So this is us

[minette]

Hello almal! I'm Minette Tonoli (maiden name Snyman) and I was born and raised in a very small town in the Free State called Odendaalsrus. I'm in Jo'burg now, ever since varsity, and very happily married to my darling husband, Rick Tonoli (ja, Italiaans noggal!). We have a beautiful baby girl...well, she's actually a little toddler laready now (18 months on 26 Dec) called Miya.

And we want out of SA.

The idea to emigrate to New Zealand had been thrown around every now and then the past two years or so, but nothing serious was ever discussed further or any kind of geniuine plans made. Until now. I have turned into an obsessive compulsive New Zealand information seeker over the past week or two. What changed my mind so suddenly and so surely? Don't know really, it just seems that this is the right thing to focus on.

So here goes... wish us luck!

[Didi77]

Hallo Minette and welcome to the family.

No need to seek any further cause all you need is right here. Nolan and the family have started the most wonderfull website to assist all of us to get out safely ASAP.

So surf the site and ask questions, we are all here to help.

Allthough it is mostly hard work to make this move happen, luck helps a lot, so here it is: 

So tell us more about your move. What do you guys do? When do you see yourselfs going? What area are you thining of settling in?

[Badprop]

Hi Minette and welcome... good luck with the process.  You will find a lot of support here.  As you can see we are not a shy bunch here, we ask you in and out cause that makes it easier to help you.  Right Didi? 

[Didi77]

Well now. I have been called many things  but shy is not one of them....

[Tash]

Welcome Minette,

We're also in the early stages of the NZ thing & I've truly found a very helpful family here so ask away!!!  By the way , we'll be looking for you on the other side too! 

[minette]

Hi Minette and welcome... good luck with the process.  You will find a lot of support here.  As you can see we are not a shy bunch here, we ask you in and out cause that makes it easier to help you.  Right Didi? 

Oh, no worries guys - I've already come to know you all over the last few days while reading all the posts! This really is a very good site and I'm glad that I've finally "formally" introduced myself!

Some more info on my little family: Rick is in IT - has about 15 years experience and has been doing Java for the last few years. He's a very clever boytjie! He's got lots of experience, but does not have any degrees. I was in IT myself for 8 years (after studying advertising - don't even ask  ). I gave all that up though about two years ago and started my own business - go look at www.thelittleherbcottage.co.za and www.herbsonline.co.za for more about what I've been keeping myself busy with (except of course for raising my little girl!) It's been really awesome as I've been able to do what I really, really love and was able to have my baby with me from the word go. I'd really be most happy to do the same kind of thing over there as I'm not keen at all to go back to the IT grindstone...

Currently we don't quite know where to settle, all depends on where the job takes us I guess. I'm doing some research on all the major city centres as that is probably where the best chance of emplyment would be. I must admit I hope it is not Auckland, simply to be able to cash in on those extra 10 points! To tell the truth though, I'd not mind at all staying somewhere "rural" and starting my own little herb farm!! Maybe somewhere close to a city so hubby can transport in each day?

I still have lots of questions, even after reading the posts and being a total internet junkie for the last week or so, so be on the lookout for some more Q's soon!

[ANTONK]

Hi Minette and family welcome and   

[jafa77]

If you want rural then NZ is the country for you. So many little town and villages in the middle of no where but you are always within an hour's drive of a big town or city.

[Charmain]

Hi Minette

We have also decided to go and will hopefully be leaving on the 1st of March 2008.  Hamish(hubbie) is in Toolmaking and his best friend ( and a few employment agencies) said that if we come over on a visitors visa we won't battle to get a job offer. So that is exactly what we are going to do.  We are packing up the kids ( 2 boys 6 & , the furniture and moving.

What are your plans for immigrating?  Are you applying for PR or will you guys go over "cowboy style" as I have seen it called on this website? 

Hallo to everyone else, and thanks for making this website what it is. Lots of useful info that really helps.

[minette]

Hi Charmaine! Not sure yet which option we're going to take to NZ. We're going to make use of an immigration agent who is currently liazing with recruitment agencies over there, so we'll see what they say after they've done a full assesment of our situation and my hubby's employability etc. Currently I think it will probably be on a work visa and then apply for PR, but if they reckon we can do the PR route from the word go, we'll definitely give it a try.

I've sort of got this date of 1 July or there-abouts fixed in my head...is more or less about 6 months from now, is just after my little girl's 2nd birthday and it seems not too soon and also not too late, so we'll see!

Good luck to you!! If all pans out well for you guys, you can invite us for coffee when we land a few months later!

[MJ]

Hi Minette and welcome

[minette]

Thanks everyone for the really warm welcome! Its great to not suddenly be alone with this great decision in life... you are all very much appreciated!

Starting tonight with a few questions, but will post them in relevant places, so please have a look about and help a newbie out where you can?

Dankie man!

[nazmahomed]

Hi Minette and welcome. Congrats on making the decision firstly and goodluck with the rest. You will get loads of help on this site as most people who go to NZ do so via different routes. 6 months is a really good time frame, but it is important to start getting all your paperwork sorted out asap. It took us 6 months to get here too from when we received a job offer

[Charmain]

Thanks Minette

Will definitely keep in touch and have you guys over for coffee when you land on that side.

Good luck with whole process, and I really hope hubbie's job offer comes through soon.

[zatexnz]

Hi and welcome Minette and Charmain!

Have you already signed over money to the immigration agent?  Some are good, but others not so good, and take a lot of money and you still have to do everything yourself.  You can read on the My Move section (check menu bar above), and read and read... all the info you need is there.  You can check there how many points you have and if you have over 130, I'd suggest you get your EOI submitted ASAP, and then start looking for jobs.  If you get a job offer, you can update the EOI and your PR will be fast tracked.  IT jobs are aplenty.  Hamilton is a great city away from Auckland, but not so far that you can't drive up there for a visit when you want.  In South Island, Christchurch is apparently the best bet.  Bigger than Hamilton though, I believe.
Read up on the thread "City Reviews" here...

Have fun... there's a lot of stress involved with immigration so have as much fun inbetween while you're at it!