[shaun_forsyth]

Hi,
I am planning on moving to NZ from Scotland in feb/07 with my partner.I am 20 years old and will fully qualify as a joiner/carpenter in 6 weeks completing my 4 year apprentiship.
What is the hourly pay rates for a joiner in the Hawks bay area? Also the average working week?

thanks in advance! :)

[Chippie]

Hi Shaun,

Don't know about Hawkes bay but I have a building company in New Plymouth. Usual rate for skilled tradesmen are 20 - 22 / hour. and 44 hour weeks are normal. Carpenters are builders and joinery is considered to be a seperate trade hers but will pay a similar wage. You shouldn't find it too hard to get employment as builders and joiners are in demand.

cheers

Ian

[shaun_forsyth]

Thanks for the reply.
When you say a seperate trade do you mean that joiners get sub contracted to do the work?.

cheers!

[Chippie]

In the UK it's combined and you can call your self a carpenter/joiner. By a seperate trade I mean that it's a seperate apprenticeship so here you either train as a Carpenter/Builder or a Joiner but not both.

Do you usually work in joiners shops or do you mostly do site work?

Why Hawkes bay do you have family or friends there?

Cheers

Ian

[shaun_forsyth]

Yes my sister stays in Napier,
I do site work,first fix,second fix,kitchens basicly everything from start to finish.Right now Im doing finishings in luxury penthouses,hardwood floors etc.I wouldnt work in a shop as I like outdoor work and dont like being stuck in one place to long,I like the fact that I could be doing somthing different every day and not just boring production.

cheers....

[shaun_forsyth]

Hi again,
I have the numbers of a couple of hawks bay companys.If I phone them what is the usual way to go about asking about work? who would I speek to.
Over hear I would ask to speek to the contracts manager or company owner,
Any advice would be apperciated.

[Chippie]

Hi,

It's pretty much the same here as in the Uk for getting work the type of work you will probably end up with will be differant though. I would try to go with a small company if you can the larger ones don't tend to give you much variation in work. Smaller companies have to get everyone to do the job from start to finish which is what you realy need to get started here. There is plenty of work around fitting kitchens if thats what you like,most of them are purpose bnuilt no MFI here and so come ready assembled nice and easy to fit etc.

Best of Luck

Ian

[shaun_forsyth]

Thanks very much for your help.
Is there a market for starting up my own company with a van,the right advertising etc doing small contracts and jobbing?

[Chippie]

Hi again,

You would realy need to get a job first and work for someone for a year as the rules are very differant over here. You would be expected to do a lot of things you were not familier with. But once you are confident you are experienced enough then yes there would be a market for setting up on your own jobbing etc.


Cheers
Ian

[john & becky]

WE also really fancy Napier and surrounds , any ideas what the situation is for plumbing work there (in the region)??

[shaun_forsyth]

well The flights are booked and we will be ariving in Napier 7th/feb.
Chippie>Im not sure what do do about tools,I have a large kit including paslode framing and finishing,power drill etc and all my hand tools.
Is it quite common using paslode guns in NZ and will in need them?
Also would it be worth bringing basic hand tools in my luggage?

cheers!

[Chippie]

Hi Shaun,

Definatly get the paslodes shipped over and bring a couple of good 4 point extensions then you can put a nz plug on them and run your chargers off that you can also put a nz plug on transformers for 110 volt tools so they are all worth shipping too. If you could bring hand tools over in your allowance then yes bring them. But you will be able to replace most of them here at a similar cost to buying them in the UK.

Good luck

Ian

[shaun_forsyth]

Thanks again for all the helpfull advice,I think I will bring some basic tools to start off,then once I test the water and find a job get the paslodes sent.
Am I right in thinking it wont be to hard for me to find a job? I would rate myself as very compatant in my trade and could walk into a new job everyday in the uk if I wanted.will this be the same in nz and are the standards as good?

cheers.

[Chippie]

Again I can't realy say for other areas of NZ but that would be the case in New Plymouth.

[NannyOgg]

Hi Shaun

I moved over here less than 4 months ago, I am a C&G Carpenter and joiner but have worked as Project manager for the last 20 years in the UK, and now the same here in NZ for a Shopfitters in Panmure Auckland. The advice given by Chippie is very sound and I can only echo that you will not have a problem finding work, if you are in Auckland looking call me we are always looking for good people.

Mr Ogg the OH of Nanny

[shaun_forsyth]

Hi Shaun

I moved over here less than 4 months ago, I am a C&G Carpenter and joiner but have worked as Project manager for the last 20 years in the UK, and now the same here in NZ for a Shopfitters in Panmure Auckland. The advice given by Chippie is very sound and I can only echo that you will not have a problem finding work, if you are in Auckland looking call me we are always looking for good people.

Mr Ogg the OH of Nanny
Again its very nice to hear that,and thanks for the offer,if I decide to go to auckland for a part of my stay I will keep that in mind.
Im just so exited now about the move,especialy with the cold weather kicking in in Scotland now.
Is there any major differences in regulations and standards of work in NZ compared to the UK?

Thanks again for the help :nice1