New Zealand - First Post!

wes

24th January 2008, 10:57 PM

Hi

I thought i would finally after months of viewing this forum make my first post!

I've just returned from my Honeymoon touring NZ and totally fell in love with the place, i don't know whether it's just a phase but i really think my wife and myself can make a better lives for ourselves there. We are thinking that it would be a real possibility of doing it in the next 3 years.

Our main complications are:

That we are currently renovating a house of which my dad and myself are doing most of the work. Therefore i cannot finish it and say cheers dad for all your hard work were moving to New Zealand! Also i've just started an IT consultancy business alongside my current role and i want to get a couple of years worth of good money under my belt (hopefully)

My wife an I are both 27 and have no kids except for our boxer who treat like a kid! My Wifes a nurse in oncology and i'm an IT Manager without a degree.

Will we have any problems getting residency, i'm hoping that we won't?

Would i be able to get a similar job to what i have? for any IT people i'm have an ITIL managers qualification and an MCSE, and alot of experience in developing underperforming IT depts, i also have alot of experience of Sarbanes Oxley and multi site systems implementations.

Also how much do you think i could earn?

Would i be better contracted, i don't know how the market works over there?

I'm also sick of having to pay Tax on top of Tax on top tax, is NZ like this?

We're worried that will miss our family and friends too much, how have people coped with this, do you find that you get a lot of visitors now?

I think the Wellington area would be best for us, and we would be interested in living near the Sea with a view as i would love surf and fish regularly. What areas could i do this in and commute to Wellington from, my wife wants to live in a place with a good community spirit with plenty of things to do for kids (when we have them)

We would love to build a largish house on a largish plot of land? How much do you think we could do this for?

Sorry for all of the questions but my head is spinning at the minute as i think NZ could provide a much better quality of life for us?

Any help would be much appreicated.

Jennispink

24th January 2008, 11:39 PM

Wecolme to the board wes,

Not sure I can help with many questions but I'll have a go!

With your OH as a nurse I wouldn't think you'll have any probs with residency and as far as I know IT is supposed to be a growth industry out there so you should be ok I think.

I have friends who live in Paraparaumu just outside Wellington and Helen commutes in every day from there no worries (she is a theatre nurse at a hospital out there somewhere). They have two kids and regularly spend evenings on the beach. They say its a lovely community.

As far as coping leaving friends and family, only you can decide whether it's the right thing for you and if it is then your loved ones should understand your reasons and hopefully support you. It doesn't always work like that unfortunately, there are plenty people about who's family make them feel guilty etc, but despite that they're still going and still believe it's the right thing to do.

On your side is the fact that you're young and no kids, kids always make it difficult for grandparents!!

The best advice I can give is do LOTS of research, make sure you have as good an idea of what the whole process involves before you jump in 2 feet first:D

Good luck and welcome once again, you'll find us all v friendly and helpful I'm sure:nice1

Croft

24th January 2008, 11:45 PM

You may well have a problem with no IT degree, depite your experience. Your other accreditations may be able to swing it, but I suspect from reading of others experience that you'll need a job offer first, or base your application on your wifes nursing experience. This may be a lot less hassle and allow you to get PR without a job offer.

Nick88

25th January 2008, 01:54 PM

Tax on top of tax in NZ? You bet, it's like that. The most recent report I read used the tax freedom day as an indicator, and NZ is a week later than the UK for the first time. so the govt here takes 2-3% more of GDP in tax than Britain. It didn't used to be that way, but the current Labour govt here has dramatically increased the tax take in the last 9 years.

As for building a house, there are far too many variables to be able to give you much of an idea of the price. But sadly that too is not as cheap as it used to be. Have a look at the new Demographia housing affordability survey.

LesleyS

25th January 2008, 02:00 PM

Just wanted to say Hi and Welcome, We're still new here ourselves, but you seem to have the sort of skills and enthusiasm NZ would be looking for IMHO.

wes

25th January 2008, 10:37 PM

IanW99

25th January 2008, 11:00 PM

Hi

Thanks for all of your replies there very helpful, to be honest i think it's only a matter of time before we move, so i suppose it's just a case of being patient.

Another couple of quick questions:
We are currently having a very mild winter in the UK and here in Leicestershire it just seems to rain all of the time! Whats the climate like in the wellington area, are there 4 clear seasons, does it ever snow as i miss that?

IF we get residency do we have to do anything else to stay in New Zealand or do we become citizens after so long, what do we need to do if wanted to stay there for the rest of our lives?

Thanks

Wes

If you want snow then you really need to go to the SI (or up a mountain on the NI :) )

Wellington rarely goes below freezing, generally it is milder and sunnier than UK, see the Climate (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15767) thread for some details on the weather.

If you do want to see snow, you could always go to one of the ski fields.

When you get residency (RRV) it will initially be for 2 years, after 2 years you will get an Indefinite RRV which allows you to stay in NZ for as long as you like (indefinitely). After 5 years from your initial RRV you can apply for citizenship.

Ian