TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:52 am

Any Kiwi's here?
My wife is an Audiologist and has seen several opportunities pop up here lately, and I am a software developer and have also seen lots of jobs there.
The climate looks very mild and not too much variance.
The scenery is downright beautiful.
Either Auckland or Wellington would be the place that would probably end up.

What's the deal with NZ?

Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:32 am

It's always looked good to me too, but then I'm a rancher. We moved just for the weather! Good jobs is just the bonus!

Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:49 am

There are a couple of things that kind of freak me out.
First, being that it is pretty much the most remote place on earth.
Second, the earthquakes in Wellington happen all the time.
Third, being a small island in the south pacific, tsunamis are a risk.

Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:56 am

Hi,

I know people there. None of them ever thought about leaving on a full time basis. They love it! They were only here in the States working for a summer for the adventure of it and couldn't wait to get back home.

Now, How old are you. IF you are over 35 they don't want you. You're toolold for immigration.

I also have a niece over there, fell in love while on a work related trip and married a local. It was SO much easier for her to move there than for him to come to the USA.

It's too far away if you've got any close family. You'd only see them a few times unless you've got a lot of $$ for it isn't cheap to commute!

Dave

Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:41 pm

I heard that!
Round trip airfare is +$3,000.
I am 33, so running out of time for immigration.
:lol:

Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:58 pm

I was only there long enough to have a few pints at the Shakespeare Hotel in Auckland.
I did spend a few years in Australia though, and I wanted to repeat what has been said by a few already. It is a long and expensive plane flight away from the US. If your close to family, it can be hard. Even calling on the telephone takes a bit effort with the different time zones.
If you have any possibility of going, even for just a couple of years, you should go. Certainly an incredible experience that few yanks will ever have.

Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:21 am

Airfare on Air New Zealand... from Los Angeles is about 1200 US if you wait for the deals.

I love that country and my wife and I seriously considered moving there. New Zealand Immigration Service has a comprehensive website. They have a list of skills that they are looking for in immigrants... if you qualify then you get a green light. If you qualify then the age issue is not such a big deal. If you don't qualify then age becomes a factor as stated by a previous poster.

The currency fluctuates between 45 and 80 US cents to one NZ dollar. So you want to watch that to decide when you go. Right now is a good time actually. the NZ dollar is low and thus your trip will be a lot cheaper than it would have been last year... If you want to just go have a look.

December and January are bad months to travel there as a tourist because that is high season for the locals too... they all take their vacations then and everywhere is booked up. February is great as an alternative.

The country is safe and clean. The cities are engaging.... with a younger populace than most US cities. The remote parts of the country are a bit less sophisticated. Their system of govt., Health, Legal etc are so much lighter and more streamlined than our system.

There is a bit of a controversy between the native Mauri and Non Native population over land, growth, policy, etc. This has caused some strife in some areas. This country is not that old really... and so the locals have been walked on by the foreigners a tad. They are trying to work it out but it is a bit of a legal issue in some areas.

There is a bit of a vw scene... and a tiny 356 scene. Most folks are not nearly as car-centric as here in the US. Most people are not nearly as materialistic as they are here in the USA either. That is one of the reasons we liked the place so much.

In the end it was just too far away from everyone we know though.

Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:53 am

Well ive lived in NZ all my life [39 years]and never been overseas so i cant really judge. I'm from the south island which is way less populated than the north island So what do you want to know? The previous poster mentioned the Maori land claims ect this is a tricky subject and best left alone.And in all honesty dosn't effect you anyway. What i can tell you though is the amount of people shifting here is amasing you hear foriegn accents everywhere.And i'm in a outer the way town so that must say something about the place.

Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:29 am

Dont know if i could get used to living "upside down"

Mon Nov 03, 2008 7:22 am

My youngest son left this past April, for four months in Australia( says it's fantastic), then to New Zealand on a work visa. He wasn't to found of Auckland, but, has moved on to Wellington, which he thinks is great and were he is really enjoying himself.

Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:41 am

I've known a few people from NZ, and every one of them was RABID about cars. And watching their races on TV, that also seems the case. Australia and NZ are really the only 2 places on earth I would ever consider moving outside of the US to. (actually, Germany is on that list).

Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:19 am

All the Kiwis (and it's not a lot to be honest) I've met in California have all had one common theme. They want to or have moved to Australia.

Why?

1. Weather is nicer/warmer

2. Better job opportunities - there aren't many people in New Zealand

3. It's easy for a Kiwi to move to Oz 'cause of their commonwealth history.

4. Fear of Tsunamis.... just kidding

Australia is the only country I would personally consider moving to but Hawai'i (kind of another country) is my preferred destination if I were to leave where I am (and was born) now, The Republic of California.

- Chester

Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:00 pm

I loved NZ when I went. Drove the entire country, N & S islands. It was pretty amazing stuff. Pretty much any scenery/landscape/environment you can imagine is somewhere in that country. The people were fantastic, driving was insanely simple (except remembering to stay on the left side of the road) especially on the less populated South Island. The best thing is there are big cities (great for jobs), rural countrysides, small towns, sweet outdoor activities, a little bit of something for everyone.

The flight over did suck really bad. It took me about 27 hours of flying to get there...Although I did not take the most direct route...ATL to Seoul to Auckland to Christchurch. Auckland most my least favorite place, probably because it reminded me of the states, but still a great place to visit. Price wasn't a problem for me because I paid with Skymiles, but if you have family here you probably won't be able to visit them too often because of the cost and the wear the flight takes on you.

I will not hesitate to go back which is rare for me. I visit somewhere and will usually go somewhere new rather than back to a place I have already been. I seriously contemplated looking for a job and staying in NZ but thus far it hasn't worked out and think my family would throw a fit if I found something so far away.

Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:16 pm

Just mentioned this to my wife and she said she wouldn't mind moving there. I looked up her occupation on the list of in demand jobs, and it's there. She wants to sign up.

Tue Nov 04, 2008 9:41 am

Everything I've seen and read makes it sound very good.
The only negative I can see is the temperature and wind.
Wellington looks like the metropolitan place to be.
Good luck notchback.
Don't take any wooden nickels from any hobbits. :lol:

Tue Nov 04, 2008 5:44 pm

Hate to say it but Wellington is the windest place in New Zealand and probably the second hilliest.But in saying that with every negative there is a positive and like most NZ cities Wellington is coastal .So wind surfers love the place :lol:

Tue Nov 04, 2008 9:44 pm

My wife and I went there for our honeymoon in 2005. All of the people are very nice and chill. Do don't get the impression of people crawling all over the place, especially on the south island. Queenstown is awesome. Auckland was cool too. There is a lot of "Middle of Nowhere" there though. But if you even just go visit check out the glow worms.

some pics...
http://picasaweb.google.com/awbennett3/NewZealand

Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:54 pm

beesty1 wrote: My wife and I went there for our honeymoon in 2005. All of the people are very nice and chill. Do don't get the impression of people crawling all over the place, especially on the south island. Queenstown is awesome. Auckland was cool too. There is a lot of "Middle of Nowhere" there though. But if you even just go visit check out the glow worms.

some pics...
http://picasaweb.google.com/awbennett3/NewZealand

Yeah i live about 2 hours drive from Queenstown.Lovely place but its not a place where you'll find many locals

Wed Nov 05, 2008 6:23 am

I used to want to go to and maybe move to Australia but they have gotten pretty "ANAL" about it especially if u are 45yrs+.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 2:26 pm

Just remembered when I was there one of my favorite things was that there was no tax on purchases (or it was already built in)...no stupid pennies to carry around and typically few coins at all. The price on the shelf is what you pay....I loved that.