[yossarian]

hi all! i'm new to this place and have done some readings.

'would just like to ask. how is living in new zealand like for a single? i'm a guy, 24, never been to NZ, and was selected from the pool (skilled migrant) last aug 15. i know the exact place is a major factor here..but i don't have any relatives in NZ. i'm from the IT field, so i presume, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are possibilities.

from what i've seen here, most are moving, settling with their families, kids, or dogs. now, i don't want to typecast but it's becoming to me that NZ is more of family-oriented place?
not that i hate my family, but they won't be moving with me just in case. probably in the future. i suppose the 'survival' rate is higher when i'd be on my own first.

i don't have a job offer, and my EOI barely 115 points. i guess i was just too lucky. haha
i expect the whole process to take atleast 1.5 years so i'm not really into rushing it.

also, might be a stupid question, what is OH? i've read it a lot of times in here. like., my OH and i...

cheers,
jeremy

[BkyMonster]

OH is other half I believe :)

NZ does seem to appeal to those looking to make a better life for their families. Perhaps many things about it appeal to people looking to be more settled?

I don't know yet as I am not there, but that is certainly part of my interest in it!

Good luck!

[yossarian]

i see, thanks!..would be scared if OH -> Other Husband! hehe :laugh

[AlexUK]

Id like to know how it is for singles also.

[KelvinAng]

hi all! i'm new to this place and have done some readings.

'would just like to ask. how is living in new zealand like for a single? i'm a guy, 24, never been to NZ, and was selected from the pool (skilled migrant) last aug 15. i know the exact place is a major factor here..but i don't have any relatives in NZ. i'm from the IT field, so i presume, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are possibilities.

from what i've seen here, most are moving, settling with their families, kids, or dogs. now, i don't want to typecast but it's becoming to me that NZ is more of family-oriented place?
not that i hate my family, but they won't be moving with me just in case. probably in the future. i suppose the 'survival' rate is higher when i'd be on my own first.

i don't have a job offer, and my EOI barely 115 points. i guess i was just too lucky. haha
i expect the whole process to take atleast 1.5 years so i'm not really into rushing it.

also, might be a stupid question, what is OH? i've read it a lot of times in here. like., my OH and i...

cheers,
jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

I'm 29, a single IT guy and looking to move to NZ within the next year if possible. My EOI was picked on 1st Aug and the immigration guys told me that the average wait is currently three months before I'll know if I'll be awarded the application to apply for PR (where I'll need to supply police checks and medical reports, etc), or rejected.

If you like a little more space and nature, I think you'll enjoy NZ. That's the main reason why I'd like to move there. I find Singapore far too crowded. My family has indicated that they prefer to stay in Singapore, and I reckon it's not much of a problem because they can visit me and I can come back quite easily due to relative proximity. The internet probably will help in keeping us in touch without incurring a huge phone bill.

All the best to your application, too.

Kelvin

[yossarian]

thanks for that input, kelvin.

seems we're on the same boat..i'm also waiting for ITA right now...got selected this month too, 115 points with no job offer.

i'm from the philippines, moved to hong kong two years now...but will be coming back to philippines soon. i love outdoor and nature, (but don't have a green thumb for sure!) and really excited in hiking and going to places i only saw from lotr. haha. some of my concerns though is night life in NZ, and if people (like kiwis) are friendly? also i heard malls close pretty earlier too...

anyway, if i may ask, are you also looking for jobs in NZ online? most of i see requires that you have to have permit to work already..and i heard a job offer can really speed up the application.

good luck in your application as well.

jeremy

[xanctus]

Yossarian, if you like outdoors, NZ is quite the place.
As for LOTR sets, hey man...I want to do the same thing. I want to visit matamata where Hobbiton existed once. :P:P

Night life in NZ (Auckland) is not as bad as people always say. I used to live in CBD and quite alive really. I have many many kiwis and other immigrants friends who are likely to go out during weekend. So yeah, nite life shouldn't be a prob.

Malls close early? I am affraid so yes...I was a bit bumped when I came here back 2005. But again, it means....make you save more money cause you're not wandering around in the mall and buying necessaries stuffs hahaha. But it's getting better though now. Some store close quite late.

[KelvinAng]

Jeremy:

Yeah, looking for jobs without a work permit or PR is very difficult. I tried sending in a few applications to see what sort of response I'll get, and as expect there's no reply, not even the "please try again when you have a permit to work in NZ" reply that some people here had received.

The funny thing is that if you were to go to NZ as a tourist, and start applying for jobs, the employers appear to be more willing to accept you and help you get your work permit (and you can then apply for PR after that).

Since you (and I) have already sent in the EOI application, I suppose we can only wait... and keep trying in the mean time to look for a job online hoping some of them will consider making a job offer (which I suspect will help speed things up once you received the ITA).

[KelvinAng]

Opps sorry I missed out on your other questions. Yeah, the malls close very early (by 5pm or 6pm!), and Sundays outside the main cities are dead quiet. Many shops don't do business on Sundays. I'm not into the night life so I don't know much about that.

I find the Kiwis generally very friendly! I've spent one month in the South Island last year, and had met more friendly Kiwis strangers than friendly Singaporean strangers in my entire life in Singapore. However, in my experience, some teenagers appear to be rather, well, racist (sorry, there's no easier way to say it). I was called out at and shown rude hand signs twice, and had a teenager cycled up to me, deliberately using his bicycle to block my path, while spewing nonsense that doesn't sound very friendly. I suppose racial discrimination exist everywhere, but being non-Caucasian, I probably stick out quite a bit.

I don't mean to offend anybody with the above, I just want to share my observations. I love NZ for what it is, and will still try to go there and settle down.

[yossarian]

@xanctus: appreciate your info. :) and right, at least i can save more money then. i always find myself buying something not really useful here in hong kong! not only the malls close late everyday, my office is inside a shopping mall! hehe

@kelvin: yeah, same here. i got one reply though but still denied me when i told him i dont have the right to work in NZ yet... but i'm not really in a rush. i have a decent job right now, so waiting for the whole migrant process is totally fine. i'm not really into night life that much either! but would like to go out from time to time... and i'm not just sure in NZ, but here in Hong Kong, night life is a luxury, at least for me. i guess they put on high tariff on liquor around here.

really sorry about the discrimination you experienced...but did you get hurt? do they do something physical? i would have to practice my boxing then! :laugh

[KelvinAng]

really sorry about the discrimination you experienced...but did you get hurt? do they do something physical? i would have to practice my boxing then! :laugh

Oh no, not at all. I was lucky there was no threat of physical hurt in my case - I just looked away and carry on my business. It was just an unpleasant feeling but I understand such situations exist everywhere in the world and is part of the simulation we called Life :D

Does Hong Kong ever sleep? Friends told me that Singapore shops close "early" at 10pm! I was told it's not uncommon for some Hong Kong malls to remain open till wee hours in the morning. As a tourist, I found there to be little to do in NZ once the sun sets but I suppose if/when I do settle down there, that will be an excellent time for family and friends.

[xanctus]

KelvinAng, I had an xperience like that when I was in USA also. I mean, it could happen anywhere. I guess, we just have to be a better person by just ignoring those stupid gesture.