A possible move?

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi guys,

As many of you know I lost my job of 23 years in November, and recently started work again for another company, which all seems to be going well, but whilst out of work I cast my net far and wide, and was approached by a recruiter looking for managers for Australia and New Zealand. After talking things thru with hubby I made a tentative application for New Zealand, and had my 2nd hour long telephone interview yesterday, with the result I have been invited to go for an interview with them in London on Monday!!

Now this places me in a difficult position, the job in NZ pays more than I earn at my new job, would give us a chance to live in NZ with all that the country has to offer (including the chance of building our own house for a reasonable cost - something impossible here in the uk), but should we take the radical step of moving half way around the world?

The job itself is one of Department Manager, running a team of up to 25, something I know I can do easily, the company seem to be very eco focussed and value their people and want them to have good work life balance, there also appears to be plenty of opportunities for advancement with them, but what to do!

Any thoughts, advice, info about life in NZ would be most welcome!

[zazen999]

Wow.

Make sure you visit there first before making any plans.

You know when we said that leaving H was the best thing you could have done.....well, looks like we could have been right.

[cardiffsteve]

Personally I'd say go for it, what have you got to lose.

Congratulations on getting an interview, best of luck.

Just a quick question what will hubby do for a living?
How do the kids feel?

just watch out for hobbits and orcs!

[piskieinboots]

I have to ask why you even have to ask - TAKE IT - we only have one life! What could go wrong, you don't like it, you move back, you have a wonderful experience placed in your memory bank

One of my ex-clients (relax Mods, I'm not selling/working) is a Migration Agent, I worked alongside her for eight years and it was without doubt one of the best clients I've ever had - not the actually client - the work, the joy I brought to people when telling them their visa was through.

[Mrs Dobby]

We would love to go for a visit first, but atm that doesnt look possible with our finances, so it would definitely be a leap into the dark, hence why I am asking for any info / advice about living in NZ!

We dont have any children at home, my daughter lives with her BF, and Mr D would have to look for work once we get out there, but NZ does look like a great place to live, a place as large as the UK with only the population of Scotland living there really sounds like our kinda place!

[salome2001]

first question is: CAN your husband work out there?? You sound like you will be sponsored if they are recruiting in the UK, but that doesn't mean hubby is entitle to work. CHECK!!

second is: how long are you planning to go for? A year and rent out the house? 5 years? rest of life? I really think you need to visit before making really long term plans. Also get some realistic financial advice- everyone in the UK thinks that life in Australia/ NZ is cheap blah blah but in fact Australia is bloody expensive, NZ isn't much different, salaries might look good but check out how much a house really costs (Auckland???) and how much the weekly shop will cost you (as well as health insurance- no free health care, only part-subsidised)

Not wanting to be a party-pooper, nor to rubbish the expat life (being someone who has done the move in reverse), but I think you need to get some mopre information before you can really decide (especially the really important stuff like visas)

[donnakebab]

OH has 5 siblings in Australia. In Oz they call New Zealanders South Sea Poms. Obviously it would be good if you could visit but given your circumstance it's not possible at the moment.

When you go to the interview ask as many questions as you can. They will know what a big step it is and should be able to answer any questions you have. For me I would be asking would I be living in an earthquake zone...or is that pretty much the whole of New Zealand? (just kidding). See if you can get some statistics from the Embassy here about how many people make a successful move and what their biggest issues are.

Then grab it with both hands. Lord of the rings was filmed there...that's enough for me. Beats Walkabout and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels hands down.

Oh and BTW your garden will be greener.

[taff]

I know the climate is similar to britains in certain areas, so not too much of a stretch there.
can you find an ex-pats forum somewhere?

[di]

Aaaaaargh! I don't want to be the nae sayer!

It all sounds great and we do only live the once and regrets are always worse than the tried but faileds. Just research and research and research some more.

I'm really close to a couple across the road from me, he's from New Zealond. I used to have such dreams of what a beautiful, peaceful, love for all country it was.....apparently that very much depends on the area.

A year or two ago, I'd have been really excited for you....still am to a certainm extent as your area may be a decent one.

If you want to PM me details of where you'd be, I'll happily natter to my friend and see if he has any personal insights.

Good Luck with whatever you choose to do, I have faith that between the two of you, you'll make the right decision. xx

[SarrissUK]

It sounds really exciting and as someone that moved to the UK from Sweden, I can tell you it's a great adventure to move country
I would strongly advise you find the money to go visit though. Maybe the company would be willing to pay towards it in order to get you out there?

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'd have to curl up in a ball and die from indecision on this one, Suzanne, I am such a homebody! BUT - I know people who grasp these opportunities and revel in the exhilaration of the experience - what an extraordinary adventure!! Only you and Dobby can draw up the whole 'pros' and 'cons' list (and you're both bright enough to work those out).

But to give a twist to the list - why don't you look at the biggest pro of going (maybe the chance to have smallholding/extra land) and see if that can be resolved here (i.e can the biggest plus of moving halfway round the world actually happen here); then look at the greatest con of going (maybe leaving DD/allotment, friends, family, bees that you've working hard to build up in the last five years) and see if that circle can be squared.

I appreciate that there are lots of uncertainties - but if a new job here doesn't work out (in your home with D working) that's one thing, if the NZ job doesn't work out where are you then? (in terms of other job opportunities).

I think that a trip out there is important before you make your minds up, so get a 'feel' for if it is right - if your employer is not prepared to pay for/sensibly contribute to a fact finding tour and expects you to commit even so - well, maybe that would say a lot about their pastoral care of employees!

Good luck in whatever you decide! x

[zazen999]

I think that a trip out there is important before you make your minds up, so get a 'feel' for if it is right - if your employer is not prepared to pay for/sensibly contribute to a fact finding tour and expects you to commit even so - well, maybe that would say a lot about their pastoral care of employees!

This is exactly why you have to visit first - the employer should be paying for a first visit not you. They can't expect you to up sticks and move across the world without stumping up the first flights for you.

[Two_Sheds]

can you find an ex-pats forum somewhere?

New Zealand : British Expat Discussion Forum

Just what I was going to suggest. My aunt moved from UK to NZ 40 years ago, it's not easy. They aren't well off and there's no health care, but they like the climate. Her daughters couldn't get work there, they both moved away for work (Hong Kong & Oz)

[Newton]

Check out visas. It would be horrible if you went and loved it only not to get a residents visa....

Also it's nearly winter thre now.........if you delay it six months you can have two summers......on the run!! How good would that be?

[Florence Fennel]

What a wonderful opportunity. Talking to residents on a forum sounds good. Good luck with it!