 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|
||
ADVICE FOR OVERSEAS CANDIDATES Protocol often receives candidates from overseas asking about working in New Zealand; what kinds of jobs are available, how to gain residency or citizenship, and what the New Zealand lifestyle and work environment are like. This page answers those questions for you and provides you with some helpful links. How to Live and Work in New Zealand We have successfully supported and placed overseas candidates in New Zealand positions. There are two ways that overseas candidates can work in New Zealand: * Once you receive a job offer in writing, you can apply for and receive a work permit. The work permit allows you to live and work in New Zealand. * You can apply for New Zealand permanent residency. If successful, you can live and work in New Zealand without any restrictions. Which approach is right for you? Working towards a job offer and a Work Permit can be successful. From experience, we find that this strategy works best for people with very strong IT qualifications and experience, which makes them unique and valuable candidates. Certain skill areas in very high demand in New Zealand include: e-commerce especially security; corporate sales; and experienced systems engineers in NT, Novell, CISCO and Citrix. It is definitely easier to apply for work if you have Permanent Residency; more clients are willing to consider your application. If you have a general skill set, or a modest amount of experience, your job search will be much smoother if you have Permanent Residency. The Permanent Residency application is based on a 'points system', whereby you gain points towards residency based on your age, education, and qualifications. The points system favours people under 30 and people with a Master's Degree or Ph.D. For more information about the Permanent Residency application in New Zealand, visit the New Zealand Immigration website.
What is life in New Zealand like? It depends what you are comparing it to. For somebody from a farm in rural South Africa, Auckland could seem bustling and fast-paced. To someone else from Bangkok or New York, Auckland could seem incredibly peaceful and safe. We have outlined the basic facts for you below.
Transportation Most people in New Zealand drive a car. Public transportation is limited to the larger cities and towns. Auckland has a light rail system and a bus system, and is working on improving public transportation. If you emigrate, we recommend converting your drivers' license to the local equivalent as soon as possible. See the Land Transport Safety web site for more drivers' license information. New cars are relatively affordable in New Zealand due to low tariffs. Many quality used Japanese cars 2 to 3 years old are imported, and sold at competitive prices.
Health Care New Zealand has a good standard of health care, with a government-funded health care system. Government funding supports public hospitals, low-cost prescriptions, emergency care, and certain operations, prenatal and child health care, and other health areas in the public interest. For an overview of health in New Zealand, see "How the Health System Works".
Education All children in New Zealand can attend state-sponsored schools through to the sixth or seventh form. There are several quality universities and many polytechnic institutes for tertiary education. Universities, while partly state-sponsored, charge students tuition fees, and housing fees if they live in dormitories.
Food With farms, dairies, orchards, fishing, and meat production all integral parts of the New Zealand economy, standard groceries are affordable, fresh, and high quality. The flavourful meat, fruit, and vegetables often delight people from highly industrialised countries. Immigrants may note a reduced variety of brands of packaged or prepared food; this is because of the modest size of the New Zealand economy. In larger cities, there are many ethnic and gourmet specialty shops and restaurants. For more information about food and dining in New Zealand, see New Zealand's Cuisine Magazine.
Housing Throughout New Zealand, most residences are houses or small apartment blocks. Large apartment blocks are mostly found in downtown Auckland or Wellington. There are plenty of short-term furnished rentals available in Auckland, which are useful as a temporary living space for new residents. Houses and apartments are available for long-term rentals, with prices ranging from NZ $280 per week for a small apartment in an average area, to NZ $300 - $500 for a small house in an area with good schools and city access, to NZ $600 - $1000 per week for a premium property. Home ownership and the "quarter acre" or weekend getaway properties are an integral part of New Zealand culture, and the home ownership rate is high. House prices in the Auckland area range from NZ $280,000 for a modest house; NZ $300,000 - $500,000 for an average house; and NZ$800,000 and up for a premium property.
Work Many immigrants find New Zealand work places pleasantly relaxed and friendly, while still maintaining a high level of productivity and professionalism. British/European CVs are used in job applications. A full range of professional opportunities are available. It's notable that high proportions of New Zealand businesses deal with imports, exports or international clients.
The Auckland Advantage Over 70% of new immigrants to New Zealand choose to live in Auckland for a simple reason: most of the job opportunities are in Auckland. But Auckland has other benefits:
For many immigrants, Auckland is where certain lifestyle dreams become attainable--such as owning a boat, riding horses, or living in a house near the beach. These three things are much more affordable in New Zealand than in Europe, Asia, or the United States. Auckland is internationally famous as the City of Sails, and there are plenty of marinas within an hour's drive of the city. For more information about the benefits of Auckland, see the Auckland City Council guide and Out and about--a guide to enjoying Auckland.
|
