Hi new to the page but just looking for some general help and guidance if possible.

I’m a prison officer in the uk also ex military don’t know if that helps or not I’m 28 and have wanted to immigrate to New Zealand and join the service over there.

any advice and guidance on steps of how to start and who to get in contact with or things I need to be researching or spending my time on would be very much appreciated.

would be good to here from some fellow brits or locals who have first hand experience in this.

much obliged

I'll be in touch through pm.
Corrections for 13 years, there's lots of new staff,mostly indians but there are vacancies everywhere

OP won't be able to receive PM's yet Col. Not enough posts.

Ok. Quick breakdown of my conversation with a colleague who is doing what you're looking at.
He said you initially come on a visitor visa. You can stay for 6 months, you then have to leave for a day (aus would be cheapest) and you can then return for a further 6 months on the same visa. You can apply to corrections during your stay. He told me his application took 5 months from applying to job offer. He had to leave for a day (went to Fiji) as his start date was a couple of months later. He initially applied for a position at Rimutaka (Wellington area) but there were no positions available so he was offered a place at Otago corrections facility (ocf) which he accepted. In order to get his full permanent residency he has to stay with corrections for (I think) 3 years.
Despite you current role in the UK, you would still be required to undergo the training.

​​​​​​It does seem to be a big initial commitment, coming over with no guarantees, but if you reach out to the dept corrections HR, They may be able to offer further insights into visa options.

Get in touch if you need more information

Hi thank you for the reply

so I’ve applied for a corrections officer role at Waikeria prison. They got back to me this morning and have organised a telephone interview which is the next step in the process.

I have been looking and looks like I could go over on an initial working visa that lasts upto 5 years but after two I could go for a work to residence visa and do another two years there as it is on the tier two list for jobs in New Zealand would love to pick your brain if you have any other ways of contacting you as I have not posted enough here to message directly.

kind regards

I used to work at Waikeria before it was destroyed in the riot. The new facility will be massive.
Housing would be the biggest issue. It's gonna take a lot of new staff to run the place and that will drive up the already inflated property values.
Have a look around the NZ pages, they'll be other posts you can comment on to get up to the 5 you need to be able to DM

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