Moving to New Zealand from the UK
If you are thinking of moving from the UK to New Zealand you really need think about why you’re going. It is a major move and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you are serious about emigrating it is easy to see why, Great Britain is not so ‘Great’ any more with rising living costs, high taxes, poor climate and just generally bad management thanks to our government.
On paper New Zealand sounds like heaven on earth. It is not part of Australia which many people seem to think it is. It is made up of two main islands, North Island and South Island, with many more islands around the outside. It is a naturally unspoiled island which has spectacular landscapes and nature. The country has active volcanoes, thermal geysers, boiling mud, ancient virgin rainforests and some of the most beautiful trees on earth. It is blessed with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The further north you are the warmer the climate becomes. It is opposite to England in the fact they when we are in our winter; they are having their summer and visa versa. New Zealand’s economy is strong, in March 2007 it grew 1.7 % and is set to peak around 3.2% in June this year. It has the lowest unemployment rate and the strongest jobs market. The population is small with only 4 million people which is the same as Britain but as the islands are so much larger is means there are lots of unpopulated lan. You could drive for hours and not see a single soul!
It’s hardly surprising more and more people are emigrating to New Zealand some of the main points are:
• It has a much small population • Warmer climate • Beautiful scenery • It is a nuclear free country • Has some of the best white sandy beaches
There is an excellent education system which is all free up to the age of 19. The health system is also excellent so you wont have any worries in that department.
How do I go about moving to New Zealand?
For one you will need to have marketable skills and speak good English. There is a shortage of skills so there are plenty of jobs for those with a positive hard working ethic. I would look for a job before you move over there by checking these websites: www.seek.co.nz, www.jobstuff.co.nz and www.ubd.co.nz. Leaving the job hunt until your arrive in New Zealand could be risky. It could take up to 6 months to find a suitable job.
You will need a residence visa either by applying outside the country or when you are in the country on a visitor visa. British are granted a 6 month visa automatically on arrival in the country. If you have been recruited by a company you should apply for a work visa before you arrive. When you have been a permanent resident for 5 years you can go about applying for a citizenship which takes about two weeks to process.
Once your there living in New Zealand you wont regret it, I have read many reports on people who have moved over there and they are all very happy about the way of life. And I have not read one review where they moved back, whereas I know a dozen people who emigrated to Spain only to come back a year or so later with their tail between their legs.
About the Author
Carolyn is the webmaster or Overs International, specialist in Removals to New Zealand.
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