Hi, my name is Ryan, and my fiancee and I are looking at moving to New Zealand. Obviously we would visit before just moving there, and we plan to do just that around the time of the new year. We would like to get the most accurate feel of the people and the country itself. Is there an ideal place to experience this?

We are also curious about common jobs and the median income. Neither of us have a complete college education, although we are both skilled in our fields. (Computers and cars for myself, my fiancee works in the insurance industry.) We plan to apply for the WR1 visa for accredited employers. I'm assuming that we will be employed in an equivalent position to where we are right now. I work in the shipping department of a local biopharmaceutical company, and my fiancee works in support staff of a large insurance corporation. I guess we could be considered Manufacturing and Data Entry/Archiving respectively. What would be the standard of living for two people in these fields in say... Auckland? Would anybody know the likelihood that we would be accepted with these skills?

Some more general questions that immigration sites won't be able to answer...

Would we be looked down upon as a burden to society if we were just to move there with our current skills sets? Or reworded... what is your general standing on American immigrants? Keep in mind we are not the stereotype vain, greedy, and closed-minded Americans... (which is sort of why we want to leave in the first place:rolleyes)

What do you not like about New Zealand?

What do you do for entertainment and fun? When shopping for needed goods we prefer to be in a whole foods market or a general "get together" of people offering goods, clothes, etc. We also enjoy outdoor music VS "stadium" type setting.

Here is where we go to watch live music, play pool, and be social... Is there something equivalent or better in Auckland (or surrounding areas)? The band always plays under the red and white striped tent near the middle of the picture...
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/ie/current/images/Union_terrace_night.jpg

Thanks all!

p.s. - The reason I'm here on the board... BMW's! I have an '84 American 325e 5 spd. with 3.25 limited slip diff. How about you guys?

Well, I live in Auckland. its an expensive place to live, but also has the most business oppurtunittys. Auckland has a reasonable standard of living, but bad traffic issues.
We have plenty of areas to get out & about, the viaduct harbour and soooo many beaches.
With those skills you would probably be able to earn about NZD$50-60,000
you wont be looked down on, mainly because you are white immigrants (we have a lot of asian immigrants, 95% of whom stay in Auckland)
your other alternative is Wellington, which is the capital. Lot of business based there as well.
If you want a cruisey outdorrsy type lifestyle, there is the south Island, & places on the east coast of the North island like Napier or Tauranga, but they would offer less work oppurtunities in your chosen field.
Most areas have sunday markets if you like that sort of thing, and organic food is easy to get
Plenty of bars no matter where you go, & a good live music scene

i recommend visiting first, and even better if you can get a job before you arrive
there are strict requirements to move here... needed skills and money, basically

if you have any other questions fire away

My fiancee just came up with a few more questions. :D

How do taxes work in New Zealand? I mean, as far as yearly income tax...
How is public transportation in Auckland?
What's up with the weekly apartment rentals? Do you resign a lease every few months, every week, or is it a yearly lease? Here we pay rent by the month, and sign an annual lease. You can find monthly leases here but it is very uncommon.

Thanks for help again.

Does NZ celebrate New Year's Eve? I mean of course... but do you make it a point to go out and celebrate out of the house? Maybe we'll give some of you guys a ring if we're in Auckland on New Year's Eve. :D

we get taxed up the ass here
there is income tax, which is worked out on your income. There are two (i think) rates depending on what you earn... check out http://www.ird.govt.nz/ for more accurate info
there is also GST (goods & services tax) which is a blanket 12.5% on all goods... you dont even notice you are paying it unless its not included & they say afterwards "plus GST" ... thats a drag
Aucklands public transport is a fuckin joke ... you will need a car, or an inner-city apartment
im not sure about leases, ive never leased an apartment... i have rented a house though. Most places, if you say 'im paid monthly' you can pay the rent monthly... weekly, fortnightly, whatever, most landlords are flexible on that. Whether you have to take them for a set time, dunno, but ive never heard of it. Most are you just rent them & give them plenty of notice when you want to move.
& yeah, we all get pissed & drugged up on NYE ... auckland has fireworks off the Sky Tower & the bars spill out into the street... its a hoot

heres some websites
jobs - www.seek.co.nz
accomodation & more jobs - www.nzherald.co.nz
general shit - http://www.aucklandnz.com/
a good site for rentals & cars (and everything else you might need) www.trademe.co.nz ... its a local eBay type site... but its not eBay

I suppose that was as straight forward as I could have imagined. So if everything is "short term" up to the renter then next question would be what's the best way to go when visiting? Do you stay in a hotel or is there some kind of deal you could work out to stay in a furnished apartment for an agreed upon amount of time?
By the way, this is slowmans girl here.

hotel or motel would be the usual choice but im sure you could find an apartment to stay in for a set time
check that www.nzherald.co.nz website for that i would imagine
there is a glut of apartments in Auckland at present
heaps being built but we arent really an apartment people ya know?

Ill just jump in here a bit late now..

I just finished a trip across most of the world, and came back and though NZ was awesome.

Auckland is nice because its Safe, good for Kids, good education, nice beaches (not too warm most of the year tho). Its got like no hobo's basically.

On the con side, dont count on public transport EVER, If you start a business or a career here its hard due to low incomes at the moment (relatively when compared to rest of the world), and that its 'small'.

Im actually moving to Sydney ASAP and have an Interview tomorrow for something Ill prob get (luck will prob go against me now!), but if youre down this neck of the woods, PLEASE also visit Australia on your way back. Sydney has an Auckland feel to it, but its a HUGE city with plenty of Bars/Restaurants, many tourist attractions and prices similar to NZ. Incomes there can be as much as 25% to 50% more than in NZ.. It really depends on what you want, but I would look at both of us before picking one. The two countries are very similar, yet also quite different in their approaches to Entrepreneurs, Minorities and Lifestyle...

But yeah I loved growing up in NZ as a kid, but once I finished University I was done with it - the size doesnt give the opportunities needed when you're young. I'd def come back here later once I can earn the money I want here (once you get higher up the ladder the pay scale starts to match other countries, early on its a bit off - though I am in the Hospitality industry).

Edit: Oh yeah im not selling my car - its gonna sit here and wait for me to return someday, or for me to get it shipped over once everything is sorted!

Welcome back DNZ :D

Yeah im back for a bit - not selling!

Thank you for the replies. I'll give Australia and NZ consideration, but we are seriously considering NZ. I like their no-nuclear policy, and they actually care about the environment as opposed to the US.

I don't think NZ is "small"; where we live the city is smaller but there is the same amount of people. The thought of having the same amount of people spread out over a larger area is nice. The population density where we live is sometimes just too much.

Oh nah thats cool, just didnt want it to be like a surprise if youre expecting NY.. haha

My personal opinion on both ... go to Australia.
I have lived in New Zealand (Auckland) for the past 5 years and in Australia (Sydney) for 13 years.

New Zealand has a shit government (I know all countries have, but here its really shit)
Tax - Absolute bullshit, all goes to single moms with 10 kids and no intention to work, as well as the unemployed. IN other words bums are very well supported by government compared to to the employed. As I have 3 jobs, I am pauing tax like nothing else, and get jack back in July. Roads here are never maintained, police force is scarce .. all our taxes goes to the needy.
AUSTRALIA - on the other hand is opposite - tax is less than NZ, and every year you get a good amount back. Unemployed people need to work hard to get our tax money

Healthcare - no support in New Zealand - insurance companies dont support Doctor visits or dental plans. Everytime you visit a doctor here, you need to pay and there is no structure.
AUSTRALIA - Heaps of dental plans, Employers provide it, visit to doctor is free

Educuation - reasonably ok in NZ, Australia is far better in terms of going public

Homes - overpriced in Auckland, Sydney is cheap but Melbourne, Brisbane is high

TRansport - IN NZ public transport sucks badly, Australia - fantastic!! - trains, buses ferries etc 24 hours every 2 minutes.
Motorvehicle - there is no compulsory insurance in NZ - therefore we have alot of young drivers who dont give a shit, more accidents and learn not to have respect.
Australia - like USA (in states I know)

Prices - groceries are ok, on par with Australia. Electronics etc - expensive and very behind the world.
BMW Parts - expensive!! I order all my parts through Bavauto etc in US & Europe
Example - window regulator for E39 from BMW NZ $1000 / Brand new from USA $200
BMW's are becoming very cheap in NZ because because we dont have import restrictions like USA, Australia ... therefore alot of younger drivers are getting in them and killing themselves.

Nightlife - NZ - sucks .. absolutely boring. Nightclubs(Auckland) here are outdated, New Years Eve here you may as well stay home.
Sydney - AWesome!! Sydney rocks with night life - its the NYC of the southern hemisphere for sure.
Theme parks etc - Australia wins here again - Auckland has a rainbow park (google it) .. its a joke
Sydney - google Australias wonderland compared to Rainbow park

I have lived and worked in :

Vancouver, Canada 3 years
Calgary, Canada
Seattle, Washington 1 year
Sydney, Australia
Auckland, NZ

My choice wuld definately be Australia, Auckland needs to pull finger (the government)

I wasn't expecting NYC, in fact... I hope to god it's not.

Thank you for the NZ/AU comparison!

I have read about some pretty heated arguments regarding the government in Auckland. It seems there are 8 councils when 1 mayor would do the job just fine, and at less public expense. :D

Mayor is the figurehead, the councillors do whatever they want anyway.

Basically either country is a great choice, just that depending on where youre at in life one might be more suited than the other.

If you get Permanent residency here, after 5 years you could get an NZ passport and live/work in aussie with no visa or anything anyway.

god i wanna visit australia/new zealand so bad

I couldnt have put it better myself
Australia has way more cash flowing through it, our economy is fuctup... high dollar & high tax, high interest rates, high house prices, it goes on

Auckland has, 4 mayors .. one would do, rates are high, public transport sux balls
I only still live here because im finishing my training in auckland & i live close to it, & drive a big car becuase the drivers here suck balls
high asian population, high polynesian population.. not that theres anything wroing with that ;) just throwin it out there
bayern have you left auckland at all? its a whole different world down south

Im hoping to move to Napier ... nicer weather, less traffic, Art deco everywhere
yum


My personal opinion on both ... go to Australia.
I have lived in New Zealand (Auckland) for the past 5 years and in Australia (Sydney) for 13 years.

New Zealand has a shit government (I know all countries have, but here its really shit)
Tax - Absolute bullshit, all goes to single moms with 10 kids and no intention to work, as well as the unemployed. IN other words bums are very well supported by government compared to to the employed. As I have 3 jobs, I am pauing tax like nothing else, and get jack back in July. Roads here are never maintained, police force is scarce .. all our taxes goes to the needy.
AUSTRALIA - on the other hand is opposite - tax is less than NZ, and every year you get a good amount back. Unemployed people need to work hard to get our tax money

Healthcare - no support in New Zealand - insurance companies dont support Doctor visits or dental plans. Everytime you visit a doctor here, you need to pay and there is no structure.
AUSTRALIA - Heaps of dental plans, Employers provide it, visit to doctor is free

Educuation - reasonably ok in NZ, Australia is far better in terms of going public

Homes - overpriced in Auckland, Sydney is cheap but Melbourne, Brisbane is high

TRansport - IN NZ public transport sucks badly, Australia - fantastic!! - trains, buses ferries etc 24 hours every 2 minutes.
Motorvehicle - there is no compulsory insurance in NZ - therefore we have alot of young drivers who dont give a shit, more accidents and learn not to have respect.
Australia - like USA (in states I know)

Prices - groceries are ok, on par with Australia. Electronics etc - expensive and very behind the world.
BMW Parts - expensive!! I order all my parts through Bavauto etc in US & Europe
Example - window regulator for E39 from BMW NZ $1000 / Brand new from USA $200
BMW's are becoming very cheap in NZ because because we dont have import restrictions like USA, Australia ... therefore alot of younger drivers are getting in them and killing themselves.

Nightlife - NZ - sucks .. absolutely boring. Nightclubs(Auckland) here are outdated, New Years Eve here you may as well stay home.
Sydney - AWesome!! Sydney rocks with night life - its the NYC of the southern hemisphere for sure.
Theme parks etc - Australia wins here again - Auckland has a rainbow park (google it) .. its a joke
Sydney - google Australias wonderland compared to Rainbow park

I have lived and worked in :

Vancouver, Canada 3 years
Calgary, Canada
Seattle, Washington 1 year
Sydney, Australia
Auckland, NZ

My choice wuld definately be Australia, Auckland needs to pull finger (the government)

god i wanna visit australia/new zealand so bad

have you ever seen the ocean? :stickoutt

We should send this thread to Helen Clark :)

We should send this thread to Helen Clark :)

Yes ... send it to Helen Clarke ... but then again she may pass a bill on no forums on the net just like the smoking ban in pubs.

Maffoo ... yes, I need to move to Napier or Christchurch .. its like Samoa/Bombay here in Auckland (nothing against them .. its just ... you know)

Yes ... send it to Helen Clarke ... but then again she may pass a bill on no forums on the net just like the smoking ban in pubs.

Maffoo ... yes, I need to move to Napier or Christchurch .. its like Samoa/Bombay here in Auckland (nothing against them .. its just ... you know)

hahah

Bitter kiwi's on BFC unite!