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 Chris Jackson, Radiographer from United KingdomI imagine if you're reading this, you are considering making a big move to NZ. We did this not so long ago and Prudence thought you might like to know how its been - so far.
It all started from taking a year out in 1995 to travel the world. We (my wife + I ) saw many lovely places on our travels and lots we'd love to go back to on holiday but of all the places we visited NZ was the place we thought we would most like to live and work. It appeared safe, a friendly climate, hospitable inhabitants and great for outdoors lovers like ourselves. Anyway kids came along, and started getting bigger but the desire to see if we could get a better deal than we had in the UK didn't diminish.
September 2004 saw us at NZ jobs expo in London and from this we started planning. My profession - radiography was (is') on a jobs short list and is desired by NZ immigration. It was still an uphill task requiring huge amounts of determination and a fair amount of money to get in a position to leave. It seems to get a residence visa you need an offer of a job, to get an offer of a job you need professional registration, then there was verification of qualifications, expression of interest, medicals, references etc etc.
We also had to consider accommodation in NZ, our children's education, travel details, finances etc.
What really helped things along was arranging a house swap. Using a web site we advertised our home in NW England for a year's swap for a New Zealand family. It worked and I am now seated in the home of a NZ family while they are our home in the UK. We've agreed to a year and then we'll have to decide if we are prepared to commit to a much longer NZ stay. It will give us time to make the BIG decision without burning too many bridges.
The kids have said many UK farewells, are making new friends, going to NZ school, and the UK headmaster is prepared to take them back (if it comes to that). They now have a pet rabbit to look after and love the adventure playgrounds. They now have more freedom.
We thought we should use the outbound trip to visit somewhere beautiful, rather than fly past and did by visiting the Cook Islands. Two weeks on a South Pacific Island is a great way to unwind.
I was nervous for my first day at work. Not only are there the differences between the UK and NZ but I was moving from NHS to private practice as well. My new work colleagues were sincere, friendly and welcoming which made the transition easier than it might have been.
We've now been here about 3 months. Most weekends we are active as a family - watching Keas, going tramping, seeing penguins(in the wild), body boarding on a beach nearby, rock climbing, camping, mountain biking. You can do just about what you want.
Christmas has come and gone. We went swimming in the sea on Christmas day and had a picnic on the top of a mountain overlooking Christchurch - it was reasonably clear - a view of about 70 miles, sometimes its clearer.
Christmas was OK but its a season for friends and family and most of ours were 10,000 miles away. If we do decide not to stay, it will be because of them.
Good luck with your plans and I hope you make the right decision.
Read More Case Studies
 Ash Crossland, Clinical Manager from United KingdomHi we are Ash and Lynn Crossland and we will be starting a new life in New Zealand thanks in the main to Prue and Accent. Like many others, we first met Prue at the Emigration event at Sandown Park in London. It was the first stand, and the first face in the New Zealand section. We were totally taken aback by the ... MORE Angelique Kriedemann - Theatre Nurse from South AfricaWhat an experience it has been! Hi my name is Angelique and I first got in contact with Accent Health in January of this year to try and secure an employment offer. From the start Prudence was there to support me, by answering questions and concerns I had and nothing was too much for her. ... MORE |
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