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katandbob
10th March 2007, 06:08 PM
I thought I would post the headline article that was in todays Southland Times, for those looking at places to settle in New Zealand.

We have been here 8 mths now and after a sweltering 26 degrees today I am glad its not that hot constantly - we had to give up on building the stables as it was just too hot - we elected to do the weekly shop in pac n save instead - it was nice and cool!:laugh

I was out early on a 3 hr hack - trying to get me and Jester fit for the Catlins Canter next weekend - I have bought my first ever tent today too, and I am going to have a practice setting it up tomorrow!;) I have 2 days of all day riding in the Catlins next weekend, so heres hoping its nice next weekend too!

Anyway, back to the article..... most people laughed at us when we moved down here, but I can honestly say that it was a good move, and I am sure other migrants would find the same.

PS Rob likes his new Job at StabiCraft ...hes building boats. and is home for 3.30pm.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/3987823a6011.html

Southland needed about 1200 migrants to support economic development as the deadline loomed for tenders to drill in the Great South Basin, a recruiting official said yesterday.

Venture Southland workforce attraction co-ordinator Sue Morrison-Bailey will head to the United Kingdom at the end of the month to find skilled workers.

She said that while there were skills shortages in many sectors throughout New Zealand, Southland also needed to recruit people for development in oil, gas and minerals. "We need around 1200 skilled migrants to help us cope with economic developments," she said.

With tenders closing at the end of this month for drilling in the Great South Basin, future energy projects could have a "dramatic" impact on Southland, she said.

About four companies from the United States had shown interest in bidding, as well as possible Brazilian and Chinese drilling companies, she said.

"We need support services for those industries before they arrive, because if they're not here, companies will be put off coming."

Venture Southland enterprise and strategic projects group manager Steve Canny confirmed there was a possibility of American, Brazilian and Chinese companies showing interest. "But they won't really be known until the bidding process is completed," he said.

Crown Minerals group manager Adam Feeley said, while there had been interest from companies in other countries, Crown Minerals could not disclose information, nor would it know until the tender process was complete.

Analysis of the bids would not be complete until the end of July.

Exploration work required significant support, including geological and marine support, diving, and administration.

"The potential is huge for Southland," he said.

The region also needed skilled workers in other sectors, however, including science and research, education, engineering and manufacturing and skilled support for the agricultural sector, he said.

Ms Morrison-Bailey said she hoped to find everything from engineers to midwives at the Opportunities New Zealand expo in London and Edinburgh this month.

wiki
10th March 2007, 08:24 PM
I read that article last night on stuff and my first thought was "noooo, what's that going to do to the house prices?"

At this rate I'll barely be able to afford Edendale!

Shame we weren't planning on going to the expos - I could help out with the Southland promotion. Oh well, hopefully only a few months to go and I'm home!

able
11th March 2007, 08:57 AM
That's great news for Southland...

aberdian
16th March 2007, 01:02 AM
Good news for us too! Both of us in the oil business looking like landing at the right time :)

Ian

wiki
16th March 2007, 01:15 AM
And if you liked north-east Scotland you'll love Southland. I used to house share with a couple of Doric-speakers in Leeds and our comparisons of life in the deep south and the far north seemed pretty similar :)

able
16th March 2007, 04:49 AM
Does anyone have any idea of how much oil we're talking about here. Is it a potential new Texas or North Sea or is it (on a world scale) quite minor?

aberdian
16th March 2007, 05:46 AM
We're not talking about any volumes of oil just yet - the licensing round is for rights to explore in an area of around 600x600 km in the Great South Basin, with companies bidding for blocks of acreage there. The bids will be based on proposed work programs (shooting seismic, drilling wells etc). The govt will then decide who gets the acreage and off they'll trot to try and find some oil and gas. To date there have only been 8 wells drilled in that huge area, only one of which flowed gas. To be honest, the area up for grabs is massive - there are 40 blocks, each 80x113km, each equivalent to 48 UK licensing blocks each, so the potential is huge. Whether there's anything there is another matter, and it'll be interesting to see who ponys up, whether its just little local companies or some of the majors. Anyway, deadline for bids is 2nd April, then the govt have to evaluate them and the results will be announced sometime after that.

It's amazing what you can find out on the web....... :)

Ian

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