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

[intern]

Yes, we cannot forget the Aussie contingent. As you say, lots of similarities. One of the main reasons for the NZ flag referendum a few years ago was that someone mistakenly setup an Aussie flag next to the NZ PM at an international event. Admittedly before I moved to NZ, I didn't know the difference either. Now I just look out for the red stars.

 

Whilst I haven't explored a ton of Aus, I must say the parts I have been to I have enjoyed (apart from the heat, dunno how you guys cope with it).

 

NZ definitely is quite a way behind in terms of infrastructure development, pay scales, food pricing, retail etc, but that slightly simpler life is quite appealing to some.

 

While there are a lot of similarities, the folk out on the West Island of New Zealand are just...slightly...off ;-).

 

I'd live in Aussie, especially Brisbane, any time. Love that heat. Struggling a bit with the low temps of August, even after a mild winter (bless you global climate change crisis or whatever they're calling it this week...but please, step it up a bit).

[intern]

Look after yourself man!

 

Looks like lekker weather this weekend. So Ive booked a room in a fancy hotel. Going to skip out of work a little early tomorrow and go to the Redwoods. Need some vitamin forest.

Enjoy! Ya filthy animal, I'm jealous.

[patham]

While there are a lot of similarities, the folk out on the West Island of New Zealand are just...slightly...off ;-).

 

I'd live in Aussie, especially Brisbane, any time. Love that heat. Struggling a bit with the low temps of August, even after a mild winter (bless you global climate change crisis or whatever they're calling it this week...but please, step it up a bit).

 

There are a few days in the year when Brissie becomes unbearable without staying indoors with air-conditioning, when my swimming pool hits 35 degrees plus. But on average - most liveable place in Aus I think. My youngster has literally not worn a jersey or a pair of long pants in the last 4 years. We always buy one tracksuit pants / jacket in case we get the coldest year ever, and every year we donate them away, unused.    

[Wayne Potgieter]

There are a few days in the year when Brissie becomes unbearable without staying indoors with air-conditioning, when my swimming pool hits 35 degrees plus. But on average - most liveable place in Aus I think. My youngster has literally not worn a jersey or a pair of long pants in the last 4 years. We always buy one tracksuit pants / jacket in case we get the coldest year ever, and every year we donate them away, unused.    

 

Maybe I need to move over once that little black book is in my hands,

[intern]

 

Maybe I need to move over once that little black book is in my hands,

Believe me it is tempting. Can't really swim in the sea there though. Or walk around without some f#cking monstrous thing trying to kill you!

[WrightJnr]

9 years for us - and it is as you say, sometimes you feel like you've been here all your life. Other times, like yesterday, I wish I was in the warm sun of Johannesburg in my back yard in Weltevreden Park.

Emigration is a bit like having kids, I guess. You'll never really be happy again. (With kids, they are either annoying you when they are around, or you miss them terribly within 10 minutes of saying goodbye at school).

Where did you stay in Weltevreden Park? I lived in that suburb from 1979 right up to my move to the UAE begging this year. Grew up on Cornelius Street, went to Panorama Primary.... My parents are still there! But they relocate to PMB next month to retire.

[GrahamS2]

Believe me it is tempting. Can't really swim in the sea there though. Or walk around without some f#cking monstrous thing trying to kill you!

No, that's way up north. The sea around brisbane doesn't have salties or box jelly fish. Climate wise it's similar to living in kzn here. A bit colder in winter for sure, and a bit warmer in summer. You get a few snakes but most warm places do. Not really an everyday issue though.

[intern]

Where did you stay in Weltevreden Park? I lived in that suburb from 1979 right up to my move to the UAE begging this year. Grew up on Cornelius Street, went to Panorama Primary.... My parents are still there! But they relocate to PMB next month to retire.

Haha- I was born in Marizburg and grew up in Howick. Was in Insinde St in Welties, close to Jim Fouche/JG Strydom intersection...

Having been to Pmb a year or 2 ago - man, that place is absolutely shocking. Looks like it's been bombed. So depressing - used to cruise through Alex Park on the way into Take 5 and Crowded House, past the cemetaries on Commercial Road. It's all destroyed now. So sad.

[intern]

No, that's way up north. The sea around brisbane doesn't have salties or box jelly fish. Climate wise it's similar to living in kzn here. A bit colder in winter for sure, and a bit warmer in summer. You get a few snakes but most warm places do. Not really an everyday issue though.

See you next week, I'm coming!!

Nah I would miss too much of NZ and I know it.

[patham]

No, that's way up north. The sea around brisbane doesn't have salties or box jelly fish. Climate wise it's similar to living in kzn here. A bit colder in winter for sure, and a bit warmer in summer. You get a few snakes but most warm places do. Not really an everyday issue though.

 

I think technically Intern is right, you don't want to swim in the sea by Brisbane proper, as it is really a mangrove swamp. You need to go the Sunshine or Gold Coast to get to swimming waters. But no dangers lurk in the water, no. 

 

Spiders - we have the huntmans here a plenty,  and the Golden Orbs which are massive and build humungous webs but I have not seen any of the dangerous kinds.

 

Snakes - in 6 years I have had 1 x 3m + long python curled up in my electric gate, 1 x 1.5 m python slithering across my driveway, 1 x skinny green thing that zoomed across my driveway at such high speed I can't be sure what it was, and a few months ago I accidentally picked up a baby Brown tree snake that was minding its own business on a dead palm tree leaf. I looked at it, it looked at me, I looked at it, it looked at me, and then I very carefully put the leaf down. And shoo-ed him away with a rake to the perimeter hedge, or as I call, the snake pit. Very cute little guy- but enough of a shock to get the heart beating. 

[patham]

No, that's way up north. The sea around brisbane doesn't have salties or box jelly fish. Climate wise it's similar to living in kzn here. A bit colder in winter for sure, and a bit warmer in summer. You get a few snakes but most warm places do. Not really an everyday issue though.

 

It just dawned on me that you used the term "salties". Well done, you are well on the way to becoming a local !

 

Have you cracked the other Australian colloquilism code: chop the words in half and end it with an "O". Servo, ambo, no probo etc....    

[intern]

It just dawned on me that you used the term "salties". Well done, you are well on the way to becoming a local !

 

Have you cracked the other Australian colloquilism code: chop the words in half and end it with an "O". Servo, ambo, no probo etc....    

This is one of the primary things keeping me out of Aussie! Matey-O.

[intern]

I think technically Intern is right, you don't want to swim in the sea by Brisbane proper, as it is really a mangrove swamp. You need to go the Sunshine or Gold Coast to get to swimming waters. But no dangers lurk in the water, no. 

 

Spiders - we have the huntmans here a plenty,  and the Golden Orbs which are massive and build humungous webs but I have not seen any of the dangerous kinds.

 

Snakes - in 6 years I have had 1 x 3m + long python curled up in my electric gate, 1 x 1.5 m python slithering across my driveway, 1 x skinny green thing that zoomed across my driveway at such high speed I can't be sure what it was, and a few months ago I accidentally picked up a baby Brown tree snake that was minding its own business on a dead palm tree leaf. I looked at it, it looked at me, I looked at it, it looked at me, and then I very carefully put the leaf down. And shoo-ed him away with a rake to the perimeter hedge, or as I call, the snake pit. Very cute little guy- but enough of a shock to get the heart beating. 

'Oh that's nothing'.

 

The only mildly dangerous thing we have here is a white tailed spider...from Straya.

[GrahamS2]

It just dawned on me that you used the term "salties". Well done, you are well on the way to becoming a local !

 

Have you cracked the other Australian colloquilism code: chop the words in half and end it with an "O". Servo, ambo, no probo etc....    

LOL, I was just commenting on this at work this morning. Shortly before a preso

 

Regarding the snakes, I've seen a few in my 5 months here, all pythons. But I do spend a fair amount of time in the forest.

[eibmoZ]

Not necessarily.

 

There are 2 visas with the term "Skill" in them:

 

• Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa - this one counts points and requires English competency certification etc. It has a sub-section in the points calculator whereby a job offer for skilled employment gives one 50 points, and a further 10 if that employment is in an area of "absolute skills shortage" (referring to the Long Term Skills Shortage List). This is a residency visa so allows more freedom, benefits of a resident, and an overall quicker pathway to citizenship. Permanent residency can be obtained after 2yrs, and citizenship is 5yrs after the initial residency.

• Talent - Long Term Skills Shortage Work Visa - this also requires one to be offered employment in one of the fields on the same Long Term Skills Shortage List, but is a work visa valid for 30 months. One may be eligible to apply for residency after 2 yrs (if conditions are met). Permanent Residency will take another 24 months after that. Citizenship is 5yrs after initial residency. (so approximately 2yrs longer to citizenship than the above).

Hope that helps!

Yes thank you. My job is on the” long term skill” list

My goal is residency and ultimately citizenship, so your 1st option would be the one i will aim for.

[Warren_G]

Interesting vid on leaving SA. For those who settled in NZ, are his comments re kiwis reminding us of how terrible SA is accurate? Around 11:50 in the vid. ***strong language*** https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=914116148944240&id=504544813234711

Edited August 29, 2019 by Warren_G