Off-topic: New Zealand

[gauchoamigo]

If anyone here is from New Zealand, I would like to get your advise on some things, as I am debating whether or not to move there from the US. You can PM me if you'd like. The only reason I mention it at all is it seems there are at least a handful of folks here from the southern hemisphere. Thanks.

[Dash808]

Not from there but I went to New Zealand a few years ago and it is a beautiful place for sure.  I heard to own land there you have to be a NZ citizen.  That's what I heard at least...   Good luck with your move.

[Garry]

I dont want to burst your bubble and I cannot tell where you come from as you have not filled it out in your profile but I think you need to have a read of the following link.

Like most countries, they are selective in who immigrates and you will require some skill set that they require or other qualifying requirement. Just like USA you cannot just decide you are going to migrate there and that they will actually want you. With the unemployment rising like all countries caught up in the US melt down, the entry via skilled migration will become harder by the day.

Check it out
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/

Garry

[gauchoamigo]

I'm a web developer/designer. It seems they are in need of this type of professional. Does that help?

[Garry]

Gauchoamigo,

Australia and New Zealand have and use the same standard of classification (ANZSCO) for skills.  Unless you meet this

" Creative Industries Skills Required:
 Multimedia Designer (Film Animator),
 232413 Specialist experience in Maya,
Soft Image/ XSI,
3D Studio Max,
Combustion,
After Effects,
 Unix, Linux, C, C++, Perl, GUI,

Together with:
Degree-level qualification (Level 7) in one of the following:
Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Computer Science, Software Engineering or Film, specialising in multi media, computer graphics, digital design, computer programming or software development"

That is,  you will need a University Degree in one of the above and the skills listed plus an offer of employment and the company's sponsorship before you can even apply. A&NZ are not easy to enter on a long term basis, we know what we have and we try not to let people know how good it is and the governments tend to make it difficult to enter. We definately don't let non residents buy up property!!

Good Luck

Garry

[Peter van Es]

Hey, I looked at those websites and all you need is NZ$ 2,5M (~ 1,25M US$) to invest, and NZ$ 1M to settle in (~ 0,5M US$). No skills needed other than basic English. 

Peter

[gauchoamigo]

Gauchoamigo,

Australia and New Zealand have and use the same standard of classification (ANZSCO) for skills.  Unless you meet this

" Creative Industries Skills Required:
 Multimedia Designer (Film Animator),
 232413 Specialist experience in Maya,
Soft Image/ XSI,
3D Studio Max,
Combustion,
After Effects,
 Unix, Linux, C, C++, Perl, GUI,

Together with:
Degree-level qualification (Level 7) in one of the following:
Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Computer Science, Software Engineering or Film, specialising in multi media, computer graphics, digital design, computer programming or software development"

That is,  you will need a University Degree in one of the above and the skills listed plus an offer of employment and the company's sponsorship before you can even apply. A&NZ are not easy to enter on a long term basis, we know what we have and we try not to let people know how good it is and the governments tend to make it difficult to enter. We definately don't let non residents buy up property!!

Good Luck

Garry

That's good. I have a degree in violin performance, and I am skilled in web development and design so I should qualify without an issue.

[Garry]

Hey,  It's New Zealand,  all you really need is sheep, lots of sheep and they will let you buy a place to put them.

[JamesL]

Now where can he buy lots of sheep?

Ah yes. Australia

[Garry]

but the Kiwi's reckon their sheep are much prettier!!!!!

[JamesL]

They've obviously never been to Wales

[rob walker]

They've obviously never been to Wales

Ah those Welsh cliff edges

[Peter van Es]

but the Kiwi's reckon their sheep are much prettier!!!!!

Let's not go there, as the Bishop said to the Actress.... 

Peter

[Andres G]

Gauchoamigo,

If I might add, from the standpoint of "what the country looks like", it is very similar to Chile and/or Argentina, except maybe in total size and lacking the high altitude plains found in northern Argentina and Chile known as "La Puna". The rest of it is pretty much the same, with very similar weather and population density, especially in the southern parts... plus, you also get a WRC event once a year 

I've been there a many times beginning with rugby tours during my highschool days, a couple of times on vacation and a couple more times for work. Since the first time I went there, NZ found a spot in my mind among those places where I'd like to buy some property and spend some time when I decide to retire (hopefully, many many moons from now). I've always been some kind of a nomad and NZ looks like the kind of place where exploration can be your way of life.

Best of lucks for you if you decide to go!
Andres G

[gauchoamigo]

True. In the last 24hrs I have already had a few companies talk to me about getting me into the country, so that's a good sign. I'll have to consider how to get the SL there. Any ideas there?

[waqas]

I'll have to consider how to get the SL there. Any ideas there?

Probably by sea...

[Andres G]

Probably by sea...

Yep, definitely not a dive-to destination.

[Garry]

Gauchoamigo,

On the going to live there, as I said in an earlier post the best way is for work with the sponsoring company.  OZ and NZ have a joint agreement and a friend of mine purchased a house in the South Island that I use but he found out that they would not let him stay longer than six months in any one year unless under a work visa! And that is with the agreement in place for land purchase.

I have shipped a few cars out of the USA both as deck cargo and in container They will ship from both East and West coast and go direct to NZ and then often on to Oz.  San Diego or Norfolk are the two primary ports for departure. A container is good if sending two.  You will need a shipping agent both ends and carefully check on both taxes on importing cars in Left Hand and that you can use them with out conversion.

Remember NZ like Oz drive on the correct side,  I mean the left side which is the right side.  You would be amazed at what you see sometimes from the visitors.  Often kills them.

[Mike Hughes]

Well... under the right conditions, it MIGHT be a "dive-to" destination, but probably not a "drive-to" destination!  ;^)

[Joe]

My wife and I were in NZ a year ago (today!), and RVed around for three months. We saw every town and road on four islands. The place is truly beautiful; around every bend in the road is a scene to be photographed. We didn't meet many NZ citizens for conversation, so can't comment authoritatively on what it is like to live there. One woman did tell us that housing is quite expensive, and mortgage loans are not like they are here. The longest term for a loan, as I recall, is five years. I assume that is a balloon type, with amortization over more years. She commented that it is very difficult for young people to buy a first house.
I can't comment on the rental market.
You would think an island nation would have lots of water activities, but that isn't the case there. A power boat that can be bought here in the US for 10k would cost six times that there, in US dollars. There is a huge import duty on everything, and virtually everything has to be imported.
We spent a week in Australia to take a break from NZ, and found fresh fish in the markets there, imported from NZ, cost less in Australia. Chicken breasts in NZ were over 20 NZ dollars a kg. Eggs were over five dollars a dozen. On the whole, I would say groceries cost about 2.5 times what they do in the US, in the same currency.
There was an article in the national newspaper one day we were there about a large percentage of the people want to emigrate to Australia, seeing it as a better place to live, with lower taxes. Taxes are quite high in NZ.
On the bright side, we met two people in three months who were not downright friendly and polite. Sort of like what you would experience in three minutes in the US. We saw almost no graphiti and no real poverty. It is a quasi welfare state, and anyone needing assistance can find it from the government. The people are very aware of politics, both there and abroad, and seem to be interested in how their government is treating them. Of course, with only four million, or so, inhabitants, a citizen can feel more a part of things. I can't write here the comments they had about Dubya.
Visiting and living there are certainly two different things. I live at the base of Pikes Peak, and never notice it. Visitors are in awe of it. What is important, after a few months, is the quality of life, and I can't say what that would be in NZ. The air is clean, and the water is unbelievably clean. I think there is little crime. Were I young and single, I would love to go there and work and stay as long as I liked it, and as long as they let me.
I didn't mean to write so much. If you want to ask specific questions, I would be glad to help.
Joe