Permanent Resident in New Zealand - some impressionss

Lee&Nicky · I Like It Here Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 70

I think it is vital that we have posts on the forum from a cross section of people and hear the full range of experiences. Personally I welcome information on the "negatives" as well as the positives, this way I hope to keep my feet planted somewhere close to the ground.

We all have our own reasons for wanting to move and, similarly, we will all react differently if and when that time comes. I know why I have decided on this route and the reasons are personal and, in some aspects, unique to me and my family. We have done copious amounts of own research on the matter and we are happy with what we are doing and it is highly unlikely that anything anybody has to say in this forum is going to cause us to do a complete about turn. However, for my wife and I it is great to hear other peoples' experiences and views, I hope that at least hearing the not so good experiences will hopefully make me a little more prepared before I take the plunge and to cope a little better should things not turn out the way we plan or hope.

What great 20th century philosopher said "Live your life, be free"........oh, er, it was Belinda Carlisle. Oh well, you know what I mean

Lee

karltsmith · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:39 pm Post subject:

Hi All,

I've been following this thread for a few days now and it has been fascinating reading everyones comments even though at times it's been getting a bit....feisty!

I don't necessarily disagree with any of the points of view discussed because they all add value....good or bad all issues must be considered before taking such a huge step as migrating.

I think that the most positive thing to come out of this discussion has been to challenge peoples motivations to migrate and I for one think that that is a good thing!

I have, on other threads, mentioned that NZ is not a paradise and anyone thinking that way will be disappointed! However all I can say is that for me and my family it is where we want to be and we enjoy the country lifestyle and culture very much.

It is also a valid point that different people have different motivations for migration and that should also be respected.

Lukas, I thank you for starting such a thread......and if nothing else it has convinced me, from my personal background and experience, that at this point in time it is the place to be....for me and my family!

What we should all take away from this is the need to consider those things that add to ones own personal quality of life...for some it's cultural or material things...for others social, economic, recreational or something else.....quite intangible and personal that defies description.

I hope that you all find your own good reasons to migrate...........and remember that they are YOUR reasons......and that should be good enough Nice One

Karl

PS

I lived in NZ (and Fiji) for 3 years before returing this year...just in case you think I'm still going through the "honeymoon" phase of migration

markkellaway · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:47 pm Post subject:

Hi Karl,

A well balanced post, thank you! Nice One

From your experience are you finding that you are able to enjoy the recreational side of life there, even though you may not be "rich" in the classic sense? The impression we have got, both from visiting NZ and from friends who live there, is that you can enjoy the country without taking out a bank loan to do so, yet other people in this thread have indicated that this is not the case. Can I ask what your experiences have been?

It is, after all, the quality of life thing that motivates many of us!! cool

Cheers,

Mark.

karltsmith · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:14 pm Post subject:

Hi Mark,

I first migrated in 1987 and returned to the UK in 1991. I was in my mid twenties then and had an above average job that allowed me to finance a passion for diving, fishing, walking and skiing. I did not have property and so this was not a consideration at that time.

Certainly that type of lifestyle is still here and I have long standing friends all of whom have a passion for boating and fishing. During the summer I think you can guess where they will be.

I am now 42 and have some significant equity behind me but I am not rich in the monetary sense....enough to buy a good house on the North Shore with a small mortgage.

Recreationaly I have not yet got to the stage where this has kicked in but it will later this year. The reasons for this are that our plan was to allow my wife to settle into her job first, make sure our twin 2 year old daughters always had a parent on hand (I'm a house hubby for a few months) and to buy a house. It doesn't sound like much but this does take up a lot of time! I will then join the workforce next year.

My wife's job is panning out well and she has been promoted within 3 months of taking her original position. She works pretty much 9 to 5 (actually its 8 to 4:30 but that doesn't roll off the tongue as well) and has not yet been called in to do overtime although this will happen from time to time as with any job but it is not expected to be the norm!

Our weekends are spent mainly looking for houses at present...however if this were not the case there are heaps of places to go to at the weekend....and no...they don't all cost the earth...but if you are into expensive persuits then obviously wherever you are in the world they will cost you and NZ is no different on that score.

Nice One

Macs Gold · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:31 pm Post subject:

NZ sure provides lots of opportunities to enjoy yourself for little or no cost, especially in the great outdoors. Most countries do.

What makes New Zealand a bit special, is the general accessibility of the outdoors, the lack of other people there (well in most places), the general grandeur of the scenery, and importantly the kiwi outdoors orientated culture.

These were all factors that influenced me in my migration, and largely determined (with schooling) that we moved to Dunedin. Here, within 10 min we can have the kids at great beaches, native bush, mountains or other coastal landscapes, with hassle free driving. That is a big difference from what we experienced in suburban London.

But that said, the requirement to tighten our belts a lot is also very different from London.

I am reminded of those hierachy of needs diagrams that are sometimes rolled out in training sessions - entertainment always comes in lower on most peoples priorities than such things as health, security, housing, food, etc. The NZ outdoors might be great for the weekend....

From my discussions with people who have moved to NZ, there are often tradeoffs to be made. As long as people have done their homework and understand what those tradeoffs are, then I for one will be very happy. Unfortunately I know some people who haven't realised this until too late.

There is an often quoted statistic that 1 in 3 migrants move on within a five year timeframe. Hopefully, because everyone on here and other forums are getting themselves well clued up on life in NZ then this stat doesn't apply here. But it makes you think.....which is good.

Moorf · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 8:30 am Post subject:

Not sure if it's the come-down from a trip abroad or whether I am getting cold feet, but this thread has really put me on a downer Sad

"Feisty" as Karl described this thread ... but it's the undertone that all is NOT well in NZ and/or perhaps I have been blind up to this point and that Chch will be a disaster...

Anyone else thinking differently after reading this thread or just me being pessimistic

karltsmith · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:20 am Post subject:

Hi Moorf,

I hope you enjoyed Berlin...a great city!! I hope you got to Potsdam!

I know what you mean about this thread but to put it in context it is perhaps the only thread out of literally hundreds on the forum with a negative tone/undercurrent! It accounts for a handful of negative comments out of literally thousands of positive ones!

Having said that do you not think think that it is useful to have a period of reflection before jumping in! I had many........... and each time I came to the same conclusion and thats why I'm here! I feel lucky to have the chance to do this again!

Chin up! Sad

(((((((((big HUG)))))))) (no smilie ENZ!)

Moorf · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:37 am Post subject:

Hi Karl .. yes, we certainly did get to Potsdam - a "ballet of cranes" ! Very impressive... we tromped around most of East and West Berlin in the rain and 29 degrees of humidity Hmmm

the only major thing we didn't do was the Reichstag as the queues were just too long

but instead we enjoyed a glass of champers in Ka De We Nice One

I totally agree that both sides of life in NZ need to be aired and, as Raeven pointed out we all have different reasons for going - I think I even started a thread asking for the bad bits a while back.. I think the "child prostitutes" and car theft was what really made me think... yes, we have had our many many ours of talking, thinking and chewing things over and we always come back to the same decision - we'll go and see ourselves - but these are things that I really didn't expect of Chch (Auckland perhaps.. which is why we are avoiding that area)

Lisa.C · I Like It Here Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 75

Hi Moorf,

You are not alone, i have had the same feelings and this thread has provoked many of them, i also check out other forums that have been pretty negative of late, families coming back to the UK because they can't make ends meet, this is especially scary as one particular couple have no children, the hubby is a plumber and they can't cut it Uhoh

But I think to get it into perspective we only need to hear one or two negatives to feel frightened, generally that is not the case and many immigrants are very pleased with their new life and have been successful, i think it's normal to get the jitters, it's a big thing we are doing, moving to the other side of the earth, at least you are researching the whole thing and won't be going eyes closed Nice One

you'll be fine Moorf Yes

Lisa

Moorf · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:46 am Post subject:

<<<<HUGS>>>>> for Lisa and Karl

markkellaway · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:54 am Post subject:

Hi Moorf and all,

You do need, as Karl pointed out I think, to keep this in context. Most of us already know that NZ is not "paradise" in the true sense, but want the move to make a better life for ourselves. You could move to the safest city in the world and have your car broken into or your home burgled.

I do think that the child prostitute comment from Eddy brings out the horror in all of us but I think it makes Christchurch sound worse than it really is. I walked down Manchester street every night for 2 weeks in May with my wife and 10 year old son, I did not see a single prostitute let alone a child one. Admittedly there was the odd dodgy looking "club" but you'll get that in any city, I feel a lot more intimidated walking around Bournemouth on a weekend evening!

I was one of the posters who got a little "fiesty" because of the negativity, mainly because of the effect it could have on people. In hindsight though it is good that we see all sides of the dice before rolling it, the fact that there is a bad side doesn't mean that's where it will land for you. It's all about minimising the risks, making sure you have enough money when you go, good prospects for employment etc.. You could give up on everything and get run over when you leave the house tomorrow, you of all people I'm sure will appreciate that. Grab it with both hands, stay positive but take in the experiences of others so that you stay realistic. Clapping

Remember also that Eddy is thinking of going back to NZ even after the terrible things he has experienced while there, that has to say something!!! Nice One

Feeling tired so apologies if this comes out as one long piece of drivle(?)!!

Mark.

Moorf · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 10:04 am Post subject:

Well I guess a walk down Manchester St is first on the list of things to do!!

Eyes wide open now Yes

wilson182 · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:02 pm Post subject:

A good friend of mine emigrated to nz with her kiwi boyfriend about two years ago. (this july she is taking her citizenship) They initially had a flat on Manchester Street, and mentioned the prostitues (although not child ones) They laugh about it now, but I sure it was horrible at the time. And she is quite certain that she will not move back to England.

The same can be said for my hubby, who absolutley loves it over there. However, we have just been on the biggest learning curve of ALL TIME.
Personally I think it is really important for people to go and spend some time there first, before making the jump. When you want something so bad, people have a tendency to blinker out the bad stuff (i am including me and hubby in this). When you do spend time there, there will be things you love and things you hate. You can then make an informed choice. There is a chance that nz will not be for you, but then again, like many people on this forum, it could be the thing you have waited for all your life.

Whatever happens, We wish everyone very good luck fingers crossed

Lukas · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:33 pm Post subject:

For my “critics”
Wink

I will strongly advise you to read first carefully what I’ have been writing.
Some of you have accuse me as been interested on money while they have quite a different life perspective. I am not a materialist person and I was saying clear enough “The problem of NZ is not the lack of money but rather the lack of opportunities”…. I motivated with arguments my statement. The statistics are on my side 1 in 3 immigrants are living the country within the first 5 years…
I think the guys at NZIS are well aware of that, this is why they fix a 50000 immigrants quota per year… more than NZ job market can absorb. The initial NZIS selection will be soon follow by a real life in NZ selection ( at the immigrant expense )
This is basically a win-win case for NZ as far as for the first two years the emigrants are not eligible for social assistance (unless in hardship…).
One Italian guy expecting to graduate in Economics was screaming here on the forum about the lack of professional opportunities for him in Italy. I told him that if he is unable to find a position in a job market of 460 million people (European Union) his chances in a job market of 4 million like NZ are scarce (add to all this the huge disadvantage non native English speakers has to face for a professional position).
Have I been Wrong, Irrational, or Negativist ?
For a while I was a teacher in Romania. I have considered to follow a one year teaching course in NZ + improving my English I may be able to teach in a School somewhere on the future. Then I have got an official letter from the Ministry of Education saying that they will employ school teachers from UK, Ireland, US, Australia, Canada and some parts of South Africa only. With another words…boy regardless how much you will study, from the very start you are not eligible. Fair enough…I haven’t qualify for PR as a teacher but as the statistics are sowing, 20000 Malaysians did (they are NZ registered teachers, 95% of them without the chance to practice ever their profession in NZ)
Well… I can teach at the University when I will finish my PhD… probable… Nice One

I like NZ and the very fact that I will be back there in October to try my fortune again is a proof for that.
…And something else …I came in NZ with nothing else than my backpack…and some pocket money (just in case) which I didn’t wanted to spend…

Hmmm

If anyone fells “offended” again (there were about two persons) for "breaking their dreams", I will stop writing on this forum