Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
Feb 24th 2016, 8:17 am
#16
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 20
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
If you are in a senior position in the construction industry I am not surprised you have been contacted, there is a desperate shortage of all skills but particularly management skills over here. If they really want you and you want to come this puts you in a strong position.
For management level you should get a good salary, for senior management at least $200k, along with this I would expect private health care (although this seems to be subsidized normally), company car, all your removal costs paid, accommodation for first 12 weeks. Be prepared to be surprised at how the construction industry works over here compared to the UK.
How do your children and wife feel about the move? If you have good/excellent schools and live in a good community I would really really consider what NZ has to offer you. Your children are both at key stages in their education and the system is very different over here - what are their plans re uni? Definitely consider a school that does Cambridge, the NCEA is ok for NZ but not really up to scratch against GSCE and 'A' levels. What about your wife? Does she work? I sometimes think it is more of an upheaval for the non-working partner.
As others have said it is expensive living here and there is so little choice. Anything half decent costs $$$$. Renting isn't as easy as looking at all the lovely villas on tradme - housing stock shockingly poor quality and ridiculously overpriced. At our last house I was literally soaking up the condensation every day and having to wipe mould off the walls, all for $800 a week.
Re healthcare - $50 to see the doctor. A&E is free but in my experience if you look like you can pay they try and get you to go to a private clinic. I have used the public hospitals and found them ok, had to wait though as per the NHS. There is no joined up healthcare like the GP - hospital system in the UK.
For management level you should get a good salary, for senior management at least $200k, along with this I would expect private health care (although this seems to be subsidized normally), company car, all your removal costs paid, accommodation for first 12 weeks. Be prepared to be surprised at how the construction industry works over here compared to the UK.
How do your children and wife feel about the move? If you have good/excellent schools and live in a good community I would really really consider what NZ has to offer you. Your children are both at key stages in their education and the system is very different over here - what are their plans re uni? Definitely consider a school that does Cambridge, the NCEA is ok for NZ but not really up to scratch against GSCE and 'A' levels. What about your wife? Does she work? I sometimes think it is more of an upheaval for the non-working partner.
As others have said it is expensive living here and there is so little choice. Anything half decent costs $$$$. Renting isn't as easy as looking at all the lovely villas on tradme - housing stock shockingly poor quality and ridiculously overpriced. At our last house I was literally soaking up the condensation every day and having to wipe mould off the walls, all for $800 a week.
Re healthcare - $50 to see the doctor. A&E is free but in my experience if you look like you can pay they try and get you to go to a private clinic. I have used the public hospitals and found them ok, had to wait though as per the NHS. There is no joined up healthcare like the GP - hospital system in the UK.
Feb 24th 2016, 8:56 am
#17
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Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
That probably was a private clinic, I presume. To be honest I am not totally sure how A&E works. I think you normally go to one of the private A&E clinics first then they refer you to hospital A&E if serious enough. All I know is that if you are taken to hospital in an ambulance or need a stay in hospital, it is all free, including any surgery. Also, if you attend one of the public hospital clinics through an appointment, like say the eye clinic or oncology clinic or whatever, that is also all free, including xrays. Public Hospitals are like Wellington Hospital, Hutt Hospital, Middlemore etc. If you sprain your wrist or something minor, you would normally go to one of the private clinics where you would pay, unless the clinic decides it is serious enough to send you to hospital, at which point it becomes free. I think thats how it works.
Bit of a naf subject for me seeing as our GP has upped their charges to $52 a visit and thats being funded
Feb 24th 2016, 9:14 am
#18
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,613
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
The ambulance service here is St Johns. You pay for an ambulance call out. I know that for a certainty. It has been called twice for emergency use.
If you subscribe/donate to St John, then there is no charge.
Feb 24th 2016, 10:08 am
#19
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 450
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
I'm really not sure that is right. We have attended Kenepuru Community Hospital, Porirua, and have had to pay for A&E visits and being sent by the GP and also have had to pay.
Bit of a naf subject for me seeing as our GP has upped their charges to $52 a visit and thats being funded
Bit of a naf subject for me seeing as our GP has upped their charges to $52 a visit and thats being funded
Feb 24th 2016, 10:15 am
#20
Truth is the safest lie.
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: @ the beach.
Posts: 7,243
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
It's definitely a warmer, sunnier misery.
What are the alternatives to emergency use for ambulances? Running an Uber service using emergency vehicles would seem morally questionable but I like your thinking.
What are the alternatives to emergency use for ambulances? Running an Uber service using emergency vehicles would seem morally questionable but I like your thinking.
Feb 24th 2016, 6:03 pm
#21
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: South Auckland
Posts: 2,228
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
And we all know that almost every part of Auckland is expensive and these 'moderate' areas are very hard to come by unless of course we're now considering looking at commuting half way to Hamilton. 
I can't think of many moderate areas that don't require at least $800k and even those are not the kind of place where migrants from the UK would hope to live. Posh does not equate with expensive either; Torbay is one of the more 'moderate' Northern suburbs has decile 10 schools and requires $1m budget to purchase a family house.
I'd say anywhere with in Auckland with Decile 1 school would be at the extreme end of the poverty scale (Ranui maybe) and therefore a moot point as they would be an absolute no-go zone for a would-be immigrant of any skilled or professional standing.
I can't think of many moderate areas that don't require at least $800k and even those are not the kind of place where migrants from the UK would hope to live. Posh does not equate with expensive either; Torbay is one of the more 'moderate' Northern suburbs has decile 10 schools and requires $1m budget to purchase a family house.
I'd say anywhere with in Auckland with Decile 1 school would be at the extreme end of the poverty scale (Ranui maybe) and therefore a moot point as they would be an absolute no-go zone for a would-be immigrant of any skilled or professional standing.
Feb 24th 2016, 6:08 pm
#22
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: South Auckland
Posts: 2,228
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
I take my mum to Middlemore Hospital and the local Browns Road clinic for appointments related to her pacemaker. All these are free, as was her original emergency intake at Auckland where she was for several weeks. There is a local emergency clinic near me which charges fees and I believe they are higher than my doctor who charges $46 for an appointment.
Each region is run by a health board so that explains why they are different. Doctor's fees are different too - I'm not sure how it works but my neighbour goes to a doctor a few miles away from mine and pays around $60. I did some training at one in Manurewa and they charge $30. The surgery was well presented and in a nice area.
The OP can also read up on ACC - it's not something I've ever had to claim for but worth knowing about. Might give some peace of mind.
Each region is run by a health board so that explains why they are different. Doctor's fees are different too - I'm not sure how it works but my neighbour goes to a doctor a few miles away from mine and pays around $60. I did some training at one in Manurewa and they charge $30. The surgery was well presented and in a nice area.
The OP can also read up on ACC - it's not something I've ever had to claim for but worth knowing about. Might give some peace of mind.
Last edited by jmh; Feb 24th 2016 at 6:11 pm.
Feb 25th 2016, 2:59 am
#23
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Location: South Auckland
Posts: 2,228
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
Also, my dad had a stroke in Dec 2014. He was in Middlemore for several weeks, and had physio and OT appointments at home, all of which were free.
Feb 25th 2016, 8:13 pm
#24
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: bottom of the world
Posts: 4,533
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
I recently spent 2 weeks in hospital, had several x rays and CT scans and underwent major surgery.
it's all free, the only cost was $80 for the ambulance
and had no problems with gaining uni entrance
Feb 26th 2016, 1:41 am
#26
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Joined: Jan 2014
Location: Kerikeri
Posts: 718
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
St Johns cost us $60 for a year (family) - given we are 15km from the nearest medics and are heavy users of power tools, small tractors and assorted other finger choppers would be cheap at double the price.
One call out and you have more than recouped your sub, but just view it as one of your many charities. As Heinlein once said 'there is no such thing as a free lunch'. :-)
One call out and you have more than recouped your sub, but just view it as one of your many charities. As Heinlein once said 'there is no such thing as a free lunch'. :-)
Feb 26th 2016, 6:11 am
#27
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,967
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
Wellington has the only free ambulance service in NZ.
Feb 26th 2016, 12:40 pm
#28
Just Joined
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 18
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
If you are in a senior position in the construction industry I am not surprised you have been contacted, there is a desperate shortage of all skills but particularly management skills over here. If they really want you and you want to come this puts you in a strong position.
For management level you should get a good salary, for senior management at least $200k, along with this I would expect private health care (although this seems to be subsidized normally), company car, all your removal costs paid, accommodation for first 12 weeks. Be prepared to be surprised at how the construction industry works over here compared to the UK.
How do your children and wife feel about the move? If you have good/excellent schools and live in a good community I would really really consider what NZ has to offer you. Your children are both at key stages in their education and the system is very different over here - what are their plans re uni? Definitely consider a school that does Cambridge, the NCEA is ok for NZ but not really up to scratch against GSCE and 'A' levels. What about your wife? Does she work? I sometimes think it is more of an upheaval for the non-working partner.
As others have said it is expensive living here and there is so little choice. Anything half decent costs $$$$. Renting isn't as easy as looking at all the lovely villas on tradme - housing stock shockingly poor quality and ridiculously overpriced. At our last house I was literally soaking up the condensation every day and having to wipe mould off the walls, all for $800 a week.
Re healthcare - $50 to see the doctor. A&E is free but in my experience if you look like you can pay they try and get you to go to a private clinic. I have used the public hospitals and found them ok, had to wait though as per the NHS. There is no joined up healthcare like the GP - hospital system in the UK.
For management level you should get a good salary, for senior management at least $200k, along with this I would expect private health care (although this seems to be subsidized normally), company car, all your removal costs paid, accommodation for first 12 weeks. Be prepared to be surprised at how the construction industry works over here compared to the UK.
How do your children and wife feel about the move? If you have good/excellent schools and live in a good community I would really really consider what NZ has to offer you. Your children are both at key stages in their education and the system is very different over here - what are their plans re uni? Definitely consider a school that does Cambridge, the NCEA is ok for NZ but not really up to scratch against GSCE and 'A' levels. What about your wife? Does she work? I sometimes think it is more of an upheaval for the non-working partner.
As others have said it is expensive living here and there is so little choice. Anything half decent costs $$$$. Renting isn't as easy as looking at all the lovely villas on tradme - housing stock shockingly poor quality and ridiculously overpriced. At our last house I was literally soaking up the condensation every day and having to wipe mould off the walls, all for $800 a week.
Re healthcare - $50 to see the doctor. A&E is free but in my experience if you look like you can pay they try and get you to go to a private clinic. I have used the public hospitals and found them ok, had to wait though as per the NHS. There is no joined up healthcare like the GP - hospital system in the UK.
I am at senior management level, and I do get the impression that there a 'need' for me in NZ (without wanting to sound big-headed). I was hoping that would stand me in a good position to try to negociate a good package - as I see it, I will only get one shot at it!! (Skype call now arranged for next week......)
As my wife is a Secondary School teacher (English) she is accutely aware of the timing of the potential move with regards to the schooling for the children - so she is looking very closely into this at the moment. Believe me..if she isn't 100% convinced then we won't be coming!!
I must admit, the more I read on the forum about the price of goods, housing etc the more doubts come into our heads.
However, one step at a time; and if next weeks interview goes OK and a good offer is forthcoming, then we can consider the next stage with more authority.
Thanks again.
Feb 26th 2016, 7:30 pm
#29
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 450
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
Its exaggerated. I looked up prices of some items at random of exact same products in both countries and converted the NZ prices to pounds at 0.48. Toyota Yaris (Toyota website) £10995 UK £10171 NZ. IPhone 6S 16GB £539 UK £575 NZ. 55 in Flat full HD Samsung Smart LED TV £960 UK £1050 NZ. Levis 504 jeans £90 UK £67 NZ. Big Mac burger £2.89 UK £2.83 NZ. Cheapest whole chicken £3 UK Tesco £5 NZ Countdown. Beef rump steak £18 per kg UK Tesco £14.40 per kg NZ Countdown.
Feb 26th 2016, 8:01 pm
#30
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Joined: Jan 2014
Location: Kerikeri
Posts: 718
Re: Phone call 'out-of-the-blue'
Its exaggerated. I looked up prices of some items at random of exact same products in both countries and converted the NZ prices to pounds at 0.48. Toyota Yaris (Toyota website) £10995 UK £10171 NZ. IPhone 6S 16GB £539 UK £575 NZ. 55 in Flat full HD Samsung Smart LED TV £960 UK £1050 NZ. Levis 504 jeans £90 UK £67 NZ. Big Mac burger £2.89 UK £2.83 NZ. Cheapest whole chicken £3 UK Tesco £5 NZ Countdown. Beef rump steak £18 per kg UK Tesco £14.40 per kg NZ Countdown.