[PonyGirl]

Hello everyone! I have been a little quiet on the boards the last few months (been busy!), so I thought I'd get on here and give a little update. I got laid off from my job in January, which was a bit of a surprise, but things are working out okay. We had originally hoped to leave for NZ in May, but we opted to push things back to August in hopes to avoid moving to NZ in winter so we can enjoy a bit of summer here in the US and catch the tail end of winter/spring in NZ. We also decided we needed a little more time to get our house ready for the market. That's what I've been doing with my new found free time... I've been renovating our house. We are nearly done with all the critical stuff and have a few smaller projects to wrap up, so hopefully we'll be listing it in 2-3 weeks. Once our house sells, we just have to sort through our belongings to decide what we are taking, leaving behind for now and selling.

I have my WHV and passport together and my hubby is a native kiwi, so we are pretty much ready to leave. I'll probably apply for PR once we get to NZ. We're going on a 12 month trial period initially since I have never been. But I'm pretty sure I am going to love it. I am looking forward to meeting his family in NZ that I have never met, that will be very exciting. But, on the flip side, I am still dealing with the emotions of leaving my family here in the states. I know that will take some time and I am just enjoying my time with them right now.

Well, that is all really. If all goes well and we can sell our house, we should be there come August/September.

[victoria24]

where will you be settling in nz?

[PonyGirl]

Bay of Plenty area. Hubby's family is in Te Puke, so we'll be staying with them initially, then getting our own place in Tauranga.

[victoria24]

niiice.. good luck with the house sale. is it pretty tough to sell in the states at the mo?

[PonyGirl]

Thanks! Unfortunately, the housing market here generally sucks right now. But our house is in a price bracket that seems to be doing better than most, so that's a good thing. We have done A LOT of work to the house and it is quite nice, so we're hoping that works to our advantage and makes it appealing to buyers. We're just having faith that we are doing the right thing by moving to NZ and that it is all going to work out.

[Sovenok]

Well, that is all really.
I don't have much to say, but after reading your posts I liked your style of writing :nice1

[PonyGirl]

Thanks. :)

[DMcG]

You can apply for PR before you go and have the case transferred to NZ once you get there. That will save time on the processing front.

I applied for PR and a work visa at the same time as NZIS advised me that the work visa would come through quicker.

Dougie

[PonyGirl]

Hhhmm, didn't know that. Is it hard to get it transferred? One of the biggest reasons I am waiting was so I could have time to lose some weight to make sure my medicals turned out ok. I was going to have them done in NZ. I will certainly take this into consideration though, worth looking into. Thanks!!

[Mrs Pony]

Good luck with everything!!

[PonyGirl]

Thanks!!

[Jacqi B]

Good luck with everything.
I, to, am out of work and doing up the house at the moment. Hoping to head for Wellie at the end of September. One of my friends is from Te Puke (lives in London now) and I went to her wedding out there a few years back.

[PonyGirl]

Thank you. That is cool about your friend being from Te Puke. Hope your renovations go well. I think we are wrapping up with the major projects and will start finishing up some of the smaller things now. I should get some pictures together and show our progress, I'm quite proud of it actually. Hopefully it will pay off when we list it on the market, I hope it sells fast and for a decent price, so we will see. I'm crossing our fingers that we'll be in NZ soon enough!

[drakew]

Good luck with selling the house. We will be there next spring, so I feel you. I am also from Cinicnnati, but currently live in Iowa.

[PonyGirl]

Thanks. What part of Cincinnati did you live in?

[drakew]

I grew up in the Greenhills area, but have also lived in Clifton.

[PonyGirl]

Ah, that's cool. We live on the east side. Good luck with your move to NZ!! Hopefully we'll be there soon enough.