Hi from South Africa (saffer)

**saffer** · 2nd April 2008, 23:13

Hello all from South Africa

My name is Jon, I currently live in Hilton, KZN, South Africa. I ride a KLR 650 and I am mostly into riding gravel roads and what we call "adventure biking".

I have been spending the past few weeks looking at all things "New Zealand" on the net, as I am seriously considering moving to New Zealand with my family in the next couple of months. I came across your site while browsing the NZ section of AdvRider.

I have never been to New Zealand, but I only hear great things about it as a country by the many friends of mine that have settled here from South Africa. The chances are that if I move to NZ later this year, I will arrive without having seen the country first.

Anyway, I am sure I'll have lots of questions to ask over the next few months, about dual sport riding, best places to live in NZ, job opportunities etc.

Jon

**fredie** · 3rd April 2008, 00:12

cool . do you like rugby

**saffer** · 3rd April 2008, 00:53

Hi all you Kiwi bikers.

My name is Jon and I currently live in Hilton, which is a small town in KZN in South Africa. Things ain't looking so great here in SA, so I am seriously considering moving with my family to NZ in the next few months. I have never been to NZ myself, but it looks and sounds like a great place to be.

I currently ride a KLR650, which I had thought I would sell here and replace with something like a KTM 950 when I get to NZ, but looking at the prices of 2nd hand bikes on this forum, it may be a better option to hand on to my bike and send it over to NZ. My bike is a 2006 model, 20 000km on it, good condition with doohickey done, performance pipe, dyno jets and aftermarket Renthal bars. Selling in SA I would only get about NZ$3 850 for it, so I am not sure I could replace it for similar at that price.

What is the scope for adventure riding in NZ? I know you are living in a stunning country, but is it still possible to access remote areas by bike, or are there lots of restrictions?

Here in SA we have a dedicated dual sport forum, here is a link to the last ride report that I posted on the forum

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=13556.0

There are obviously many questions I am going to want to ask over the next little while about biking and living in New Zealand, so please bear with me.

Cheers for now

Jon

**saffer** · 3rd April 2008, 01:47

Hey fredie

I like rugby a lot.......I live in Sharks country here.....looking forward to watching lots of rugga when I get to Kiwiland.

**Animal** · 3rd April 2008, 02:23

PM sent.

**Bikernereid** · 3rd April 2008, 03:22

Hi. Are you going to the seminar in S Africa - (http://www.expo-newzealand.com/)?

www.move2nz.com- The guys who run this site are really friendly.

**fredie** · 3rd April 2008, 03:25

waratahs baby

**fire eyes** · 3rd April 2008, 08:42

Hi Jon, welcome! ohh your plenty of questions will no doubt get plenty of answers by those in the know!

I hope your ready for some of the riff raff in here! lol

anyway welcome & NZ is an absolutely stunning country to live in.

(*p.s I don't know about that sport Rugby though .. men running about in little shorts froping each other lol *runs n hides from the patriotic rugby linch mob)

**Joni** · 3rd April 2008, 08:45

A good friend of mine went to Hilton College many years ago....

Welcome to KB from one saffa to another!

:spudwave:

**slimjim** · 3rd April 2008, 08:51

yup and those that don't will still tell ya , na all good and welcome , only 99% are netball freak's 1% follow the super 14 , lol and as for how bad it's there gee's almost the same over here

**fire eyes** · 3rd April 2008, 08:57

Originally Posted by slimjim

yup and those that don't will still tell ya , na all good and welcome , only 99% are netball freak's 1% follow the super 14 , lol and as for how bad it's there gee's almost the same over here

now thats what I call a little ray of sunshine.

**saffer** · 3rd April 2008, 19:00

Hi all

Thanks for all the kind words of welcome, this forum seems like a cool place to be.

Sorry for the double posting, was not sure where new member intro's were supposed to go.

Making the decision to move to a new country on the other side of the world, as many of you know, is pretty hectic, so you obviously gotta be cautious and do as much research as possible. BUT it seems the more I read the more undecided I get, specially when I read stuff about the high cost of living, high property prices and supposedly comparatively low salaries in NZ.

Maybe I should stop reading and just get on a plane and move?

Any suggestions as to where in NZ I should look to settle. I would rather be in a small town environment, preferably with a warmer drier climate, where the cost of living is lower and housing is not gonna bankrupt me. It would also have to be a place where I could find employment.

Does this elusive place exist or is this too big an ask?

I would really appreciate some feedback.

Cheers for now.

**MyGSXF:Me** · 3rd April 2008, 19:23

Originally Posted by saffer

Any suggestions as to where in NZ I should look to settle. I would rather be in a small town environment, preferably with a warmer drier climate, where the cost of living is lower and housing is not gonna bankrupt me. It would also have to be a place where I could find employment

Hiya & welcome to the nut farm...

I can highly vouch for

Nelson.

The sunshine capital of liddle ole NZ!

Found at the top of the South Island & we have the centre of NZ here! Big enough to have everything we need.. but small enough that you don't get lost in "the big city" atmosphere! Much into the cafe culture, arts & crafts!! If ya into the great outdoors.. we got everything ya need! Beautiful beaches, rivers, tramping, camping, fishing.. awesome roads for bikes, in every direction.. & all within half an hours reach of the central city!

It's a very beautiful place to live & also relatively free from the troubles that typically plague the larger cities.. ie: gangs etcetc...

What sort of employment will you be looking for???

Jen

**Thumper** · 3rd April 2008, 19:29

Hey Saffer,

I was born and grew up in Durban, lived there for 36 years, a staunch Sharks supporter. Spent a few years in the Middle East before settling with the family in Auckland in 2002. Without a doubt the best move I have ever made. Lifestyle is fantastic, people are diverse and awesome (as you will find on this site). Spent heaps of time in the KZN midlands, sailed and camped at Mid Mar etc.

Few tips, if you make the move, do it right. Know too many other Saffers who arrived on a three month tourist visa and couldn’t find work due to lack of work permit and had to leave. Back in 2000 when I did the move I applied for and got residence for my family before we arrived in NZ, this is no longer possible. If your trade or skill is on the short list you will find entry to NZ a whole heap easier.

Before you think about where in NZ you might want to live, consider what you do for a living.

The move is not easy or cheap (especially with the NZ$ > ZAR6.00), be prepared to be frustrated but well rewarded if you succeed.
There will be no shortage of advise from this site. Good luck .

**BBzz** · 3rd April 2008, 19:52

Originally Posted by MyGSXF