[A & M]

Hi all,

Just come across the forum - it's great, so much information.

We started out thinking we needed a kind of middle aged gap year, but it's turned into taking a long holiday in New Zealand followed by trying to find work and seeing how we all (us + 2 children) like it. I have a years sabbatical from work, husband Andy has done all the paperwork with NZQA and the teachers council, so he's started looking for a job from Feb 2005.

Any tips to help with secondary teaching would be helpful. Also what's the skiing like?

Thanks a lot, Mandy

[Diny]

Hi Mandy - welcome to the forum.

Look out for Carol, she's an ex-pat who's been living in Wellington for a few years now. She's a teacher - although primary I think - but she'd be the one to help.

NZ skiing .... superb !!

Diny

[Tara Sage]

Hi Mandy & Welcome

I don't know what the teaching jobs are like, but the ski-ing is great. Where in NZ are you heading or does it all depend on the job?

Tara

[A & M]

Goodness knows where we will end up! Depends very much on the job search. However we will be touring around first in a camper van so we can check out various locations. At the moment we are thinking about round Wellington, as if we stay it would probably be the most likely place for me to get wok (IT - in a bank at the moment).

But then again, the south Island would be better for skiing I guess. Looking forward to that, especially as we will miss our usual March trip to europe.

Been looking at other threads and a bit worried about the chocolate though.

Mandy

[ruthyroo]

Hi A&M

MY DH is currently teaching here in NZ, secondary Geography. He's finding it challenging, to say the least, but we are in a very Maori dominated area so there is that to deal with on top of the new system / new culture. The kids seem to be more confident, more relaxed, but also less respectful, little value placed on education, especially for the Maori / Pacifika families. The schools are hugely variable in every way. Schools here seem to be left very much to their own devices - which is great if they have social advantages and good leadership, bit of a nightmare if they lack leadership / in a low socio-economic area. But on the upside, there are plenty of secondary jobs, so if one doesn't suit you can always move on! Basically, ask lots of questions and don't make the mistake we did of jumping on the first job that comes along and looks good. Be picky!

Any specific info, feel free to pm me.

Ruth

[A & M]

Ruth,

thanks a lot for info, will pm you probably tomorrow. Just got back from a "goodbye" dinner and too tired to think straight.

Did your DH apply for jobs from UK, or did you wait until you were on the spot? At the moment we are just looking in the edgazette every day.

Mandy.

[jesselyn]

hi a & m,

just wanna say welcome to the forum :smile

jes :angel