IT IS TOUGH TO MIGRATE...

Yes its a long process, we left Cpt 10 years ago, arrived in Auckland for 2 years then moved to Whakatane where we live now.  It was worth it, the biggest thing is the security, openness of the systems and not feeling guilty.  We miss the mountains and winelands of the Cape, our friends (but many have left SA as well. he one thing we need not realise is that NZ is socialist (like the UK) there is an underpinning safety net when required.  The kiwi's are not that friendly, small island syndrome.  Many have never traveled very far. 

Hang in and wait there are so many people trying to get in.

Hi Cinnie

Thanx for your reply. Yes - and that is just part of the tough road.

All our friends in NZ say that they should have done it 10 years ago.  Look like you feel the same.

Can you email me directly at frans@cellcconnect.co.za

Regards,
Frans

Hey

We made the move over here 6 months ago - we came with 2 bags, no work permit and no job! We had a rough ride in the begining - agent issues etc. But 6 months down the line we are set up and are submitting our PR in December!!! It is great here - we dont watch for hi-jackers at the traffic lights or worry that you going to wake up with burglars in your house!
Hang in there - it really isnt easy ... but well worth it in the end ... the lifestyle, freedom!
Give us a shout when your coming over - it nice to have a support system and some one to chat to who has been there and done that!

Cheers
Nadine
thompsonfamilynz@yahoo.co.nz

purpletulip wrote:

Hey

It is great here - we dont watch for hi-jackers at the traffic lights or worry that you going to wake up with burglars in your house!

It's great that you don't watch for these things, that doesn't mean they don't happen in New Zealand - far from it, it's just that you're not as aware of it as you used to be.

This was in the news today - 69 year old woman attacked in her bedroom

The crown alleges the attacker was Edwin John Tuhua, 38, who is on trial before a judge-alone in Christchurch District Court.

He denies 11 charges of burglary, one of attempted burglary, two charges of robbery, two of indecent assaults, one of wearing a disguise for burglary, and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon.

And this appeared in August

An armed man is being sought after an attempted carjack in Wellington at the weekend.

Police said the 17 year-old victim of the attack was driving his car in Miramar about 10.15pm on Friday when the front passenger of a vehicle, which had pulled alongside him, pointed a firearm at him and demanded his car.

There are also stories like this one

I'm afraid this sort of thing happens the world over and New Zealand isn't immune from the same problems other countries experience.

There was a report recently which said that New Zealand has the fifth highest murder rate in the OECD. Google it if you don't believe me.

I am replying to the murder rate of New Zealand and the last post I read! Looking at the latest Murders per capita statistics from Nationmaster: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_m … per-capita , New Zealand has a very low murder rate! Per-capita, it is lower than the USA, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, UK etc. The country with the highest murder rate is Columbia at 0.6 per 1000 people, followed by South Africa at 0.49 per 1000 people. New Zealand is currently 0.01 per 1000 people, one of the lowest rates in the world.

About crime, yes there is crime but it can not be compared to the likes of South Africa. For instance, one carjacking in NZ by a crazed idiot out for a joy ride, next to South Africa's hundreds of violent car jackings every month with many fatalities. 

Also, the last post mentioned that not all of these types of crimes make it to the news in NZ. I must disagree with this statement. If a hijacking or murder takes place, it makes the news everywhere. The murderers are soon caught and justice is served.

Most murders in NZ are family murders unfortunately. This stems from alcohol and/or drug abuse. There are also many very young parents who do not know how to handle a young family, and many times a child dies due to shaking etc. But these murders, as you can see by statistics, are still nowhere near the likes of Columbia and South Africa.

Crimes may and do happen everywhere, it's the frequency and violence of these crimes that make the difference. Have a look at my video, this is how we experience freedom and safety in New Zealand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uvXybkCTcA

Having never lived in South Africa, I can make no comparison and accept what others say when comparing crime in both countries.

But I think what Pandora is trying to highlight is that NZ is not as open, safe, friendly and crime free as it would like to portray.  You have to do your homework very thoroughly to uncover much of what is hidden from the general public.

Even from a personal perspective, only last month I took in two young lads from Canada who had been beaten and robbed by a gang of youths because one of the boys had unwittingly leaned on his car.  And last week, was there not an attempted arson attack on a campervan containing two tourists because they had dared to park in a general area?  These are just two incidents that spring immediately to mind.

NZ has the second highest child abuse rate in the world (and we are not talking shaken baby syndrome either).  The highest teen suicide rate in the world.  The third highest child death rate due to misadventure.  And a horrendous drug problem (I have seen the CT scans of many a young person whose brains look like swiss cheese as a result of smoking NZ dope). Yet the pushers sit in cars outside the hospital waiting for them to come out and buy more and nobody does a thing about it. Part of the 'she's all right' syndrome.

Not the best record for such a small nation. 

Working in the health/social sector,  I hear sad tales on a daily basis from the New Zealander people of how NZ is changing for the worse. But I accept it is still preferable to other countries.  As for the freedom and lifestyle -  it has not happened to me yet as I am too tired and too poor due to working longer hours on half the pay.

So Kiwikaner, I genuinely hope NZ fulfills all your expectations. I know it does for many people.  But please do not let others try to fit you with rose tinted spectacles, (although I doubt you will).

I wish you every success in your ongoing application.

Oh  what a negative vision!

It's a negative vision that would not exist if the majority of people took their heads out of the sand long enough to address the problems rather than looking the other way and pretending everything in the garden is rosy.

Every single country in the world has problems as well as good points and NZ is no different in that respect. 

It CAN be a utopia for many immigrants, but for others it can have a negative impact in relation to free time, health, and job security. My youngest lad loves NZ and wants to stay permanently.  But then he was homeless and unemployed before coming here. 

Perhaps its all related to which country you come from and/or your previous quality of life/values.

We are all different.

If you have never lived in South Africa, and Gauteng in particular, then I totally agree with you that the crime in New Zealand a decade ago was nothing like it is now, and it is worrying.

But believe me, even with the crime as it is now, it is still a bed of roses in comparison for many from SA. Most immigrants from South Africa did not only suffer crime, but violent crime. Many of my personal friends have been killed in home and farm invasions. One was shot in the stomach and then the head for a simple cell phone. Another Indian friend had his ears cut off with a side cutter before they burnt him with an iron. I'll stop here with this.

My point is, the crimes happening in New Zealand are comical in comparison (no crime is comical, just trying to make a point). And I do understand that to New Zealand locals it is becoming a problem and seems really bad(and yes, we should all do our part to combat this crime).

When we got to NZ, it was the first time my boys had been able to ride their bikes in the street, go to the park and even go on public transport. In SA, they where locked in the house behind huge burglar bars and armed response alarms. We where living in fear, of not if we get invaded in our own home, but when. You only need to experience the fear experienced in children to understand a parents heartbreak.

With all of it's petty crimes, and the rising serious crimes, New Zealand is a beautiful, wonderful place to be. Everyone we have met has been friendly and there is really a spirit of giving. So many people give up free time and offer their services in volunteer work, and where else in the world do you see honesty jars?

Colinsmum, I really appreciate your input, it's always healthy to see both sides of a story. In fact I have just written a book to this effect called "Living in New Zealand" listing the GOOD, BAD and downright UGLY as a guide for would be immigrants. Many companies only try to highlight the good of a country in a bid to win over the clients business, such as money hungry immigration agents. That is why I wanted to write this unbiased book about living here including the damn, leaky house syndrome. But also the good that most definitely outweighs the bad for South African migrants. The question one needs to ask before immigrating is, "Why am I doing this? Is it to find greener pastures, and if so, is the grass really greener. Or is it for adventure or a change in lifestyle, business etc"

An answer from my family, and many SA immigrant families who have suffered violent crimes, or who where living in constant fear and sleeping with only one eye open, about the grass been greener, is a most definite YES. The grass is definitely greener in NZ with all of it's flaws. We no longer need an eight foot wall around our house with electric fencing, bars on the windows and doors, armed response units, dogs used as guard dogs and not as pets, mace in our cars and bedside tables next to the magnum 45, the list goes on. No, now we live in peace.

But I also agree, not to live with our heads buried in the sand and ignore whats going on around us. This is what is happening in SA as most are living in denial and making as if crime does not exist and that it will never affect them. Let us not live in denial.