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I live in Austin, Texas and pretty much have my entire life. The recent passing of nearly my entire family over the past couple of years has got me thinking about the future. I am only 24 years old but I have various skill sets that would probably be of use in New Zealand. I have worked for a couple of different companies doing marketing and advertising along with a lot of web development. I feel that New Zealand is just taking its first baby steps into the internet world and I want to be there to watch and help it grow. That being said, I am quite tired of the noise, pollution, and general attitudes that Americans (including myself) have had since 2001...
I am looking for a change. I have only been to New Zealand once when I was much younger. From what I remember about it, it was an amazing place to live. This is a real goal for me and I would really love to live there. My ideal place would honestly be Dunedin. I know a little bit about the area and have lived in similiar situations. I am not a city boy as I grew up in a town of 1000 and first chance I got moved to Montana (middle of no where Montana)...I have heard the standards of living are a little lower in New Zealand than Texas. So here are the questions I pose to you guys and gals:
How do Americans Fare in New Zealand? I have read a few threads on this very subject, but nothing really in the past year or so. I assume that Kiwi's are normally a pretty friendly group but a lot of the European Countries regard us as fat and obnoxious (which in a lot of cases in true)
Costs of Living compared to Austin...Right now I am able to live fairly comfortably making about 3000 dollars a month in Austin. I can pretty much do this job anywhere in the world where I have internet and access to the internet/American and Canadian Sites. I eat out twice a week sometimes but mainly cook my own food. I also live with a roommate (I would be alright with that if necessary). I pay 1050 for a two bedroom two bath apartment (with a roommate) and utilties run about 250-300 per month including electricity, cable, and internet. I would say at most 1400 per month for rent and what not.
Ease of Citizenship...If I do decide that this is the place I want to be, how easy is it for me to become a full blown citizen?
I have a little bit of money saved up, how easy is it to aquire a loan in New Zealand? I might end up wanting to buy some land/home at some point (possibly when I get there), I have already set up a bank account and have been sending money into it. How easy is it to get a loan for a house and what kind of down payment would I be looking at...usually in the US its something like 5-20% down if you can afford it.
Employment opportunities. I am a young bright college student who can learn very easily...I see a lot of threads of people wanting to retire there. I really would love to have a dual income (one from the internet and one in New Zealand) but I understand that jobs are hard to find and the ones that are available do not pay much.
At first I thought I just had Jimmy Buffet syndrome but I have grown to realize that I really do want to live in New Zealand. I am going to try my damnest to get there too. Any help you guys can be would be greatly appreciated. I know that some of you are going to tell me to read the threads (which I have done for the most part) but I was thinking that since the housing market hasnt done as well as everyone thought it was going to this year, that maybe other things had changed. I am sorry if there is something that I have asked that has already been answered 50 times.
You can get a one year work visa until you are 30 or 35(depending on who you go through as a sponsor, BUNAC is recommended) and you can live and work with few restrictions for a year. There was a program going where you could apply for a more permanent stay after that if you found an employer, but I don't know if that is on offer anymore.
It will enable you to experience all these questions you have at a relatively low cost compared to migration and those questions satisfied, then make steps to move permanently.
I will tell you this. I have had many American friends do this program with the idea of living in NZ permanently at some point, but reality bites and only one actually finished his whole year. I myself took a pass on doing this program as I found in my many trips it was easier for me to visit and do what I wanted to do rather than trying to live and work there at a 75% pay cut.
Everything is going to be very different. The plethora of jobs, housing, consumer goods and competition here in the USA makes it a nice place to live. Basically when it comes to NZ you are moving to one of the most isolated countries in the world and all these choices you have narrow.
The pay is much lower, housing costs the same or higher, anything imported is expensive, taxes are higher or at a minimum the same. Interest rates are much higher. Even things like clothes and books are shockingly expensive.
Dunedin is going to be a 180 degree change from Austin. Due to it's location it is very cool year round and moist/rainy. Most homes dont have central heating so you better get used to wool.
I think it all depends what you want. If your standard of living is not as important, if growing a career is not as important, if having nice things isn't important and you like being outdoors and doing outdoor activities then NZ is a great place.
Living in NZ permanently is very different to visiting. NZ has an anti-American sentiment.
My suggestion if you are serious, is to come to NZ on a working holiday and see if you like it. You may love it or you may find it unbearably small and parochial.
Here is the thing, I know for a fact that I would love New Zealand. I lived in Eastern Montana for an entire year and while things are not nearly as expensive, lows during the winter got below -20 Fahrenheit. I get it that its a little more expensive and I would maintain my 3,000 dollars per month US dollars more than likely because 99 percent of my work is done online. The nearest mall was 300 miles away so I have been there done that with the whole not having essentials and frankly prefer it that way if it means getting away from the city.
Are there gov restrictions on what websites you can view? Is New Zealand not making great strides to become more online?? I was under the impression that New Zealand would be greatly appreciative to have someone with the knowledge abd background needed to make their websites to have a more powerful voice.
Are there any good social networks for New Zealand for either Business or Students? Is it really something that I need to see again before I make my way down?? I have been once before, I was much younger.
Thats actually not that bad. right now I am paying $55 USD or $74 NZD per month right now.
The taxes are sooo high but most of the money I would be making would not be from New Zealand...it would be from the US and Canada...I would love to have a side job/career that I could then use for residency purposes.
If your money is earned outside of NZ then you will be paying taxes in 2 countries. I think you need to do more research into this whole idea. You can't just go to NZ and become a permanent resident.
Thats actually not that bad. right now I am paying $55 USD or $74 NZD per month right now.
The taxes are sooo high but most of the money I would be making would not be from New Zealand...it would be from the US and Canada...I would love to have a side job/career that I could then use for residency purposes.
That's about what I pay for broadband plus landline .... though my broadband is probably slower than yours.
Re housing ... we will be more expensive, you will need to pay a lot more for something nice. It isn't possible to rent a genuinely nice apartment for NZ$300 per week in Auckland .... a Texas standard decent one will be about double that.
Your best option for nice housing is to share a family sized home with flatmates in a good area.
Food/petrol/electricity/clothing/restaurants/alcohol ..... all more expensive.
What are cheaper here?
Property tax and insurances. Having problems thinking of anything else.
What is nicer here?
The scenery
Nice fresh air ... this is particularly noticeable
Longer vacation and sick time
Socialised medicine which will take care of serious illness
More laidback people (though this could be a minus)
Better work-life balance
If your money is earned outside of NZ then you will be paying taxes in 2 countries. I think you need to do more research into this whole idea. You can't just go to NZ and become a permanent resident.
Ya I got that from the various sites talking about how hard it is to become a resident. I'm confused though...if the money doesn't come from new zealand and is just residual income, how can that be taxed if I'm not a resident???
I think you will have problems getting a working visa if you don't actually get work in NZ and you can't just apply for a PR visa without having a skill set NZ needs.
You have complicated the situation greatly by saying you will have an independent income source.
Why not just go the working visa route and see how that goes before making the decision to try to get PR.
If you are that serious about the PR then you'll need to talk to an Immigration Consultant who specialises in what you are seeking.
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