Awesome NZ sounds great, I wish I could live there and be your friend
Meetings do sound like a good start, you will definitely meet some friends there. Also check into taking classes, I have met many of my friends at school. Do they have a community recreational center? You can sign up for some leagues? Check your local community paper too, and bring some food or gifts to your neighbors. You will meet people don't worry about it, it takes time. Don't you wish it was as easy as when we were little and you could join someone in the sandbox and say, "Want to be my friend?" Why can't we be like that as adults? And don't forget to come on here, for you will always have your cyber buddies.
<3 Stacy