Prison Shepherd

Hello,

Help..........

My partner is getting a job with the NZ Prison Service! It looks like we are on our way to NZ very soon, I know nothing about the place

I am very worried about going, even though I am very excited

We are from Eastbourne England, I know that here is not what It use to be and am worried about my Kids future (5,7,11) here !

But what can NZ do for us?

I,m not sure what area we will be in, I have got an Uncle and Auntie in Auckland. I have never been to NZ!

My partner works for the HM Prison Service, and he has a "Return to work" option iwithin 5 years.

I would love to hear from any mums that have been in my position, with along the lines of How you coped,what you think,do you regret it,would you do it again, whats the schools/Healthcare etc etc like?

Would be grateful for as much info as poss ..................Our future depends on me..................

Thanks

Tracey

Gill and Rob

Hello

Please think very carefully about the prison service in NZ. There is a lot of info about the low wages and if your hubby is the only one working, you may find that a wage of less than $40,000 {Believe the prison service pays about $36,000} will be difficult to manage on.

Do not want to burst your bubble, can tell how excited you sound, but finances has a huge baring on how successful people adapt and remain in NZ.

Gill

Prison Shepherd

Thanks for that,

he knows about the pay...........Thats why NZ PPS are after a lot of staff? About 300 ish they want. He is a specialist, Control and Restraint/Personal protection instructor, so he might be on a bit more than normal?
I would also seek work whilst out there!

thanks again

tracey

Damages

Hi Tracey I wish I could reassure you but we're not going yet but I can imagine how you feel.

Don't blame you. That's one of the major reasons we're going, our kids (eldest doesn't have a decent secondary school).

You must also think about what you can do for NZ. If you think of the relationship as two-way you'll probably get on a lot better. I get the feeling that Kiwis don't have much time for immigrants that just expect NZ to give them a better life without them wanting to make a contribution to NZ (just think how us Brits feel when people come to this country expecting to take)

I'd write to them sharpish and get the lowdown. And ask for the negatives as well, a warts-and-all account.


Don't know much about prison pay but my husband's a teacher and expecting to make $40000 pa. We've got 2 kids (6 and 11) and I'll have to work for us to survive so expect to at least have a part-time job.

You can find all this info on this very forum. kiwijetpilot posted some useful links on the 'Schools and more' thread, check it out. As far as healthcare goes I think I shall miss free healthcare at source, although I don't make much use of the doctor or hospitals at least I don't have to worry about payment, and it's gratifying to know that those least able to afford healthcare have access to it. I know the NHS isn't perfect but by God I'm glad it's there (socialist rant over now).

The very best of luck in your move i hope you find happiness and security in NZ and I hope your kids thrive there. I hope mine do too.

Phyllis

Cassa

I have mentioned on other posts that although you may have enough money to 'survive' on you have to work out between you if you would be looking to return to the UK to visit family etc every few years or not. If you see yourself doing this then I personally do not think that you can survive on the salary mentioned. If you are taking 4 people at over $2000 a time then its almost a third of your annual salary. You would be looking at saving for 4 - 5 years to afford a visit.

Although visits home might not come into your everyday expenses, you do have to consider how you will pay for trips home when parents get ill or someone dies in the family. I had this same problem this year and had to credit card my trip. Not ideal.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

GCS15

Ummm - the Bad boys in NZ are BAD! The only person a Maori is scared of is his mother. Hope your fella is Hard as nails.

FOr the record I am an aussie, my missus is a kiwi. I worked the door with plenty of kiwi's in an area with a lot of Pacific Islanders. We survived by not being the toughest but rather through diplomacy.

The Pacific Islanders and Maori are physically and mentally TOUGH.

Then again I am probably a real sook

babybella

One thing I do like about the crim's in NZ is that they are so obvious as they have tatoo's all over their faces.
Have a look at the movie 'once were warriors' fantastic movie, not one for the kids though!
KAZ :scared:

kiwichild

LOL If you really believe that you will believe anything! Heaps of crims there have no tattoos that show, some even have none at all.

And this maori warrior thing is over done; too much bloody hollywood.

Truth is the good ones are great and the assholes are girls who have to work in groups or else just try to psych you out (and often with a mate or two in the background). If you're in that situation: don't show fear and dont back down (shows lack of self respect and guts). Stand firm , unflinching in face of it, but not abusive. If outnumbered and you really scared, let it go and contact police later. Unlikely this scenario will happen though unless you try to "fit in" with this type of crowd and they test you out, or you meet(and socialise with) someone who knows them in a sense but not close to them.

If you chose a half decent area to live you probably wont run into the scum, and the maori and islanders you do meet will be cool people.

All races have shitheads and good people; fortuantely most are reasonably fair to good people.

shepslady

My Goodness Kaz what part of NZ are you from? I know there are some Maoris who have full face tatoo's but not very many & some of those who do certainly arent criminals. Some actually do it as a cultural thing & would be terribly offended to know they are thought of as crims's. I lived 40years in Christchurch & can honestly say in all that time the only full faced tatoo's I ever saw on people were in some parts of the North Island & Im sure they werent all crim's. As for suggesting Once Were Warriors as a guidline that was a movie & not realistic of Maoris today. There are good bad in all races & it is not fair to generalise & put the fear of god into people who have no idea about things like this. Maybe you should consider moving to another part of NZ when you decide to bring your family home if thats your honest opinion of the country.
Sure the prisons in NZ do have a lot of Maoris & pacific islanders in them but there are a lot of white europeans inside them too. I dont mean to sound judgemental by I cant help myself I really think you are doing yourself an injustice with statements like that. NZ needs new immigrants to bring their skills & cultures so we can all learn from them. Give us a break & stop scaring people away. Remember there is good & bad in all of us.

Shepslady

Cool Britannia

Hi I dont know how much help it will be but I know of a relocation Consultant who work specifically for Brits, she is an expat her self. Her name is Tricia Baugh her website is www.nu2nz.com, Good luck!

shepslady

Very helpful sight for anyone thinking of moving to Wellington.

Deb+Chris

Wonder what the all knowing Kaz Hen has to say about it hey? she's been quiet!

She likes to call folks liars does our Kaz.. but when she herself gets critisim she just disapears in to fresh air!! poof... there goes Kaz...

Come on me ole mate Kaz... where the hell are you with your bullshit? missing ya dollxxxxx

shepslady

Sorry folks I didnt intend to cause any problems for Kaz on here but knowing she is from NZ I just couldnt believe how narrow minded her comments were & couldnt believe how she could be so judgemental & be so totally wrong.
No offense intended Kaz just giving my honest views as Im sure you were too. Im still really eager to know exactly where in NZ all these crims with full face tatoos are though??????????

Prison Shepherd

What a waste of time this thread has been....................Now we are into name calling,personality discrediting, and general bitching????????

I was asking for help, And all I'm now getting is wasteless comments. If that is what this EX Pat site is about FORGET IT.

If you want to follow on with a reply.......STICK TO THE TOPIC ! if not use PM to invent your little wars.

shepslady

Sorry you feel that way I was trying to give some honest views from someone who has lived a lifetime in NZ but am only human & hard to ignore personal insults that were thrown around on here. I shall bow out now & hope that others who know what they are talking about can be of assistance to you