One month in NZ - Thoughts on which area to stay -
 

Hi all, I'm new to the site and really just looking for a bit of advice really. I'm seriously interested in moving out to New Zealand in the next 2-3 years but before doing so I'm planning on going out there for a month next year (July/August 2013) in order to get a feel the place and to see if it is for me.

I am a primary school teacher, and by the time I move I would have at least 3 years experience. I am aware that teachers are no longer in need but I'm currently considered an 'outstanding' teacher and am confident in my ability to teach. While out there next year I plan to volunteer for 2-3 weeks in a primary school. (Would I need any kind of Visa for volunteer work?)

I've been researching areas to stay/live within New Zealand and my initial thought was Christchurch but now with the earthquakes, and the building work I'm not so sure. Then my thougts moved to Nelson, Napier, Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty so obviously a lot of options.

I would be moving out to New Zealand alone (+ dog if possibe), would be looking to rent a property intially. I would be looking for a lively enough area, bars, restuarants and places to meet people and socialise. I'm interested in sports; played women's football for years, go to the gym etc. I would like to go to a place where the weather is good.

What places would you recommend? Ideally it would be nice to go a place next year on my visit and what to live there a few years after but I know it doesn't always work out like that. Sorry for the long post!

Re: Looking for advice...
 

Bear in mind schools will be on holiday, 12 -29th July 2013;)

Re: Looking for advice...
 

Yeah it will be end of July I will be going out there when the UK school year has finished, sorry, should of made that clear!

Re: Looking for advice...
 

Hi and welcome.

I'll get straight to it. How old are you please?

Please read HERE and also HERE

Re: Looking for advice... Volunteering as a primary school teacher
 

I'm 23 years old in August, will be nearly 24 when I come over.

Re: Looking for advice... Volunteering as a primary school teacher
 

Why is volunteering within a commercial business not regarded as voluntary work even though there is no gain or payment? :confused:
Volunteering is volunteering by definition. :o

Re: Looking for advice... Volunteering as a primary school teacher
 

I think because it is seen as gain by way of work experience or insightful training.

Re: Looking for advice... Volunteering as a primary school teacher
 

Ahhh, I suppose that makes sense! ;)

Re: Looking for advice... Volunteering as a primary school teacher
 

Anybody got any advice?

Re: Looking for advice... Volunteering as a primary school teacher
 

On volunteering ? Or about which area's to visit for a month?

What sort of volunteering are you thinking to do within a school environment ?

I gave you the links ref. being a volunteer. You need to speak with NZIS direct about your plan I feel.
One month is a holiday . It doesn't give you enough time to do more than sightsee a bit.

A visitors visa could be for 6 months. On that visa you must not do anything that is considered work. As per the links I gave, you could volunteer at a school if you so wish but you'd need to by hyper careful that it wouldn't be seen as you gaining in some way. You wouldn't and should not teach unless you become registered with the NZ Teachers Council. You'd maybe be able to be a teachers aid of some sort but police checks are required for that as far as I am aware. Schools around me here use word of mouth to recruit teachers aides mostly. Someone they know. A parent. A fund raiser.

Primary school teachers are not in shortage here at all. Many home grown NZ qualified school teachers are having a very tough time finding work. Any sort of work. Even relief.

Are you thinking to volunteer in the hope that the school will then give you a job offer?

Your stay in NZ under a visitor visa is for 6 months. You indicate you wish to remain for a few years after your initial one month visit. For that you would need a different visa. If you had a job offer then you would look to a temporary work permit.

At 24 you could decide to apply for a Working Holiday visa. That would allow you to do some work legitimately, as well as see something of this country. Under this visa you could stay for up to 23 months. Plenty of time for you to visit and experience the 4 areas you mention as well as maybe gain an understanding of teaching practices and requirements here in NZ.

I will tweek the thread title again to better reflect your queries.

Re: Primary school teacher hoping to move to NZ. Maybe volunteering during a month vi
 

I purely want to volunteer to see the differences between schools in the UK and NZ and to see if I could make the move over. I have a permanent job in the UK so that's why I am using the summer holidays here to go out to NZ. I obviously wouldn't go out and teach but be of support to the teacher so I can get a feel for the NZ Curriculum and how things work out there, I do not think I will get a job through volunterring.

I'm looking more for advice on areas to stay and places that might suit me.

Thank you!

Re: Primary school teacher hoping to move to NZ. Maybe volunteering during a month vi
 

In which case I'll re-tweek the thread title again.:lol:
If you have a thread title you'd prefer to use for this , let me know.

Re: One month in NZ - Thoughts on which area to stay -
 

No that's fine so sorry for making you change it again! Just so many things to think of but thank you for your help!

Re: One month in NZ - Thoughts on which area to stay -
 

The first thing, I reckon, is that you need to find a headmaster, and then a teacher, that is willing to take on a volunteer from the other side of the world for a month. I'm not so sure that it is a given that would happen, unless you have contacts of some sort. I don't know. That was my first thought anyway.
As far as areas with good weather (ie sunshine), I'd suggest Tauranga or Napier/Hastings.

Re: One month in NZ - Thoughts on which area to stay -
 

I just haven't wanted to rain on your parade. Teaching jobs are not just no longer on the shortage list- the jobs themselves are now in severe shortage, rather than the teachers! Sorry.

If you're serious about moving out here to teach, you probably need to start by finding out where your best chance of a job is (almost certainly Auckland) and getting some advice wrt your CV (NZ CVs in teaching are very different), boning up big time on the NZ curriculum, particularly its bi-cultural nature and plan to WOW some principals, who despite WaikatoGuy's post are not all male :D

Of the expat teachers here I know, the ones with permanent contracts were Kiwi trained.

Do you need a hand with links to MoE and TKI etc, or are you all sorted in that regard?