Moving to New Zealand is a massive undertaking and the decision to do so is not to be taken lightly. Once you’ve made the big decision then it’s time to find a job. New Zealand once boasted the accolade of being the best place for British citizens to make a fresh start.
Top Rated Opportunities
Jobs in New Zealand for Foreigners
Thinking about moving to New Zealand? Finding professional work in New Zealand all depends on obtaining a visa. Either a working or residential one is required. Normally you need to have a skill that the county needs, teachers, doctors, mechanics and similar roles are the most highly sought after. It’s best to contact the New Zealand immigration office to make sure you can get a visa.
If you’re seeking a professional job it is common practise for a potential employer to only regard someone who has had a working visa for at least two years. To see what jobs are the most in demand you should regularly check the New Zealand government website. If you are a student or graduate and just seeking temporary employment and the chance to live and travel in New Zealand, consider applying for a working holiday.
Pay and Conditions
The working conditions in New Zealand are similar to those currently found in the UK. The average working week is typically 40 hoursfrom Monday to Friday with the average day ranging from 8.30am to 5pm. This includes rest and lunch breaks. A lot of New Zealand employers readily employ migrant workers, especially during a labour shortage. People with a strong proficiency in English and strong qualifications are the migrants most likely to succeed in landing a job. Pay rates in New Zealand are not as high as those found in the UK but on average neither is the cost of living.
Tips for Finding Work in New Zealand
Research New Zealand’s immigration laws. Some tough laws are in place so it pays to know what you will be dealing with. The application process is similar to that in the UK. Make sure your C.V is written to the New Zealand standard. If a position does come up, apply for it quickly as there’s a good chance there will be competition for the job. Look for jobs where workers are in demand. If you have a trade or professional skill then you will find a job a lot easier. Be sure to check the New Zealand immigration website for the latest positions.
Registration for Jobs
To work in certain careers in New Zealand you must be registered with an appropriate professional New Zealand organisation. If your chosen trade does require registration you should contact the relevant organisation long in advance before the date you want to start working as you will need to take an exam or undergo retraining for which you must pay. In a few occasions the exams and retraining can be done in another country but this is rare. Degrees obtained from most Western universities are often seen as equal to New Zealand ones, as are most schools.
New Zealand’s Most Popular Cities
If New Zealand is the country of your expat dreams but you’re not sure where to settle then read all about the country’s top three cities!
Auckland
The Beautiful city of Auckland is New Zealand’s most populated urban area and the largest city in the country. The 2011 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked Auckland the 3rd best place to live in the world. The city is a melting pot of differing cultures with the majority of inhabitants claiming European, Asian and Maori origin. The biggest ethnic group are British descendants making Auckland a home away from home.
Christchurch
There’s nowhere else in the world like Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city. Within two hours of the international airport you can ski, play golf, bungee jump, hot air balloon, whale watch, surf and visit wineries and spectacular gardens. Despite suffering from an Earthquake in 2011 the ‘Garden city’ has recovered and remains one of the best places to live in the world. Christchurch is also geographically unique because it is one of the world’s eight pairs of cities that have a near-exact antipodal city (a city on the exact opposite side of the earth). A Coruña, Spain is Christchurch’s antipode.
Queenstown
The resort city of Queenstown is a centre for adventurers. Activities ranging from power boating, skiing, mountain biking and fishing are all within easy reach in this city. The stunning natural beauty of New Zealand’s South island is a big draw for people searching for a life in an unspoilt wilderness. Many locations in the Lord of the Rings trilogy were shot in Queenstown and its surrounding area. It is popular with young international and New Zealand and Australian travellers alike.
VISA Requirements
Before you plan for a new life to the land down under make sure that you know your legal situation. Unless you’re from Australia you will need a visa/work permit or residence permit to enter the country legally.
Citizens of certain countries can enter New Zealand via a VISA waiver scheme, which allows them to travel to and in New Zealand without the need of a visitor’s VISA or the news to obtain a visitors permit upon arrival.
Currently, countries that operate the VISA waiver scheme are: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kiribati, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UK, Uruguay, the USA (except for nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island), Vatican City and Zimbabwe. Everyone else needs a visitor’s visa to travel to New Zealand and you won’t even be allowed to board a plane to New Zealand without one.
As a citizen of the UK you can stay in New Zealand for up to six months without the need for a VISA, any longer then you will have to apply for one from a government office.
If you opt to enter the country via the VISA waiver scheme then you must have a valid return ticket, passport valid for three months beyond the period of time they wish to leave and enough money to support yourself (normally around $1000 if alone) or $400 if staying with relatives or friends. If you meet those criteria then you will be granted a visitors permit upon your arrival. You can only stay in the country until for the period of time the visitor permit is valid for. Upon departing for New Zealand you will have to complete a form and card application which acts as an application for a visitor permit, which should be ready by the time you arrive in the country.
Below are some of the main VISAs for foreigners:
Skilled Migrant Visa
The main VISA someone seeking to live and work in New Zealand needs is the skilled migrant visa. To qualify for a long term visa in this category the applicant must be between the ages of 20 and 55, be able to speak good English, be in good health and have proof that you are of good character. There are a number of work areas suffering from a skills shortage in New Zealand. These include engineering, healthcare, plumbers and electricians. To get a complete list of needed jobs look at the New Zealand immigration website.
When applying for a Skilled Migrant VISA you must pass a point’s based test. You claim points for different aspects of your application, such as work experience and qualifications. These details are entered into a pool if you have a point’s score of more than 100. Anything below that level is automatically rejected, but you are not prohibited from entering another expression of interest at a later date. Those who have more than 140 are automatically given an invitation to apply. Any applications between 100 and 140 are invited to apply if immigration quotas have not reached their limit.
The Invitation to Apply is the next stage and it is at this point that you will need to supply proof of work experience and qualifications. You will also need medical certificates and proof that you do not have a criminal record. You may need to prove that you have a good working knowledge of the English language. The information you provide at this stage must match the information given in the expression of interest. It is at this stage that you are assessed for suitability for residency. There is a possibility that at this stage you will be invited to attend an interview.
There are various outcomes when your application is processed. You may be granted a full residency permit straight away, allowing you to live in New Zealand permanently or you could be granted a work or residence permit. However once those permits end there is no guarantee that you will be allowed to remain a resident afterward.
Business Visa
Another category which may apply to those wishing to live and work in New Zealand is that of business. You can apply under this category if you wish to set up your own business or invest in an existing business. If you are an investor you can apply for a residence visa, or a visitor’s visa which lasts for two years. Those who want to buy an existing business or set up a business can apply first for a Long Term Business Visa and then apply for residency under the Entrepreneur policy. For both of these categories an application pack can be obtained from the New Zealand Immigration department, either as a download or by mail.
Becoming a Citizen of New Zealand
For some foreigners the ultimate goal is normally to be accepted as a permanent citizen in their country of choice.
To qualify to be a citizen of New Zealand the candidate you must have been a permanent resident for five years, be over 18, have a basic grasp of the English language, be capable of understanding the nature of their citizen application and understand the responsibilities of becoming an Australian citizen. You must attend a citizenship ceremony and take an oath or affirmation of allegiance. Children born of New Zealand residents automatically become New Zealand citizens and can hold dual nationality where permitted under the law of their parents’ countries of birth or nationality.
Exceptions are applied for the following, permanent residents not present in New Zealand but engaged in activities beneficial to New Zealand, spouses, widows, widowers of New Zealand citizens (who normally need to have been resident only for the 12 months prior to their application) and various others. In certain cases, such as that of spouses/widows/widowers of New Zealand citizens, applicants must show that they would suffer significant hardship or disadvantage if they weren’t granted citizenship.
Top Tips for Moving to New Zealand
After your visa has been approved, you are now ready to migrate to New Zealand.
But, wait! Do you know what to do when you arrive in New Zealand? How would you carry on from and while at the airport? What if you accidentally take prohibited items? Where do you go when you need something?
There are many questions that are still in your mind, but don’t be nervous, here some simple tips that may help you:
Arrival Cards – When you arrive in New Zealand you need to present your passport and a Completed Passenger Arrival Card. These cards are handed out by the passengers ahead of they arrive in New Zealand. You need to give out all the information needed for the security purposes and requirements for the customs.
Other Prohibited Items – you must not bring fire and weapons to New Zealand, unless permit was given by the Police on arrival in airport. Ivory in any form is not allowed; tortoise or turtle shell jewelry and ornaments; medicines using musk, rhinoceros or tiger derivatives; carvings or anything made from whalebone or bone from any other marine animals; cat skins or coats.
Duty Free Goods – You may purchase duty free goods when you arrive in New Zealand. There are some terms when you are not in the right age.
Services – international airports provide banking and foreign exchange services. Public information stalls provide free lodging brochures, maps and city guides, and free phones are offered for hotel and motel bookings.
From the Airport to your destination – you can ride to taxis, airport buses, and shuttle vans to arrive in your exact place destination. Taxis have consistent meters that calculate the fares. All taxis charge a similar fare for the same journey. There is no bargaining or tipping in taxis. Prices for airport buses and shuttle vans are fixed and more affordable than for taxis. New Zealand doesn’t have the underground train systems
Now you know what to do when you arrive in New Zealand. It would be easy for you because you already know the do’s and don’ts. Now, we can say that you are well-prepare to invade New Zealand. But the most important thing is you should obey their rules and learn to adapt in their environment. Remember the places and the appropriate thing to do when in certain situation. Don’t be snob, be friendly so people would think that you are approachable so that when you need help they will be able to help you.
New Zealand’s Currency
If you’re thinking of emigrating to New Zealand you will have to know what type of currency the country uses.
The New Zealand dollar is often called the ‘kiwi’ by traders. The bird is the nation’s icon and is found on the countries coinage. The NZ dollar is one the world’s major currencies, being in the top ten most traded. The NZ dollar was introduced relatively recently in 1967 as a replacement for the New Zealand Pound.
The NZ dollar contributes to the global market in a way that far surpasses its rank as a percentage of the country’s global GDP and population. In 2005 New Zealand was praised for being the most business friendly country in the world, just beating Singapore.
Previously New Zealand depended on its trade with Britain, but this source of trade was drastically reduced when Britain joined the European market. This forced New Zealand to open up its markets to the world and for a time the nation struggled as it changed its strategy.
New Zealand’s economy is now dependent on international trade, mostly with the EU, United States, Australia, Japan and China. It focuses mainly on primary industries such as mining and agriculture. New Zealand has only a small industrial sector focusing mostly on small scale manufacturing and high tech goods.
The country itself is comprised of two large islands, the North and South and a number of smaller islands. It lies 900 miles to the South East of Australia and thanks to this remoteness the wildlife has evolved into many strange and spectacular species.
The islands natural beauty is a major draw for tourists and adventurers and many major films have been shot there.
Visitor numbers and immigration figures are set to rise year on year showing how popular the small nation has become with those seeking a holiday or to emigrate.
The major banks in New Zealand are the following; ASB, Westpac, ANZ National Bank, Bank of New Zealand, Kiwi bank and HSBC. To open an account with any of the banks in the country you must be able to provide proof of identity.
Many people in New Zealand take advantage of online banking for convenience and the banking system in the country is considered to be very secure.
Cost of Living
Currently the exchange rate is one British Pound is worth 1.945 New Zealand Dollar. Prices of many imported goods have fallen in real terms in recent years, particularly cars and electrical appliances. In general, New Zealanders enjoy a high standard of living, although salaries are lower than in Australia, North America and many European countries.
It’s difficult to estimate an average cost of living in New Zealand, as it depends on where you live as well as your lifestyle. If you live in Auckland, drive a BMW and dine in expensive restaurants, your cost of living will be much higher than if you live in a rural part of the South Island, drive a small Japanese car and live on lamb and kiwi fruit.
You can live relatively inexpensively by buying New Zealand produce when possible and avoiding expensive imported goods, which are more expensive not only because of the distance they have to travel, but also because they’re considered fashionable.
The cost of travelling in New Zealand is a lot cheaper than in the UK with a single ticket on a local bus or train costing just over $2. A monthly pass will set you back $40 or $100 depending on your location. Cars cost in the region of $27,000 and petrol is a lot less than in the UK.
Property prices in New Zealand vary around the country, with cities generally boasting the most expensive prices. Properties are sold auction-style so there is no real difference between expat prices and local prices – unfair inflation would prove difficult to enact through the auction house.
Cards
The use of debit cards is widespread across the country and most international credit and charge cards are widely accepted in New Zealand, including American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa, plus the local Bankcard, which is also widely accepted in Australia. Most businesses in New Zealand accept major credit cards, so you’re unlikely to be stuck if you possess only one card.