Greetings ! Kia Ora ! Goie Dag ! Sabona !~
Been in NZ 3 years on 14th July !
What a journey. Our scenario is different as we oldies are the trailblazers ! Much harder as we don't meet friends via our kids as one does if one arrives with school going kids. I advocate that that is the BEST time to arrive !
We live in W.Auckland as my work is in the West. Love the Waitakere Ranges where we live about 7 km past Titirangi on the way to Cornwallis and Huia.
We have had to learn to adapt here without all the scaffolding - i.e. we are the 'oldies' and came here first and have the heart break of kids here and in SA. Also we don't meet people through our kids as the younger generation do. And we're not with all the Saffers in Howick or on N. Shore for example. It has its pros, as we are not 'labelled' as the Saffers who all congregate are - (my colleagues at work call them Jaapies apparently.) We have tried to integrate with the people here and met people of all cultures and backgrounds which is great. But on the con side we do miss people who think the way we do and still hope to find more folk of our generation in the near vicinity. We're English speaking and support The All Blacks and Silver Ferns. One does need to attempt to adapt, else remain in a bit of a mini SA laager here,I think. Your feelings and responses ? Evi.
Saffers in NZ- pros and cons !
Hi Eve
I grew up outside PMB in Hilton, went to school at Carter High and University at PMB...Well I'm not sure it's only been hard for you as "oldies" as I have school going kids and have actually made a conscious choice not to befriend kiwi women as they are such b$%hes. I have had such rude things said to my face and gossip spoken it's unreal! I am now (three years on) starting to meet RSA mom's and many of them have had the same experience as me and too decided to sick to being friends with other RSA. I regret not living in Auckland where there is a bigger community of South Africans too...at least then I could escape to normality some times!
Hi,
We have been in New Zealand for 2 years now and love every moment of it. We live on the North Shore among all the SA's but I have lovely Kiwi friends as well as SA friends. I find that the Kiwis are very reserved people and dont let you easily in their friendship group but once you are in you have made a friend or friends for life.
We enjoy being able to socialise with our SA friends because we do have the same culture. Our children have friends and good friends from all different cultures.
Hope you all enjoyed the rugby this weekend. So glad the AB's won.
Cheers.
Michelle
Hey All
Looking to make my way down there in March/April.
But need some advice on the following.
Entry clearance:
Can I line up a couple of interviews from SA, secure a job and work comfortably whilst waiting on my permit application ?
nb: I've been working as my own boss in SA for 9 years( no tertiery qualification)& my wife is in retail with a national diploma. Could we attempt above mentioned ?
And
From a jobhunting point of view. As a Sales executive in the property or recruitment market (any BDM type) and my wife in retail, any recomendations on cities we should sturt looking in.
Can you recomend a company Within NZ who can provide advice on Work Permit applications and required docs eg. Birth Certificates and Police clearance and so on and so forth ?
a big thanks to anyone who read this, your reply would be massively appreciated.
Keep well and hope to see you soon.
Hi All
We moved over in June 2011 and live in Wellington.
I must agree with you EviSA2NZ, you have to integrate. We also to support the AB's. When people ask why it is very simple, this is now home, we will not move back to SA out of our own free will and having two toddlers this is what they will know and how they will grow up, so we have to do our best to make it easy for them to integrate as by the time they go to school they will be Kiwi's 
We also have another little one on the way who will be a Kiwi from birth.
In terms of meeting people, I do find we have met alot of people and everyone we have met is friendly. However it is getting past that initial acquaintance to being real friends we are finding hard. I think it is always tough the older you get to make real friends and integrate into friendship circles. We have yet to meet and make a real set of friends but we are not giving up and hopefully in time it will happen.
HI Boerworscurtain
It is harder but not impossible to secure a job in NZ whilst still in SA. My hubby managed to do that but there were alot of rejections initially saying get to NZ and we are very interested and will see you. So just keep trying. www.seek.co.nz has got a ton of jobs advertised.
The other place is to look is on the Accredited Employers list http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/ … rsList.htm
That lists all the companies that are accredited to sponsor work visa's and are also therefore familiar with the process.
To be honest I would do everything yourself. The immigration website is very helpful and so jacked up. Even in SA applying for all your documentation ie : birth certificates may as well do yourself hiring a company to do it for you does not really make things faster or give you any benefit except maybe that you do not need to stand in queue. The police clearance certificates you post off anyway after you have had your finger prints done.
If you wanting to go the your own Business route there are also visa's for that again check out the immigration NZ website.
I would apply for the birth certificates and police clearance etc as soon as possible as they take the longest.
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