[Brad77]

Hello all. My name is Brad and I am a high school teacher from Johannesburg, South Africa. I hope to move to NZ by Xmas. I have had my degrees assessed by NZQA and joined the NZ Teachers Council and now I hope to get a job offer and work permit. I can only lodge an EOI when I have 2 years experience (end of Dec) or have a job offer.

I have been reading these forums for a few days and am finding them very helpful with all the info offered. Thanks! :)

Just wanted to introduce myself. Any advice very welcome.

Brad

[Moorf]

Welcome Brad - where do you hope to settle in NZ?

:cheers
Moorf

[Brad77]

Hi. Like to be in Auckland but at the moment will take any job anywhere until I get my PR.

I have only visited Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Taupo in December 05 but I have heard that Christchurch is great. Didn't like Wellington too much. Loved Auckland.

Any advice?

[willsken]

Welcome to the forum from a fellow teacher! :nice1

[marcia]

Hi no advice to give but wanted to say welcome and when you start needed specific questions answered the search facitity is great, but don't be afraid to ask no question is too daft - we've all asked them! :D

[Bergita]

Hi and welcome from a fellow South African. Good luck and keep us posted with your progress.

[Brad77]

Will do. Thanks for the warm welcome. Everyone seems really nice on here.

[syddee]

Hi Brad
Welcome from a fellow saffer and forum newbie. I have registerd with a number of migration forums and found nothing but friendly people and loads of help. Face it this is a hard decision for anyone to make and we all need all the support we can get.
Keep us posted on your progress
Dalene

[Brad77]

Hi.

Well, out of the blue on Monday I got an interview and a job offer from a school in Rotorua. Suddenly this is all becoming reality. I now need to get medical and police certificates sorted before I can apply for a work visa. I hope to fly to NZ on 31 December (tickets cheaper), to start work beginning of February.

I think this is all still sinking in...

[Debbie P.]

Wow, have some of these! :clap :clap

Good luck with the move.

[Bruckner]

Good luck with the interview Brad! And welcome to the forum!

Emily

[Brad77]

Thanks everyone! :)

[Brad77]

Well, medical done-all OK.

Police certificate done.

Passport off to NZ High Commission in Pretoria this morning (for work visa).

Hold thumbs!

[Colinr]

Well, medical done-all OK.

Police certificate done.

Passport off to NZ High Commission in Pretoria this morning (for work visa).

Hold thumbs!


Wow, You're on the ball!

I'm sure it's just a formality now.
:cheers

Colin

[Brad77]

I hope so!
Thanks.

[Pepi]

Hi there from Jo'burg! My name is Lisa and my family and I are moving to Auckland early next year.
It has been very interesting reading so many stories on this site -thanks!
My biggest concern is choosing the right area with the right schools for my kids.
I have read a bit about the North Shore suburbs and sounds good. Hubby will be working in Auckland CBD and does not mind commuting, near the sea wud be fab!
I have a daughter turning 17 in Jan who currently attends a 'trade' school studying hospitality, travel & tourism, dramatic arts etc. and have no idea where to send her in Auckland. I also have a 14 year old son and a 6-year old son...busy me....:-))
Could anyone give me some suggestions of which area to live in where I could accommodate all my kids as I read that schools are all zoned.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
We have never been to NZ thus the 'Leap of Faith'.
Thanks a mil.

[Brad77]

Hi Lisa

I think you should copy your post and start a new thread. It may get lost here in Johannesburg to NZ.

Dont worry. You are making the right choice. NZ is a lovely country and you will find it very familiar coming from SA. Rugby is huge, and I felt at home right away. South Africa is a lost cause, get out while you can.

Brad

[Brad77]

Update: Got my work visa from the NZ High Commission in Pretoria yesterday, and I have just submitted my EOI online now.

All set to fly to NZ on 31 December. Start work 5 February.

[veronica]

congrats on that, where will you be heading to when you get here.

[Brad77]

Will be in AKL for a week to 10 days looking for a car (cheap, 2nd hand) to buy. Then will head to Rotorua to look for accommodation. Once found I intend doing a bit of exploring and camping in the BOP/Coromandel area before school starts. Cant wait!

Everything feels so final at the moment. Had our Xmas party. Staff gave me gift vouchers from a book shop so I bought another great NZ travel guide. I intend to really get around NZ next year in the school hols. I havent been to the SI before.

[Brad77]

Hi

I dont come on here often these days (bit of a traitor) because I am pretty settled in NZ.

Got to AKL on 2 Jan, bought car, moved to Rotorua, found a house to share, started work teaching, LOVING NZ. Havent been homesick. Very very very glad to finally be out of South Africa.

Didnt think I wanted to live in a small town after living in Johannesburg but small town NZ is fantastic. Much cheaper than AKL and better quality of life. Takes me 4 mins to work, NO TRAFFIC at all.

All you S Africans thinking about leaving. DECIDE TODAY to leave before things fall apart. Do it for your kids even if you like living in gangsters paradise.

Thanks to everyone who answered my silly questions over the last 6 months.

B

[Trigirl]

good to hear from you brad - glad you are settled in

[Mexican in NZ]

Very nice to hear you are now settled in!
Thanx for letting us know u r fine!

[dapper]

Hi welcome to you Brad......there are quite a few of us wanting to/ready to take the jump! Good luck! Let us know where you head to.

Dapper

[Colinr]

Well done Brad!

Glad it's all worked out, we should be there in a month!

Can't wait.

[Oliver]

Yes, congratulations to you. As I said in another thread, I'm hoping to be there by the end of April for a May start at my employer. I will settle in Hamilton (not far from Rotorua) and am looking forward to it. Luckily my employer is putting me up in a motel for the first while, so I can search for appropriate accommodation. Not selling my house in South Africa just yet; want to wait just a little while to see what transpires in NZ. I am however very positive about the upcoming move.

Brad, I was encouraged by the apparent ease and speed with which you got your SA documentation sorted out. I must say that I was actually quite impressed with the speed and efficiency of the PE Home Affairs dept and the SAPS in Walmer (for the police clearance certificate). The challenge now comes in getting all the docs from Pretoria. They say it helps to phone a lot and follow up ...

[Debbie P.]

Congratulations, I'm really pleased to hear that things are working out for you.:raebanana