word of advice for preppers is keep these sort out of your groups.

Speaking for myself I don't plan based on an "end of the world" scenario (what you called TEOTWAWKI)

I do it because its a cool project and encompasses angles which are good at any time, like having a garden with food.

I also have a deeply held belief times could get tough and a big part of the reason I am convinced of this risk is plenty of historical precedence though in saying this i do hope for the best.

The lizard illuminati may be a conspiracy theory, but the following are not: war, plague, bad economic times, solar storm, natural disasters, astroids...

I see it like this: If things break down to the point that society collapses and international trade ceases (highly unlikely), our main concern will be keeping invaders who want our stuff out. New Zealand produces way, way more food than it could ever consume. If we can't export it anymore there will be far more than enough for our small population. Even if we have to go back to 19th century farming methods. Soft toilet paper may be in short supply but we certainly won't starve. Europe will be in big trouble though. So will parts of the USA. Our biggest problem may be keeping all the refugees out.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Bluntj

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#3475322 30-Mar-2026 00:05

Rikkitic:

MichaelNZ:

Because some content on the internet highlights those sorts.

My general experience with the fringe is they are hopelessly ineffective at application and quite frankly their raving about the lizard illuminati (etc, etc) is a distraction. Likewise those who think the answer to everything is guns and ammo are also a risk.

Word of advice for preppers is keep these sort out of your groups.

Speaking for myself I don't plan based on an "end of the world" scenario (what you called TEOTWAWKI)

I do it because its a cool project and encompasses angles which are good at any time, like having a garden with food.

I also have a deeply held belief times could get tough and a big part of the reason I am convinced of this risk is plenty of historical precedence though in saying this i do hope for the best.

The lizard illuminati may be a conspiracy theory, but the following are not: war, plague, bad economic times, solar storm, natural disasters, astroids...

I see it like this: If things break down to the point that society collapses and international trade ceases (highly unlikely), our main concern will be keeping invaders who want our stuff out. New Zealand produces way, way more food than it could ever consume. If we can't export it anymore there will be far more than enough for our small population. Even if we have to go back to 19th century farming methods. Soft toilet paper may be in short supply but we certainly won't starve. Europe will be in big trouble though. So will parts of the USA. Our biggest problem may be keeping all the refugees out.

Finally a block of Mainland Tasty will be affordable again :P

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#3475339 30-Mar-2026 00:20

Bluntj:

Finally a block of Mainland Tasty will be affordable again :P

It will probably happen anyway when the farmers who sold Anchor get a reality check.

What a stupid decision that was. And to be fair if I could have gotten shares in Anchor I would likely have it in my portfolio.

One many of them may come to regret.

If nothing else this should be a motivation for people to pursue some degree of individual and community self sufficiency.

Farming, as an industry whole, does not have NZ's back.

Farmers sold Westland Milk. Farmers have now sold Anchor. Farms in this area are being planted out with pine trees. Many of them will sell their golden goose for a quick dollar.

And now Mccain (also in this area) is shutting up shop.

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Tinkerisk

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#3475341 30-Mar-2026 04:23

Rikkitic:

I see it like this: If things break down to the point that society collapses and international trade ceases (highly unlikely), our main concern will be keeping invaders who want our stuff out. New Zealand produces way, way more food than it could ever consume. If we can't export it anymore there will be far more than enough for our small population. Even if we have to go back to 19th century farming methods. Soft toilet paper may be in short supply but we certainly won't starve. Europe will be in big trouble though. So will parts of the USA. Our biggest problem may be keeping all the refugees out.

I don't want to say it's impossible – but is it really that simple? If nothing can get out, nothing can get in either. You need gasoline, seeds (some are hybrids), fertilizer, pesticides, packaging materials, spare parts, for example, for sowing, harvesting, and distribution. And then it also depends on when in the year the disruption occurs. Right on our city's doorstep is the largest contiguous fruit and vegetable growing region in Europe, but a fruit grower explained to me that you can't just grow these varieties in your own garden because they've been highly specialized/bred and require very specific treatment to produce a yield.

cddt

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#3475342 30-Mar-2026 06:05

Rikkitic:

I see it like this: If things break down to the point that society collapses and international trade ceases (highly unlikely), our main concern will be keeping invaders who want our stuff out. New Zealand produces way, way more food than it could ever consume. If we can't export it anymore there will be far more than enough for our small population. Even if we have to go back to 19th century farming methods. Soft toilet paper may be in short supply but we certainly won't starve. Europe will be in big trouble though. So will parts of the USA. Our biggest problem may be keeping all the refugees out.

I think you're wrong about the biggest problem. The biggest problem will be convincing the majority of Kiwis to go back to what is essentially subsistence farming. The biggest challenge will be societal, because no one is prepared to revert to a 19th century (or earlier) form and structure of governance (serfdom?)

Tinkerisk

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#3475345 30-Mar-2026 06:28

cddt:

Rikkitic:

I see it like this: If things break down to the point that society collapses and international trade ceases (highly unlikely), our main concern will be keeping invaders who want our stuff out. New Zealand produces way, way more food than it could ever consume. If we can't export it anymore there will be far more than enough for our small population. Even if we have to go back to 19th century farming methods. Soft toilet paper may be in short supply but we certainly won't starve. Europe will be in big trouble though. So will parts of the USA. Our biggest problem may be keeping all the refugees out.

I think you're wrong about the biggest problem. The biggest problem will be convincing the majority of Kiwis to go back to what is essentially subsistence farming. The biggest challenge will be societal, because no one is prepared to revert to a 19th century (or earlier) form and structure of governance (serfdom?)

That's what I meant. Back then, farmhands and maids worked on the farm. Today, it's often a single, university-educated farmer sitting on highly specialized, GPS-guided giants to manage a huge farm. It will probably take a considerable amount of time (and thus crop failure) to switch back. And as already mentioned, if these agricultural machinery giants were to break down, previous business managers "working for food" and trained by the farmer would certainly not be uncommon. (Assuming the necessary hand hoes and weeding equipment can even be procured for all of New Zealand (or elsewhere) in such a short time.) 🤔

I grew up in a small farmhouse already over 100 years old, and the sheer number of nostalgic but essential hand tools (which we now only used to play with) that were standing around there is something you'll only find in museums these days. We also found mechanical hay turners and tractor plows fascinating. We even saw horse- and ox-drawn teams harvesting crops during school holidays. Those farmers were often miners or foundry workers who also farmed small plots for their own subsistence and hobby. At 12, I drove a red Diesel tractor (made by Porsche BTW) with a trailer in a friend's parents' potato field – without a license needed. Much to my regret, I wasn't allowed to drive on public roads. As compensation, I was later allowed to fly and test airplanes that you surely know and have used. 🤣

"Never mess with a country kid! We know places where nobody will find you!" 😁

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#3475354 30-Mar-2026 07:33

Too many folk are buying into the press hyped gloom and doom click bait BS. The MSP and social media pseudo press have been spewing out crap regarding the war, Trump fuel, Trump food, retirement, Trump butter, health, housing, Trump and so on and on and on. There is little wonder society has a growing mental health problem. Bombard folks with depressing BS for long enough and the get depressed. So no the end of days is no near and hopefully the unprofessional press will find a new toy or pass into history.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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Tinkerisk

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#3475357 30-Mar-2026 07:52

The point about the BS is certainly valid, but the potential danger of a global economic crisis can't simply be dismissed. It's not as if they've never existed.

However one historical fact is that the US has always been steered toward a world war before going bankrupt (due to its national debt). That was the case with World War I, it was the case with World War II, and what's coming/might come next with the Iran, none of us "know." But many people sense that something is wrong. And staying calm isn't easy for everyone. If Trump starts dumping government bonds like mosquitoes, that would be a sure sign. Whether that would in theory also work with cryptocurrency, I'm no financial expert.

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#3475369 30-Mar-2026 08:45

@Tinkerisk, that's a very orderly looking crisis-mob

Mike

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#3475371 30-Mar-2026 08:49

MikeAqua:

@Tinkerisk, that's a very orderly looking crisis-mob

They don't really have much of a choice, and... back then people still had respect, decency, less of a cutthroat mentality and they are not carrying any visible weapons. They know they will get something there and what dog would bite the hand that feeds it? 🙂😉

cddt

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#3475375 30-Mar-2026 09:08

Tinkerisk:

That's what I meant. Back then, farmhands and maids worked on the farm. Today, it's often a single, university-educated farmer sitting on highly specialized, GPS-guided giants to manage a huge farm. It will probably take a considerable amount of time (and thus crop failure) to switch back. And as already mentioned, if these agricultural machinery giants were to break down, previous business managers "working for food" and trained by the farmer would certainly not be uncommon. (Assuming the necessary hand hoes and weeding equipment can even be procured for all of New Zealand (or elsewhere) in such a short time.) 🤔

And here's an interesting statistic: in the years just before WW1, about one-quarter of all calories produced on NZ farms went directly to feed the farmers and their horses. From a global perspective, this was considered extremely efficient at the time. We now have five times as many people, and a lot fewer horses.

We produce vast quantities of food today, but without continuity of the relevant inputs (fuel and machinery), the transition to pre-industrial farming would be extremely traumatic (and I do not mean psychologically). If fuel and spare parts were cut off tomorrow, we would not be able to continue to grow enough food for our population in the short to medium term. In the long term, yes it would be feasible, but how do you get to that point if you do not have sufficient food in the short term and also avoid a complete breakdown of society?

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