emmigrating? What were your experiences? specifically New Zealand

[dannyboy]

Having read the other thread about NZ it reminded me that I was going to do this a while ago so just thought id ask NSC about this. How did you find it? Did you miss home or the best thing ever. weve spent the last year researching if we should go for it and have decided that we should . We decided on New Zealand for a number of reasons . We think our standard of life will just be better for us and our 8 year old. The wife is on the long term shortage list (IT- Business Analyst) and has started applying for jobs but it doesn't seem as easy as that. Any advice ? thanks

 

[Hillian1]

Calling [MENTION=2878]Woodchip[/MENTION]

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Having read the other thread about NZ it reminded me that I was going to do this a while ago so just thought id ask NSC about this. How did you find it? Did you miss home or the best thing ever. weve spent the last year researching if we should go for it and have decided that we should . We decided on New Zealand for a number of reasons . We think our standard of life will just be better for us and our 8 year old. The wife is on the long term shortage list (IT- Business Analyst) and has started applying for jobs but it doesn't seem as easy as that. Any advice ? thanks

It's brilliant, you not only get to choose exactly where you live you can tirelessly and endlessly inform everyone how great it is and start every sentence "In Germany..."

What's not to like?

 

[Woodchip]

We moved over in June 2012 (to Christchurch), originally on Work to Residence visas as I had a job offer. It was fairly painless. Medicals are extortionate (were about £300 + £80 for chest X-rays). It's not a cheap process, but it's the most amazing thing I've ever done. I don't look back at all. What ever you do, do NOT go through one of this immigration agencies. They're a rip off. We looked at one that wanted to charge is £3,000. All in all it probably cost us about £2000 to move over here (as flights and shipping was all paid by my employer over here). Oh, and if you don't think you'll need it, don't bring it over here. We've got so much carp that we brought with us that's not been touched.

There are some things I miss, like the Albion, but there really isn't enough for me to even considering going back on holiday.

Where are you looking at? A brief rundown of downside of each of the 3 biggest cities, in my opinion. Population figures are a rough estimate Wikipedia will be more accurate than my memory.
Auckland is expensive, and I mean really expensive. (population 2,000,000)
Wellington is always windy and is expecting "The Big One" which could see the city cut off from the rest of the country for a few days. (population 380,000)
Christchurch is still rebuilding after the quakes. (population 380,000)

EDIT: Visit the Working Overseas expo (if they still run them). It's mostly for Australia, but there's a few NZ companies there, and that's how I got my foot in the door. I work as a Software Tester, so although I'm not on the shortlist there is a constant demand for native English Testers.

If you're considering Christchurch - I'd also recommend she looks at Sunstone Talent. They're a recruitment consultants that specialises in IT recruitment. He can probably help out somewhere. Also contact Jade Software (and Wynyard Group). They're always growing so could be a good contact point as well.

EDIT OF THE EDIT: If you need to ask me anything feel free to drop me a PM.

 

[Wilko]

Moved to Nairobi over 2 years ago now, love embarrassing and experiencing a new culture. Will be on the move again next year though, probably to the far east. You do miss home but I think travel and moving around is also quite addictive.

 

[Bold Seagull]

You bloody migrants!!!

 

[KZNSeagull]

Go for it! However, if the IT recruitment consultants in NZ are like the ones in the UK, then finding a job from the UK will be extremely frustrating. I am currently looking for jobs back in the UK and am getting a 1 in 100 response rate (that is even acknowledging my application) so I will probably be flying over early in the new year to go and see consultants in person. A riskier approach for you going to NZ, but may end up being a necessary one. Good luck!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

We've got so much carp that we brought with us that's not been touched.

You decided against starting the fish farm then?

 

[greyseagull]

Moved to Nairobi over 2 years ago now, love embarrassing and experiencing a new culture. Will be on the move again next year though, probably to the far east. You do miss home but I think travel and moving around is also quite addictive.

Why would you do that to these poor people?

 

[Wilko]

Why would you do that to these poor people?

Ooops! I can blame auto-correct I guess. Was meant to be embracing. Obvs.

 

[looney]

Go for it! However, if the IT recruitment consultants in NZ are like the ones in the UK, then finding a job from the UK will be extremely frustrating. I am currently looking for jobs back in the UK and am getting a 1 in 100 response rate (that is even acknowledging my application) so I will probably be flying over early in the new year to go and see consultants in person. A riskier approach for you going to NZ, but may end up being a necessary one. Good luck!

Unless you are a recent graduateor have a highly specialised skill then IT workers are ten a penny(thats what swamping labour markets with cheap foreign labour dose), you would be just as likely get a job "pushing a broom" then making your way up in a company. Or theres a lot of very temp work.

 

[ofco8]

Friends of ours emigrated to NZ about 10 years ago. They got jobs ok and were living near Wellington close to their daughter and family.

However, although very sociable, they struggled to form decent friendships as at their age all the locals were well established. So they felt a little removed.

Also, it was very expensive for family and friends to visit them in NZ very often.

Inevitably, they have returned and are much happier again. Takes all sorts to contemplate emigration.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Unless you are a recent graduateor have a highly specialised skill then IT workers are ten a penny(thats what swamping labour markets with cheap foreign labour dose), you would be just as likely get a job "pushing a broom" then making your way up in a company. Or theres a lot of very temp work.

Absolute drivel as usual.

IT is such a wide ranging thing now it completely depends on what your skill is. The supply of COBOL programmers or people who know their way around an AS400 would be completely different to the supply of java programmers. Decent Technical Architects and DBAs are worth their weight in gold. Pay peanuts for that role, get monkeys. My company briefly employed a cheap Indian business analyst. He was utterly useless and we've replaced him with an expensive British one. It is VERY difficult to hire anyone from outside the EU without a Tier One visa and there is a minimum salary to pay if you do (plus you have to prove you've advertised the job and cannot fill it locally).

Java contractors - good ones that is - can pretty much write their own contracts and the market moves on each January as they shift round from place to place.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Just so I'm not hijacking the thread with the response to Looney I lived abroad for four years moving from place to place. I was contracting on projects though rather than permanently emigrating. I lived in Oz (Sydney) for a year. Wonderful place, could have stayed there forever without a second thought. Wife hated it though. With me out at work and all her friends and family on the other side of the world she got lonely and bored.

Moved on to Tokyo for about eight months. Took about three months to get used to the culture shock (despite great help from [MENTION=97]Toronto Seagull[/MENTION]) but the next five months were wicked. Fine as an ex-pat but couldn't have lived there as a normal person as this would have meant a shoe box apartment and a long commute.

Then on to Taipei which I expected to hate and loved immensely. Taiwanese people are amazingly friendly, food and cabs dirt cheap, bars never close, Because it's an alien culture there are loads of ex pat clubs. I played football and the Mrs met loads of other wives and we made friends in the many ex pat bars. Never wanted to leave really but my contract was up when my wife was due with my son and it seemed easier to come back.

While in Oz I spent three days in Auckland on a visa run, Seemed like a bloody expensive version of Southampton with Mauri bouncers but perhaps I saw the wrong bits. Three days ain't long but I was in love with Sydney after literally 24 hours.

Not much on NZ but hopefully some on the pitfalls of travel and how a similar culture might actually make distance and lonliness worse.

 

[looney]

Absolute drivel as usual.

IT is such a wide ranging thing now it completely depends on what your skill is. The supply of COBOL programmers or people who know their way around an AS400 would be completely different to the supply of java programmers. Decent Technical Architects and DBAs are worth their weight in gold. Pay peanuts for that role, get monkeys. My company briefly employed a cheap Indian business analyst. He was utterly useless and we've replaced him with an expensive British one. It is VERY difficult to hire anyone from outside the EU without a Tier One visa and there is a minimum salary to pay if you do (plus you have to prove you've advertised the job and cannot fill it locally).

Java contractors - good ones that is - can pretty much write their own contracts and the market moves on each January as they shift round from place to place.

As KZN Seagull said he was getting a responce rate lower than a direct mailing leafletcampaign I doubt he is a java programmer. In fact I agree with what you say, itdoesn't actually contradict whatI posted ya numpty. when I posted have a highly specialised skil tha kind of covers all your blather.

 

[Guinness Boy]

As KZN Seagull said he was getting a responce rate lower than a direct mailing leafletcampaign I doubt he is a java programmer. In fact I agree with what you say, itdoesn't actually contradict whatI posted ya numpty. when I posted have a highly specialised skil tha kind of covers all your blather.

What you posted was an over generalization about immigration dressed up as "help". Ya numpty.

 

[looney]

What you posted was an over generalization about immigration dressed up as "help". Ya numpty.

Yea you can spin it that way, after all its obvious you were looking for an argument and would rather spout your ill informed delusions rather than bothering to read what I posted. Or maybe in your Stupidverse cobol and java programming are not highly specialised skills?

Whatever Dunce. The fact remains there are reasons he is not getting responses,i did at least offer a suggestion. I suggest you try to contribute or butt out.

 

[GNF on Tour]

Moved to NZ in 2001 on permanent residence visa, started off in Welly and ended up in Auckland. Got citizenship a few years ago, didn't need it but thought it would be nice. Auckland is big, its not 2 million people but is the only city in NZ that is truly a global city and the only city is NZ that is experiencing any growth. Hard to find property but not impossible. If you are young, I would say Auckland is the best place by far for you, gets the best weather as well and best air service. Any questions let me know. One thing, its not the endless land of bounty and your pound does not stretch as far as it used to - so do youre sums well, and check again. Great place though, Kiwis don't realise how lucky they are half the time.

 

[dannyboy]

We moved over in June 2012 (to Christchurch), originally on Work to Residence visas as I had a job offer. It was fairly painless. Medicals are extortionate (were about £300 + £80 for chest X-rays). It's not a cheap process, but it's the most amazing thing I've ever done. I don't look back at all. What ever you do, do NOT go through one of this immigration agencies. They're a rip off. We looked at one that wanted to charge is £3,000. All in all it probably cost us about £2000 to move over here (as flights and shipping was all paid by my employer over here). Oh, and if you don't think you'll need it, don't bring it over here. We've got so much carp that we brought with us that's not been touched.

There are some things I miss, like the Albion, but there really isn't enough for me to even considering going back on holiday.

Where are you looking at? A brief rundown of downside of each of the 3 biggest cities, in my opinion. Population figures are a rough estimate Wikipedia will be more accurate than my memory.
Auckland is expensive, and I mean really expensive. (population 2,000,000)
Wellington is always windy and is expecting "The Big One" which could see the city cut off from the rest of the country for a few days. (population 380,000)
Christchurch is still rebuilding after the quakes. (population 380,000)

EDIT: Visit the Working Overseas expo (if they still run them). It's mostly for Australia, but there's a few NZ companies there, and that's how I got my foot in the door. I work as a Software Tester, so although I'm not on the shortlist there is a constant demand for native English Testers.

If you're considering Christchurch - I'd also recommend she looks at Sunstone Talent. They're a recruitment consultants that specialises in IT recruitment. He can probably help out somewhere. Also contact Jade Software (and Wynyard Group). They're always growing so could be a good contact point as well.

EDIT OF THE EDIT: If you need to ask me anything feel free to drop me a PM.

cheers for that

We were thinking of the north island mainly because we thought the wife would most likely work there . Have worked out its expensive but I wouldn't want to move to nz to live in a city . Apparently its much more affordable outside of Auckland and commute in . I really like the look of the bay of plenty but not sure if there would be much job opportunities there. To be honest I think wed move anywhere just to get in.

cheers for the contacts there ive just passed this on to the mrs and she'll get on the case .

we saw an agency that charge you £100 then they take over the visa process . apparently they have a 99% success rate so wont take it further if they don't think youll get in. Not sure I trust them to be honest but I don't want to apply for a visa for £2k and not get it. The best way for us would be to get a work to residence visa so its just a case of getting a job. We spoke to a couple of agencies who asked how our visa was getting on . we said about the work to residence visa and they said you really need to show willing (ie start the process ) or they wont look at you.

friends asked the other day what id miss and like you the first think I thought of was the albion . id probably miss that more than some family to be honest .

 

[dannyboy]

Friends of ours emigrated to NZ about 10 years ago. They got jobs ok and were living near Wellington close to their daughter and family.

However, although very sociable, they struggled to form decent friendships as at their age all the locals were well established. So they felt a little removed.

Also, it was very expensive for family and friends to visit them in NZ very often.

Inevitably, they have returned and are much happier again. Takes all sorts to contemplate emigration.

funny you say that as one of my best mates has recently moved back with his wife from Australia.. they are very friendly and outgoing but like your friends always felt on the periphery as everyone had known each other for 20 years or whatever . they simply missed having mates around to go out with .