[sarahc]

Hi - we are just in the eary stages of thinking of a move to New Zealand - we are in Perth WA at the moment, we are Aussie Permanent Residents but not citizens - does anyone know if we can just move to New Zealand - I've been told that we can but am unsure - I know Aussie citizens can.

If we have to apply for NZ permanent residency then I think it may be quicker to wait 18 months & get the Oz citizenship ( we have only been here 6 months).

Any thoughts / advice gratefully appreciated.

Disappointed in Oz - too characterless / too much fast food! / too American ,

Sarah.

Sarah

[Pakeha Boy]

....and too many aussies!

[sarahc]

Interested to see that your in Staffs, UK - we escaped from Uttoxeter in April!

[Douglas]

Hi Sarah,

As Australian permanent residents, you have the right to live and work in NZ too. :nice1

(Unless the law changes. :uhoh)

[sarahc]

Excellent news - planning a reckie in the new year !

:P

This is an excellent site - I think we'll be regular visitors now we have found it!

Sarah.

[Diny]

Hi Sarah

Welcome to the forum.

If you have Aussie PR status then you can come and go to NZ at will (unless the rules have been changed recently).

I see you are from Staffs too. We are between Stafford & Wolverhampton but will be in the manawatu very soon (when house is sold).

We lived in Oz a few years ago (Darwin) - didn't like it much at all. Like you say - characterless !

Diny

[karltsmith]

Hi Diny,

Ah! Stafford, memories of concerts and fairs at Bingley Hall! :roll:

Ah! Wolverhampton........the first place in the UK to have traffic lights! ;)

Karl :cool
(Wolverhampton Uni Old Boy and ex Principle Tech)

[karltsmith]

Me again Diny,

So where in Staffs?? Come on fess up!!! ;)

[Lukas]

In order to settle in NZ you have to be Australian Citizen.
PR is not enough.

[Douglas]

To quote the NZIS:

You don’t need a visa or permit if you’re:

an Australian citizen, or Australian resident who holds a current Australian Resident Return Visa.

So provided Sarah holds a current Australian Resident Return Visa - she is entitled to this as a legal migrant to Australia - she is entitled to live and work in New Zealand too.

Of course, Sarah, it would be wise to check for how long the Resident Return Visa in your passport will remain valid. If it runs out and you don't yet have NZ citizenship or an entitlement to remain here by virtue of arranging a work permit, you might have a problem. So I'd check up on how long your ARRV will remain valid. :smile

[Lukas]

Having the right to entry in NZ without a visa does not mean you are allowed to stay indefinitelly or you are allowed to work as an Aussy Citizen.

[Douglas]

"If you are an Australian permanent resident entering New Zealand with a current Australian Resident Return Visa, you will normally be granted a Residence Permit on arrival. However, you can still be refused residence if you are not of good character."

Read page 2

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/4DAD508D-CC26-425A-A57B-D2AF557C8510/0/1003.pdf

And yes, the residence permit granted on arrival does allow you to work in New Zealand.

[Lukas]

...you may be right...anyway I never meet any Au PR living and working in NZ. Also I may notice a very unfair discrimination. As a NZ PR I still need a visa to entry in Australia...not to talk about the residency or work.
...also I may say that the one who don't fill confortable in Australia has few chances to accomodate in NZ.
My advice...go back home

[Diny]

Lukas

The master of straight talking !!!!!!

Australia and NZ are like chalk and cheese. Not only are the people totally dfferent, but also the way of life, the landscape and the economy too.

Believe me - I speak from experience on this one !!

Telling people to 'go home' isn't really a very helpful attitude - it's actually verging on being downright rude. People rely on this forum to obtain genuine help and information, I hope Sarah doesn't think we all share your way of thinking.

Sarah .... Douglas is right, if you hold Australian PR then you can enter NZ as long as you are of good character (i.e. you don't have the cops chasing you down the Stuart Highway !!!!). But it is wise to check up on how long your Aus PR status stands should you leave.

Hope all goes well for you.

Diny

[Diny]

Sorry Karl - I was so busy stomping around on my soap box I forgot to answer your question.

We are in a village called Wheaton Aston which is between Staffs, W-ton and Telford - about 5 miles west from Gailey island.

Small world eh - you an old W-ton Uni chap too.

Ah Bingley Hall - the memories. We had our college Christmas ball there in 1982 - and DLT from radio 1 did the disco. I went to Rodbaston Agricultural College.

Haven't been into Wolverhampton for ages, actually think it's a dump. As my beloved Pakeha Boy says ..... 'it's a toilet'.

Diny

[Timbo]

Lukas. BEHAVE.

[Caven]

Timbo, :nice1

Oh, how the winter nights must fly by in Rumania :laugh

[Lukas]

My friends …I use to talk strait…”go back home” was the advice which first of all I gave to myself.
Instead of talking about the “bad character” of those who accepted me into their home, one day I just pack my staff heading straight to the airport.
“Love us or leave us”…a good anglo saxon principle not necessary mine the rude latino-balkanic guy.

I really don’t believe that OZ and NZ are that different as far as the human beings are concerned.

[sarahc]

Disappointed in the place not the people, I'd much rather stay in Oz than go back to the UK - Life style here is much better than we had in England - just wondering if it could be better still....

Also, having relocated once - realise its not that big a deal to settle in pastures new - kids are happy, we are making friends , my partner has a job so we are solvent...

Just wondering if NZ was feasable!

Sarah.

[Lukas]

If you are solvent in OZ, and still don't want to go back in UK then my advice is to wait a bit untill you get your Australian citizenship...then try NZ...otherwise you may lose both places.

[sarahc]

exactly what our conclusion has been!

still planning to visit NZ in 2005 though.

S

[jesselyn]

brilliant decision sarah! :nice1

jes :angel

ps. welcome to the forum. :cool