[nightfever]

First of all I would like to say hello before my first post.

Hopefully someone maybe able to give me advice.
I am in my early 50s and would like to spend say 3-5 months in New Zealand during your Summer (NZ) every year. I intend on purchasing property to live in during my stay.
I have no intention of ever working in New Zealand.
I have done the points test and I get 110 however saying that I intend to get a job in a Key shortage area would not be true.
I understand that with the reciprocal agreement that if I was suddenly struck down with something nasty I would be covered under the NZ health service. Which would be the same as if I had gone via the points system
Should I go through the points system or should I just go and stay for up to 6 months each year?

[Lupin]

Hi Nightfever....on just what you've written above, I'd say the visitor visa arrangement would suit you fine
BUT
a) I've no idea of the fine print involved in either scenario and
b) buying a house in NZ with the intention of spending summers there is lovely, but what if you decide you want to live there for longer or more permanantly? Might be tricky in a few years so the PR might be worth bagging now.

Sounds like a lovely plan :)

[Howie]

We got our PR based on a job offer in skills shortage area. Our PR sticker has a restriction that we have to work at that particular job for 3 months within the first 6 months of arriving. Now that I've done that, I need to remember to send our passports back in to get upgraded stickers.

Chris

[Caspar]

Do u have to leave the county for 1 year in between visits? or some other time period?

[jaycee]

I think you can stay for 9 months in any 18 month period as a visitor - so if you're going to do it as one 'chunk' at roughly the same time each year, it works out to 4 and a half months per year - at least according to my reckoning. Maximum stay is six months each visit if you have a UK passport.

There's no problem with buying a property as a visitor.

If you did apply though the points system, and had an interview with immigration, you might have to tell a few porkies - after all, the Skilled Migrant category is designed to find workers for NZ ;)

But even if you succeeded in getting residence, you would need to think about how you might qualify for an Indefinite Returning Resident's Visa as well - else it would be pointless.

Just wondering - if you are in a financial position to do this, do you have sufficient funds to consider the Investment category? Forgive me if I'm jumping to the wrong conclusion here!

[nightfever]

No I do not have enough to meet the Investor criteria.
I am planning to buy something for £80k cash (NZ$220k).
Use it for say 4 months (Dec-Mar) and maybe let it out for the rest of the year. The Let would then probably be enough to pay the air fare to New Zealand every year and probably the rates etc.
Another thought was Let it all year with say the opportunity to use a bedroom and facilities in the house for 4 months whilst we are over there.
I have never been to the South Island does anyone know a good location for a property?

[veronica]

so much depends on what you are looking for. if you want one that is easy to let then you should be near the city ( whichever one) but if you are looking for tranquil country living its very different. best spend a few months touring round and getting a feel for areas.