Immigrating to New Zealand maybe - gen questions

**portokiwi** · 15th August 2008, 08:56

Just dont hurt yourself over here.....

My lady is from Portugal she hurt her lower back on wed night. I took her to A&E as it was after 9pm Was told there by reception that it might cost around $400.00 even though she is working and pays taxes.... I said thats ok as she cant move at the moment. they gave her a grand total of 6 pills the same stuff we have at home that you buy over the counter at a chemist....over 4 and a half hours later waiting in a cubical sitting in a wheel chair still in total pain. I went out to buy a drink and ask about paying for the bill.....
I was stunned when the lady said that at the moment it was allmost $900.00 and going up.
I went in and said to the nurse about treatment she did her I dont realy care look and said if we are so worried about it we can dicharge ourselves.
Which we did bill now over $900.00. The Dr arrived and said we can do another assesment in another hour... we might then give her morphine SHIT
Took her home still in great pain.
got her to our local dr yesterday who checked her and injected her treated her like a person and charged only $30.00.
I am so pissed about the treatment we got or didnt get. She is in bed at least able to sleep now.

**argiris** · 15th August 2008, 20:36

thanks again you been really helpfull my economic state right now doesnt permit me a visit maybe around christmas

**blacksheep** · 15th August 2008, 20:43

Originally Posted by jimjim

jeez most kiwis would want to move to greece

i second that!,take a holiday here first to be sure

**McJim** · 15th August 2008, 20:49

Best idea is to earn a large lump of cash before you come out - I mean seriously - this is the kind of country where there was an uproar when people found out the biggest TV Station's biggest anchor was earning more than $500,000 per annum. I knew recruitment consultants bank in the UK that earned 10 times that and we didn't bat an eyelid.

I'm earning about 1/3 of what I was earning in UK now....salaries here really are shit.

As for the weather it's different all over. If you are used to Italian or Greek summers NZ will be cold - about 30 degrees Max in summer. I've experienced 42 degrees in Firenze and 42 degrees in Zakynthos so NZ ain't hot. Mind you it's not too cold either. It rains more often than Italy or Greece too but nowhere near as often as it rains in the UK.

I have found parts and availability to be splendid for my Ducati but maybe that's a reflection on the dealer (Haldanes) parts were both cheap and in stock.

**portokiwi** · 16th August 2008, 08:00

To be honest mate. apart from the weather. Things are not too bad over here. Our wages are close to E.U pay. cost of food is higher then in Europe.
Fuel is much cheaper here.
Accomidation costs more here.
But the way of life here far exceeds anything else.
Get medical insurance though.

**popelli** · 16th August 2008, 10:18

Left NZ 9 years ago and moved to europe

Money that can be earned over here is 2-3 times what I could earn in NZ

Price of a lot of things is higher but you have a lot more disposable income to start with

The whole of europe is on your doorstep and with cheap internet flights a different lifestyle is available that is not obtainable in NZ

Example is return flights for 2 uk to geneva £108 return, less than a days take home pay

There may be great scenery in NZ, but there is great scenery in Scotland, Italy & France that would rival anything in the South Island

Social scene for motorcycling is a lot better, bike rallies on every weekend through summer, loads of racing if you are into that and a lot less attitudes to put up with

**portokiwi** · 16th August 2008, 10:38

Every place has its pros & cons. I loved Portugal due to the weather, the roads the people, the food. and drinks.
Work was the hardest part as I was too over qulified.
They wont employ you in a lower department.
and I cant speek Portuguese

Thats why I brought my lady back with me.
She loves it here.
But like was said. in the E.U everything is on your door step over there.
Here everything is what you make of it.
I miss the motorcycle rellies though lol. Was fun.

**popelli** · 16th August 2008, 17:26

Originally Posted by portokiwi

Work was the hardest part as I was too over qulified.
.

is that NZ or europe??

I found work in NZ to be a real problem returned to NZ in 91 and 97, in both cases I had 4 months or so on the dole before I could find work and even then it was at a level well below what I was qualified and capable of.

In the Uk I can get work in a matter of weeks

There are just so few opportunities in NZ that the thought of returning to NZ and having to sign on is not really appealing

**portokiwi** · 16th August 2008, 17:37

In the UK I would have been fine I just didnt like the weather there.
No it was in Europe. I was classed as over qulified. (Lucky it wasnt on spelling)

I was asked to come back to a job here.
Now its the other way round.... My partner is having problems finding another job.
She had a job here for 3 months but her team leader was was a cow so she left. She was loved the job and was liked by everyone else in the office and did the job fast. Also fixed the jobs that her team leader stuffed up. Enough was enough so she left. (I think her team leader found her to much of a threat as she was a manager back there.

**sincity** · 21st August 2008, 23:36

Well after reading all of this, I am glad to be coming over next year. Who knows, I might have to sell up when I get back home and move over myself if its as nice as you all say it is. But I will miss going to the ranch in summer and riding the horses we have, and my best mates

who I love going for outings

with and down to Saltlake and my baby !
!
!
\/

**justsomeguy** · 21st August 2008, 23:43

Originally Posted by Big Dave

If you love beautiful countrysides and going around corners on a motorcycle: Move to NZ.

Argiris - yes it is that simple. Provided you get a job to help pay for that motorcycle.

Welcome to KB.

A medium wage in NZ is around $50,000 per annum. As a single person supporting only yourself and living alone: renting in suburban Auckland you will need a bare minimum of $25-$30,000 a year to happily pay your rent, bike payments and everyday bills. Less if you're frugal, more if you like to go out a lot. After tax from $50,000 you will earn around the $40,000 mark over all to the best of my knowledge.

**Hawkeye** · 23rd August 2008, 07:51

One of the best forums I know of to get info is http://www.emigratenz.org/

First rule that I applied when I came here was not to compare prices with the UK.
When in the UK, I was earning UK pounds. Now in NZ I earn NZ Dollars. You have to compare buying power with buying power rather than direct price comparison.
I hear so many people saying they earned more in the UK than here. It's all relative.