[matt]

After signing up with a emigration company and getting ripped off by them(still took them to court & won), I decided to do the paperwork for myself.
My family and I went to NZ in march for a holiday and to see what the country was like before we decided to emigrate. I went for a couple of interviews while I was down there also. After six weeks of waiting to see if I got a job and hearing nothing I put my EOI in with 125 points to see what would happen. After two days we was selected. So I thought it would be next year when we got there.Two week ago I got a job offer in NZ :raebanana .
But just as I was about to tell everyone the news, we had a death in the family so our plans were kept quiet. Yesterday the house went on the market and the family were told of our plans. Still in a little bit of shock at what we are doing, But if I don't do it now I never will. So in August we will be in Christchurch starting a new life. The company (United rail) I am going to be working for are putting us up in a hotel for one month to help us settle in.
On a seperate note can anyone tell us which bank in NZ is best to use.

[Carol]

On a seperate note can anyone tell us which bank in NZ is best to use.


Welcome Matt!

I'm going to say Westpac - cause my hubby has worked for them for 10 years and we have had some great deals with them.
Also some excellent advice.

But...horses for courses. And what suits one doesn't suit another.
My kids have got Kiwibank accounts.........must admit they make life easy for you!

[Smiler]

Hi Matt

I'm sorry to hear of your agency experience and the reason you had to sit on your news. Well done on following through with the agency complaint, it is easy to let those sort of things ride when you have other pressures on.

It sounds like your plans are back on track now and congrats on the job offer too.

Avalon is the financial whizz, so she'll correct me if I'm wrong. :D

I guess it depends on what you need from your bank. Most of them here charge, although there are ways of keeping the charges down, usually by having a certain amount in the account or having the OH work for one.;)

Do you need to transfer funds from UK to NZ? Then ASB and HSBC have an account you can open while in the UK and you can transfer monies to NZ easily enough. There are other money transfer facilities though but some of them charge as much as 5%.

BNZ works for me, they have been great from day one. We also have an ASB account and have opened a saving account with another bank. Keeping all our options open.

Good luck with your house sale and look forward to hearing how you progress.

[katandbob]

Two week ago I got a job offer in NZ :raebanana .
But just as I was about to tell everyone the news, we had a death in the family so our plans were kept quiet. Yesterday the house went on the market and the family were told of our plans. Still in a little bit of shock at what we are doing, But if I don't do it now I never will. So in August we will be in Christchurch starting a new life. The company (United rail) I am going to be working for are putting us up in a hotel for one month to help us settle in.
On a seperate note can anyone tell us which bank in NZ is best to use.

Sorry about the sad news....but on the Job and your impending move to Chch, well done!

We have set up an account with the National bank (thx Moorf)
http://www.nationalbank.co.nz/personal/life/index/residents.htm

they have been good so far, and the free phone number was great and we set it up over the phone.

we have used Tranzfers to get our money converted...£7 a transaction....if you click on the link below it will take you to the register page


See for yourself - Simply copy the following link - http://www.tranzfers.com/refer.asp?r=Robsmith - into your browser's address bar, register and start using Tranzfers today.

[Moorf]

Hi Matt

Another agency horror story eh? Really sorry to hear that, but as Smiler said, good on ya for getting on their case....

United Rail - does that mean we can wave at you as you go past us on the East - West coast line?? :D

Congrats on the job offer and all the best for the next few months up to your arrival :nice1

Moorf

[Lukas]

...There are things I can hardly understant...I saw people paying agencies something like 800 NZ$ just to fill an application form...for visa extension...and so one.
The agency use to say that the application pack is provided by them for free...of course...anyone can download it from the NZIS web site.

[StevieD]

Yes, there are always people on the make... good one matt, well done because it must be difficult in your time of loss to have to do this - not easy at the best of times with families etc. I went through a party last night and my brother didn't even come and say hello, returned the compliment of course, but it is silly and not nice at all.

I think what moorf was trying to say do we get discounted rail tickets?!! :laugh

And on a slightly different note, I had some place fone me from NZ last week, offering me the coast to coast DVD and other stuff ( that I am sure we have already got) for the small sum of "only one hundred and fufty dollard"! I politely refused, but people never cease to amaze me. :)

[Nienke]

Congratulations with your job, and all the best with everything that needs to be done before you leave! :clap
We use ASB bank, no complaints so far (I've only used them for 2 weeks :D , but my husband for 4 months).

[anna_c]

All the banks have different fee structures wich suit different people (be aware you're going to end up paying for things like eftpos/ATM withdrawals and maybe a monthly fee - though these are often waved if you have a mortgage or substantial savings.

I use national bank and have had a good experience so far.

Westpac isn't too good in my experience.

Kiwibank is good if you want something basic and are going to manage it properly. The fees are good if you do but go through the roof if you don't.

Check out the websites

www.anz.co.nz
www.bnz.co.nz
www.asb.co.nz
www.nbnz.co.nz
www.westpac.co.nz
www.kiwibank.co.nz

I think that's the main ones.

[Avalon]

Matt,

welcome, and sorry to hear that things have not been straightforward for you. Hopefully its all gets easier from here on in.

Avalon is the financial whizz, so she'll correct me if I'm wrong.

:o Less Whizzy just at the moment, I'd have to say, bujt my 2p on the banks:
As Carol says its horses for courses, but from our point view - ASB seemed the easiest to set up from home. You get a Migrant Banking manager to start with (at ASB - try to bag Stacey if possible and avaoid a lady named Tafa - a few people have had problems with her being less than helpful).

Its possibly worth setting up accounst with at least 1 curreny trading company before you leave and get them to do your initial transfer - rather than the bank. That way you dont pay any fees (ASB charge £15 for transfers less than £15000). I always suggest that the first time you want to move money to NZ - you get quotes off your UK bank, Your NZ bank and a currency trader (I use Hifx) and see which offers you the most $$$ - after taking into account any fees you have to pay.

HTH

[zardell]

Hi Matt.

You already know how pleased Steve and I are for you, but have some of these anyway............

:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

Take care,

Julie

xx

[Moorf]

I think what moorf was trying to say do we get discounted rail tickets?!! :laugh





:D Rumbled...

No really, I was gonna do a Jenny Agutter!

Re banks, if you keep a certain level of funds in your account, most banks will offer, or can be negotiated with, do drop all the usual banking charges. We've been quite amazed at just what you can negotiate on with banks!

[NannyOgg]

Blimey Matt!
That's sounds just like us. Now or never, put the house on market Friday and told the folks yesterday too!

Coincidence or what!

[marcia]

Good for you Matt.

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and go ahead despite what other people might think. At the end of the day 'your family' (wife/partner/kids) are the important ones and you have to do what you feel is best for them.

We have had an adverse reaction from one family member, who is intent on being negative about the whole thing, but to be honest it won't wash, we are going and thats it, tough, like it or lump it! That may sound harsh but at the end of the day its our lives to live as we see fit.

Sorry to hear of your bereavement, hope things settle down and your plans continue to go well.

Are you coming to the meet at the end of the month??

[matt]

Thanks for all the kind words on this subject and the help with the banks. I will come to the NW meet, let me know when please.

[zardell]

I will come to the NW meet, let me know when please.



Sat 27th May.....Mascrat Manor and BRING PICCIES......pleeeeeeez :nice1

Julie

xx

[veronica]

if you go onto the kiwibank web site they have a comparison section there against the other banks for charges etc.