New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[Hairy]

I see with the Points Indicator App for Skilled Migrants, I score 140 .... is this enough to work with?

[patches]

I see with the Points Indicator App for Skilled Migrants, I score 140 .... is this enough to work with?

 

I'm guessing that is without a job offer?!

 

If I recall correctly 140 is the minimum. 160pts is the benchmark.

 

A job offer gives one about 30 points (if in Auckland)

[patches]

 

Thinking of submitting my Expression of Interest application to NZ and my preliminary score looks really good. However, still need to do an English Language test before I can submit the application online.

 

Does anybody have any advice on which language test out of the list below is the least amount of shlep to pass?

 

(Keep in mind that I feel fairly confident in my Speaking but I remain an Afrikaans boykie and will need to study fairly hard to ensure I use the right tenses etc in a written exam.)

 

• IELTS test - overall band score of 6.5 or more
• TOEFL iBT overall score of 79 or more
• PTE Academic overall score of 58
• Cambridge English First for Schools overall score of 176 or more
• Occupational English Test Grade B or higher

 

 

I did the CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) for different reasons (not to get into NZ). It will however demonstrate one's English competency.

 

See these 2 previous posts. They may help:

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/155527-new-zealand-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/?p=3312578

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/155527-new-zealand-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/?p=3312593

[Hairy]

no job offer ... just my curiosity having me fill in the app.

I'm guessing that is without a job offer?!

 

If I recall correctly 140 is the minimum. 160pts is the benchmark.

 

A job offer gives one about 30 points (if in Auckland)

[davetapson]

I did IELTS as an English speaker. Got 9's for everything except writing where I got 7.5.

 

If 8 is a minimum, try and get some coaching in essays from someone who knows about this stuff, or see if any of the other options are easier. It may also be that I'm crap at writing of course.

 

I've met a number of other emigrants here that can't communicate (like at all) in English and wonder how the hell they got in.

 

Sent from my Nokia 7 plus using Tapatalk

[davetapson]

Oh, and got our residence application in two weeks or so ago.

 

Any idea how long it takes?

 

Sent from my Nokia 7 plus using Tapatalk

[patches]

Oh, and got our residence application in two weeks or so ago.

 

Any idea how long it takes?

 

Sent from my Nokia 7 plus using Tapatalk

 

Mine took about 5 weeks, for an individual.

 

Some friends of mine had to wait about 7-8 weeks for theirs (as a couple).

 

In both cases the application was from Talent - Accredited Employer ("work to residence") straight to PR.

[patches]

Here's some of the bad when it comes to NZ...

 

Building/Resource consent!

 

Ok, I get the reasoning behind it is to ensure that things are done properly, and no strain is put on the municipal systems, but it has become a bit of a nanny-state affair.

 

In the house hunting game, it can be hard to find a house that didn't have some form of unconsented works done on it. Whether it's an ensuite, a shed over 10m2, a carport that was closed in to a garage, or something as silly as a dack that's over 1.5m high.

 

Then when banks see the unconsented works on the LIM or Sales & Purchase agreement, they play hardball.

 

There is a grandfather clause that anything done before 1992 can have a Safe and Sanitary report written and therefore acceptable. But so many things were done post 92.

 

Furthermore for a nation of DIY'ers, their hands are tied. Want to change a wall socket... need an electrician. Want to change from a pendant light to some downlighters... same things applies... electrician.

 

There's not much one can do themselves anymore, when it comes to home renovation, and the tradies must be loving it!

[intern]

Here's some of the bad when it comes to NZ...

 

Building/Resource consent!

 

Ok, I get the reasoning behind it is to ensure that things are done properly, and no strain is put on the municipal systems, but it has become a bit of a nanny-state affair.

 

In the house hunting game, it can be hard to find a house that didn't have some form of unconsented works done on it. Whether it's an ensuite, a shed over 10m2, a carport that was closed in to a garage, or something as silly as a dack that's over 1.5m high.

 

Then when banks see the unconsented works on the LIM or Sales & Purchase agreement, they play hardball.

 

There is a grandfather clause that anything done before 1992 can have a Safe and Sanitary report written and therefore acceptable. But so many things were done post 92.

 

Furthermore for a nation of DIY'ers, their hands are tied. Want to change a wall socket... need an electrician. Want to change from a pendant light to some downlighters... same things applies... electrician.

 

There's not much one can do themselves anymore, when it comes to home renovation, and the tradies must be loving it!

A bit of 'yes' and 'no' here.

 

Agreed the consenting bollocks is WAY overboard; it was something of an overcorrection to the leaky homes debacle of the 80s and 90s (or thereabouts). Now, consenting drives costs up massively - effing gimps with clipboards, hate them.

 

But on DIY, it depends where you are. I've ton a metric shet ton of DIY on my place (s) without issue. Probably a bit diffs in Akl to the Bay of Plenty...but...ja. Resource consent is ugly and expensive.

[Ramrod]

A bit of 'yes' and 'no' here.

 

Agreed the consenting bollocks is WAY overboard; it was something of an overcorrection to the leaky homes debacle of the 80s and 90s (or thereabouts). Now, consenting drives costs up massively - effing gimps with clipboards, hate them.

 

But on DIY, it depends where you are. I've ton a metric shet ton of DIY on my place (s) without issue. Probably a bit diffs in Akl to the Bay of Plenty...but...ja. Resource consent is ugly and expensive.

It was the one thing that blew my mind while i stayed there. Whilst i enjoyed the fact that the council was approachable etc. I found that they would dictate to our clients what they could and couldn't do on their buildings to the point where they would determine finishes etc to a building.

[Hairy]

Not much different to SA.

 

We have a Client who bought a house where the previous owner has done illegal works, and really nothing serious here. The amount of hoops we have had to jump through (And still jumping through) in order to legalise the works and integrate this into the new Architectural design is really crazy ... it has also cost the poor Client to jump through the hoops from a financial and timing stand point.

 

But, I do agree that illegal works can just not happen willy nilly.

 

RE the D.I.Y, if it comes to electrical, which could claim lives if not done properly, the home owner can surely do the labour aspect of the works and then just pay the Electrical contractor to sign off on the works following and inspection?

 

Here's some of the bad when it comes to NZ...

 

Building/Resource consent!

 

Ok, I get the reasoning behind it is to ensure that things are done properly, and no strain is put on the municipal systems, but it has become a bit of a nanny-state affair.

 

In the house hunting game, it can be hard to find a house that didn't have some form of unconsented works done on it. Whether it's an ensuite, a shed over 10m2, a carport that was closed in to a garage, or something as silly as a dack that's over 1.5m high.

 

Then when banks see the unconsented works on the LIM or Sales & Purchase agreement, they play hardball.

 

There is a grandfather clause that anything done before 1992 can have a Safe and Sanitary report written and therefore acceptable. But so many things were done post 92.

 

Furthermore for a nation of DIY'ers, their hands are tied. Want to change a wall socket... need an electrician. Want to change from a pendant light to some downlighters... same things applies... electrician.

 

There's not much one can do themselves anymore, when it comes to home renovation, and the tradies must be loving it!

[Hairy]

Ja that is a bit K@K, unless they have a very clear building guidelines / design guidline that they as owners should adhere to in order to preserve the general look and feel of an area.

 

It was the one thing that blew my mind while i stayed there. Whilst i enjoyed the fact that the council was approachable etc. I found that they would dictate to our clients what they could and couldn't do on their buildings to the point where they would determine finishes etc to a building.

[davetapson]

Here's a random question. 

 

We've paid INZ for the residence application using a NZ debit card.  We don't have NZ credit cards.

 

On their site they say they accept Visa and Mastercard, but only mention credit cards.  They don't anywhere mention explicitly that they DON'T accept debit cards.

 

Has anyone paid for applications using debit cards?

 

I assume debit cards are ok, but the missus is stressing...

 

Edit: found another page - they say that for paper applications (by which I assume they mean applications put in by paper - e.g. residence) you can use credit cards, debit cards and prezzy cards (whatever a prezzy card is...)

 

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/knowledgebase/kb-question/kb-question-5335

Edited March 13, 2019 by davetapson

[patches]

Here's a random question. 

 

We've paid INZ for the residence application using a NZ debit card.  We don't have NZ credit cards.

 

On their site they say they accept Visa and Mastercard, but only mention credit cards.  They don't anywhere mention explicitly that they DON'T accept debit cards.

 

Has anyone paid for applications using debit cards?

 

I assume debit cards are ok, but the missus is stressing...

 

Yeah Debit should be fine, pretty sure I used mine on one of my INZ forms. Kiwis call any plastic bank card a credit card... UNTIL you try pay for something at a Dairy with an actual credit card, and they freak out and try hit you with the 3% surcharge.

 

The only time I have seen a debit card be refused is at Budget Car Rentals, because the card in question didn't have the bearer's name printed on it (some ANZ migrant account cards are like this if one didn't want to wait for them to print a proper one).

 

If your debit card has your name on it, you should be sweet as bro!

[Wayne Potgieter]

Debit cards are fine. Also often referred to as EFTPOS cards.

 

A prezzie card is a gift card with cash on it.

[Wayne Potgieter]

Here is something to love.

 

ACC claims for injuries.

 

I broke my thumb yesterday. Total bill for all hospital care and attention is $72.

 

Only because I went to the hospital at night and had to pay a copayment.