[H & Rick]

All things going to plan we are hoping to do a recky in September/October.

Ideally we would like to live in South Island, Canterbury, Southland areas....obviously this would depend on whether we could get work :roll

The idea is to try to organise a couple of interviews and check out some of the residential areas to get an idea of house prices etc.

We were just wondering if anyone could suggest any places in South Island or areas that are worth having a look at while we are there?

Are there any cluster areas for work in South Island?

We will only be there for 2 weeks so want to make the most of it. :D

[backtonz]

Nelson, Christchurch & Dunedin would be my thoughts for the South.

[H & Rick]

Yeah ... we were looking at these areas on the map. :exit

[Anita & Marco]

What kind of work would you be looking at ?

[katandbob]

All things going to plan we are hoping to do a recky in September/October.

Ideally we would like to live in South Island, Canterbury, Southland areas....obviously this would depend on whether we could get work :roll

The idea is to try to organise a couple of interviews and check out some of the residential areas to get an idea of house prices etc.

We were just wondering if anyone could suggest any places in South Island or areas that are worth having a look at while we are there?

Are there any cluster areas for work in South Island?

We will only be there for 2 weeks so want to make the most of it.

to add on about Dunedin, we looked around there and found that most of the jobs were through agencys, SelectP. and they were the same company which they were selling to us a year before...no new ones, which made us think wow they must have a job keeping staff, but thats just my opinion.

You put Southland, as a choice, there are plenty of jobs advertised in the Southland times (Dunedin is in OTAGO) and the wages are on par with the rest of the country.

How were you thinking of getting around? Car? or internal flights.

Driving from Christchurch further south works out like this....

You can drive from Christchurch to Ashburton in an hour (engineering firms there) then onto Timaru in just over another hour..thats the next nearest large town - then just under another hour gets you to Oamaru...this is the next town and was larger than we expected then onto Dunedin in 1.20 hrs,

We did this journey in one day, and got into Dunedin before dark, a good idea as the roads into Dunedin are steep!

We stayed in the Law Courts Hotel, $99 a night with free breckie. it was basic but clean, had a basic heater in the room and leccy blankets on the beds, and tv but ask for nonsmoking...god the rooms stunk in the smokers ones, and we got moved straight away...some of the rooms have the origional bathrooms, art deco.

There are plenty of motels around, and you can haggle for the rate as its winter.

We then travelled to Invercargill, via Milton, Balcultha and Gore this took just under 4hrs, but we stopped and had a look around each town. (stayed in a great motel - Birchwood manor on Tay St in Invercargill)

There are Engineering firms at most big towns, and we actually spoke to a few people in Gore that said we would have no problems getting jobs there, but we decided on Invercargill as we have teenage boys and there are tons of things to do here so for now its Invercargill, but Gore was a lovely country town with the hokonui hills as a back drop and a big river to play on and would have been a serious contender if it was just me and Rob - or that the kids were primary school age.

there are tons of engineering jobs advertised in the Southland times, for Queenstown, Te anau, etc, so really the choice is yours.

I think you have to like the area you are going to live in, as having a job - although an important factor...if your going to hate driving to and from that job each day you will soon wonder what the heck you moved here for...which was the reason we didnt settle in Christchurch, we had the jobs...but couldnt find an area near those jobs that we would like to live in...we would have had up to an hour comute...

here in Invercargil we have 8mins driving for Rob...and 4 mins walk for me...depending on how fast :laugh as its around the corner from where we live.

So my advice is...look without rose coloured glasses, decide what type of lifestyle your looking for then see what industries are around that area.....

And don't take peoples opinions as gospel...everyone is different, So you are going to have to make your own minds up on each area - most people would shudder at the thought of living in Ivercargill...but for us it fits. :D

oh and Cardy...if your reading this - the weather man got it wrong again...it got to -1 and that was it, no -4 as they said on the weather report you heard...but considering they never really mention us on those reports...they just lump us with Dunny (or Te Anau and Queeny..where Yes you would expect it to get cold...otherwise those skiers would be fed up!! :laugh )....and the suns coming out which has been the norm since we got here a month ago.

...once again Good Luck on your Reccy...

Kat

[H & Rick]

Thanks for the reply Kat it is really useful.

You mention Engineering jobs, is that what you were looking for too?
If so is that mechanical or electronic?

We had read that Christchurch was a centre for Engineering based jobs but have not found many on the internet yet, will have a look at the news paper websites that you mentioned.

I like the look of Invergargil it looks really natural, more like the kind of thing we are looking for. Will have to have a look at Dunedin and Gore too when we are over.

Roll on September :D

[katandbob]

Hi

Engineering encompasses a lot of trades, for instance, sheetmetal work, welding, fitter/turners, fitter/welders...the list goes on, and for some firms they expect you to be multi skilled...ie fitter/welder/fabricator :roll Electronic Jobs are not classified as general engineering ..I think because you need to pass the exams etc...

But in Engineering, a the company was advertising for a fitter/welder..but the job description included fabrication/pipefitting/turning and welding using every welding process, mig,tig & stick on materials, steel, stainless and ally...in every thickness!!!

but the jobs here, you walk in with your CV and qualification, and they don't really bother looking at it, they want to discuss your experiences with you, and if they like you, they give you a trial, and you either make it or they say "cya mate".

But there seems to be plenty of jobs but most are general engineering and they have their fingers in every pie going, so thats why you have to be multi skilled.

It just depends on which town your in...and what skills you have.....

What does your OH do by the way....

Most companys will be willing to take you on if they like you and you have the core skills, they will give you any extra necessary training to fulfil the postition.

Hope that helps, PM me if you want.

Good Luck

Kat


Thanks for the reply Kat it is really useful.

You mention Engineering jobs, is that what you were looking for too?
If so is that mechanical or electronic?

We had read that Christchurch was a centre for Engineering based jobs but have not found many on the internet yet, will have a look at the news paper websites that you mentioned.

I like the look of Invergargil it looks really natural, more like the kind of thing we are looking for. Will have to have a look at Dunedin and Gore too when we are over.

Roll on September :D

[Smiler]

How was your 1st day at work, Kat?

:nice1 I hope?

D x