I posted a while back about looking for new places to live in the states. I’m now very close to moving all the way to New Zealand. I started filling out Migration forms and starting to get some job recruiting lined up.
I’ve got some questions for anyone from, or living in, NZ (Auckland or Wellington): Any tri clubs to recommend? Any good pools/gyms? Does anyone have any recommendations for companies to work? Anyone know anybody that is hiring? Any good recommendations on places to live (safe areas, access to good training, etc.)?
If all goes well this fall/winter I may be calling a new place home.
I was in NZ for ITU Worlds in 94 in Nov. Nothing like escaping from Canada in Nov for a dose of southern Hemisphere sun. Wellington and Auckland are both wonderful placed. If I recall, the wind in Wellington was deadly. You could barely stay on your bike on several days, but hey, that might make you tougher. Perhaps you should post on Gordo’s forum and get some inside details from Gordo and Molina, but, they both live on the south Island. The Kiwis should all be awake shortly and will be hopping onto the forum, so you’ll have several replies overnite.
I moved from Ottawa, Canada to Wellington almost 3 years ago and I love it.
Wellington has a tri club the website is www.wgtntriathlon.org.nz They have races almost year round and links to the various cycling clubs and some other multisport stuff. Wellington is very hilly and windy, Auckland is too but not as windy. Wellington has several good pools, my favorite being the olympic size pool in Kilbirnie that has lane swimming going all the time. For jobs you could check www.jobstuff.co.nz they might have some jobs on there.
Something to consider is that house prices in Auckland and Wellington are both very, very high at the moment.
Gidday BNasty, come on down it’s great here in NZ.
Don’t listen to all this stuff about the wind in Wellington, it’s not that bad! I’m in Christchurch and believe me it’s pretty bloody windy here too. That’s the beauty of living on an island Nation with a maritime climate/weather system. It just makes you stronger on the bike and will prepare you for the wind @ IMNZ if that’s your thing.
I haven’t lived in Wellington for years but when I visit family it’s a very cool city. Christchurch is great. Probably not so many opportunities as the other two bigger centres you mentioned. My wife calls Christchurch “The Village” because it’s so small compared to London where she spent 18 years! Let’s be honest though, you don’t come to New Zealand for a career move or to make your millions! It’s a life style thing really, and what a life style you can have if you’re into the outdoors/sport.
I would like to think that you would be made to feel very welcome here in NZ. Having said all of that, it’s pretty hard immigrating to New Zealand. Our Government is very strict with it’s immigration laws.
Anyway give it a nudge, just don’t tell too many people how good it is though!
Yep immigration is quite stingy here. Don’t be surprised if you are just plainly told ‘no’. One of the policies about work visas is that you have to be filling a job that a kiwi wouldn’t be able to do. I really don’t understand why they are so strict. Getting permanent residence status might be different though. Maybe you could try marrying a kiwi? Or, if you have $1,000,000 to invest in NZ you could get some sort of overseas investor status that would permit you to live in New Zealand.
Yep the wind can be strong - and cold if it is a Southery. Just tell yourself when you are cycling that it is resistance training.
Wellington is a hilly city and very, very green. Great for running, cycling, mountain biking.
The harbour is clean despite it being a working harbour. You can swim it in without a wetsuit for most of the year.
Don’t be surprised to find that you take up new sports without realising it. It’s easy to do triathlons, mountain biking, kayaking, rowing, dragonboating, soccer, touch rugby, hiking (we call it tramping), diving, golf, sailing … infact pretty much any sport you are interested in.
Auckland has a warmer climate and less wind. Downside it that it is a bit more humid and more spreadout so not so easy to get around.
What industry are you in?
Most government related organisations are in Wellingon as is a lot of the IT. Most head offices have moved to Auckland or Sydney.
You’ll have a great time in NZ - the lifestyle change is amazing.
From all the investigation I’ve done so far I easily qualify for a Skilled Migrant category visa without a job offer present.
I’m looking to work with a firm, or a recruiting agency, to line up a job so that I can work out all of the visa hassles before I ever board the plane.
From everything it sounds like I’ll be happy in either Auckland or Wellington to get my start in NZ. After a few years I’m going to look to make a move to Christchurch possibly.
I work in the IT/Software industry and have found a large number of jobs open, but am wondering how hard it is to get over the hump of being an outsider.
If anyone has any firms to recommend or recruiting agencies let me know.
