I'm from Canada. Should I move to New Zealand?

[Swoop]

I understand that up North they have something called a M.O.T.O.R.W.A.Y. but that could be an urban myth.

Correct. It varies between a five or a three lane parking lot. Quite efficient really.

[avgas]

you don't like NZ ?? whyyyyyy????

Imagine that George Bush was a tranny, and the only way you could get her out is voting for hitler.
While the Pharaohs and the "gangsters" lax it up. The wip is cracked acrross the working class.
Average Joe is just that, minority is considered "endangered".
Easy street is written for those that cant read.

Country side is the best in the world - but the aftertaste of the society here leaves a tang is all. Apparently is not in the good of the country to talk of such things.
Big bloody elephant in the room as far as im concerned.
There are good sides here as well though - most people give a toss about each other, EFTPOS, relatively clean, you can still buy your own bit of country side, education is ok, good place to raise kids, only 2 hours drive from most coasts....

[TOTO]

move to NZ. you will love it.

[Bikernereid]

As a Brit who has spent the last God knows how many years attempting to move to BC I would say it depends what you do for a living etc etc. I love BC but have found that I can work in NZ in my field whereas I can't in Canada.

I have spent so much time on East and West Coast of Canada and think that you will love NZ - but I have only been there at the start of the summer so can't comment on the winter etc. The scenery is very much like the Okenagen and other areas in Canada so for ou it should be like home from home but slightly warmer.

For me Canada or NZ was always going to be a huge improvement it jjust happens that I am intending to move to NZ, probably Christchurch by the looks of things.

I would say visit and then make up your mind. Good luck

Vancouver rains too much, Victoria rains less but is still kinda chilly in the winter and cloudy, and everywhere else in Canada there is too much snow and ice and gravel on the roads to ride about 6 months out of the year and I'm going insane here half of the year. I enjoy riding, hiking mountains, skiing, humidity, nice weather, beaches, and people that speak English. (or some form of it ). Most of these things I can do in Canada but only half the year.

So I should probably move to New Zealand right? I can't really think of any reasons not to.

I'd ship my motorcycle and a few other things in a crate by sea for $500 and arrive on a plane shortly before the crate arrived is the plan. I have my own engineering consulting company and I don't know how that's going to pan out in terms of taxes, working visa, etc. hmmmmmm. I wonder how difficult it might be to get a visa and maybe I should just do a temporary working visa or should I just go for citizenship off the bat ?

[sapper4956]

Ok have read this thread and have my take on the whole situation. I am a POME and have been here for 2 years. Before coming over here with my young family i did some research i made many midnight phone calls and i had a job offer. I also had a job offer in Red Deer Canada and A mining town in western OZ that i can't spell.

We chose NZ because The climate is the closest to the UK but better. There is a better lifestyle out here for me and my children. Canada is either 40 or -40 not my bag. OZ either the locals want to kill you for sending their long past relatives there as prisoners or the insects want to eat you. Also engineering in 40degs underground is not all that it cracks up to be.

I work in Engineering here in NZ as a sub contractor. You will have work no problem and if you have petro industry experience you can jump on with a Canadian company here in NZ called Methanex.

If you do dump all your stuff in a container and float it over here and don't have a Visa or Permit by the time it gets here MAF will whack a big Tax on everything in the container as an import duty then they will charge you $250 a day for it to sit on the port side while you get the visa to get it cleared.

The advice of do a reccy is sound, that way you can get an idea of which island you want to live on so you only pay port charges once not twice when you decide oh maybe the north island is nicer. You can get work on either island.

Your "I'm a chancer" approach to moving continents is a stereo typical gun ho approach usually associated with Americans. You haven't mentioned if you have a family to bring with you other than your Ducati. As someone who has made the trip i would advise if you have the means to do it come over first get to know where you want to be. I came to The Bay of Plenty because of the paper industry which is all but gone now. But it does get some of the best and consistent weather in NZ. It is also one of the most expensive to live in after Auckland and Hamilton.

The people here are generally great people they are laid back and they do have time to chat to you. I have met several Canadians over here as i work with methanex regularly at their site in the Naki. But i will say they all hanker for back home. They miss the Telly i think. They don't miss the Tax.

Roads and their drivers.....well when i first got here i bought a new 07 fireblade, before i had run it in a car shunted me from behind at a junction. Once i picked myself up of the road and realized what had happened a face from the offending car asked "R u alright Bro" to which i said "Yeah i think so what happened ?". He said "sweet" and drove off faster than a cat with it's knackers in a trap. After contacting insurance i find that i have a $2000 excess because i am driving on a UK driving license. Repairs Cost $2400.

Sold blade 6months later and bought MotoX bike. Much safer. Although i have now rejoined the roadies with a new Pan.

There are some excellent roads out here but there are still a lot of metal roads which you need to travel if you want to get most places away from the main roads. so your Duke will get a ding or 2 from loose surface. When they resurface a road they throw 6' of metal on to it then leave it for the traffic to bed it in then they Tar seal it. Works real well but a lot of the cars don't like to slow down on it because they won't fall over under hard braking.

So there you go there are some real points. Not negative because on the whole it is a good place to live and be in business. and if you have read this far then you can read more so research where you want to go and then do it again.

Just seen how big this reply is i really do go on don't I.

[woodybee]

Yep do the recky first.

A container is the best way to go, as don;t sell everything as stuff over here is mega bucks in comparison. You wont get much for your gear then will spend a fortune rebuying.

I came over here, with a container 3.5 years ago, and just get familiar with inport export department and maff and you'll be fine.

As for homesickness, I always miss home, but you pretty much get on with things. I am still finding my feet with what to do for a living......so doint mind numbing jobs and acquiring skills on the way.

If you have your own business, then the worlds your oyster here, its the land of idea's, me I still wonder what my ground breaking idea will be to have some frigging money over here.

If its nagging at your soul my friend then listen to the voice and act upon it, you could always go home if it doesn't work out.

Life's an Adventure to be grabbed with enthusiastic hands, and to savour the opportunity that Life is presenting you with.

But come for the rekky first mate, and see what you think. South Island has roads from heaven, talking to the Northies, the roads are a different matter up there.

Plus us in the South have shit load more rallies down here.

And if you life picture postcard settings, then the South Island is the place to be, but do both islands, see what business opportunities present themselves, throw all the ideas up in the air, shut your eyes, and peep at what your heart tells you, then live life as thats what is there for.

Here endeth the lesson.

Woodybee.....

[coteesh]

Ok have read this thread and have my take on the whole situation. ...

Excellent information, thank you so much. I'm not like an American tho!!!! I'm the ultimate Canadian 'cause I'm so nice and apologetic. The reason I'd rather just move there without even taking a look first, is because I don't have a family and I don't own very much stuff, so it would cost me less than $2000 to ship all my stuff (including myself) there, so at the very worst it could turn out to be a 1 or 2 year vacation which is a nice thing. Your tips on VISA and stuff are great.

In Canada I get depressed 6 months out of the year due to poor weather. I can't help it, I guess it's partly that I'm not too good with the ladies, but I just feel like I have to get out of this place so I am afraid of commitment here.

I have a client in Canada at the moment, the job is actually a dream come true. I do mad-scientist stuff (developing a new gas engine, turbine, pump) and I'm getting my name on several patents, so I might come to New Zealand either late this year or late next year, the work is just too interesting for me and I only work 5 hour days, so I'm thinking I should keep doing it.

Thanks everybody, and woodybee and Bikern1mpho, great info.

[Robert Timco]

Wife and I have just moved back to BC this past June after 15 years in New Zealand. We really enjoyed it for the most part. The reason we went was to ride 24 / 7 which we did, and rode most every road in the country and we split our time between North and South islands with 4 years in Nelson and the balance in Castor Bay and Browns Bay on the North Shore. The reasons we loved it were the riding and the people we met riding, just breath taking, but at what cost ?? Rain..... Nelson not included in this rational as it doesn't rain in Nelson save when you have made big plans between Xmas and New Years.
The last several years we started to get depressed by the rain and grey skies and it rains as much as Vancouver, I know because thats where I am from. Rain day after day, the fact that it's dead of winter and it's 10 celcius doesn't change the fact it's raining. Very few houses ( rentals ) or not have central heating - furnace, so you pay for heat, a lot. Battle of the mould every year in the winter,,, ceilings walls and anything that was in a closet or stored away for the season, is covered with mould or smells of it.That said, I still loved it and a lot of times this past winter Cheryl ( wife ) would say what did we do ??? as the snow comes down. It was / is expensive for most everything by comparison, gas, bikes, tyres, parts, gear of any kind rent.. we paid 1400 nz per month for a rather average older 2 bedroom house in Castor Bay which was really quite cheap by comparison to other areas, but and the big but how much are you making per month ? Deals were there no doubt, my insurance for my SV1000S full coverage fire theft everything was 800 nz Cheryls SV650S was like 600 or so, but how much are you making ?? Bought her as a demo from Haldanes with 1100 kms and I paid 12,000 so 3000 more than a new one here, so how much are you making ?
You really have to do it though, go down for a month and see it taste it and feel what it's about, go now or soon and see what winters like. We loved it though and will always have fantastic memories of it, as 15 years is a long time. Took 12 or 13 years to start making decent money though but thats going to be the case were ever you go, Im back at the bottom again, but our rent now for a 2 bedroom log house on acreage is 800 per month, but we paid 200 a month to keep it warm wiyh furnace oil, Life is about learning through shared experience go and share and learn. You might miss sports on Television with Sky you can get some late at night, or you may fall in love with Rugby or cricket, get off your ass and try it on you either love it or you won't but don't find a reason not to try it out....
Canada Rob

[coteesh]

Wife and I have just moved back to BC this past June after 15 years in New Zealand. We really enjoyed it for the most part. The reason we went was to ride 24 / 7 which we did, and rode most every road in the country and we split our time between North and South islands with 4 years in Nelson and the balance in Castor Bay and Browns Bay on the North Shore. The reasons we loved it were the riding and the people we met riding, just breath taking, but at what cost ?? Rain..... Nelson not included in this rational as it doesn't rain in Nelson save when you have made big plans between Xmas and New Years.
The last several years we started to get depressed by the rain and grey skies and it rains as much as Vancouver, I know because thats where I am from. Rain day after day, the fact that it's dead of winter and it's 10 celcius doesn't change the fact it's raining. Very few houses ( rentals ) or not have central heating - furnace, so you pay for heat, a lot. Battle of the mould every year in the winter,,, ceilings walls and anything that was in a closet or stored away for the season, is covered with mould or smells of it.That said, I still loved it and a lot of times this past winter Cheryl ( wife ) would say what did we do ??? as the snow comes down. It was / is expensive for most everything by comparison, gas, bikes, tyres, parts, gear of any kind rent.. we paid 1400 nz per month for a rather average older 2 bedroom house in Castor Bay which was really quite cheap by comparison to other areas, but and the big but how much are you making per month ? Deals were there no doubt, my insurance for my SV1000S full coverage fire theft everything was 800 nz Cheryls SV650S was like 600 or so, but how much are you making ?? Bought her as a demo from Haldanes with 1100 kms and I paid 12,000 so 3000 more than a new one here, so how much are you making ?
You really have to do it though, go down for a month and see it taste it and feel what it's about, go now or soon and see what winters like. We loved it though and will always have fantastic memories of it, as 15 years is a long time. Took 12 or 13 years to start making decent money though but thats going to be the case were ever you go, Im back at the bottom again, but our rent now for a 2 bedroom log house on acreage is 800 per month, but we paid 200 a month to keep it warm wiyh furnace oil, Life is about learning through shared experience go and share and learn. You might miss sports on Television with Sky you can get some late at night, or you may fall in love with Rugby or cricket, get off your ass and try it on you either love it or you won't but don't find a reason not to try it out....
Canada Rob

Yeah TV doesn't really matter to me, I don't watch it hardly at all. I hear the East coast of the South island doesn't rain all that much so I'm thinking Chch might be my best bet to avoid the non stop rain? Since I am a contractor in engineering with pretty damn good skills so far and making good coin already, I'm hoping to be able to do at least half as good over there which is still good.

[Grub]

I hear the East coast of the South island doesn't rain all that much so I'm thinking Chch might be my best bet to avoid the non stop rain?

Hehehe well Rob was exaggerating just a little about the rain. Auckland has rain. Most afternoons at 3ish you get that sub-tropical dark sky. Sometimes it rains, often not. It's easy to google and get the rainfall comparison figures or just look at year-to-date on http://www.metservice.co.nz. It is an Auckland thing though and not typical of the rest of the country. On the positive side, things grow in Auckland. I grew in Auckland so it must be good.

Regions it doesn't rain are the far north(Keri keri), Bay of Plenty (Tauranga, Whakatane), Hawkes Bay (Napier, Hastings), Wairararapa (Masterton), Kapiti/Horowhenua (Paraparaumu, Levin), Marlborough (Picton, Blenheim) Nelson, Canterbury (Christchurch).

The West Coast of the South Island doesn't have sun

[scracha]

Regions it doesn't rain are the far north(Keri keri),

You forgot the Waikato. We've only had a couple of small showers since Boxing day The fields look like the Gobi desert.

Anyway...how difficult is it to get a Canadian working visa?

[coteesh]

You forgot the Waikato. We've only had a couple of small showers since Boxing day The fields look like the Gobi desert.

Anyway...how difficult is it to get a Canadian working visa?

do you mean a visa to work in Canada? For me to work in NZ I just need a job offer explained on this site http://www.nzembassy.com/info.cfm?CF...1084&s=go&c=38

[Grub]

You forgot the Waikato.

Well I hadn't forgotten it but I wasn't sure how much of the Auckland-type rain you guys got. Thinking of the lush Waikato pastures, I figured it must get its fair share. It's gutting to hear that it is sooo dry this year then. Most other places have had more than that since the new year so you guys must be doing it really hard.

[Robert Timco]

Visa's, well I found the thing frustrating but it wasn't hard, you just stand in line at 250 Queen Street downtown Auckland with all the interesting types seeking safe haven. Bring all your documents passport and banking info, investments from Canada and wait your turn. Helpfull but frustrated folks will sort you out, working visa is about a grand ? 600 - 800 for a year. so no big deal. Save yourself a hassle though, go for a vacation, and do the basics look around and open a bank account at Westpac or National then get on your bike so to speak. Visitors visa is good for 3 months and you can renew it a few times, just don't overstay your visa though, as that can really hurt your chances for residency. Housing is much cheaper on average on the South Island, but work ops are less as well. The move should be , well has to be about a better quality of life, don't forget that. If the reason you want to move is to do the things you enjoy doing then, find the time to do them.
Most people have these great plans about what they are going to do, over time settle into what reality is served up, and as if by magic you are working 8 1/2 hour days, and add an hour to, and an hour home and your out of day. Few beverages Friday after work, your buying stuff ??? off a cart, it's late and the next thing you know it's late afternoon Saturday and you feel like crap.Habits, your habits, rule the day, so if you are having trouble doing the stuff you enjoy doing in Calgary, removing the snow by moving to NZ won't fix or change it. I loved HWY 16 and 17 so much that even after 12 years, I would get up at 4:30 am on a weekday and go ride up to Wellsford or Worworth before work at EDS an IT company on the shore when I had a later start, (ah the joys of shower facilities at work) it was perfect for me.. live and work on the North Shore.... no HARBOUR BRIDGE. Cheryl my wife worked at Kodak NZ downtown Auckland standard 8:30 - 4:30 monday > friday she was never happy about the comute at best it was an hour from Castor Bay worst well it was 2 or more each way..this is 20 KMS in distance. drove her to the point where she gave up a job she really loved took less money to work on the shore. Quality of life I would say South Island ,, if pushed, I really loved Nelson and the weather was un real sunny every day, but no work expensive nove and mostly ex pat Americans who have built compounds on the hills and who brought money and don't work, and retired Christchurch money. I used to have the Wakatu Hotel centre of downtown 1998 thru 2001 and in that time saw 1000's of jobs lost in the area, none created and house prices go through the roof.
Been said several times so far in this thread > Go for it.. leave your stuff in Calgary. Clear the decks, and go - as a Canadian passport holder you have to have a return ticket to go to NZ anyway, take 20,000 grand buy a used bike and see if it fits, if it does,come back get your stuff say good bye and settle, if it doesn't, go back and dust off your Ducati in Calgary and remember the wonderfull holiday you had down in the south pacific.
Drivers in Auckland - worst anywhere
Roads - breath taking, some gravel but usually well signed.

[NZsarge]

.
I guess it's partly that I'm not too good with the ladies

Sweet! You can join my "I'm not to good with the ladies" club then.