C4 WRX

Hi, I'm 29 years old and have never previously thought about doing anything like this before.
Basically I've been working ever since i left uni but about 2 months ago i was made redundant.
The thing is i've met a girl from new zealand who was over here on a working holiday visa and she flew to NZ about 2 weeks ago.
We've only known eachother for a few months but we've fallen for eachother and i wanna be with her. That's whats got me tempted to go for this working holiday scheme so we can continue to see eachother.
As i'm 29 i believe i qualify for the working holiday scheme for one more year because you can't apply after 30.
I have no mortgage or real responsibilties and i have plenty of savings so am in a good position to do this.

Has anyone ever gone to New Zealand on a working holiday? Can you offer any advice on who to set a bank account up with, where to find accommodation in Auckland, where to look for work, general living advice there etc.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Nav

mrtheedge2u2

I do not have any advice on working visas etc..... but good luck with the lady matey!

All I do know is that I have never met a person who has been there and not wanted to live there

davegtt

Cant help with your question but I have to say, go for it. Woman or not, if it works out great, if it doesnt hey ho, you'll still have a fab time. Enjoy

Matteeboy

We got working visa's in NZ when we went there in 1999/2000 but enjoyed travelling so much that we didn't use them!

I have some good contacts there in the N Island should you need a hand.

Oh and I almost guarantee that you will LOVE it there.
Make sure you visit the South Island too though - stunning place (and great surf)!

I'd try and line something up before you go - Auckland has plenty going on.

stilover

The only advice I'd give, is go for it. No point in looking back in 10 years time wondering `What if?`

I never did the whole Uni thing. Regret it now.

grahamc

iTrader: (10)

What type of work do you do?

I spent 4 months, and as said, stunning place!

Dan Gleebits

We ( the wife and I) were over there last easter, an average 'visitor visa' is valid for 6th months anyhoo, so even if you dont work whilst over there you can spend that time with no worries , as long as you can afford to obviously

as already stated, it is a beautiful place, i honestly cant wait untill i go visit again

Good luck fella

Klaatu

Kia ora! Do it if you can an awesome place and people. I lived there for 9 years, Wellington and friends lived, and still do, in Auckland. Don't have any experience of working holiday visas as I had a business visa sponsored by a bank.

Any of the banks will be good although ANZ owns National, I would however recommend Kiwibank (And I hope the National lead Govn't don't sell it off like they did with Post Bank to ANZ) as it is wholly NZ owned, all other mainstream banks are Australian.

You should be able to find somewhere to stay in Auckland really easily, plenty of apartments for rent apparently. As for work, all I can suggest you do is go to SEEK - New Zealand's no. 1 jobs, employment, career and recruitment site and start there. Seasonal work like fruit picking is popular for visitors on working holidays.

All the best.

velohead66

Most people in Auckland read the NZ Herald - that may be of interest to you.
NZ Herald - New Zealand's Latest National, World, Business, Sport , Entertainment News and Weather

We lived in Auckland (North Shore) for 4.5 years.
Unfortunately the weather was not condusive to our outdoors lifestyle, so we defected to Australia. Very scenic place, though.

Watch out for some areas in south auckland, they may be not so desirable.
Also watch "Once Were Warriors" - a film about modern mauri's in modern NZ.
My missus shed a tear or two.

As you are a pakeha (a white faced invader) everything is pretty well set up for you - you will have no language problems (generally), and most things including banking are so similiar. We banked with National Bank, as Lloyds TSB owned them at the time, then sold them. Was nice to see the horse logo from yesteryear on my kiwi chq book !

If you try to get a 'professional' job, you may be passed over until you have kiwi experience. May advice is do some short term temping, then go for the better jobs.

Enjoy the rain.

DJ_Vinyl_Ritchie

Just learn the following terminology/sayings and you will be fine.

1. Sweet as,

2. Kia ora

3. choice

4. bro

5. cuz.

6. ay



and don't be afraid to use them in combination....... e.g Kia ora bro, choice weather today ay cuz? Sweet as catch ya later cuzy bro. Please don't listen to some plum on here that stated the beaches/surf or whatever is far better in Scotland than NZ, utter utter codswallop son, they are incomparable.

Enjoy your stay.

DJ Vinyl Ritchie..... with regards to your lady friend...just remember the 3 F's, Find 'em, Fck 'em and Forget 'em. Or in lamans terms, ping her and ditch son

Matteeboy

DJ - what sort of stuff do you do?
A mate is over there doing MCing, DJing and all sorts and is doing pretty well. Called Probe Mantis/Ben Weaver. Known him since I was 14!

C4 WRX

Thanks for the advice and encouragement people.
I think i'm 99% certain that i'm gonna go for it as i am sure i'll regret it if i don't.
So once i find a place, open a bank account, get the visa, then i'm pretty much good to go

velohead66

You only ever regret things you didn't do.
If you do something that doesnt work out, well it was the best choice at that point in time.

Go for it !

And NOTHING is for ever, there is always an exit route, or plan B.

DJ_Vinyl_Ritchie

Jack of all trades.

Although I mostly do it for philandering reasons, the women are everywhere.... I'm a serial philanderer and I cannot lie.

I'M primarily based on the North Island, I have wonderful holiday house in Papamoa, very close to Martin Johnson's gaff. He may be 6ft 7 and have a head that resembles Herman Munster, but I'd still smash the fvcker


DJ Vinyl Ritchie.............A woman once said to me ''Polyandry is the key,'' to which I replied, ''Is it fvck, polygyny is king''

TopBanana

I worked with a Kiwi for a while, he raved about the place and I'd really like to visit. One point he made was that there isn't as much money flying around over there, so houses are cheaper but salaries are also lower. That means it's easy going out there, but might not be so easy coming back in 10/20 years.

Matteeboy

Agree with Top - a place to go for lifestyle, not to make money.

C4 WRX

That suits me fine because i'm a chilled out kinda guy anyway.
I've been approved for a visa so the wheels are now in motion

Klaatu

Watch out for regular earth quakes, they still spook me out, and there's the odd active volcano too!