NZ Du'ers! Please check in ... I 'm working on my EoI!

[NewHampshireDem]

EoI, for those who don't know, is the "Expression of Interest," which is the first step in applying to move to NZ.

I'm hoping to qualify as a Skilled Migrant, thanks to my 10 years experience as a secondary-level educator.

My wife and I have been talking about this for about a year, and now it's time to get serious.

I could use some cheerleading here, since I worry that it is going to be a long, long process. I'd also like to hear whatever you have to share about NZ.

Feel free to PM me if you'd like.

[foreigncorrespondent]

1. I'm not a kiwi...

...but I am close enough. I do have family in NZ. And Sapph and I have looked into NZ immigration ourselves.

Anyway, from what I understand about the NZ immigration department is, they are generally pretty quick with processing applications.

Anyway, I wish you and your wife luck with your immigration process. Where abouts are you looking to settle in NZ?

[NewHampshireDem]

2. Anywhere but Auckland ...

I've been looking at Wellington, Christchurch, and Canterbury. Auckland seems, from what I've heard from others, to be the center of the kind of lifestyle I'd hope to leave behind.

[foreigncorrespondent]

3. Both...

...Wellington and Christchurch are both very lovely places. North Island has the best fishing, but the South Island really does have charm.

My family lived in the country (Rotorua) for many years, but then moved into Wellington as they grew older. Now my Great Uncle has passed, so my Great Aunt moved to Christchurch to be closer to her daughter.

My dad and step mother live in Queenstown, and are part owners in a B&B down there. Unfortunately though, I found that out on the Internet (LOL), because I haven't spoken to my dad in several years now.

Anyway, I really do wish you and your wife the best of luck with everything. I hear the fish and chips in NZ are pretty good. :)

On edit: I thought I would add, that there used to be a little town in NZ (South Island) called Aitkins. That town was actually named after my ancestors. They used to run a little Cobb & Co coach stop, and apparently, it was the best food around.

I don't know if that little coach stop still stands. The last time I heard anything about it, it was just about in ruins, being used as a hay shed.

[oceania]

4. I'm from NZ

I just saw your post- I've only got a minute just now but I will check in again later.

My husband is also a secondary teacher.

I'm new to DU- I'm happy to talk to you privately- how do I do this??

[NewHampshireDem]

5. I'm not sure that you can send PM's yet, since you are new ...

But I'm happy to have an open chat with you here :)

Are you native NZ'ers, or migrants?

Could you tell me a little about what school culture is like in NZ? I've heard that it is like it was here in the US fifty years ago--that people actually *gasp* RESPECT teachers in NZ ... could this be true? :)

[oceania]

6. New Zealand

Yes- we are "native" New Zealanders- though strictly speaking I am a migrant having come here from Canada at the age of 7!!

Are teachers respected in NZ- hmmmm- not really. It is acknowledged that teachers do a difficult job with inadequate pay but there is no political will to change this. Twenty years ago teaching was a relatively well paid profession here but not anymore. Neither are the students particularly well behaved or disciplined so secondary teaching is not considered a particularly desirable job.
Although NZ is still a social democracy there is still plenty of poverty and you get all the social problems associated with low income. School are given decile ratings- 10 indicates a school with a wealthy catchment. Decile 1 schools take in students with the lowest of family incomes and can be challenging places to teach.

The website that advertises teaching jobs in NZ is www.edgazette.govt.nz

The parts of NZ I would recommend would be places like Tauranga, Napier, Nelson, Christchurch. Lovely coastal cities and towns. But teaching jobs are hard to get in those places and the positions that are advertised are very sought after.

What do you teach??

[NewHampshireDem]

7. I teach English ...

though I am currently in administration right now. I work as a curriculum coordinator.

I've also run a program for academically at-risk students, so I've seen a little of it all--though not to the extent you might see in the inner cities here in the US.

When you say "inadequate pay," what do you mean? I haven't been able to find specific information about teachers' pay in NZ. Here in the US, we constantly complain about our pay as well, and while it is considerably lower than others jobs with similar educational requirements, most teachers make enough money to live comfortable middle-class lives. Is that the case in NZ?

[oceania]

8. Pay rates

My husband earns a bit over NZ$64,000 per annum. He is at the top of the pay scale in terms of experience and qualifications and also has 2 management units. Management units are given for extra responsibilities within the school ie head of curriculum.
Teacher's salaries start at NZ$38,000 for an inexperienced teacher with a bachelors degree.

NZ has recently changed the secondary qualifications framework to something called NCEA. Details are at www.nzqa.govt.nz. It is a somewhat confusing website but if you look around you will eventually find the english curriculum for years 11, 12 and 13 (the final years of secondary school) and past external exam papers and marking schedules. This will give you an idea of how the NZ curriculum compares to what you are used to teaching in the USA.

Can you live a comfortable middle class life in NZ on a teacher's salary? Well, it depends on where you want to live and and how many other people you are trying to support on a teacher's salary.
A single person could be quite comfortable, or a couple in an area with lower housing prices. It is pretty hard to support a family.

The prices of things in NZ. If you want to know the cost of food take a look at www.woolworths.co.nz It costs us about NZ$250-300 per week to feed a family of two adults and two children. We buy fairly basic food. A litre of petrol (gasoline) is approx NZ$1.15
Whiteware and electrical gear prices- www.noelleeming.co.nz

The cost of housing in desirable parts of NZ has gone up hugely over the last couple of years and this is now a big problem for people on more modest incomes (though if you are arriving in NZ with a fair bit of capital this won't be such a problem for you). Check out www.realenz.co.nz for house prices in various parts of NZ

I hope some of this helps you. Do you have any other questions I can answer for you?

[NewHampshireDem]

9. Thank you!

That is some very useful information. I've been poking around at some sites--checking housing and car prices, primarily--but the site you've given me will be most helpful.

It's too bad about the housing prices. I actually began looking into NZ about a year ago, and all over the on-line news sites (Scoop, for example) were all kinds of stories about the rapid rise in housing costs. I seem to remember that at the time they were up at 20% or so for the year. Fortunately (well, for me at least) we've seen a similar increase in our area--I live about an hour outside of Boston--so the assessed value of my house has doubled in the five years that we've owned it. I should be able to walk away with a pretty chunk of change, which will be helpful no matter where we decide to go.

You've been a great help, and I appreciate it very much. I'll probably PM you at some point with more questions, if you don't mind. :)

[oceania]

10. You're welcome

Best of luck in making your decisions- moving across the world is a big step!!

Another link for you- this time to the tax dept- it's not much use knowing gross rates of pay without knowing how much the tax man takes! http://www.ird.govt.nz/itaxsalaryandwage/incometaxrates.html

Also I didn't mention the costs of utilities. Electricity for us ranges between $100 and $250 per month depending on the time of year. We have electric water heating and cooking. We use a solid fuel heater for most of our warmth and some electric heating in the bedrooms.
Telephone is around $50 per month to be connected and includes the cost of local calls. Toll calls are 19 cents a minute off peak and quite a lot more than that peak. Mobile calls are expensive- how much you pay depends on what sort of plan you buy but I believe NZ has some of the most expensive mobile calls in the world.

You are welcome to PM me if I can help further- not sure when I will get such privileges on DU though.