[dblake78]

Hi everyone, stumbled upon this forum after hunting for info on long term holidays/moving to NZ. Loads of useful info on here so thought I would introduce myself and add to the chatter!

Here's our situation...myself and my wife are considering going to NZ in mid 2008 on a 2 year working holiday visa. We're currently preparing the house for sale to generate some cash for the venture. I work in IT as a software developer and she currently works with a team of speech therapists. We're aiming to make a few contacts at NZ Expo in London in April '08 and hope that something comes out of it. Seems people have more success once they are in the country and are able to make those face-to-face connections...so fingers crossed!

This forum is geared more towards emigration which is something we would consider and I've been wondering if companies in NZ show much of a preference to employees with a certain type of visa? Also, once you're in the country on your working visa, is it relatively easy to apply to stay longer?

Thanks all
Dave and Karen.

[benandclare]

Hi guys ,

Welcome aboard, cant really answer your question as we came with full PR having visited a year ago and made the decision this is where we want to live and retire. In the 4 months we've been here no regrets at all.

Enjoy the forum it's been a weatlh of information for us :clap :clap

[dblake78]

Thanks for the welcome! This forum really is a gold mine of info, and just what I've been searching for.

Our plan is rather vague at the moment and most of our energies are going into getting the house sold (oh, and xmas!). But if that goes well we'll have a nice pile of cash behind us to fund what is essentially an extended holiday, with the benefit of being able to look for work. I'll just need to remind myself to stop looking at the scenery and try to get a job!

I'm 29 and my wife is 30 so the working visa seems a good way in to see if we get on with the place (hence the thread title).

[peebles16]

Welcome from us too this is a fab place to find out loads of info :D
Can't help with your question again as we did or are in the process of doing the same as benandclare and arrive in NZ in January 2008 just wanted to say hi!
Karen

[holland]

Hi,

Just wanted to say welcome...

These links may be of use:

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14362&highlight=working+visas

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13659&highlight=working+visas

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13266&highlight=working+visas

J x

[Beachcombers]

Thanks for the welcome! This forum really is a gold mine of info, and just what I've been searching for.

Our plan is rather vague at the moment and most of our energies are going into getting the house sold (oh, and xmas!). But if that goes well we'll have a nice pile of cash behind us to fund what is essentially an extended holiday, with the benefit of being able to look for work. I'll just need to remind myself to stop looking at the scenery and try to get a job!

I'm 29 and my wife is 30 so the working visa seems a good way in to see if we get on with the place (hence the thread title).

Good day Dave and Karen

We arrived in NZ in 2004 on visitors visa's on our second RTW trip with the intention of jumping through the immigration hoops once we were here.

What you will have once you arrive is get your CV in order and go through the rounds of getting a "proper job".

Once you have a job offer, you will then need to apply for a work permit (or if you have sufficient points PR) though the NZIS.

So with your background it should be quite achievable, I would recommend you bring the following - references from employers, qualifications, proof of partnership (marriage certificate, bills in both your names to the same address) and organise a police clearance certificates if possible as they can take weeks to come through and frustrate the hell out of you, when you have an NZ employer wanting to know when you can start (I know from experience).

Make sure any documentation you bring are orginals or certified copies (photocopies will be rejected unless certified).

Good luck!

[dblake78]

Thanks for the heads up 'combers...Does anyone know if there is an age restriction on the work permit like there is with the working visa?

I know the working visa can be valid for up to 23 months provided you're under 31 when you arrive in the country. Just wondering what would happen if my wife were to find a job there after turning 31 then have to apply for a permit...

So many 'what if's'!