New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi all.
My husband is a plumber . We emigrated to New Zealand three years ago. Any plumber or gasfitter thinking to come and work in New Zealand , I am happy to go through the process with you.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Bev how r u...... you never know ,i might try NZ,
I got knocked back by TRA (no written quals ) even though i've been doing plumbing for 20years, everywhere you read oz are crying out for skilled people but they make it so hard to get a visa laughable really :thumbup:

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

hello
I am thinking of moving over with my family in the next year or so. i would be gratefull of any info, i am a time served plumber with 16 years experiance.
john

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi John.
Are you thinking of coming to New Zealand or Oz ?

I can tell you about coming to NZ as a plumber but not about Oz.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

hello
we are thinknig about going to newzealand, we are not sure what is our best route to apply and also if there is a need for more plumbers.
There is a lot of conflicting reports and also many different opinions on the best route to take with applications.
john

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi again John.

Plumbing is on the long term shortage list in New Zealand . This means that there is always a need for plumbers & there would be no problem finding employment anywhere in New Zealand . Expect a wage of between $20 - $25 per hour.

If you are considering emigrating here, then you would be looking to come out to New Zealand under the Skilled Migrant Category.


You would need to be a time served plumber holding qualifications = to NVQ3 or City and Guilds to an advanced level. It used to be C&G 1 and 2 (advanced - 3 parts). Now I think it is C&G 6089 or something like that.

Do the POINTS INDICATOR to see what points you could obtain. The more points you have, the better it is. The ideal amount is 140 or over . 100 is the minimum.

The Immigration Service and the Plumbing Board of New Zealand require that you prove your UK qualifications . You do this by paying out money and sending in your qualifications , work experience etc to the PGDB for assessment. That is - Application to Assess Qualifications Under Australia New Zealand Reciprocity Agreement. If they are happy , they will send you a letter which states they recognise your UK quals as acceptable towards NZ registration. You will not be able to gain full registration at this stage as that requires you to sit and pass a 3hr exam. (Example Exam papers can be seen on the PGDB site.)

When you look at the points indicator you will see that points are awarded if you have an offer of a job in New Zealand. Of course, this makes the application a stronger case . It is possible to get job offers whilst still in the UK but that can be a bit hit and miss. Mostly if you feel you need a job offer for the points, then the best way is to be here in New Zealand where you and the employer see each other face to face.

If , having done the points indicator, you find you have ample points without a job offer, then put in an Expression of Interest & wait for it to be pulled from the pool. There is a selection of EOI each month. Once your EOI is selected you must wait for it to be verified. If the immigration service is happy with it, you will be Invited To Apply for Permanent Residency. Once you return this, you will be given a Permanent Residency Visa and permit. This will entitled you to live and work in New Zealand. As I said previously, there are plenty of plumbing jobs here.

So, if you can do this because you have loads of points without a job offer , then this is the best way to go. If they come out at 125 or so, you may want to consider gaining a job offer unless you are in no hurry.
140 points is an automatic pick from the pool.

If you feel you do not have ample points without a job offer , then you have a decision to make.

1] You come on a reccy to find and gain a job offer and then return to the UK using your job offer to put in your EOI. Set up as many interviews as poss. before you do the reccy.Be honest with a prospective employer about your time-line. They could be waiting months and you wouldn't want to lose the job offer.
I hear the houses are taking ages to sell in the UK at the moment.
If you did feel that the Emigration process was dragging and that you needed to arrive in NZ, then you could decide to take up a work visa. This would get you into NZ working and living until your Permanent Residency application was finalised.

2] You try to find a job offer remote from the UK. This can be a bit tough. Most employers prefer to see what they are getting and want to know they won't be waiting forever. As you can imagine , they get a fair few emails from hopeful migrants. Further, you cannot be sure what you are walking into.

3] You and your family come on visitors visas and once landed you find a plumbing job and then apply for work permits. You would apply for the work permit - your wife an open work permit - and your children student visas.
Once this is in place , you then go onto submitting the EOI towards becoming Permanent Residents.

You will need to keep an eye on the time scales involved as your employer will be wanting you to start work. They may not wish to wiat many months . Having said that, my husbands employer waited five months in the end.

Bargain for the best rate of pay you can. Don't just accept what is offered. Even an extra $1 per hour is worth it. Don't expect to be paid the same rate as an NZ registered plumber . You won't be registered for starters and you will have some NZ ways to learn.

With regard to being an NZ registered plumber. As stated previously , you would not become registered until you sit and pass a 3hr exam set by the PGDB.
If you were thinking of being self-employed at all in New Zealand , then you would need to wait a further couple of years and then sit and pass a further plumbing exam and a business studies exam. Same if you want to do gas fitting. There are separate exams for gasfitting. Until that time you would remain employed within the plumbing trade.

Your first stop is to do the points indicator.

Feel free to ask if the above makes no sense at all and perhaps see you on the New Zealand Forum:thumbup:

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

hello
thanks for the reply, it was good to find somone with all the right info. I should meet the criteria for quals with the old city/guilds advanced and apprentiship papers. i also have teaching qualifications in further education so i need to find out if they have any relevancy out there as well( teaching plumbing students at the moment).
I think we need to organise a visit over to nz to suss things out and arrange some meets as you advised. I will look on the nz site and intro myself asap.
once again bev thanks you have been a star.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi
we are thinking of coming to NZ with our 3 children. I am a primary teacher and am looking into getting my uk quals 'certified' or whatever the term is. My husband is a gas engineer/plumber with own business and is CORGI registered and has oil and solar qualifications. Do you know what process is to have these 'checked out' - what we do/who to contact etc. Any help and advice appreciated. Also would you advise hime coming out and setting up business from scratch (is there ready demand? ) or getting a job with eg a gas company to find his feet first?
Thanks v much. looking forward to reply
Jayne

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Jayne. Kia Ora from New Zealand.
When you have time , check out the NZ forum. There are posts from teachers there

As a teacher you need to get your qualifications assessed by the NZQA and then apply for provisional registration with the Teachers Council.

NZQA

Teachers Council

but please do come onto the NZ forum for more information on this. There are people with first hand experience there.

clicking the blue type will take you straight to the links

Plumbing

Your husband will not be allowed to become self-employed in New Zealand until he has passed both a Registration exam and assessment plus two further exams for Craftsman .Until he has passed all three exams and the assessments , he must remain employed as a gasfitter.

If he wants to start a gasfitting business, there will be nothing to stop him once here, provided he employs NZ craftsman and registered gasfitters but touches absolutely nothing himself until he has passed the above exams and assessments. To do so would be illegal.

It is possible to emigrate to New Zealand with the sole intention of opening a business. This route is called the Long Term Business Route. It is quite convoluted and requires business plans etc. One must also employ at least 2 NZ Residents I believe. If you want this route, then come onto the NZ forum and I will give you further details.

The plumbing trade in New Zealand is regulated by the Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Board of New Zealand.
Your husband would send all his qualifications and work experience to the PGDB to have them assessed. Cost $400NZD
If the outcome of the assessment is positive, then he would be sent a letter which states he is eligible to sit the PGDB registration gas exam and assessments.

LINK TO THE PGDB page for overseas assessment

not sure if THIS LINK direct to the details will work. I will try it.

Please be aware that the NZ PGDB do not fully recognise any overseas qualifications. Your husband will be seen as non-registered , or not properly NZ qualified until he passes the Registration exam and assessments. This can only be done in Wellington,New Zealand at this time. Cost $3500 . Time 4 days.
There would be one each for plumbing and gasfitting.

If he passes then he pays for his Registration licence. Cost currently $155 I think.

Once he is registered , he will be allowed to work without supervision and will no longer need his work signed off.

If he wishes to go on to becoming self-employed in his own right, then he will need to sit the Craftsman exams. One is on gas, the other is a business paper. He can sit the business paper the year following his Registration. He sits the other plumbing and gas papers the next year after that.

Exams happen twice a year June and October.

The 4 day assessments for overseas applicants are arranged by appointment with the PGDB .

As far as New Zealand Immigration goes, it is unclear at the moment what they will accept by way of confirmation of his qualifications.
The site states that NZ PGDB registration is required , however, as you can see this is impossible from the UK. It is a new requirement. Previously , sight of his UK quals would have been enough.
It could be that NZIS will accept the preliminary assessment letter from the PGDB stating that your husband would be eligible to sit their exam/assessment. This may be enough to prove that his overseas qualifications meet the level required and therefore he could claim points for his trade skill.

Please also be aware that plumbing is on the long term shortage list but gasfitting is only on the immediate shortage list. It makes a difference.
On that premis, especially given the above hoops that a plumber/gasfitter must go through, I would advise you , as a fully qualified teacher, to be the main applicant .

There is reticulated gas here but it is not widespread. If he just wants to work on gas you may be limited as to where you settle. Gas is often via LPG gas bottles.
Plumbers are required nationwide.
There is solar here.
Companies tend to do a bit of everything.

Hope this helps a bit.
Come back to me with any questions, or see you on the NZ forum

BEVS

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hiya Bev

Nice to know someones out there to pick their brain.My husband (Les who is a plumber),two daughters of ages 5 and 3 and myself (Dawn) are currently going through the process of emigrating from the U.K. We are at the I.T.A.stage. Was just wondering if you had any recommendations about which suburbs are ok for families and renting in wellington? Don't want anything to dear but not dirt cheap either. Also wanting decent school for the girls. Getting dead excited,just waiting for house to sell then we are off.

Thanks Dawn

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Dawn.
Don't know much about Wellington as we live over the water :D I do know something about the plumbing registration process though, if you need clarification with that.
I see you have found your way to the NZ forum. :thumbup: Plenty of folk there living in and around the Wellington area.

If you have read the above post of mine, you will see that I am unsure just what NZIS now request of a plumber to allow him the points for his trade qualifications.

It used to be sight of his C&Gs/ NVQ3 /CORGI etc. Now the site states they require NZ registration as well. This is not possible unless you are already in NZ and have sat the exam and 4 day assessments.

What have NZIS accepted from you by way of confirmation of your husbands plumbing qualifications for NZIS EOI points please?
Did you provide a letter from the PGDB about the overseas UK quals assessment?

This would be a good help as I have been trying to ascertain from NZIS exactly what is required now from a plumber and have been receiving differing answers.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

HiyaBev

Thanks for the reply. Our contact person at Immigration has offered us an I.T.A. under three conditions.
1.Get Les's qualifications assessed by the PGDB.
2.The PGDB assessment must demonstrate that the qualification is acceptable for registration in N.Z.
3. We must also submit formal evidence of this assessment from the PGDB.
We also have a reply from Kern Uren at the PGDB with the new " Immigration Qualification Assessment System ( IQAS ) application process. Once they have received the application along with evidence asked for and the fee ( non refundable of course ) you will be contacted within 14 working days advising you of the initial outcome of the evaluation of the documentation. We contacted Kern through the PGDB website and he has kept us up to date with the new process and also emailed us the immigrants guide to the new system. The limited certificate still applies.This is were we are up to at the present time. Hope to speak to you soon. This is the same reply as I have put on the other page hope you don't mind.
I think the NZIS are unsure themselves until it comes to particulars of different cases. After pointing out that there is no possible way of getting registered apart from being in N.Z. this was the alternative that they came up with for us. So maybe it is worthwhile emailing and letting them know individual cases, it seemes to be working for us at the minute. We were finding it difficult to get our heads around the NZIS :confused:up until this point. Hope this helps

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

I believe that NZIS did not realise just how an overseas plumber goes about becoming NZ registered. I'm not sure they understand the licenses either.

The only way it could go was for NZIS to accept the $400 prelim. assessment letter from the PGDB. If they wouldn't do this, then they were set to lose many overseas plumbers.

cheers :thumbup:

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Will let you know rest of process as we are going along if that is ok. Have a great New Year

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Bevs,

Don't know if you'll get this, as it is 3 months after your original thread...

Have been reading a few of your threads about plumbing in NZ and wanted some clarification. Are you saying only UK level 3 gas qualified plumbers have any chance of being accepted to work in NZ?
Is there no scope for level 2 "water qual" plumbers over there? I have a level 2 C & G qualification from a bona fide college course (not a 6 weeker!)... am I wasting my time applying at this stage? I will be attending an Expo in Leeds next month and was hoping to get more details there, but you seem to be a fountain of knowledge! :thumbsup:

What would you suggest if this is the case.... biting the bullet in the UK for another few years and getting level 3 qualified with a firm? (obviously not telling them of my ultimate aim to clear off down under... :p )... that's if I haven't been taxed into oblivion by then... :thumbdown:

Cheers

Roger

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Yes. Go for the NVQ3. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Please be aware when attending the Expo that not all are well informed about the workings of the New Zealand Plumbing Board. With that I include New Zealand Immigration.

If you want to emigrate to New Zealand as a plumber , then you really must attain a certain UK plumbing trade level .

There is a twofold reason for this and both these reasons are inter-dependant on each other

1] You must pass a preliminary assessment that your UK quals will meet the NZ plumbing board standard. If they do not , you will have a huge mountain to climb. That standard is around the NVQ3 level. If they do not see at least this, then they will state you are not eligible to take their registration assessment.

2] You need the New Zealand plumbing board to state that you are eligible to take their registration assessment in order to satisfy the skill standard that the New Zealand Immigration Service set. Without that you will not be seen as an overseas skilled plumber & you also cannot claim points for being a plumber.

NZIS - the immigration service state that you must have the correct UK quals PLUS be eligible to pass NZ plumbing board registration. For that to be so, then you must have the minimum standard. That standard is NVQ3.

Yes, I know that the NVQ includes gasfitting but the old C&G 1 and 2 also included gasfitting. It was and is all part of the trade. the New Zealand Plumbing Board PGDB also like to see several years on the tools experience.

Now, when you get to the Expo you will be told that there is nothing to stop you coming to work in NZ at plumbing . That is also correct. You can find a job and work here under a plumbing limited licence. This would not mean that you could actually emigrate here and be a permanent resident. Having a limited licence or an NZ job in plumbing means nothing if you do not have the UK quals and the PGDB - plumbing board - feel that your UK quals are not enough for them.

I hope this has helped make things clear.

I can always be found on the NZ forum.

Give me a shout here or there.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Thanks for that Bevs... I think :(

You say I could still go to NZ as a plumber.... if I was to be offered work over there, what is the deal about being level 3 trained in NZ while working there? is that not a possibility, or have I misunderstood? Would I then qualify to become a citizen, having had "level 3" training through NZ channels.... or is that not how it works?

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

You only qualify to become a New Zealand citizen once you have been New Zealand for 5 years as a Permanent Resident.

When a plumber look to emigrate permanently to New Zealand he should look at applying to New Zealand Immigration under the Skilled Migrant Category. He would be applying to become a Permanent Resident.

Once you have your UK NVQ3 in plumbing , then you will be seen as qualified enough to apply under the Skilled Migrant Category. Both the NZ immigration service and the NZ plumbing board will check that you are qualified enough. They will also check with each other. As I already said, what they want from a plumber trained in the UK is that he has the NVQ3 certificates and work experience to prove he is a fully certified UK plumber.Nothing less will do really when it comes to wanting to permanently emigrate to New Zealand as a plumber.

No that is not how it works.

At present you have only an NVQ2. The plumbing board would assess this as you needing to do extra training here in New Zealand and they would want you to become an apprentice. Apprenticeships are 4 years. You would most likely have to start at the very beginning again which would mean all the effort you have put into your NVQ to day would be wasted. Pay for apprentices here is extremely low .
Whilst on a temporary work permit , any study you undertook would require you to pay international student fees. These run into a huge amount of $$$$. Then you would have to convince a plumbing training organisation and a New Zealand employer to take you on as an adult apprentice whilst only on a temporary work permit.

It's not really viable in my opinion. It would be a safer bet & quicker for you to finish your training in the UK with the devil you know and become a fully certified plumber first - then apply to emigrate as a New Zealand Permanent Resident under the skilled migrant category.

Come back to me if you are still confused and don't forget to pop into the NZ forum

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hello,I have sent off my invitation to apply and will get a yes or no tomorrow but I have been told today that I need to become fully registered within 9 months.I've heard the exam is very hard for overseas plumbers not familiar with NZ plumbing.Does your husband have full registration and if so how long did it take to get?Thanks Jeff

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Bevs, im a corgi gas fitter in the uk, whats the work situation like in NZ for gas fitters? I have no plumbing qualis and am becoming disheartened by the Oz licencing situation, is it as bad in NZ?

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi there

Blimey. How did you manage that :eek: Normally no-one knows whether they have been successful until they receive the confirmation letter from NZIS. That would either be asking for their migrant levy and passports or , if they have already sent off their passports, the return of the passports with the blue stickers inside

Who has told you this?
Within 9 months of what? Starting NZ work? Arriving in NZ ? PR ?

The PGDB place no time limit on becoming registered. If one fails the first time , then there is the option to re-sit. Until such time as you become fully registered , you would work under a PGDB limited licence.

You would book in for the registration exam and practical assessments with the PGDB in Wellington.

NZIS recently introduced the criteria that plumbers/gasfitters should be NZ registered, however this is not possible from outside of NZ. All that is possible is that if the overseas plumber/gasfitter has a job offer, then the person can apply for a PGDB limited licnece. This is not the same as Registration. It is simply a licence.

If NZIS would want the plumber/gasfitter to become registered before issuing PR , then I would have thought NZIS would have put the person on a WTR visa. Work to Residence. This would give a time span of two years.
It would seem that in some cases NZIS are accepting a positive assessment letter from the PGDB which states that the overseas plumber/gasfitter is eligible to take registration assessments and exams.

Plumbing is plumbing, although you may find NZ plumbing behind the times. What you would really need to get to grips with are the NZ rules and regs.


Yes. He has passed both gas and plumbing registration exams. He did this before the PGDB changed the route to registration for overseas tradesmen though. He sat two 4 hour written exams. He studied the relevent rules and regs. Brushed up on his math & was working in the NZ plumbing trade. He refamiliarised himself with brazing joints, learnt to live with the lack of fittings or the use of boss white. He looked over previous registration exam papers and went for a two day course to help with the subject matter and the exam technique. The exams are old fashioned in their format.

I will copy over some posts I made from the main NZ forum to here. You may find them helpful.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

I am giving you a link to a previous Gasfitting Thread in the main NZ forum.

Gasfitting is on the immediate shortage list & is seen as skilled. Just as with plumbing you would need to apply for a PGDB limited licence if you had an NZ job offer. As gasfitting is on the immediate shortage list, an NZ employer is free to offer you a job.

You would have to prove to both NZIS - the NZ immigration service - and PGDB - the plumbing and gasfitting board of new zealand - that your CORGI and overseas gas qualifications met their standard. NZIS look to the PGDB for this.

The first move for any plumber or gasfitter is to have their overseas quals assessed by the PGDB as NZIS want to know that the plumber/gasfitter will be eligible to become fully PGDB registered.

Gasfitters have had a hard time finding suitable work TBH and some have had the utmost difficulty in having NZIS approve their PR applications because of the new registration rules.

My view would be to find an NZ job offer and look to the Work to Residence Route. It takes two years to become NZ resident that way. However one would have been in NZ for two years working then and may have gained NZ PGDB registration.

Given that other trades do not have to do this , it is totally unfair but them iz the rules one has to work with.

LINK TO A GASFITTING THREAD. please click the blue type.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Here is the PGDB LINK to the assessment and registration route for overseas plumbers and gasfitters.

It is called the Immigration Qualification Assessment System.

It is a PDF file. Download it and the guide. Have a good read

PGDB REGISTRATION AND ASSESSMENTS

DIRECT LINK TO THE PGDB DOWNLOAD

This costs $3500. Takes 4 days. Happens only in Wellington

This is NOT the same as the preliminary assessment . That costs $400 and is where you send off your certified qualifications, certificates and proof of work experience for a prelim. assessment. From that prelim. assessment the PGDB will decide whether you will be eligible to sit the above Registration assessments and exam in Wellington NZ.

.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Here is a link to the past exam papers on the PGDB website.

It will give you some insight as to the possible questions asked. Remember that you will have practical assessments in addition to the written exam.

As it all takes 4 days, I would rather imagine the practicals will be of a similar nature to the block course and assessments final year apprentices are required to attain to gain their NZ National Certificate. NZ apprentices have to gain the National Certificate level before being allowed to take NZ PGDB registration.

LINK TO PAST EXAM PAPER DOWNLOADS please click the blue type.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Courses do exist to help with registration assessments and exams. The thing is you would have to be here and working in the trade before you could sign up with an ITO - training organisation.

You would also need Permanent Residency otherwise you would have to pay international student fees which is mega $$$.

Once here and working you could choose to sign up with the Open Polytechnic and use their coursework . My husband is currently using this to make sure of a positive outcome for his Craftsman Papers. It's not that you or he don't know your trade inside out and upside down. It's simply the NZ rules and regs plus getting into exam mode. You'll see what I mean if you look at past exam papers which are available on the PGDB website.

The is a refresher course each year which is available up at Unitec Auckland. Its a two day course which can aid with exam preparation.

What you would choose re. courses once here would depend on whether you are going for plumbing registration , gasfitting registration or both.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Here is a list that I compiled a while ago. It is a copy of a post I have made into the main NZ forum.


KEN DOYLE PLUMBING BOOKS
The Old Doyle text books are still currently used .
Plumbing and Gasfitting 1 and 2
plus a general Branz guide
They are owned by The Plumbing ITO .
If you cannot buy online , then try contacting contact Sue McGarry
[email protected] Very useful books. Most all NZ plumbers and apprentices seem to own copies of these.

Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Incorporated:
Sue McGarry
Industry Training Organisation
P O Box 6606
Wellington
Phone 04 384 41
-------------------------------------------

Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Drain layers Act 1976 -

The PGDB board do have examination questions which refer to this Act.

contact via email, fax or the toll free number below.

Anne Honeyfield
[email protected]
Customer Care Co-Ordinator ,Brookers Ltd ,TOLL FREE: 0800 10 60 60
FAX: 64 04 499 8173
Level 1 ,Guardian Trust House ,15 Willeston Street
P O Box 43 .Wellington

If the above contact is out of date then email services from the Brookers Website
You may find you have to fill in a registration form to obtain the Act. The cost used to be around $10 plus postage.

It is also available online from HERE.

----------------------------------------------------------

NZ Building Codes found here and free to download. again click blue type

There will be questions relating to the codes.

Scroll down the page .

Look for G10 through to G13 .

G12 and G13 particularly for plumbing.

Beware ! These do have a huge amount of pages.

Otherwise available form Victoria University bookshop.

They require payment before dispatch (cheque, credit card or direct debit) You can order via email, on the website www.vicbooks.co.nz, or by phone 0800 370 370.
Samantha Stanley
Distribution
Department of Building & Housing
Victoria University Bookcentre
Gate 1 Kelburn Parade
Wellington
0800 370 370

---------------------------------------------

New Zealand Standards

Again, there will be questions relating to the Standards.

Nz Standard 3500

Parts 2 and 5

also

Standard 5261 gasfitting

----------------------------------------

Please do take a look at previous exam questions and brush up on your math. You'll need it.
The exams will be closed book.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

An extract of an email I recd from an ITO some while ago which outlined some of the practices still taught here, but perhaps no longer taught in the UK.

Quote:
The NZ Plumbing skills not taught in England have been:

Sheet metal pattern development by using:
1. Parallel line development
2. Radial line development
3. Triangulation

Sheet metal work - making up:
Spouting; down pipes; down pipe offsets; ducting and fittings;
flashings; roofwork - corrugated iron and pandeck; gas flues.

Welding: - Oxy acetylene - fusion and bronze; arc; mig and tig

Brazing: - Mainly copper pipe joints


Now . Is this worth karma ?

Perhaps one day I'll actually get my arris into gear and learn how to put this into the BE wiki.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Bev
Can I ask, with regards to submitting proof of work experience in plumbing to the PGDB, or to send with SMC application, how do you provide proof while being self employed? Did you mention your husband was self employed for the latter years before leaving UK and did you provide proof from those years and/or from employed years?
Thanks
Amanda

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Yes. For both the SMC application and for the PGDB we sent proof he remained in the trade over his self-employed years.

This included.

Copies of invoices
Tax returns and accounts
Customer references

For employment we used

Old contracts of employment
pay slips
and a listing one can obtain from the IR which shows dates and employment names.

We basically sent everything we could think of.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi there i am thinking about moving to new zealand and working as a plumber. Could you tell me what kind of work your husband does ie. self imployed or work for a company, and what kind of yearly salery you would expect for this line of work. Also was there any extra tests or certificates he had to get before working like the corgi here in the uk. lastly what is it like living in new zealand! Thanks Ben.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

My husband currently works on new build houses. He is employed. You cannot be self-employed here until you have sat and passed two craftsman papers.

He is an NZ registered plumber. For you to become NZ registered you would have your current UK qualifications assessed by the Plumbing Board of New Zealand and then if they think your UK quals are good enough , once here in New Zealand you would be required to sit four day of assessments and exams. Cost $3500NZD. This would give you registration but you wold have to remain employed until you had sat and passed the Craftsman exams. One of these is a business paper.

You would also need a licence and there is a fee for this.
Limited - if you are not registered
Registered - if you have passed the reg. exams
Craftsman - if you have passed the Craftsman exams.

Same applies for gasfitting.

Wages vary from employer to employer. Town to City. I know plumbers on around $20 NZD an hour or less. Some seem to make $25 and over.

You could come and work in New Zealand as a plumber under a temporary work permit. You and your NZ employer would need for you to have a limited plumbing licence until you sat and passed the registration assessments and exams.

If you are wanting to emigrate to New Zealand , then your first move is to have your UK plumbing qualifications assessed by the PGDB. There is a link in this thread to them.
The standard for the PGDB and for the Immigration Service is a C&G/NVQ3 or the older C&G certificates one and two. Two being the advanced level.

Living in New Zealand ?

Take a look at the New Zealand forum here on British Expats. You'll find just so much information about living in NZ there.

See you there. ;)

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Bev,

I am not a plumber but am keen to be. You mention plenty about achieving NVQ3, but there is no mention about number of years of work experience.

Are you able to expand on this?

As just mentioned, I am not a plumber, however I am a NZ permanent resident and was living there till last year.

Am in the UK based in London to give it a go for a little and could be back home as early as next year.

I am an civil engineer on reasonably good money but would love to be a plumber. Only thing off putting is being an apprentice back home for 4years on $10 an hour.

I consider myself bright, fairly hands on and reasonably academic, so have no doubt I will pick things up quick enough.

So I am thinking that while I am here I would try and get some UK quals, hopefully some part time work to lean the practical ropes. Then come home and slip into a plumbing job.

Your thoughts on my plan. I would appreciate you pointing out all the pitfalls as I really am not sure of all the processes here and back home.

Thanks

Lawrence

PS. By the way where are you based in NZ?

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Bev

I'm hoping you might be able to give me some advice. I'm a plumbing and heating engineer thinking of moving to New Zealand on a temporary basis. Do you know if this is possible through the Skilled Migration route. We'd like to move there for up to 4 years and maybe even try out Austrailia as well.

We've found lots of sites and agencies but they seem to deal with permanent migration only. There would be me, my partner (who's a recruitment consultant) and our dog.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Ian Langstaff

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Ian,

I would suggest Australia myself.

Things are a bit bleak back home in NZ. Winters are not well catered for either, so be aware.

Also, very strict quarantine process for pets to NZ, most likely Australia too, which I understand means months of seperation from pets.

So I would suggest if you have not already to try and talk to a few online about both countries and costs.

Few websites to help.

When you find out how much you can earn go here to work out tax.
www.ird.govt.nz

Rental Costs
www.minhousing.govt.nz/market-rent

Finding house:
www.realestate.co.nz



Regards

Lawrence

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

If you want to come to New Zealand on a temporary basis and work as a plumber then you would need to find a job offer first. For New Zealand it is a job offer first and then you apply for the work visa ( if in the UK ) a work permit (if in NZ) and not the other way around.

As you are coming into NZ to work on a temporary basis, you would not be going down a skilled migrant route. This is for those that wish to emigrate here permanently .

What you would be looking for is a temporary work visa and for that you need an NZ job offer.

It is possible for you both to fetch up on NZ shores on a visitors visa and then look for a job offer whilst here.
When someone comes on holiday , they come in on a visitors visa. It is valid for 6 months.
If you were offered a plumbing job , then you would apply for a temporary work permit. If this was for more than 1 year, you would need to complete medicals and police checks too.

To be honest, you are more likely to pick up a job when here in NZ, then you are from the UK. NZ employers need to know that their new employee will actually start work soon and not in the next two years, if you get my drift.

Plumbing is on a long term shortage list and there is not a shortage of jobs here at the present. Plumbing is always needed.

NZIS - New Zealand immigration would not just go on your say-so about your plumbing ability. You would need to supply proof of your plumbing training and work experience.

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying is licensed in NZ through the PGDB. What you and your NZ employer would need to do is to apply for you to hold a Limited PGDB licence. This would allow you to legally work in NZ at the plumbing trade. Somewhat like CORGI, your work would need to be supervised and then signed off.

Your dog :wub:

You will need to contact an animal shipper. it is not hard and there is no quarantine for New Zealand. You just keep your dog in for a month.

You will need a micro-chip and to have some vacs and worm checks. A Pet Shipper will talk you all through it. It is really very easy. My husband flew out to NZ and our two cats arrived the day after. No separation. Just a small MAF fee to pay

Try Airpets

to get you started with this.

Golden Arrow also come highly recommended.

When it comes to Australia that is a whole other ball game. It seems to work on a state by state basis. You would be best of asking in the Australia forum

Come onto the New Zealand forum for more info on Pets , Rentals, work visa forms and of course Plumbing :cool:

See you there.:thumbsup:

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Not sure how I have missed this. I'll get back to you tomorrow with my thoughts.

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Bev
New to this I will be greatful for any help. did you go through an agency or did you do it by yourself?
I would love to come out there my wife has family Aunt and cousins in Wellington and we came over 4 years ago and loved it. I am a Plumbing and heating engineer apprentice trained with city and guilds and Corgi registered for industrial work self employed for the past 23 years also fitted air conditioning units in factorys but no qualifications.
I have gone with the migration bureau and they are messing about with what catagory I should go under I am happy to do anything which ever is the cheapest option I have applied to come under skilled migration and for residency what do you think or is there another way, I a happy to come as a plumber and then try and get residency. as for getting the qualifications checked can you send all of them off together or do you have to do it one by one as I have 7 certificates for various things.
many thanks

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

hi,
im thinking about moving to new zealand next year in july as i will just have finished my level 2 nvq in plumbing by then, have you got any tips on getting an apprenticeship and enrolling on a college course to take my level 3 (or equivalent) in new Zealand?:confused:
thanks for your time

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi bev hope you can help i am a fully qualified plumber with 4 yrs experience and recently qualified unvented systems and gasfitter.
But ive just been made redundant and i am looking to move to NZ sooner rather than later,

Tay

Re: New Zealand plumbers wife saying Hi.
 

Hi Bev, Mark from South Africa here, can you please go through the process as I would like to come over to New Zeeland:thumbsup: