Monty05

Hello,

We need some informal advice on a number of issues - we were hoping for some answers from those who may already have looked at the issues that concern us.

For context:

Married with two children aged 6 and 10. Nurse and Civil Servant - job offer in place.

The Questions:

1) What's better to have in simple terms with regard to the above circs - a Work to Residency visa or Perm Residence? Intention is to settle.

2) Nice affordable areas of Auckland with good schools - cafes - sports facilities - piano teachers et al. (Up to approx NZ$ 450,000) Or even areas to 'avoid' would be good.

3) Good facilities locally in the aforementioned area.

4) What advantages - financial or otherwise - would PR have over the Work to Residency visa?

5) A good and understanding bank?

6) Healthcare - what does one pay for under the respective visa's?

7) Schooling - what does one pay for under the respective visa's?

8) Will rent initially - how long does it take to get into the rental and what kind of checks are done by the landlord/agent? Website suggestions for rentals would be appreciated.

9) What is the cost of the medical required for the 4 of us?

Thanks - appreciate any answers.

Cheers - Monty05

Maz

I wish happynz were still on the forum... he answered in the partial quoting stuff like this. Miss him.

Hi Monty

Fingers crossed some of us can help

Congrats on the job offer!

Fire away...

Better is PR, straight off. You can apply for Working for Families tax allowance, and there are advantages when you want to get a mortgage, too.

Hmmm... can't help you there, sorry. Extremely happily settled in Wellington. Someone else will be along shortly on that, I'm sure.

Erm, ditto.

I think I answered this above? Was trying to get the fees for all the permits vs PR, but the NZIS is just too slow tonight. Hasn't finished loading in nearly 5 minutes grrrrrrrrrr

BNZ.

I am just switching from a work permit to PR and currently pay $9 a week for 3 of us (me, hubby and 6 1/2 year old), though it is subsidised by work. That's for Southern Cross, which is a not-for-profit organisation. (after healthcare being all about money in the US, this is a huge relief, and much more like it!)

We have a "contribution" of $230 a year that we pay to the school our daughter goes to.

No worries mate, not that I've been much help!

Monty05

A good start - many thanks.

karonious

Welcome to the forum and have some karma to start you off.
We are a friendly bunch, so fire those questions and hopefully someone will be able to offer some practical advice.
Ahh, they already did!!
Karen

newkiwi

1. Perm Residency is better long term if you intend to settle, but sometimes it is easier and quicker to qualify for Work to Residency. If you have the required points in place id go for Perm Residency straight away. Look at likely timeframes though, not sure how long it takes these days.

2. Depends where you will be working. North Shore is good, howick areas seem to be popular. cant help re school really. Areas to avoid include some of the rougher areas in south auckland, papatoetoe, otara, otahuhu

3. Cant help there

4. Perm residency means you start the clock running towards an indefinate returning resident visa and towards citizenship. It may be easier to get a loan / homeloan with residency. You have more flexibility regarding changing jobs with residency

5. asb.co.nz
westpac.co.nz
nbnz.co.nz
these are all good.

also consider
anz.co.nz
bnz.co.nz

6. Dont think it makes a difference whether you're on WTR or PR. you get free emergency care, you can get on a waitlist for surgery as on the NHS. Most people have private medical insurance (southerncross is a big provider) as part of their employment contracts. You pay for GP visits, but cam claim some of it back on some medical aid schemes, depends on which one your on.

7. Think you pay local fees on WTR and PR. Others may be able to confirm. Definately on PR

8. Some employment reference and/or bank reference probably. you wont have past landlord references. Depends on how quickly you find something, allow two weeks i'd say to get into a rental property.

Bellasmum

Westpac has a pretty good govt employee package you may want to check out

http://www.westpacgovtbusiness.co.nz...t+employee+pac

crap coffee

so am I.

I miss him too.

Monty05

Thanks guys - keep it coming.

luvwelly

6.& 7. Even if you are just on a 'work permit' of fixed duration, you and your dependents qualify for the NZ healthcare system and the State Schools on the same basis as locals. The state school fees are highest if the school has a high decile rating e.g. 10 but as this indicates the economic status of the locality, it is a good idea to get your kids enrolled in as high a decile school as possible other things being equal.
If you come over on a Visitors Visa then you would have to pay overseas student rates for state schools which would be very high and is a situation to be avoided even if it means keeping your child out of as school for a while.
Many state schools are zoned so to have an automatic right to enrol there, you will need to rent/buy in the zone.

Dental treatment except if after an accident (universal ACC cover) is not usually covered in private health insurance although can be taken as an option if desired. Kids can get free basic care in the School Dental Service (not orthodontics though) and teenagers can get free care from private dentists (but many do not participate in the scheme).

Hospital waiting lists seem to be long here, so private cover (even just as a fallback) would be a wise move if you can afford it.

Dezza

[QUOTE=Maz;6275944]I wish happynz were still on the forum... he answered in the partial quoting stuff like this. Miss him.

Why is Happynz not posting here anymore? He was so helpful!!

scrubbedexpat094

Hi Monty

Congrats on the job offers. Where will you both be working as that usually determines the best place to live in Auckland re:commute. Living in Auckland tends to be about compromise. We live north of Akl & travel into the city for work, usually a 50min commute which is a pain but love our location so no regrets.

All the best.


happynz did provide lots of useful info but that partial quoting style used to irritate the hell out of me . Sorry

Monty05

Hi,
I have a job offer in either Epsom or Remura.Have been told that north shore is a good place but is expensive and a pain to travel from.I will be working shifts so shouldn't be going to work with the masses!
Advice greatfully received!

littleal

Yes I know I haven't been paying attention, but where did happy go?

Not so happy Alison

chocolate cake

My view from only a month, and research FWIW:-

The Questions:

1) What's better to have in simple terms with regard to the above circs - a Work to Residency visa or Perm Residence? Intention is to settle.

Permanent residency gives you more options.

2) Nice affordable areas of Auckland with good schools - cafes - sports facilities - piano teachers et al. (Up to approx NZ$ 450,000) Or even areas to 'avoid' would be good.

Plenty of nice areas in East Auckland, e.g. Howick, Cockle Bay. I've no kids so can't comment from personal experience, but others on the forum recommend several schools in the area, check out other threads.
There's certainly plenty of sports facilities here, two small villages on the outskirts of Auckland Clevedon, and Hunua probably have more decent tennis courts than the whole of Yorkshire.

3) Good facilities locally in the aforementioned area.
Good shops, plus local eating areas, and pubs.

4) What advantages - financial or otherwise - would PR have over the Work to Residency visa?
dunno i'm on a work permit and applying for pr

5) A good and understanding bank?
Erm, free banking seems unknown here. I've joined the BNZ as it was easy to join from UK. Service is fine, but considering Kiwi Bank
Either way make sure you use a specialist currency exhange provider, e.g. Hifx, as the rates better and fees less.

6) Healthcare - what does one pay for under the respective visa's?
Not sure

7) Schooling - what does one pay for under the respective visa's?
Haven't a clue

8) Will rent initially - how long does it take to get into the rental and what kind of checks are done by the landlord/agent? Website suggestions for rentals would be appreciated.
Rental, can virtually move straight in. Checks, needed my passport, copy of bank statement, I couldn't provide refs as I hadn't rented since college.

9) What is the cost of the medical required for the 4 of us?
I seem to recall paying 230 NZD$

Thanks - appreciate any answers.

Cheers - Monty05