moving down under real Life CANTERBURY “We wouldn’t change a thing!” Roger Stone’s plans for moving to New Zealand with his family took shape after visiting Down Under Live... e chose to live in NZQA, which took 12 weeks, then New Zealand in order to get a residence visa Meet the because we under the skilled migrant category wanted a better I had to have a confirmed job offer, mover Wlifestyle and a better work-life so I started looking for jobs. Names balance than what we had in the After applying for several jobs Roger (46), Lorna (43) and UK. We both had stressful jobs and and not having any success, we Daniel (14) Stone worked long hours and Lorna went to the Down Under Live worked weekends at her show again in February 2012 and occupation hairdressing salon. We had very came across New Zealand Skills in Roger worked as a project manager little quality family time, so we Demand (NZSID), a New Zealand in the UK. He works in the same decided to do something about it. based company, who were now also role in New Zealand, working for In February 2011, we went to the working from the UK in City Care Limited in . Down Under Live Show at the partnership with Migration Lorna worked as a self-employed hairdresser in the UK and works part Motorcycle Museum in Associates, our agent. time in this role in New Zealand Birmingham to gather some information. After listening to a ❛Within two weeks Moved from talk we decided to engage Borey Walsall, West Midlands Chum of Migration Associates as our migration agent. I was invited for Moved to With Borey being from ❜ Rolleston, Canterbury, New Zealand Christchurch, he was able to an interview provide us with plenty of sound USEFUL CONTACTs advice and information. After a short meeting with Joel Migration Associates: www. Afterwards, we went home and Gabites of NZSID, we forwarded migrationassociates.com; New Zealand Skills In Demand: sat down with Daniel, our son, and him my CV. NZSID then matched www.nzskillsindemand.co.nz discussed what we would all be my skills and qualifications to their leaving behind if we moved to clients demands in New Zealand. New Zealand, especially family Within two weeks, in March, I and close friends, but we also was invited for an interview over discussed the opportunities that Skype with City Care in would become available for us all if Christchurch for a project we moved there. Fortunately, manager’s role. The interview Daniel was on board with us right lasted two hours and by next from the start. morning I had a job offer. Although we had never been to NZSID and Joel Gabites played a New Zealand, over 12 months we major part in our success story, as did our homework and researched the challenges we faced previously as much information as we could. meant that even though we were We also talked to friends on Skype visa ready, employers were reluctant Rolleston who had already made the move. to interview me because I was living overseas, and the jobs had to SKILLS ASSESSED be offered to New Zealand

After engaging our migration applicants first. Some companies Voisey Liane agent, I had my skills and said they would be interested in

qualifications accessed by the interviewing me if I was already in Interview:

www.getmedownunder.com Australia & NZ | March 2013 75 moving down under Akoroa Harbour, part of Banks Peninsula, real Life CANTERBURY close to where the Stone family live Share your story! If you are heading Down Under to start a new life and are willing to share the story about your move with us, we would love to hear from you! Simply email us at [email protected] hurry! Get your tic for D kets New Zealand. NZSID know own Under Live. Tur Roger and Daniel out Our five where the demand is, and they have page 68 n to and about in Springston to fin top tips all the right connections to match out more… d people to roles in demand. Do as much research We found the residency 1.as you can and get as much info as you can from application process fairly straight shows and seminars. forward. Borey told us how the Use a reputable process worked, and he gave us 2 . migration agent such realistic times on how long things as Migration Associates – they are UK based and the would take, and guided us through visa process can be a the minefield of forms and minefield without the right questionnaires. sort of assistance. The Expression of Interest (EOI) Get your skills and was lodged on 14 March 2012 and 3.qualifications assessed ASAP, this part we received the Invitation to Apply can take a long time. (ITA) on 4 April 2012.

Arrange medicals After we had completed our 4.with your doctor a medicals and police checks, Borey Chilling on a log at few weeks before your lodged our application for residency New Brighton Beach main medical, then if there is a problem, at least you on 8 May 2012. Our resident visas have time to do something were issued on 22 June 2012. We about it. left the UK on 2 July 2012. From Make sure your BMI application to acceptance it took 5.is less than 35 as this will prevent delays when just over 14 weeks. lodging your application. Our move cost £13,000, which covered our visa costs, flights, shipping, skill assessment and medicals. We covered our move through savings. Also, my new employer agreed to pay towards the Lorna and son Daniel enjoying the flights and shipping of our sunny outdoors at Akoroa Harbour belongings up to a value of $10,000 (£5,000). They also provided water pipes and then rebuilding and detached home in Rolleston which reserves around the area and also There is plenty to do around life balance, enjoy more time temporary accommodation for us repairing the roading and costs NZ$500 (£250) per week. It has its own community centre and Christchurch and lots of clubs to together as a family, and have more when we arrived. footpaths. The goal is to provide a is on a corner plot and has a large skate park. There is an aquatic and join, such as fitness and cycling outdoor time. It has given us a more resilient infrastructure for private sunny back garden. sports centre being built at present clubs, fishing and car clubs and healthier lifestyle as we are able to ❛ future generations. We are in the process of buying a which will be open soon. We are there is a vast array of watersports do more outdoor activities, and we NZSID have all the Representatives from New section of land and having a about 30 minutes drive from the and campsites to take advantage of. feel safer here than in the UK. Zealand Skills in Demand also met four-bedroom house built on it. It beach and just over an hour from Most weekends we either go to There will be more opportunities right connections to up with us and asked what they will have a double garage, two the ski mountains. the beach or we go to one of the here for Daniel compared to the ❜ could do to help us settle, and bathrooms and separate toilet, two It is a safe and friendly many malls for a coffee or two. We UK and although he doesn’t quite match people to roles recommended areas to live, with lounges and a large kitchen and community. There are lots of go to the farmers markets and more realise it yet, it will be the best good schools, facilities and dining area, and will be situated in British people here, as well as other recently we go to the racetrack thing we have done for him. recreation sites. a lovely quiet part of Rolleston. nationalities. We have met some nearby to watch motorsport. We We wouldn’t change a thing if ARRIVAL SURVIVAL During our first few weeks we It is a lot easier to buy land and lovely people and have a nice circle especially like the V8 supertourers we had to do it again. We miss We arrived in Christchurch, New found a furnished rental property homes in New Zealand compared of friends around us. and the V8 muscle car racing – we family and friends obviously but Zealand on 5 July 2012 after a long to tie us over until our container to the UK. Our house and land We really like the climate are all turning into petrol heads! Skype is great for keeping in touch. journey from Heathrow via Hong arrived. When our container will cost NZ$500,000 (£264,461). compared to the UK. We don’t We would say to any Brits people Kong and Auckland. arrived we started looking for Rolleston is easily accessible by have much rain in Canterbury as it SETTLING IN thinking of moving to New We were greeted by my new unfurnished rental properties in all means of transport and has a is all deposited over the Southern Looking back, it felt like the move Zealand that the only risk is not manager who took us to our Rolleston, a small town south west semi-rural feel to it. It is a very Alps on the West Coast. to New Zealand was quite easy and taking the risk. If it’s your dream, temporary accommodation. of Christchurch, in Canterbury. modern place and has its own Food is very similar to the UK quick, only because we engaged then follow it, and don’t give up! I started work at City Care on We also enrolled Daniel into shops, bars, dairy, supermarkets, and can be a little more expensive the right people to help us with the There are plenty of people to 9 July 2012 and basically had to hit Lincoln High School. doctors and restaurants. but we have learned to buy fresh whole process. We would certainly support you along the way, so listen the ground running. This role Once we moved to Rolleston we We have everything we need on produce that is in season. advise getting assistance from a to them and take their advice. involved managing some of the began to settle. Lorna got a part- our doorstep. We are a short drive There are plenty of bars and company like NZSID. Things won’t be handed on a plate large projects to rebuild the city’s time job which she enjoys and away from several shopping malls restaurants, but most people tend to All of our lives have been and at the end of the day you have underground infrastructure, such as Daniel made new friends. We are and retail parks and to the city stay at home and have a barbeque changed for the better as a result of to make it happen. It is hard work replacing water, sewer and storm now renting a four-bedroom itself. Rolleston has many parks and with friends and family. our move. We have a great work but it is well worth it!

76 Australia & NZ | March 2013 www.getmedownunder.com www.getmedownunder.com Australia & NZ | March 2013 77 moving down under

WHY MOVE TO...

RollestonThis semi-rural town in Canterbury, New Zealand enjoys a more continental climate...

WHAT IT’S LIKE reason, there are many Rolleston is a semi-rural town vineyards that flourish here. in the of Canterbury, New Zealand. EDUCATION The town is located 22 There are two primary schools kilometres south-west of in Rolleston. Rolleston School Christchurch on the is the larger of the two, with Canterbury Plains in the South 630 students. Clearview Island of New Zealand. Until Primary School opened in 1990, the town had only a few 2010, and has 370 students. sealed streets and a population There are no secondary of just under 1,000. schools in Rolleston – the Christchurch’s picturesque Port Hills In 2012, the population was nearest is Lincoln High recorded at around 9,000, and School, 12 kilometres away in it is within the fastest growing the nearby town of Lincoln. through Rolleston on its route motorway and Templeton to region, by population, in New However, the population between Christchurch and Rolleston expessway sections Zealand. The projected growth of Rolleston, Lincoln, . Plans are underway are awaiting consent. population for Rolleston and the wider area southwest to construct a four-lane Two local bus routes serve within the next 10 years is of Christchurch means that it motorway between Rolleston Rolleston: route 88 connects estimated to be 14,000. is likely a secondary school, and Addington in Rolleston with central Rolleston is very exposed on and possibly a third primary Christchurch. Christchurch via Templeton, the Canterbury Plains and is school, will be established. The Addington to Hornby Hornby and Riccarton, while

Shutterstock therefore slightly drier, with a motorway section was route 820 connects Rolleston more continental climate than TRANSPORT recently completed, and the to the nearby towns of

Images: Images: nearby Christchurch. For this State Highway 1 passes Hornby to Templeton Burnham and Lincoln.

Homes in Rolleston

OPEN PLAN LIVING FAMILY HOME EXECUTIVE HOME NZ$339,000 (£179,223) NZ$479,000 (£253,238) NZ$569,000 (£300,839) With open plan living and combined This lovely four-bedroom two-bathroom This elegant executive-style home has kitchen and dining areas, two bedrooms family home offers the right mix of great been designed to offer maximum comfort and a bathroom and a second living area space indoors and out. Features include a and easy family living. The home boasts plus a third bedroom upstairs, there is modern open plan kitchen, spacious dining four good sized bedrooms, two bathrooms plenty of room to spread out in this cute area, and a good size separate lounge and the bonus of a handy home office, two-storey property. opening to the outdoor patio. situated off the entrance hall.

Contact: Ray White Contact: Ray White Contact: Ray White WEB: raywhite.co.nz WEB: raywhite.co.nz WEB: raywhite.co.nz

78 Australia & NZ | March 2013 www.getmedownunder.com