[ezza]

Hello

Just thought I'd enter my first post as a new recruit to NZ. My OH, and I - Col - are aiming to be on our way over permanently by the end of 2007. We only decided three weeks ago that this is what we wanted to do. I've just told my parents who are right behind us - wishing they'd done it themselves years ago.

Col is highly skilled in the IT network engineering field so he has no problems getting the required points. I have just done 12 years in the army followed by the past year working as a corporate researcher. I am in the process of re-drafting my CV and I am interested in working in government type roles or with the NZ police. Is it possible to do this before gaining residency? I am also a semi-qualified horse riding instructor so I am prepared to get back to working with horses if needs be!

We are not married but have been together for 9 years - will this hinder my chances of getting a visa? We are coming over in Feb/March for a looksee visit - to give Col a chance to meet potential employers and guage a feel for where we might settle. I like what I have heard about Wellington and the Bay of Plenty but we will go where the work is to begin. We have no children or pets to worry about either but my long term aim is to have a horse on a couple of acres of our own. Are there affordable places to do this in the Wellington/Bay of Plenty Area?

I guess that I will be visiting this site on many more occasions in the coming months ... with lots more questions!!

[Helsandfamily]

Hi ezza,

Welcome to the forum, Can't answer all of your questions but I am sure that someone will!

hels

[katandbob]

I can answer the Horsey bit.... If you are BHS trained, get your full licence before you come out, Decent riding instrutors are few and far between.

I know of a Brit from Surry, who only has her ass instructor who has opened a riding school here, as they didnt have anything like a UK type riding school - just treking centres on Standard breds (Google Pacers/trotters) not a nice gait for eventing thats for sure.

I know of one Jumping instructor that charges $35 an hour, and that was special rate for riding club, he did about 4 maybe 5 group lessons which each group had about 10+ in it for both Sat/Sun.
at the least that was $6720 that he made in a weekend.

good Luck, and welcome

Kat

[StevieD]

Well, there you go, Kat has done the horsey bit!

As far as the not being married bit, well you will have no problems I shouldn't think. There are lots of people who aren't married who have got their visas, as long as you can prove you have been in a stable relationship (joint bank accts stuff like that) then you should be o.k.

Good luck in your adventure and welcome to the forum!!! :cheers


Steve and Jan (stuff IT, Steve just off to learn to ride a horse!! :laugh )

[willsken]

Hi welcome to the forum :cheers




Steve and Jan (stuff IT, Steve just off to learn to ride a horse!! :laugh )

My thoughts exactly!! :laugh

[StevieD]

Well yeah!! Now there will be a rush on riding horses LOL :laugh

[marcia]

Wanted to add a belated welcome - been a busy the last few days packing our house up to send in a tin box to the other side of the world - just catching up now!!!

:cheers

[Bruckner]

Add another belated welcome!

Emily

[ezza]

Thanks for your welcomes everyone. We hit a bit of a snag the other day when the immigration consultant didn't include Col's IT qualifications in his points - it seems that only degrees count, not professional qualifications???! Anyway, a different consultant has reassured him that doing it the other way around (i.e. getting a job offer first) is the viable option. So, after feeling a bit glum the other night, we are feeling positive about it again.

My dad reminded me that immigration don't make it easy for obvious reasons (if that was the case here in Britain, maybe we wouldn't be going in the first place!) so I was reminded that not to get disheartened by the setbacks but keep plugging away at it. Our parents are all 100% behind us, which is really nice, too.

I would be interested to hear if anyone knows whether it is possibe for people on visas to work for the government or police - that is what I want to do.

Anyway, thanks for the warm welcome and I'll keep listening to everyones experiences!!

[dangermouse]

Hi Ezza welcome to the forum. I am sure you can work for Govt on a visa, I applied for a job with the Govt but was a bit previous as although we are hoping to be in Wellington by Mid Jan 07 we have not yet got visas. I got a reply telling me to keep an eye on their jobs wesite and apply for suitable jobs once the visa is in place.