teambwr47

Has anyone here taken on a nanny or au-pair after emigrating to NZ?

If so was it a NZ nanny/au-pair or from another country and how did it go....

We did this in the Uk and it worked very very well with a lithuanian girl who worked for us for a few years and she and her partner are now very good family friends of ours and will be for ever.

Just wondered how it may work here in NZ being so far from everywhere.

I don't work currently but i'm looking at a few opportunities here that will require us to have some help with after school/holiday care etc hence why we are thinking about this.....

Avid

Yes..the 'au pair' question crops up every week on this forum...



while I'm here...anyone know the best place to buy caviar after 9pm? I've completely run out and need some for my breakfast tomorrow...

Am Loolah

You could place an ad here;

http://www.backpackerboard.co.nz/wor...w-zealand-jobs

It comes up if you google nanny/au pair agency, might be worth a look or even TNT magazine as they're probably all in Earls Court, West London reading it on the tube!

UKNZAUS

teambwr47

Believe me I have my thickest nomex fire suit on for this thread in anticipation of some expected replies but its a genuine request for info....

We have some young kids and want help available not on a full time basis but when we need it to allow us both to work here in NZ.

Some people have family available to help out but i guess most ex-pats don't.

Not knowing where to look in NZ as opposed to the UK it was a question that may have been suitable here as someone must have done the same.....

Am Loolah

I would also suggest you try a couple of the UK based Nanny Agencies (lots in Borough of Kensington & Chelsea) as they get jobs for nannies leaving NZ and possibly have some kind of deal with the colleges/other agencies this end sending them out - there maybe some who would consider nearer to home and/or some returning.

Just make sure you hire them and that they look like Nanny McPhee as I know a guy who married the au pair ...

Am Loolah

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en...cr%3DcountryNZ

teambwr47

Thanks fot that we've done the search engines just wondered if anyone had direct experience here....

There are some useful links on the google search....cheers

lardyl

AFIK there are all sorts of tax dodges associated with au pairs in NZ, as there seem to be with most of the upper middle class things to do. I know a few folks at work who have had one or other and there is a nanny academy next to MrsL's office. If you're desperate then I can ask around.
I'll qualify the tax dodge and upper middle class - just a perception on the type of people who have them over here (know 2 or 3) and the other tax thing is to do with second/third/fourth/fifth homes.....my hobby horse fraid

Am Loolah

I don't know of any I'm afraid but I'm sure there must be some, ask around at your kids school or at your local pub/church/thing ... We always used staff from the kids' nurseries in the UK, if it's just flexible/part time cover that would probably be a good place to ask? Is there any kind of NZ equivalent to the National Childbirth Trust?

Am Loolah

When I got my first dishwasher I declared myself middle class ... does that count?

lardyl

Nope - although the male estate agent who came with us on our first viewing here didnt know why anyone would want a dishwasher - obviously he didn't do the dishes or he didnt have kids.........great in NZ as mostly the water is so soft that running the appliance is uber-cheap - we run without salt or rinse aid and very little powder :-))

Avid

Fair enough.

I live in a fairly 'posh' part of Wellington and from what I can glean (from peering in people's windows) cleaners are fairly common but au pairs are very unusual.

Well-off Kiwis like to pretend to be classless, you know.

Avid

Middle class is when you buy a bottle of wine and don't drink it on the same day.

karonious

Yeah and the nicely chilled red just lets you down........