kids backpacks nz image
endurancer
Hello Everyone! I am a 4th year college student majoring in Architecture, minoring in engineering, born and raised in the USA. I am married with no kids, and plan on finishing up schooling (which will include a Master's degree in business) before having any. My wife is studying to be an elementary school teacher, and also working on obtaining a masters degree in business. Throughout our adult lives (granted we are still young at 22), we have grown increasingly more interested in what else the world has to offer outside of the United States (although we are grateful for what we have, we are becoming increasingly disappointed in its politics and organization). We have traveled far, love backpacking, soccer (football), kayaking, surfing, rock climbing, skiing, and more. We are extremely active. Throughout our exploration and "research" into everything the world has to offer, we have made plans to leave the States for New Zealand once we finish school. We feel like it will be the perfect place for us. I know it is sometimes difficult for native people of a country to aid foreigners in immigrating to their country, but we have every intention of bringing with us positive qualities that will help serve the people of such a great country. We are wondering what some of the better places for a young couple such as ourselves, with our interests, would be to live in in New Zealand. Places to live for a year? Longer? Places to potentially raise a family? Also, any information on New Zealand's immigration process would be wonderful! We are doing our research, but there's nothing better than getting first-person accounts. Thank you!
Answer
First of all, instead of just deciding to move here, it would be a wise move to come over and visit, first, especially if you have never been in a foreign country for any length of time. While I have to applaud the marketing efforts around attracting people to New Zealand, I also think people get an unrealistic view of this country. You need to read the New Zealand Herald online and be informed about the politics and problems in this country. This is an English speaking country but there are some major, major differences and it will take time for you to adjust to living and working here. I've lived here nearly two years and am just now feeling comfortable here.
There will be issues around driving - it's left hand side of the road, right hand drive vehicles. It takes time to retrain your brain just for that, not to mention getting used to roundabouts. I worked in a hospital in Hamilton on the orthopedics ward and saw plenty of tourists (including an American or two) involved in accidents because they aren't use to driving on the other side of the road. It is truly dangerous. Have you looked at the prices of anything here? In my experience, just about everything here costs about twice what it does in the US. Check out the price of petrol (gas) here. Look at places like trademe.co.nz to see the prices of property and rentals.Where you wind up living may decide on where you can get work. The recession has definately affected this country, as well, so jobs are not that available (see trademe.co.nz or seek.co.nz to see whats out there and where.)
Beyond all that, you will have to sort out immigration. Look at the New Zealand Department of Immigration website and that will give you a place to start. If you both plan on coming over as skilled migrants, you can use the calculator on the website to see if you have enough points to fill out the Expression of Interest. If you do, and submit this online, your applications go into a pool and if selected, you will be sent an Invitation to Apply. Your education may not be equivalent to the required levels in this country, so check into that, as well. (Oh, and you will have more points if you have a job offer. However, many places won't offer a job unless you have permanent residence, and since this process can take months, and they may want to fill a position quickly, you might have a bit of trouble finding places that will wait for you. Truly a "catch 22" situation.) The application process itself is pretty straightforward - fill out the paperwork, get the police reports, get the medical (chest x-ray and lab work required at your expense.) and submit all the paperwork. Then wait. Nothing happens too quickly here (which is something else you need to get used to.) Oh, and if you come here without having permanent residence, you won't have medical coverage under the national system so will have to pay for your own or take your chances. Just be aware that they might not need people with your skills at the time you want to come here - no matter how lofty your intentions are to serve this country. I don't mean to be a downer, but having been on some forums onlline, generally Americans think they can just go anywhere in the world they want to, just because they think they can. Immigration is not so easy. I'm a registered nurse with 30 years of experience, and this country needs nurses, but it took me nearly a year to get nursing registration in this country then a few more months to get permanent residence. (I came here originally sponsored by my kiwi partner. However, it was faster to get PR as a skilled migrant, so I went that route instead of applying for PR as a partner of a NZ citizen).
I do love it here - I'm originally from Ohio, so living 15 minutes from the ocean is awesome. (I live on the northern part of the north island. I don't miss snow at all, nor do I miss the hot,humid summers.) I love looking out over the rolling green hills, living in the middle of dairy farming country, enjoying a slower pace. I find Maori culture interesting (and you need to understand this culture and the history.) This country may be small, but it is totally, totally different than the US. You need to understand that some things are a little bit behind, here. For instance, paying for dial up internet service is still an option and one that is advertised! Conveniences you take for granted in the US are sometimes a luxury here.
But. my biggest piece of advice still is to come here for a visit - a couple of months if you can afford it. (You also could get a working holiday visa which would allow you to come here for 3 months and work while you are here, which would give you a better idea of what it's like to live here.)
Good luck and do your research if you really want to come here!
First of all, instead of just deciding to move here, it would be a wise move to come over and visit, first, especially if you have never been in a foreign country for any length of time. While I have to applaud the marketing efforts around attracting people to New Zealand, I also think people get an unrealistic view of this country. You need to read the New Zealand Herald online and be informed about the politics and problems in this country. This is an English speaking country but there are some major, major differences and it will take time for you to adjust to living and working here. I've lived here nearly two years and am just now feeling comfortable here.
There will be issues around driving - it's left hand side of the road, right hand drive vehicles. It takes time to retrain your brain just for that, not to mention getting used to roundabouts. I worked in a hospital in Hamilton on the orthopedics ward and saw plenty of tourists (including an American or two) involved in accidents because they aren't use to driving on the other side of the road. It is truly dangerous. Have you looked at the prices of anything here? In my experience, just about everything here costs about twice what it does in the US. Check out the price of petrol (gas) here. Look at places like trademe.co.nz to see the prices of property and rentals.Where you wind up living may decide on where you can get work. The recession has definately affected this country, as well, so jobs are not that available (see trademe.co.nz or seek.co.nz to see whats out there and where.)
Beyond all that, you will have to sort out immigration. Look at the New Zealand Department of Immigration website and that will give you a place to start. If you both plan on coming over as skilled migrants, you can use the calculator on the website to see if you have enough points to fill out the Expression of Interest. If you do, and submit this online, your applications go into a pool and if selected, you will be sent an Invitation to Apply. Your education may not be equivalent to the required levels in this country, so check into that, as well. (Oh, and you will have more points if you have a job offer. However, many places won't offer a job unless you have permanent residence, and since this process can take months, and they may want to fill a position quickly, you might have a bit of trouble finding places that will wait for you. Truly a "catch 22" situation.) The application process itself is pretty straightforward - fill out the paperwork, get the police reports, get the medical (chest x-ray and lab work required at your expense.) and submit all the paperwork. Then wait. Nothing happens too quickly here (which is something else you need to get used to.) Oh, and if you come here without having permanent residence, you won't have medical coverage under the national system so will have to pay for your own or take your chances. Just be aware that they might not need people with your skills at the time you want to come here - no matter how lofty your intentions are to serve this country. I don't mean to be a downer, but having been on some forums onlline, generally Americans think they can just go anywhere in the world they want to, just because they think they can. Immigration is not so easy. I'm a registered nurse with 30 years of experience, and this country needs nurses, but it took me nearly a year to get nursing registration in this country then a few more months to get permanent residence. (I came here originally sponsored by my kiwi partner. However, it was faster to get PR as a skilled migrant, so I went that route instead of applying for PR as a partner of a NZ citizen).
I do love it here - I'm originally from Ohio, so living 15 minutes from the ocean is awesome. (I live on the northern part of the north island. I don't miss snow at all, nor do I miss the hot,humid summers.) I love looking out over the rolling green hills, living in the middle of dairy farming country, enjoying a slower pace. I find Maori culture interesting (and you need to understand this culture and the history.) This country may be small, but it is totally, totally different than the US. You need to understand that some things are a little bit behind, here. For instance, paying for dial up internet service is still an option and one that is advertised! Conveniences you take for granted in the US are sometimes a luxury here.
But. my biggest piece of advice still is to come here for a visit - a couple of months if you can afford it. (You also could get a working holiday visa which would allow you to come here for 3 months and work while you are here, which would give you a better idea of what it's like to live here.)
Good luck and do your research if you really want to come here!
Is there anything wrong with me? I am 20, going on 21 next year and still haven't been overseas or abroad?
megan.jone
my parents too me to like bali, vanwatu and New Zealand when I was like a toddler years, but that can hardly count because I can not tell a story about it at my 21st bday because of the such young age I was, I am from Australia and come from a well off family, but they never botherd to take me international when I was in my Primary or secondary Schooling years and feel like the window gap of opportunity when I was younger and still a kid is gone and feel I would not do well now doing this sort of stuff, I feel ashamed, like 80% of my friends have done it when they were younger and money didn't come into the equasion, please help, how shameful I have nothing to prove about my life when it comes to speeches at the bday I just want to die now, I know people and friends who have been to NZ even like 100+ times in their childhood and not me except that time when I was a toddler and I don't count that as I say I was too young to remember and have no personal story to tell about it, I hate myself, what to do? I feel like my time to do kiddy things overseas has gone, please comment?
Answer
that was a hell of a long sentence lol
Do what i did at the age of 21 and get a backpack and a one way ticket somewhere, work of your accomadtion in hostels, get a part time job, save up and go to the next city or country. Or get a TEFL / TESOL course done and teach english (pronounce the words in english) in vietnam where there is high demand and then move on to the next place. Pretty easy getting out there and travelling but working your way around the world is better than any holiday...it takes ballz. So i suggest you stop crying about it and do somthing about it if it makes you that upset. Plenty of options there for you, but me thinks your to lazy to get off your ass and do somthing proactive and would rather sit there winging about it...because its easier.
At your age its better as there will be lots of fun ahead. I went though Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, South Korea, China, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy...next stop Egypt...all over a space of 4 years and havnt been home since even after leaving with only a grand in my pocket. So it can be done, you just need ballz to go do it.
that was a hell of a long sentence lol
Do what i did at the age of 21 and get a backpack and a one way ticket somewhere, work of your accomadtion in hostels, get a part time job, save up and go to the next city or country. Or get a TEFL / TESOL course done and teach english (pronounce the words in english) in vietnam where there is high demand and then move on to the next place. Pretty easy getting out there and travelling but working your way around the world is better than any holiday...it takes ballz. So i suggest you stop crying about it and do somthing about it if it makes you that upset. Plenty of options there for you, but me thinks your to lazy to get off your ass and do somthing proactive and would rather sit there winging about it...because its easier.
At your age its better as there will be lots of fun ahead. I went though Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, South Korea, China, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy...next stop Egypt...all over a space of 4 years and havnt been home since even after leaving with only a grand in my pocket. So it can be done, you just need ballz to go do it.
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Title Post: Best place for a young, married couple to live in New Zealand?
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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