It would take me at least 22 hours on a plane to get there, not taking transit time into account.
Although it's never as good as the real thing, I'm happy that we live in the age of technology. Connecting has been made so much easier with Skype, Facetime, Snapchat, Facebook Video Calling, Google+ Hangouts and a whole bunch of other video chatting software.
The technology has come a long way since it was introduced as a business tool in the 1990s.
It's now widely used to do things together when you can't actually be together.
I know of a local family of four who spend practically every mealtime with the grandparents in Britain thanks to Skype.
It's become a hugely important part of their everyday lives.
Most smart phones on the market nowadays come with dual cameras and standard video calling technology. It's a fantastic tool for socialising, but video calls still are a very useful business tool, too.
Job interviews, conference calls and business meetings through video calling are slowly but surely becoming the norm.
The great benefits are that it saves time and money, does not incur travel costs, and leaves practically no carbon footprint.
If you get an invite for a video call and you haven't done this before, there's no need to feel anxious about it. As long as everything works properly, it is the same as meeting face to face.
First-time video callers should familiarise themselves with the technology before making that first call and test the settings and equipment, especially if it's a job interview or business call.
There's no second chance to make that first impression.
Then there are some other things to keep in mind. You may need to close the windows to avoid traffic sounds, and keep the kids or flatmates out of the way so you don't get interrupted.
Of course it also goes without saying that a blank wall behind you will look a whole lot better than a messy lounge or an unmade bed.
Although you don't have to be tech-savvy to use most video calling software, what you do need is a reliable and fast internet connection.
The broadband connection at my home is annoyingly patchy, yet I certainly pay enough for it each month.
Ultrafast broadband has been rolled out around the place with a lot of hullabaloo, and it's now accessible in most of Tauranga, but people still need to sign up - and pay more - to receive it.
My own provider doesn't supply ultrafast broadband to the area where live just yet, and I'm not living in the whop whops.
As soon as it becomes available, whenever that will be, they can only offer it in conjunction with a phone plan.
That means I will also have to pay for a landline I would hardly use, or change providers. The website also tells me that with no data cap, the whole shebang will cost me no less than $130 per month.
Maybe I'm impatient and demanding, but I rely heavily on the net to do my work. I still haven't found an IT specialist, customer service representative, or government official who can explain to me why internet in many places around New Zealand is still overpriced and painfully slow.
Please take note, though. No matter how annoyed I am by all of this, I am still not voting for Kim Dotcom.
Martine Rolls is a Tauranga writer and digital strategist - www.sweetorange.co.nz
