[Anna'n'John]

Hi, Went to the NZ Expo in London and came back totally deflated. I am a primary school teacher and OH is toolmaker but has own business for last 5 years as DIY Man. We felt we got really pretty negative feedback and that unless we were on the longterm shortage list, we weren't that important to worry about. I found the NZ Teaching stand, thought great they must want teachers but got a very luke warm reception. When I explained I was a trained Nursery Nurse and primary school teacher (with a degree covering ages 3 to 8 years) and asked if this would qualify for a Early years childhood educator (which I know is on the long term shortage list) she just said "No, you'll have to retrain with a NZ qualifications". RETRAIN! :mad: I've worked for over 22 years with children ranging from 0 to 8 years, is she mad. Oh, but my qualifications might get me some credits- is that all I'm worth-credits?? So she said primary teachers aren't on the longterm shortage list (although somebody told me on another stand in 2008 they will be on the short term list) So she gave me her leaflet, smiled a witchy smile and told me everything I needed to know was in there and she was "happy to help". Thanks, for nothing much. So now we don't know what to do. We were going to put me as the leading person on the EOI form but now it doesn't sound such a good idea. Hubby asked around about engineering at the Expo and although he got warmer replies than me, basically he was the wrong sort of engineer. Most people said go to NZ on long holiday, line up interviews and then fly back, but we can't take that much time off with 2 children and both of us in full time work. Then if you are offered a job, you then have to fly back, sell house, sell cars, pack and remove everything, sort out finances, etc, etc. And hope the people that offered you the job are willing to wait for you for all of this time. One guy said send husband over to get a job, then myself and kids follow once he's settled. What about me, how am I going to cope in UK on my own, tying up this end ie selling house, packing, paper work etc. I know I moan a lot but if husband left and started over in NZ leaving me to deal with things in UK, nervous breakdown seems to come to mind.
Anyway, the purpose of this thread really (other than to get things off my chest) is to enquire about anyones experiences on purchasing a Franchise. We have now thought perhaps this is the way in. Buy a franchise and this will get us our visa, it might help us start up a business. Has anyone got into NZ this way? If so how, was it successful? Does it still work? Is the income sufficient to support you? Was it a rip off? Please, anyone out there we would love to hear from you if you can help us.

[Carey]

Sorry to hear you feel deflated; firstly primary teachers are on the short term skills list, not that it means very much, just that if you do get a job, it will be more 'stream-lined to process your application"; words from NZIM. However there is new Govt legislation coming in the New Yr to decrease class sizes and 700 MORE primary teachers will be needed apparently. I've been told this by an agent in Auckland where there are plenty of jobs for primary teachers. I'm looking ouside of Auckland and no luck yet but I'm still hopeful. So don't give up...look also at Speckythecky's posts; she got a job in a nursery without retraining to do the ECE 1 yr diploma but most nurseries will want this...some will employ you while you do it so is that worth trying for?

If I can help any more ask away; I've just got a little further down the line than you....

Good luck and don't give up!

[lockstock]

Anna - if the women on the stand in London were the same as those in Manchester I'm not surprised you feel deflated. I don't know where TeachNZ exhumed them but they were, quite probably, the most depressing pair of has-beens you could imagine. And no, I didn't think a lot of them.

Now if you google Education Gazette and then job vacancies, you will see just how much of a shortage there is of early learning/primary there is. You've seen the monkeys - now go to the organ grinder again and ask NZIS yourself. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised.

And very, very good luck. :nice1

[james the mechanic]

Hi guys, I don’t know anything about teaching, however I did look in to franchises some time ago. As I remember it…
In order to get residence via a franchise you need to apply under the Long Term Business visa scheme this will basically take at lest two years. You need to have operated a similar business in the past successfully and meet all the other criteria, health, character etc. It also needs to be of benefit to NZ or have the potential to be and I believe that is measured by employing New Zealanders.
Basically, I discounted it, as a long a drawn out process that wasn’t for me, so I’m clearly not the best qualified person to give you advise.
There are however people on the forum who have got PR though the LTBV and I’m confident they can and will advise you better.
Best of luck :nice1
James

[Timbo]

We too looked into using a franchise to gain a LTBV, but like you say, there is a fair degree of uncertainty involved as well as a lot of jumping through hoops.
My feelings are that you would probably be better off coming here on visitors visa and finding a job (s) that will enable you to gain work permits, and then convert to PR once you have your foot in the door.
Things may have changed in the way that NZIS look at franchises since we looked into it, but back then (2004), they were not very keen on them.
If you do decide to look into this further, feel free to pm me for details of franchises that we looked at.

[willsken]

One guy said send husband over to get a job, then myself and kids follow once he's settled. What about me, how am I going to cope in UK on my own, tying up this end ie selling house, packing, paper work etc. I know I moan a lot but if husband left and started over in NZ leaving me to deal with things in UK, nervous breakdown seems to come to mind.


I understand the frustration you feel but I must be blunt. For many, many people this is the only way to get out here. I can think of 3 people I know doing this at the moment, a very good friend included. You do manage, however unpleasant or hard it is, just to make the dream a reality. I bet if you took this route you'd surprise yourself and find you're a lot stronger than you think. :yes

The very best of luck to you! :)

[wilson182]

We did a similar thing three years ago. OH is a welder and we figured it would be next to impossible to secure a job from the UK. We took a months holiday, got OH a job and he stayed here. I went back to the UK with the two kids and - rented out the house, packed up/sold our belongings, said all the goodbyes and then came back. It was tough, more so because he was ill whilst here and it took alot longer than it should have to remortgage so we could rent our house in the UK, but not impossible.