The first steps

Browsing through the ENZ forums the other day I came across a thread about migrant bloggers. I enjoyed reading through the joys as well as the trials of those heading to NZ so I decided to start one myself. They seemed to fall into two categories:

• Those written mainly for family and friends, which seem to comprise lots of holiday snaps and family photos, and not much else.
• Others offer a step by step guide in crushing detail of their experiences during the migration process and their life in NZ.

Which one this blog will turn into I don't yet know. The former is great when keeping in touch with friends and family 'back home', while the latter is very useful for other potential migrants hoping to avoid the pitfalls of previous generations (get a house with good heating seems to be the main one!).

Why New Zealand?

Back in March 2001 my wife went as the Physio for a Rugby League team touring NZ. She absolutely loved it and convinced me to go in November for a 2 week holiday. This was now post 9/11 so the level of security going through LA was impressive, though the sight of RNZN sailors at Auckland handling all the baggage for the scanners was novel!

We covered much of North Island in that trip, only briefly extending down to Christchurch in South Island. We managed to visit many distant and not so distant relations in Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch and my wife came home convined that she wanted to emigrate to NZ. Though I was astounded by how much house you could get for your money, I was less than convinced by the job situation in the IT market and was therefore less enthusiastic.

Well, my wife steadily whittled away my resistance until in mid 2004 I decided to see if we would be granted a visa and checked out the online Points Indicator. Shortly afterwards there appears to be a revamp in the process, and you were able to submit an 'Expression of Interest' online. I started putting one together in September 2004, but did not submit it until March 2005. We cleared this hurdle and received the 'Invitation to Apply', submitting our final documents (following a frantic search by my Mother-in-Law to find my wifes full birth certificate) in September 2005. While we received a telephone interview and passed the process later that year, we elected to delay receiving the 'blue stickers' for the full 6 months.

The 6 month delay has been brought about by a promotion my wife had received at work, but for pension purposes she has to be in post for 2 years, so we're delaying our departure to NZ to the fullest extent allowable under the Visa regulations.

House Hunting in NZ

We're using the time to prepare though, including a 3 week trip in March 2006 spent touring South Island and looking for houses in Christchurch. We were amazed how much prices have gone up and have resigned ourselves to accepting that if we're going to get that 'dream house' we'll need a mortgage.

The house hunting also taught is a lot about NZ houses themselves, ie a townhouse is quite different from what we'd call a townhouse in the UK. We learnt the about character and lifestyle homes, and how shockingly behind Europe NZ is in terms of double glazing, insulation and heating. I'd never heard of heat pumps before I went out there! Oh yes, and it's good if you have a North facing aspect!

Soon (hopefully) our house in the UK will be sold and we can look for properties in earnest around Christchurch. We're in a better position than most with relatives able and willing to check over properties.

The next 2 years will fly I'm sure!