[roblarky]

Hi all,

My wife and I would love to move to NZ, we also love pets, specifically ours :)

We have 6 dogs, ranging from 6 to 100lbs (sorry for the non-metric reference):

2 Chihuahuas
1 Tibetan Spaniel
1 Miniature American Eskimo
1 Shar Pei mix
1 Great Dane

Pet Questions:

1. What is the feasibility of bringing 6 dogs (obvious importing dog expenses aside)?
2. Are there limits to how many can be imported?
3. Are there certain municipalities that will not allow this many?
4. What about rentals/landlords?
5. What about importing a bird, any restrictions?

Home Questions:

6. How soon after arriving and establishing employment can one practically consider purchasing a home?
7. Can you buy a home with a visa (WH, skill migrant, etc.), or must you be a resident?
8. If you can purchase but not be a resident, what are the banks' perspective on having a mortgage without being a full-time resident/citizen?


Thank you all, this forum is invaluable. It would be great if you could answer the question as below, it makes it easier to read and encourages everyone to give a little thought to each question.

1. answer
2. answer
... etc.

Thank you for your time,

Rob

[nickydwuk]

Hi all,

My wife and I would love to move to NZ, we also love pets, specifically ours :)

We have 6 dogs, ranging from 6 to 100lbs (sorry for the non-metric reference):

2 Chihuahuas
1 Tibetan Spaniel
1 Miniature American Eskimo
1 Shar Pei mix
1 Great Dane

Pet Questions:

1. What is the feasibility of bringing 6 dogs (obvious importing dog expenses aside)?
2. Are there limits to how many can be imported?
3. Are there certain municipalities that will not allow this many?
4. What about rentals/landlords?
5. What about importing a bird, any restrictions?

Home Questions:

6. How soon after arriving and establishing employment can one practically consider purchasing a home?
7. Can you buy a home with a visa (WH, skill migrant, etc.), or must you be a resident?
8. If you can purchase but not be a resident, what are the banks' perspective on having a mortgage without being a full-time resident/citizen?


Thank you all, this forum is invaluable. It would be great if you could answer the question as below, it makes it easier to read and encourages everyone to give a little thought to each question.

1. answer
2. answer
... etc.

Thank you for your time,

Rob

1. What is the feasibility of bringing 6 dogs (obvious importing dog expenses aside)? EXPENSE
2. Are there limits to how many can be imported? Not as far as I know - I am bringing 4 - check with MAF
3. Are there certain municipalities that will not allow this many? Each area council has its rules. You must have a dog licence and for more than 2 dogs the porperty must pass certain inspection rules. Not sure of maximum limits but rules about breeding etc... are in force.
4. What about rentals/landlords? As I understand it there are not many rentals that allow dogs - we will struggle.
5. What about importing a bird, any restrictions? Check with MAF

Not sure about the other questions though.

[lockstock]

Apart from the expense, you may find it tricky shipping all 6 on the same flight. We were told that there were only four animals allowed on each flight.

It depends where you go as to how many dogs you are allowed to own/have on your property. It became apparent very quickly that NZ does not regard dogs the same way we do. There's a reason - the dog fighting market. There are many 'pit bull' type dogs (with owners to match) despite attempts to ban the breeding (NB not the ownership) there are still ads everywhere for puppies.

The dog registration system is very good but, like all other things, it's generally only the responsible owners that register. In many public areas dogs are banned unless they are on a lead. There are a limited number of designated areas where you can free run your dog but it must be under your control at all times. You can't always guarantee other people have theirs under control.

We have been warned about dog theft - a huge worry and one which is casting a bit of a shadow over everything a the moment.

I can't explain it, and it's not necessarily wrong, but there doesn't seem to be the same understanding about dogs. For example barbed choke chains are allowed here (large spikes on the inside of a chain collar - dog pulls, gets stabbed in the neck) Electric control collars are advertised everywhere (they're trying to ban them in the UK). I personally have a huge problem with puppies on sale in pet shops too.

I don't want to sound too depressing but you may have to be prepared to change your lifestyle with your dogs, especially that number.

[Hippywench]

We're bringing 2 dogs and 2 cats.
4) I did see one rental on trademe that was set up for pets. That was after weeks of trawling various sites and seeing ad after ad with 'no dogs/no pets'. Its a pity we aren't going over yet or I would have snapped it up.

5) What I do know is that only dogs and cats are allowed so you will need to re home your bird.

[IanW99]

...
Home Questions:

6. How soon after arriving and establishing employment can one practically consider purchasing a home?
7. Can you buy a home with a visa (WH, skill migrant, etc.), or must you be a resident?
8. If you can purchase but not be a resident, what are the banks' perspective on having a mortgage without being a full-time resident/citizen?
...


6. You can buy a house at any time in NZ, you don't even need to be in the country. You really should check it out first though.

7. Same as 6 above, you can buy regardless of visa.

8. If you are not a resident then the banks will only lend upto 80% of the value of the property.

Ian