Any ex-pats got any advice?
Discussion
Hi,
Are there any ex-pats around who fancy giving me some opinions on moving to NZ? The realities etc? Just very interested as it's either Oz or NZ at the moment. I've lived in Oz so know the score there - but what about NZ?
Cheers,
Phil.
ETA: Doesn't need to be car related by the way - any advice very much welcomed.
>> Edited by chim_knee on Tuesday 3rd January 14:45
Are there any ex-pats around who fancy giving me some opinions on moving to NZ? The realities etc? Just very interested as it's either Oz or NZ at the moment. I've lived in Oz so know the score there - but what about NZ?
Cheers,
Phil.
ETA: Doesn't need to be car related by the way - any advice very much welcomed.
>> Edited by chim_knee on Tuesday 3rd January 14:45
Whatcha want to know? I moved here 3 months ago.
We applied under the skilled migrant route, wife as primary (Pharmacist , had a job, I'm IT didnt have a job then). We got Work to residence, a 2 year visa that turns into Permanant residency after 3 months of work, mainly because my wife wasnt qualified to work here until she'd worked here 1 month...
Move took 5 months from start to finish, including selling the house, visas, shipping our goods/cats etc.
Life in NZ is great for us, we live in Sumner, Christchurch, didnt fancy Auckland (turned down a job offer there) - to 'big city' which was one reason we moved from the UK.
Stuff tends to be more expensive here, wages lower, were lucky we both have good incomes, renting a house for now, but regardless wre here for the outdoor lifestyle, and its just a nicer place to live, people are more friendly, place is cleaner etc.
No way could we have afforded to live somewhere 100 yards from a beach, little village, thats 30min from the city center, has amazing scenery just 5min out the back, this place is stunning!
Got into surfing here, doing a lot of hiking and camping, looking forward to the snowboarding season in winter!
We applied under the skilled migrant route, wife as primary (Pharmacist , had a job, I'm IT didnt have a job then). We got Work to residence, a 2 year visa that turns into Permanant residency after 3 months of work, mainly because my wife wasnt qualified to work here until she'd worked here 1 month...
Move took 5 months from start to finish, including selling the house, visas, shipping our goods/cats etc.
Life in NZ is great for us, we live in Sumner, Christchurch, didnt fancy Auckland (turned down a job offer there) - to 'big city' which was one reason we moved from the UK.
Stuff tends to be more expensive here, wages lower, were lucky we both have good incomes, renting a house for now, but regardless wre here for the outdoor lifestyle, and its just a nicer place to live, people are more friendly, place is cleaner etc.
No way could we have afforded to live somewhere 100 yards from a beach, little village, thats 30min from the city center, has amazing scenery just 5min out the back, this place is stunning!
Got into surfing here, doing a lot of hiking and camping, looking forward to the snowboarding season in winter!
Rob and Chim,
I moved from Coventry to Christchurch exactly six years ago, as Rob says the wages are lower but so is the overall cost of living - the quality of life is certainly better..the bad bits?, a higher proportion of shocking drivers, bizarre regulations about rust, Prime Minister and Finance minister who give you the shudders, New Zealand Telecom, the "give way to the right rule" when turning at junctions, no tax free income, no Sunny Delight...........
Rob - I'm just outside Prebbleton, feel free to give me ring if want to meet some other ex pats etc 344 1576 - ask for John.
I moved from Coventry to Christchurch exactly six years ago, as Rob says the wages are lower but so is the overall cost of living - the quality of life is certainly better..the bad bits?, a higher proportion of shocking drivers, bizarre regulations about rust, Prime Minister and Finance minister who give you the shudders, New Zealand Telecom, the "give way to the right rule" when turning at junctions, no tax free income, no Sunny Delight...........
Rob - I'm just outside Prebbleton, feel free to give me ring if want to meet some other ex pats etc 344 1576 - ask for John.
jaybkay said:
Rob and Chim,
I moved from Coventry to Christchurch exactly six years ago, as Rob says the wages are lower but so is the overall cost of living - the quality of life is certainly better..the bad bits?, a higher proportion of shocking drivers, bizarre regulations about rust, Prime Minister and Finance minister who give you the shudders, New Zealand Telecom, the "give way to the right rule" when turning at junctions, no tax free income, no Sunny Delight...........
Rob - I'm just outside Prebbleton, feel free to give me ring if want to meet some other ex pats etc 344 1576 - ask for John.
Honestly I dont find the average level of driving here any bertter or worse than the UK, typicaly far less trafic tho.
Cost of living % wise is fine tho, we could survive on one wage. As said no tax free income, its all taxed to some extent, no tax break on pensions either (tho the state pension is better), on the other hand theres no capital gains tax or inheritance tax.
The give way to the right rule is pants and a pain when you forget , especialy if the other vehicle is a logging truck...
I kind of like the way politicians are real people, get caught with their pants down, yet still stay in office..
Christchurch is such a great spot, all the outdoor stuff you could ever want, most of south island easily on your doorstep, with the amenaties of a large city if/when you need them.
I moved to Wellington nearly a year ago from the south-east...my god time has flown!
It's generally more relaxed here, less crowded, roads are emptier (but not in Auckland I hear), there's much easier access to 'the great outdoors' as it's usually right on your doorstep, the people are friendlier, there's no chav sub-culture, the weather is milder (no road-gritters in winter - yay!) although it can be erratic at times, and you'll be able to afford a much nicer house than in the UK. Plus politicians generally call a spade a spade, which is very refreshing after years of BLiars spin.
Downsides...that daft give way to the right rule
, food is more expensive, houses are generally colder in winter (wooden, no C/H, single-glazed), there's a chance of the odd earthquake/flood/volcanic eruption depending on where you settle, and most jobs are 8-to-5, not 9-to-5.
Overall, my life is better and I don't miss the UK in the slightest.
It's generally more relaxed here, less crowded, roads are emptier (but not in Auckland I hear), there's much easier access to 'the great outdoors' as it's usually right on your doorstep, the people are friendlier, there's no chav sub-culture, the weather is milder (no road-gritters in winter - yay!) although it can be erratic at times, and you'll be able to afford a much nicer house than in the UK. Plus politicians generally call a spade a spade, which is very refreshing after years of BLiars spin.
Downsides...that daft give way to the right rule
, food is more expensive, houses are generally colder in winter (wooden, no C/H, single-glazed), there's a chance of the odd earthquake/flood/volcanic eruption depending on where you settle, and most jobs are 8-to-5, not 9-to-5. Overall, my life is better and I don't miss the UK in the slightest.
wedgepilot said:
Downsides...that daft give way to the right rule
Ok< I can't pass this one up!
<gets on soap box>
There are times when this 'daft' rule would help over here in the UK as well... like when you're trying to cross a busy stream of traffic and no one lets you cross in front of them, meanwhile all the cars behind you are becomming ever so impatient!
Plus it seems to be a triffle inconsitant when you have to give way to the car on a roundabout (which also happens to be approaching from your right), but not when you both want to turn into the same street (also approaching from the right), just from opposite sides of the road!
<gets off soap box & behind rotten tomato/empty pint glass shield instead>
As a born and bred jafa, err, Aucklander, I simply have to say, avoid the place if you can, or unless you can afford to buy a decent house near where you are going to work (if in a nice area!), the traffic is not as spectacular as the M25, but it's still pretty bad at times, and the rather ineptly 'designed' roading system is often a pain at best, that said, not many cities in the world boast the choice of white/black sand beachs (swimmable) only an hour (if you're lucky) appart.
The central city area buses are ok (all others are usually rubbish), but are often full at peak times.
Cyclists are often viewed as 'fair game' for motorists (How dare they not burn up fossil fuels!), as many a cycle courier I knew could attest!
Oh, and wear sunscreen in Summer (& spring & autumn), lots of it like SPF-50+, or you'll end up 'lobsterising' in no time flat...
My £0.02 or NZD$0.05 (though if you wait a little while the NZ dollar will hopefully plummet, so maybe more like $0.06!)
I have to agree with what has been said above, except maybe about tax? I’m pretty sure there is no capital gains tax here, which is a little gem of a policy if you are an investor (hence real estate being so hot). As mentioned reality is that you probably wont earn as much money but quality of life is much higher, generally speaking.
I seem to remember the “give way to the right” was going to come under review at some stage? To be honest it’s very loosely followed any way.
Does this mean Mrs_knee’s plans for your wallpapered office are on hold temporarily? She mentioned before that starting a family was the major reason why you hadn’t moved.
I seem to remember the “give way to the right” was going to come under review at some stage? To be honest it’s very loosely followed any way.
Does this mean Mrs_knee’s plans for your wallpapered office are on hold temporarily? She mentioned before that starting a family was the major reason why you hadn’t moved.
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