[Hobbit]

Hi!

I've been looking to emigrate for some time now. I have been to NZ twice- most recently this Christmas, to stay with my sister and her family.

Whilst I was out there, I had and interview, and on my return home, I was offered the job! Now that the reality has arrived, and with it all the financial implications and the paperwork for EOI and (hopefully) residency, I am in a quandry. This my third job interview, one of which get me a second, but unsucessful, interview, but this is my fisrt job offer. I'm trying to wok out where to go from here, and I will have to give my answer in a few days.....

[billb]

Hi Hobbit,

I'm trying to wok out where to go from here, and I will have to give my answer in a few days.....

Well, how badly do you want it? It's assumed that, as you've had interviews already, you must be pretty sure that you want to make the move.

Although you say you've been "looking to emigrate for some time", you don't say if that was to NZ. How much research have you done into living, working and surviving in NZ? How much information have you gained from this forum? (the best of the bunch IMHO)

Have you done any calculations regarding disposable income versus outgoings? Have you got some idea of where you would like to live or would that be dependant upon where your job is? Would you have a long and difficult commute?

Are you ready to leave family and friends behind? Would you be coming alone or with a partner and maybe children? Do they want it as much as you?

Are you aware of the differences in general regarding the standard / quality of housing compared to the UK, along with the (generally) lack of insulation?

Would you have to sell up to move to NZ or would you have some kind of financial "buffer", and would you be looking to rent or buy?

Have you thought of maybe going over for a 6-9 month holiday (if that was possible) so that you could get more than one season in?

You probably didn't want to receive all of the above as a reply and you may think I've been negative. However, you did ask (sort of) and I've tried to cover most things (off the top of my head) which would probably have some kind of bearing on your decision.

This forum is probably the greatest place for picking up invaluable information without (too much) bias and there will almost certainly be someone along sooner or later, either to add to what I've already said, or to put me right where I've erred. I can't recommend strongly enough regarding looking through this forum, even the oldest threads!
You can also be sure that there will be lots more which I haven't covered or mentioned but will be by someone else!

I suggest that you gain as much info as possible through this forum, write down what you want from the rest of your life, then, with the information gained, determine (as best you can) whether you feel your aspirations can be achieved by emigrating to NZ.

We wish you all the best and hope that the decision you finally arrive at is the right one for you and your situation.

Bill.
(currently in our own quandary!)

[Hobbit]

Thanks for your response, Bill.

No- you've not been at all negative as your reply conatins many pertiment questions. I've benn looking to enigrate to NZ only, as I have visited and have family there.

I've done maths regrding my dispoable income, and I would be on a comparble salary to my present one. I don't currently drive, so would be looking to site myself near my job. I would leave my mother behind, but she supports my decision to do this- she can see that I would have a better life than in London. She sees the life that my sister already has. I would be coming on my own, but it would not just be me relocating elsewhere as my emigration would result in my mother having to move also. My brother and family are in the UK.

I have only just discovered this forum, but it has been and will continue to be very useful.

I would be able to purchase a larger property than I could afford in the UK, but Iam awrae that I would need to bring some extra jumpers, as central heating is not a given in many properties, some of which have tin roofs (like my sister's- the noise is amazing in a heavy downpour!)

I would have to sell up to move to NZ, and would be looking to buy over there with a small mortgage.

It would not be possible to go out for a brief time, as the job I've been offered is permanent. I've just spend Christmas in NZ, but the weather, as last time I went, when it was their autumn, was very untypical, so I have not experienced the hot weather....

Thanks again, Bill, and I hope that your own quandary works out.

Kate.

[billb]

Hi Kate,

"some of which have tin roofs (like my sister's- the noise is amazing in a heavy downpour!)"Kate.

Lol :laugh Yes, what a racket!

Well, it's great news that your salary would be comparable to what you have in the UK - that's a good start!

I'm just in the process of doing some calculations regarding current %age of outgoings to income :eek: :exit

IF we ever get the chance to live in NZ, I think we would probably need to live outside of Auckland, which is a shame as my sister lives there!

Where abouts is your job offer?

Bill

[veronica]

a few things here that I wondered about.
would you go out on your own and are you under 30. if so it might be worth looking at the young persons working holiday visa to start with then changing it once you are here.

if you are older and your job is on the shortages list then it may be as well to see if you can just get a work visa and again look to change it to PR once you are here.

If you are thinking of coming over with your mum then is she a dependant. if she isn't then she may have to wait until you as well as your sister are here, because as I understand it more of the family have to be here rather than the UK.

don't know if that is any help. just ideas.

[Hobbit]

Hi Bill,

And the rain can come from seemingly nowhere and pour down in an absoulute sheet- I thought the rain in Wales was bad enough, and I survived that for 18 years...

I hope that my salary would cover all of my outgoing, but I am making futher enquiries with my propective employer to ensure it will.

My job offer is in Orewa, just ouside AKL, as I'm sure you know, but that, too is catching up with AKL in terms of property prices now that the motorway extends that far. As it extends further, the rest of the coast wil follow, I'm sure.

We both have sisters in Auckland....

Kate.

[Hobbit]

Hi Veronica,

I am 40 and not eligable for a working holiday visa, and my job is not on the shortages list, either, although I was only 1 of 2 people intially chosen for interview before they decided to adverise again (I don't know if the second ad was any more sucessful) to have a bigger number of interviewees. I have come up gainst this before in other job searches in NZ, so perhaps there is a shortage...

Mum would be eligable to come because she would have more than 2/3 of her family in NZ, but she says that her intention is to stay in the UK.

Kate.

[andreamatt]

Hey Kate

"the job I've been offered is permanent"[/QUOTE]

Nothing is permanent!! Apart from your mother you appear to be without ties and have been offered a job with a salary comparable to your London salary: what a fantastic position to be in! (And you've got family in NZ).

Anyway, best wishes in whatever decision you make,

Andrea Matt William and Martha

[billb]

Hi Kate,
Know what you mean about the rain!
Don't know an awful lot about Orewa, except to say that it looked a really lovely place (stopped off there on the way back to Auck from Rotorua)

We visited my sister in Auckland (Remuera) in 2003 for 3 weeks (well, 1 week was spent up at Paihia, Bay of Islands - absolute heaven!) Almost every morning (when in Auck), it would be a bit overcast and misty and she would say "oh, don't worry, we'll soon get the Auckland burn off - it'll soon go" - and it quickly did!
It was the first three weeks of Feb, and we were at Waitangi on Feb 6th!

It's the 2nd time in Auck for her, the first time when she arrived just about 35 years ago! She's also lived in Christchurch (near Hagley Park, one of her favourite places), Hamilton, Wellington & Dunedin, so she's got a pretty good idea of both islands.

Still trying to work out the cost of electricity, gas, telephone charges in NZ - think I'll scan the forum for the answers - be back later!

Bill.

[Hobbit]

Hi All,

When I say salary iscomparible, it's about £4,00 less than I'm earning in the UK, but If I had been appointed on the lower end of the NZ scale, it would be financially extemely difficult.

Yes, I guess nothing is permanent, and it is fantastic, but my sister might move, probably to Australia, if her partner changes jobs...

Kate.

[Hobbit]

Hi Bill,
Yes, I liked Orewa, and it's within fairly easy reach of other shopping and leisure areas due to the motorway and improving bus network. Remuera sounds like a really nice suburb from what I hear. Yes, the weather blows over quickly, but you can still get "4 seasons in 1 day"!

The only cost I have is for mobile phones- expensive to buy and to use, my sister says, and also that technology generally is not as up to speed in the UK, as people can't afford it. Flat screen TV's are still a very new and expensive thing.

Kate

[billb]

Kate,

"but you can still get "4 seasons in 1 day"!"

Yep, as I can confirm to my cost!

"Flat screen TV's are still a very new and expensive thing."Kate

Well, one very good tip I remember from this forum all those years back, was that you could take your electrical equipment with you and your extension leads. When you get to NZ, change over the plug on the end of the extension leads and fit a NZ one - bob's your uncle, you can now plug in your UK electrical items! However, I don't think that your TV would work, due to the frequency diffs:no, but your other equipment should be fine. It will save quite a bit of money not having to buy replacements, even with the cost of transporting them to NZ in the equasion ;) But I'm sure I'll be put right if that no longer applies!

Bill.

[westies]

Hi There
Just been reading your thread, we live in West Auckland, yesterday we went to the beach in Orewa for the day (approx 40 min drive), it is gorgeous, and within a few minutes drive of numerous other beaches, if you have got a job there which pays pretty well from what I can gather, then you have nothing to lose but loads to gain, it really is stunning and loads of beautiful places to live around there too!! Our plans are to move out that way within the next year!
Good luck to you

[leeb]

Kate,

I'm going with a permanent job offer as well. However mine quite clearly states that I must take up NZ citizenship within 5 years 8 months if it is to be made as permanent as I'd like. I'm not sure if you've recieved a contract or not yet, but it may be one of the stipulations. I'm also unsure if this is just because fo the job I've been offfered, or if it is something all employers in NZ will do.

Lee

[DSC]

Lee,
I am in the same situation, but I believe that the 5 years 8 Months stipulation will be fairly unusual for most occupations. Although I have heard of/read somewhere else on the forum, someone speaking of a "Bond".