Taking children to NZ

lin thorpe · Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 9:42 pm Post subject: Taking children to NZ

We have struggled with the points entry system to NZ and after reading comments on this site are very tempted to just go to NZ and look at it as an adventure even if things don't work out for us. However, we have three children 7, 11, 15 Mr. Green

and wondered if anyone with children has done this and if so how did the children handle everything and settle in? We are hoping to go to Wellington but will go anywhere there is a job opportunity. Thanks and look forward to hearing from you Nice One

martwend · Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 11:40 pm Post subject:

Hi Lin,

Our 4 children aged 9, 7, 5 and 2 love it here in NZ. The older boys have settled in to school and after only 2 months don't want to go back to the UK..However, I do know a couple of families who have comr out with no jobs to go to and the stress there under is awful. Their kids are a bit younger so don't take on the stress as much as older kids might but their parents are worried about uprooting them if they havr to go back to the UK.

NZ is a great place to live but you still have to do the weekly shop, pay tax, find somewhere to live etc. and if you don't have jobs and have this kind of uncertainty and stress then there is no advantage in being in NZ

Wendy

abourmike · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 2:53 am Post subject: Schools

Hi martwend,
We are hoping to land in Hastings/Napier in late June or early July, along with our two children age four and two.
Have you any advice on schooling in these areas, and how you go about choosing a good one.
Any advice on nursery/preschool would also be appreciated.
Thanks

Mike.

MikeG · Testing The Water Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 1

Dear all,
we're off to Wellington in August with our 2 kids who are 9 and 6. I do have a job but am yet to find schools etc. Any help would be appreciated re information. I too would find it difficult to just up sticks with no job prospects.

Regards Mike G

martwend · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 9:32 am Post subject:

Hi Mike,

Schools are zoned here so it is difficult to give much advice until you get here and know where you are living. We found the official NZ education web site very helpful. It lists all schools by area and gives you a decile rating. The decile rating relates to the socio economic background of the kids and their families and we tended to look only at schools where the rating was 7 or above. This was not because we are snobs but to find a school similar to the one in Scotland that the kids had just left. Also, you will be able to find out whether the school is a full primary or if the kids go to Intermediate school before high school. They also list the roll numbers. It was important to us to have the kids at a small rural school....which is just fantastic and the kids love it....but other friends here are very happy with the 2 of the local primary schools here in Taradale The schools in Havelock North are excellent also.

Most kids don't seem to start school until they are 5 and there is a complicated starting arrangement which no-one seems to understand. Before that there is kindy or pre-school which they go to from about 3. Some schools also have playgroups but you will have to pay for private daycare under 3. There is usually a small termly charge for kids at school and kindy....ie. about $40 and you have to buy the stationary.

We happened to find a school first and then bought a house to fit in with that. I would suggest you really check out schools before deciding where to live as the kids being happy and settled is the key to the whole emigration experience. Your best bet is to spend a week or so in a motel or rental and school and house hunt like crazy. We were out the morning after we arrived doing just that....no time for jet lag!

I would be happy to give you any advice about the area when you arrive if you want to make contact. I also know of someone who is about to return to the UK and is leaving a rented house in Taradale....in a very nice area. I don't know whether the landlord has new tenants lined up but I could ask if you want?

Send me a private message if I can help.

Wendy

PS The weather here right now is very windy and quite cool in the evening and morning but it is warm enough for t-shirts throught the day. The weather in the rest of NZ seems to be very wet so Hawkes Bay scores on weather.

lin thorpe · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 8:22 pm Post subject:

Thank you to every one who has replied to my posting. I would like to ask another question which someone mentioned to me and that was if you go over to NZ and find a school for your children to settle into then this enables you to stay in NZ for the whole length of their schooling. Is this a myth or has anyone else heard of this 'loophole'? Thank you.

wiz · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 1:00 am Post subject: Taking children to NZ

Hi everyone,

We are due to arrive in Tauranga during the early part of June. We wondered if there is anyone who could give a little advice on good schools for our two children who are 6 & 8. Does the decile rating give a fairly accurate indication of a good school?

Thanks to anyonr who can help.

martwend · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 9:57 am Post subject:

Hi!

One really important tip to remember if you are travelling to NZ with school age children to get student visas for them...unless you have residence. If you go over with regular visitors visas for kids then you will have to pay school fees for them to attend state school!!! The student visa form is geared towards tertiary education so some of the questions are a bit goofy but persevere because, again, I know people who arrived with visitors visas and had a huge amount of $s to get their 2 kids into regular state school.

Having said all that, we weren't asked about our status when we turned up at school with 3 boys. Also, you need to have all your visas stamped 'outward passage waived' if you are going out to work and intend staying. This means that you don't need a return ticket which can save a lot of £s at a very expensive stage in the game.

Wendy

wiz · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 11:45 pm Post subject: Taking Kids to NZ

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for the info. We have multiple visit work visas for ourselves and student visas for our two children, so the visa's aren't a problem.

We applied to NZIS advising them of our intention to lodge an EOI in NZ, and they didn't ask for any evidence of return flights etc. Are you saying that the school might ask to see confirmation of return flights, or are anyone else likely to ask to see that kind of thing... i.e. immigration control on arrival? Confused

Also... If anyone out there is in Tauranga, your advice on good schools would be appreciated.

Thanks.

martwend · Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 8:28 pm Post subject:

Hi,

We were told by NZIS in London that we either had to have return tickets or 'outward passage waived' stamped on our visas or else we wouldn't even be allowed on the plane. Then school won't be interested and probably won't ask to even see their visas.

Hope that helps.....the advice does seem to vary a lot but that was the advice we were given.

Wendy

Robert · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 9:20 pm Post subject:

Hi

Our kids school wanted copies of our visas but did not require a fee even though we had visitors visas for them as I had a work visa. JCM advises me this allows children living with the worker to study.

You are correct to suppose you must have 'outward travel waived' on your visa or otherwise show either an outward ticket or the means to purchase one. The full details, as always, are on the NZIS website.

Kids start school on their fifth birthday. This means that each class will have students of varying age AND varying length of time in school. This makes them very flexible in terms of fitting additional students in and also able to adapt to individual needs better. It also causes angst if you think your child may be in the wrong class!

My five younger children (all under 9) have gone native very easily and have not suffered at all from the transition.

Do not underestimate the stress on yourself that moving will cause, and consider a plan to cope with it.

here follows a bit of psycho-babble for which I hope you will forgive me

From what I have seen watching many emigration progammes on TV, the main failure in families moving with older children is lack of adults coping with their own issues. Remember this and look to yourself early if things are not going to plan.

A problem with communication within the family is almost always a key factor in emigration failing (at elast on TV!)

DO make sure your 15 year old actually wants to come and understands the time and other constraints involved. Don't assume they are honest. Often they will realise this is important to you and go along even if they are not happy. 15yo children have their own ideas (you will have noticed Wink

) but usually lack perspective and rarely are able to see the full implication of their actions. They need your help to think things through but listen to their ideas first.

Although this age group tends to have a very fluid group of friends, they are often very dependent upon them for emotional support (especially girls) and can easily feel isolated if parents are unable to offer this until they are fully established. Fortunately, kiwi kids are very very pleasant, accommodating and, certainly in larger cities will also be used to immigrants. You might want to talk about going out and freedom issues before you leave. NZ is VERY safe for kids and problems rare but do ask some locals if there are any trouble spots to avoid when you arrive.
Oh and don't forget that 15 year olds can get driving licences here. The best way to alienate your child will be to refuse to teach them to drive. It takes ages to get even a restricted licence at that age though (minimum 12 months) so not too much to worry about!

Ask your child if they have any concerns and explain before you go that you will be very busy, tired and stressed and are sorry in advance if you shout...

Final hint...Explain that txt messages cost the same to send to NZ as to anywhere in the UK but that phone calls are astronomically expensive.

I hope this helps - if not feel free to castigate and criticise. I should be very interested to know if anyone else agrees or disagrees with the above.

Rob

lin thorpe · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 9:55 pm Post subject:

Hi Rob
Thank you for your comments I am really grateful for people pointing out the problems of emigrating because it enables you to be grounded about the whole thing and not get carried away with the excitement. Our 15 year old daughter is very concerned about the friends she would be leaving behind and I hadn't thought to point out that she could text them for no extra cost from NZ!
Thanks again
Lin