Oz or NZ

commando · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 10:36 am Post subject: Oz or NZ

Hi, I need help. My wife and I wish to emigrate from the UK with our two young children, 5 and 2. Can't decide between NZ or OZ. We want somewhere thats ideal for family life, (another baby on way). Just wondered if anyone could give any personal views. We like affordable property, the sun, (in the summer), low crime, (ex-copper), beaches, scenery, blah, blah, blah...same as everyone else I expect. There is a slight problem. Although I spent 7 years in the Royal Marine Commandos and five in the Met Police, the only trade I have is as a painter and decorator. Run my own business. I don't know what the work situation is like. I have looked at the methods of entry to both countries and it looks as though my only option at present is to execute a night time tactical beach assault. Seriously though, is NZ as great as everyone makes it out to be. I mean today I dragged my kids around a village fete in the pooring rain, paid one pound for a lucky dip, two pound for the bouncy castle slide thing,(five slides only), whilst listening to an out of time stones tribute band. Doesn't get better than this.

Any advice appreciated, and or job offers!

Lee Nutcase

Per mare, per terram.

veronica · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 3:53 pm Post subject:

I can't answer for the normal list but if you have run your own business you could apply under the LONG TERM BUSINESS VISA. this will only give you a temporary visa of 3 years to get the busines going but at the end of that if its making a profit you can apply for an entrepeneurs visa which is permenant (wish they had a spell checker here)
I've lived in Oz but have yet to live in NZ. Oz is great, loved it there, but depending on where you live the heat and humidity can be oppressive. A lot of people who like hot holidays, and I do, think I'm mad when I say that but unless you have air conditioning you can get too much of a good thing. we used to spend a lot of the real hot days indoors as it was cooler. And there is the wildlife to consider, while its not in your face you have to be aware of the poisonous spiders when you have young kids, we used to check the kids outside toys every day when they were little but we did have redbacks in the letterbox and in the house on different occasions.

Jamie Smith · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 5:22 pm Post subject:

Hello Commando

Veronica is correct, you may qualify for LTBV. It's a little mroe difficult for tradesman to do Business Owner policy in Australia due to minimum turnover in home country of Aus$300,000 as entry criteria, but if you can meet that threshold, and have documents to show business ownership and operation plus sufficient capital, then you ahve a choice of two countries.

Send me a PM or email if you want us to work with you for a full and free assessment of business migration for both countries (NB, we are not agents so do not do lodgement or policy advice in personal matters, we just work on business plans that are also tailored to meet immigration criteria.)

martwend · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 7:43 pm Post subject:

Hi Commando

Look up the Nz yellow pages for the area you are interested in and look under Painters.....then start phoning.Someone may be able to give you a lead re employment. Otherwise look at the employment web sites....you will find Kiwis very helpful.

Good luck...we've been here 8 weeks and it is great

Wendy.

Moorf · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 9:43 am Post subject:

Hey Mart

Are you out there looking for work or did you get in via EOI or job offer - always interesting to know how those who are now in NZ got in!!

Moorf

martwend · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 5:37 pm Post subject:

Hi Moorf,

Martin got a job offer before we applied for residence. Unfortunately we missed the deadline under the old system by 10 days and had to get work, visitor etc. visas. We then put in an EOI and have just been told that we have been selected. Clapping

That's good because you pay a higher interest rate on your mortgage if you don't have residence!

We wouldn't recommend coming over without a job although we do know people who have done it and been successful. Depends on your circumstances I guess.

Good luck!

Wendy

Graham Barnes · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 7:24 pm Post subject: Interest Rates

Hi Mart,

Some thoughts, even though it is going off at a bit of a tangent...

You mentioned that if you don't have PR, you pay a higher rate of interest on a mortgage. My brother has been out in NZ for just over a year (work visa), has just bought himself a house, and didn't encounter any differences between him and the locals in what he was charged. Confused

Have you found this out by personal experience, or told by other immigrants or banks?
If it is true, do you know the average differential and if you get PR later on, does your interest rate drop to the normal level?

We're moving to Auckland at the end of July on WTR visas, and are quite keen to buy ourselves a place as soon as possible so we'd be grateful for any additional info you could offer.

Many thanks.
Graham

goldwheels · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 7:53 pm Post subject:

Hi, I've been here since the beginning of January on a work visa, and have rented for a couple of months, but rather than leaving our money in an account for a year until we got residence we decided to invest it and buy. Westpac did not desciminate us in any way, and were more than helpful to offer us a morgage as we had a large deposit to put down from the equity of our house sale in the UK. Our morgage advisor told us that the only time they can be funny about lending money out is if the sum of money for the house was to come from them. As some people have done a runner with their money.

martwend · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 10:07 am Post subject:

Hi,

We are puzzled by this issue of mortgage interest. Confused

We are paying about 2% over the odds because of our status....which is about to change as we have been invited to apply for residence. It may be just the policy of our lender as it is a Medical and Dental professional body....we will check. I don't think it can be due to the amount we borrowed as we only needed about a quarter of the purchase price Rolling Eyes

.Hmmmm!

On a general point, interest rates for borrowing are a bit higher than the UK...not a lot though and it probably doesn't make much difference to immigrants from the UK as you are likely to have a smaller mortgage anyway.

Wendy........still lovin' it here