Young plumber and family seek new life

Rick24

Hi, my name is Rick and i am a 24 year old plumber/gas fitter from the UK. I am married with 2 children aged 4 and 2. My aunty emigrated to Fielding which is in Manawatu i believe 2 years ago. Now in these 2 years she has made it perfectly clear that NZ is the best place to live on earth and she wouldnt come back unless she was in a wodden box.

I have spent many an hour on the web looking at many different sites relevant to moving and my job but all i have been able to find is that plumbers are on the occupational shortages list. Does anyone here have any insight into the actual need for my trade over there?

I have been plumbing (Fully qualified) for 6 1/2 years and i was plumbing for 5 years previous with my father who is also in the trade. I would class myself as an excellent tradesman from my quality to my enthusiasm. What i need to know before uprooting my family is whether this is any help to me out there?

I realise that, in the same way this country works, people will not give me a job on my say so and i will probably have to find work out there. The last thing i want to do though is travel halfway round the world after selling my house and belongings only to find that im not really needed.

Thanks in advance for any replies, they are much appreciated.

andy · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 3:31 pm Post subject:

I need a new water tank put in and cant get a plumber for 2 months. Hope this gives an idea!

ruthj · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 6:26 am Post subject:

Hi Andy

I am also a member of another "rival" website (only kidding as these forums are here to help us all) to do with emigrating to Nz and I can assure you that the overwhelming feeling is that there is a definite shortage of plumbers and you would get a job dead easy!!! The forum has folks who are already out there and they are very helpful; lots of posts about wages, job areas etc etc,
Can't be of any more help as neither me nor hubby are in this trade!!

But hey, Andy the trade is in the Shortages list, so that says it all!!!!!
Good luck Mr. Green

Ruth

abdul · I Like It Here Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 75

Hi Rick

I found that if you have a trade certificate in plumbing you do not need an assessment from NZQA. However to work in NZ, you will need NZ registration which will take time.
I suggest that you look into this while you are in the UK to save valuable time.

If you are looking for a job offer, it is better that you seek employment anywhere but Auckland as this improves your overall score by getting bonus points. ( assuming that you will apply for residence under the skilled migrant category)

You are lucky that plumbers are in short supply, but most employers always need to conduct a face to face interview before they make the final selection.

Good luck and I wish you and your family a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.

Abdul

JCM · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 9:32 am Post subject:

Hi Rick24,

Plumbers are very much in demand. I've seen adverts this year from plumbing firms in Auckland who were taking on UK plumbers on the basis of telephone interviews.

Rick24 · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 3:49 am Post subject:

Thanks so much for the replies they have helped me greatly. At least now i know that i will be in a good position if i come over to your country.

Is there anywhere to look on the web in reference to plumbing vacancies, ive looked very hard and had little sucess in finding any. With the shortage you say is on it leads me to believe that i have no clue what to look for and even the search engines are useless.

Thanks again, and have a great christmas

abdul · I Like It Here Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 75

Hi Rick

Please check www.seek.co.nz and select trades/services under the window industry profession

I did a quick search and found the foll advert!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PLUMBER

Our client in Auckland with large contracts in plumbing maintenance is looking for a plumber who is interested in maintenance plumbing in large institutions.

Their pay rate is between 20-25 dollars an hour and a vehicle is provided depending on experience.

You will need to have at least a limited license and be able to work unsupervised and able to commence work either before or after the Christmas break.

There is some overtime, so this position would allow you to do some saving.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For registration requirements, check out Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drain layers board at http://www.pgdb.co.nz/

Hope this was helpful
Have a great new year

Abdul

Rick24 · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 7:00 am Post subject:

Thanks again abdul, another great help. Now ive got a few more questions for you guys if thats ok.
1 My main goal if i move to NZ is to start up on my own as a plumber after probably 2 years of working for a company. How hard is it to work self employed out there?
2 My dad is extremely keen to spend time with me and possibly move himself, hes been plumbing for about 30 years and coupled with this he has excellent experience in all other aspects of the building trade. BUT he has no qualifications to put down, how could he go about the move or wont he be able to?
3 I will be bringing roughly 100 - 120 thousand pounds out with me, has the bonus points that you got for that gone now?

That should do for now, thanks in advance for your time

abdul · I Like It Here Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 75

Hi Rick

I am assuming that you will be applying under the new Skilled Migrant Category. (SMC)
The new SMC came in into effect last Dec 03, and tou dont get points for funds that you could bring in.

I would suggest that you sort out your NZ registration and qualification and apply for residency under the SMC. This can be done by filling out a form called Expression of Interest.

Check out whats in store for you under the SMC at http://www.immigration.govt.nz/Migrate/AbouttheSkilledMigrantCategory.htm
Once you gain an invitation to apply for residency, and are successful in obtaining residency, then you can sponsor your dad and bring him in.
But make sure that his name is mentioned in the EOI form, and any others like brothers and sisters. If you do not include them in your EOI, then it will become difficult to bring anyone not mentioned in your EOI application.

You can be self employed and can work in the trade but you need the NZ registration to practice here even working for a company or alone and I think you need to also have a working license that needs to be renewed on a yearly basis.

regards and have great new year

Abdul

Ian Simpson · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2004 10:17 pm Post subject:

abdul · I Like It Here Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 75

Hi Ian and Rick

Ian is spot on and it is not as simple as I have put it and is based on the 'centre of gravity'.
I quote from the NZIS web site http://www.immigration.govt.nz/Migrate/Family+Category+Page.htm#parent
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Parent
You may qualify under the Family Parent category if you are sponsored by an adult child 17 years or over, who is a New Zealand citizen or resident living lawfully and permanently in New Zealand.

You may be granted residence if you are:

the parent of an adult child 17 years or over who is a New Zealand citizen or resident who sponsors your application; and
the ‘centre of gravity’ of your family is in New Zealand..
Please note: Grandparents and legal guardians are also considered as parents in some situations (see Grandparents and Legal Guardians below.)

Centre of gravity

The ‘centre of gravity’ of your family is in New Zealand if either:

the principal applicant parent has no dependent children, and

the number of their adult children lawfully and permanently in New Zealand is equal to or greater than those lawfully and permanently in any other single country, including the country in which the principal applicant is lawfully and permanently; or

all of their adult children are living lawfully and permanently outside the principal applicant's home country;

or

the principal applicant parent has dependent children, and

the number of their adult children lawfully and permanently in New Zealand is equal to or greater than those lawfully and permanently in any other single country, including the country in which the principal applicant parent is lawfully and permanently, and

the number of their dependent children is equal to or fewer than, the number of their adult children who are lawfully and permanently in New Zealand.

Please note: Under parent policy, ‘children of the principal applicant’ and the ‘principal applicant’s family’ include:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks Ian for pointing this out.

regards
Abdul