Woo Hoo! Moving to New Zealand for a year :)

JerseyVics · 21-10-2011, 01:30 AM

I'm excited, after 1 year in Australia, 7 months in Singapore its now time for a one year working holiday visit to New Zealand Woo Hoo!

Still haven't found a job or a place to live, but after the first two experiences I'm not terribly worried. Posting this here in case any locals wish to meet up. I arrive Auckland on November 18th right after the SEMA show a few weeks prior

Any suggestions on what I should bring with me, look out for while there, etc. Any general advice from all the car buddies is always welcome! I'm already on a shopping spree as things are much cheaper in US than elsewhere in the world. Just re-stocked on some new clothing, shoes, new laptop... all great deals here. Should I bring some car parts to barter for accommodation and employment? LOL

Anyhow, really looking forward to this trip.

--Russ

PS. Was going to post this in the NZ forum, but noticed there hasn't been any posts in over 30 days... are there still any Ford owners left in New Zealand or do they all drive Japanese cars now? (I was just in Tokyo two weeks ago and its a real status symbol to own a left-hand drive car/which they don't bother converting... lots of Fords/Chebby's/and Benzes everywhere)

Till_Lind · 21-10-2011, 09:57 AM

Hmmm, moving to New Zealand can be a woohoo moment, that's a new theory to me. :P

Anyway, have fun. Should find some work okay, seeing as Kiwis are moving en masse to Ausland.

**ebxr8240** · 21-10-2011, 09:59 AM

Brother has an 09 XR6 and turbo Terri...
Yep plenty of Jap and import stuff too...

Rodge · 21-10-2011, 10:05 AM

Make sure you visit Queenstown, great place to meet lots of young people and find casual work.

Its party central for about 11 1/2 months of the year.

MAGPIE · 21-10-2011, 01:51 PM

Some suggestions....

Events

Auckland All Ford Day - Early to mid April

Warbirds Over Wanaka - Fri 6 to Sun 8 April 2012

WRC NZ - Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 June 2012

An All Blacks test match

Queenstown Winter Festival

Places to Visit

Auckland

Coromandel Peninsular

Wellington

Abel Tasman National Park

Kaikoura

Christchurch (for your free shake)

Queenstown/Wanaka

Milford Sound

Activities

Jet Boating/Bungy and all the other crazy stuff (Queenstown)

Cruise Milford Sound

Hot Air Balloon over Canterbury Plains

Scenic flight (Mt Cook)

Whale watch (Kaikoura)

Swim with dolphins (Akaroa)

Search the web, these were just off the top of my head

Have fun and feel free to quiz us Kiwi's

lockieoc · 21-10-2011, 02:15 PM

I will also be at SEMA!
I have refused to do any shopping until i head over to the US. Minimal clothes and a spare suit case is all im taking

HenryFordJr · 21-10-2011, 04:05 PM

I have never actually heard of anyone moving to New Zealand, people do that? lol

**Burnout** · 21-10-2011, 04:31 PM

/\ lol!

G'day Russ, how goes it mate?
NZ will be interesting; What to do, never having been there..... um, eat lamb!

GT0132 · 21-10-2011, 04:38 PM

double post

HenryFordJr · 21-10-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT0132

Hey Frank...If it wasn't for that fact that I knew you were joking and that Kiwis have the lowest unemployment rate as well as paying the highest amount of personal income tax amongst Australian migrants, I would have taken huge offence at that comment

As for Henry Ford Jnr

Sorry I was only agreeing, but I think he is onto something..

Of course they have a lower unemployment rate, all their unemployed move over here

**DJR-351** · 21-10-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT0132

Hey Frank...If it wasn't for that fact that I knew you were joking and that Kiwis have the lowest unemployment rate as well as paying the highest amount of personal income tax amongst Australian migrants, I would have taken huge offence at that comment

As for Henry Ford Jnr

I have to agree here, considering half the crew working on the ship i am currently on (working in Australian waters) are from NZ.....why ???? because we cannot get enough Aussies to fill the positions, even though the money is right up there above mining, Aussies just don't want to know....

GT0132 · 21-10-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryFordJr

Of course they have a lower unemployment rate, all their unemployed move over here

I meant lowest unemployment rate out of all expats living in Australia....To rephrase - out of all ethnic groups living in Australia, New Zealanders have among the lowest representation when looking at those unemployed as a % of those living here.

Rodge · 21-10-2011, 05:22 PM

We've recently done battle on the rugby field, nuff said.

**DJM83** · 21-10-2011, 05:43 PM

Can we keep it civil guys. OP is after advice, not unemployment rates.

smoo · 21-10-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryFordJr

I have never actually heard of anyone moving to New Zealand, people do that? lol

Yeah, South Africans and third worlders, who move onto Aussie as 'kiwis'

Jerseyvics we have a couch you could crash on for a box of ****/week.
By then I'll be driving interisland linehaul mainly Akl-Christchurch if you need to get down the country, ride shotgun. Just give us a yell when ya land.
Be aware that any desire to own a performance import will go out the window when you see the ********* driving them and abuse they've suffered.
You'll have to get along to a Central Muscle Car race, best racing around, similar to Australian Muscle Car Masters.

Crazymaori · 21-10-2011, 06:15 PM

Great timing dude. Powercruise is on in Taupo November 19th through 21st.

JerseyVics · 21-10-2011, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieoc

I will also be at SEMA!
I have refused to do any shopping until i head over to the US. Minimal clothes and a spare suit case is all im taking

I'll send you a PM maybe we could meet up for dinner in Vegas.

I'm actually flying to LA for a night on Wednesday as the flight+hotel combo were cheaper than the stay in LV, lol plus I love flying. But I'll be staying in Vegas Tuesday and Thursday night.

Anyway, if others are going and wish to meet up you can call my mobile +1 201-321-5922

JerseyVics · 21-10-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryFordJr

I have never actually heard of anyone moving to New Zealand, people do that? lol

I was filing out the working holiday application about the same time I applied for the Australian visa... problem was when it came time to submit the app, NZ government wanted $400 processing fee... so I calmly closed the browser and proceeded with the Ozzie application. Turns out I accidentally applied for NZ citizenship.

Re-applying for the NZ working holiday from Singapore was a breeze and the application was FREE... so why not move to New Zealand for a year?

JerseyVics · 21-10-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnout

/\ lol!

G'day Russ, how goes it mate?
NZ will be interesting; What to do, never having been there..... um, eat lamb!

I've actually visited Christchurch in 2009 when I was living in Australia.

Adrian and other FF.com.au members had a neat FPV party organized and the lamb was delicious!!!!!

Looking forward to meeting those guys again, for sure!

JerseyVics · 21-10-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoo

Yeah, South Africans and third worlders, who move onto Aussie as 'kiwis'

Jerseyvics we have a couch you could crash on for a box of ****/week.
By then I'll be driving interisland linehaul mainly Akl-Christchurch if you need to get down the country, ride shotgun. Just give us a yell when ya land.
Be aware that any desire to own a performance import will go out the window when you see the ********* driving them and abuse they've suffered.
You'll have to get along to a Central Muscle Car race, best racing around, similar to Australian Muscle Car Masters.

I'll be sending you a PM sir! I've done a few sweet road trips with Whoosha and it was one of my most memorable Australia experiences so if I can do that in New Zealand I'd be a pretty happy camper,

I miss all the car stuff in Singapore where I was a pedestrian for seven months! Though thanks to a few Asian girls I met I was able to do a short road trip into Malaysia... the coolest thing was stopping by a road sign "elephant crossing" to take a pic.

JerseyVics · 21-10-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazymaori

Great timing dude. Powercruise is on in Taupo November 19th through 21st.

Its probably too late to find a ride along

though it could be an interesting start to my stay in NZ, where can I get more info?

JerseyVics · 21-10-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Some suggestions....

Activities

Swim with dolphins (Akaroa)

Have fun and feel free to quiz us Kiwi's

I visited the French Bay / Akaroa on my first NZ visit in 2009... really beautiful scenery though the weather was cold as to do anything but freeze my *** off, lol It'd be nice to actually see the Mickey Mouse fin dolphin though

Crazymaori · 21-10-2011, 07:30 PM

Hey dude no worries. check the website www.powercruise.com. Is this Russ Golyak from FPV Registry?

Crazymaori · 21-10-2011, 07:31 PM

Sorry I cant reply to your pm as i haven't got pm rights yet.

JerseyVics · 21-10-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazymaori

Hey dude no worries. check the website www.powercruise.com. Is this Russ Golyak from FPV Registry?

that's me

kevino · 21-10-2011, 09:10 PM

Automobiles and Nz/Aotearoa

Great driving roads.
Lots of crappy 2nd import Jap cars
Greater variety of makes and models sold new

Jobs-check out seek.co.nz

Nz is a great country particuarly once you get away from Auckland which now has a large asian migrant population.

Wellington is a fantastic small city with everything''within your reach'' however the weather is more macho than Singapore or oz. When a 130km/hr southerly or northerly hits you with a bit of driving rain from the great southern ocean you will at least know you are alive.

Like a lot of Kiwis I live in Oz for 1 my 3 Ozzie lids and 2 the $ particuarly the super here. But I get home sick for Nz and it will always be home.

sgt_doofey · 22-10-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Some suggestions....
Places to Visit
Kaikoura
Milford Sound

Activities
Cruise Milford Sound
Whale watch (Kaikoura)

We did Doubtful Sounds when we were over there last year. It's apparently bigger than Milford Sounds, but apparently the best bit of Milford Sounds is the drive there. One to go back for.

As for Kaikoura, you can also do kyaking which takes you out to the seal colony. That's what the wife and I did. Was a great morning for it too.

We lived up in Blenheim for 3 months which is at the top end of the south island. There are heaps of good wineries up there should you be interested.

I highly recommend driving around the south island in winter time. The scenery is spectacular! (Well, at least for us Aussies where we don't see too much snow)

Cheap car rental can be found. Check out a company by the name of transfercar. They basically get people to drive cars for hire companies from one town to another where they are needed. We got a free car one day to drive Christchurch to Picton. Just cost us fuel.

JerseyVics · 22-10-2011, 10:59 PM

random question... but are you allowed to ship perfume internationally from New Zealand?

I bought a gift for a Malaysian friend, and the US Post Office refuses to mail the box claiming Hazardous Material/Flammable Liquid

**ebxr8240** · 24-10-2011, 10:22 PM

Fill the form out at post office saying what it is and you'll be fine...

JerseyVics · 25-10-2011, 03:38 AM

had some ladies on the NZ CouchSurfing forums answer that perfume is no go... flammable liquid/dangerous/hazardous goods... FedEx wants $115 to ship it to Malaysia and $95 to Singapore... I'm sure for that much I can buy a flight there and deliver it myself, lol Plus visit friends in Asia, so I'l do that instead.

Now gotta research on best banking option for the 1 year in NZ. Is ANZ good or are there better choices? I've seen ANZ all over Australia and Singapore (as well as Fiji if I'm not mistaken) but I guess it doesn't really matter as I don't use a debit card internationally anyway.

Also... need to buy a SIM card... what's the best pre-paid plan? I'll only be making a few calls with most of them being inbound international calls.

Any opportunities to earn frequent flyer miles? always helps when wanting to travel.