[Marci Burt]

Hi
I have just found this forum and it is brilliant...:clap There are so many informative and helpful people out there. My OH and 2 sons aged 16 and 13 are Zimbabweans who, due to the circumstances in Zim, are living in the UK and are now planning to go to NZ. Firstly are there any Zim people on this forum who have taken the famous roller coaster ride and survived!!! We are planning to go to Wellington. I have so many questions to ask.. so here goes. My OH is a fitter and turner and I am a GM with a Drainage company, have just passed my OX19 exams with 6 years experience. We plan to go on my OH's qualifications, but we are planning to just move over and go through the work permit route. Is there anyone out there who has taken this route who can give us any advice?? Are there many jobs in his field? We are planning to go to the Jobs Expo in London next week. Also my eldest son is writing his GCSE's this year and plans to do his A levels after that. How does the education system equate to the UK's? I would appreciate any advice that we can get.
Thanks for your time.

Marci

[TrentBridge]

Welcome to the forum Marcie:). Sorry, can't help with your questions but someone will be along soon who can.:yes

S

[peebles16]

I can't really help with your questions just wanted to say hi and welcome to the forum :D We have fond memories of Zim having travelled around a bit when we lived in Malawi - of course that was many years ago now and sadly much has changed :(

All the best with your journey :)

Karen

[JandM]

Hello, and welcome.:)

Looking at one part of your question, here's an old thread that tells you about the different kinds of school exam in use in NZ. Once you know where you are headed, you could email the local schools to see what they say about your son's particular case.

[ellenmelon]

hey marci, welcome to the forum :) im not able to answer any of your questions but im sure someone here will point you in the right direction.

[Karen]

Hi and welcome

I lived in both Zimbabwe and Malawi as a kid between '82 & '90. Can't really compare the education systems as was educated in Africa but went to Uni in the UK and am now living in Dunedin.

Have really fond memories of Africa but agree, there's not much to go back for now, very different countries now from those of 18yrs ago. The rest of the family moved back to the UK about '96 due to the ongoing problems.

Hope someone here can answer some of your questions.

Whereabouts were you in Zim? I was in Harare and in Blantyre in Malawi.

Karen

[JandM]

Hello, and welcome.

Looking at one part of your question, here's an old thread that tells you about the different kinds of school exam in use in NZ. Once you know where you are headed, you could email the local schools to see what they say about your son's particular case.

And here's the link that somehow didn't land in my previous post!
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9298&highlight=NZ+school+exams

[dusk]

Hello and welcome Marci - best of luck with your plans :)

[Marci Burt]

Hi
Thanks for the warm welcome and all the advice, Karen we were from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. We still own our house there as there was just no point selling it. Thank you for the old thread about the schools, sounds pretty good. My sons are also very sporty and both play cricket very well and hopefully they will be able to persue this interest. They are also very keen to move to NZ given that they have no space and outdoor life here.

[Steadybears]

Hi Marci
OH and I both from Zim - but have been in SA for 25 yrs - we have made the although big move to NZ and although we oinly been here for a couple of weeks - we thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Love the countryside and the freedom - not having to check behind our backs everytime we walk in the streets is a blessing. I went to school in Byo and OH went to Plumtree. Cant answer schooling questions as we have moved here with our youngest son who has completed his matric in SA - but PM me if I can help in any other way. Good luck with the whole process sure it will be worth it

Jayne