So here we are..
Last week I decided to move to New Zealand. It is not a decision that was made in the heat of the moment, I have been wanting to emigrate for years and have never done it.
When I met my husband 10 years ago, I told him I wanted to move overseas one day. I always thought it would be Australia but now It’s going to be New Zealand.
Why now? Why NZ?
I was born in Zimbabwe and moved down South at the age of 6. Unable to renew my Zim citizernship, I became a S’African citizen at age 16. ( My dad was born in SA anyway)
I have been watching the country with interest over the ladt 15 years. Initially back in ’94 I was very hopeful about SA. Unfortunately the sheer corruption of our Government and the slow death of democracy have killed that hope. People don’t notivce the little changes every day that are turning SA into another Zim. Zimbabwe never had the violent crime that runs rampant here.
I live in a cul de sac, If I see any other car behind me (en route home), I drive around the block before going home. I’m always aware of who is around me while driving. Walking in shopping centres, I keep my bag close and keep an eye on my surroundings.
As we live next to an open field, our home has been burgled 4 times. We were lucky though, a neighbour up the road had thugs jump over the wall and shoot him dead. A few months ago we got home to find our puppy limping and the gate jammed open. The next day a neighbour said they saw a tall, white man jump over the wall, fiddle with the gate and pull a bakkie into the driveway. So all preconceptions about who the criminals are must be done away with. (I don’t care who you are and what you look like, if you are acting suspicious, I am wary)
I don’t like watching the news because it gives me sleepless nights, I especially struggle with violence against children.
However crime is but only one concern. Last year I was retrenched and struggled to find work again. I am working on contract but cannot get permanent employment at the company due to BEE.
I pay more than half my salary to put my kids in a private school. Public schools are terrible with 40+ in a class and no being kept back even if you fail.
We are not rich South Africans. So we may as well have a similar standard of living but a much better quality of life in New Zealand.
I have family in Australia and my mom and stepdad will be there within 3 years. They have really clamped down on immigration and I think even with family sponsorship it will be difficult for us to get in and I can’t wait 5 years.
The more I look into New Zealand, the more I like it. So much so that if my kids are settled, I won’t uproot them to go to Aus in several years.
I have a diploma in Computer Graphics and Animation and have worked in Graphic Design and video production but in SA I prefer to work as a Personal Assistant because the pay and work hours are better. So I need to refresh my Graphic Design skills. My husband has no formal qualifications, after 12 years in the Spring Steel industry, he moved into the Mining Sector last year and works in Logistics, supplying pipes to the mines. He is very handy and technicallly minded and made all the burglar proofing in our home (no they didn’t get in at the last attempt thanks to our burglar proofing)
So I’m going to keep up the family tradition and emigrate. My grandparents moved from Wales to Rhodesia after World War 2. My widowed mom moved to South Africa. (My grandparents later joined us and died a few years ago)
Now it’s my turn and I’m excited and terrified at the same time.
I want to lodge my EOI before the end of the year. I see some peole’s turnaround times between EOI and arrivng in NZ/ or getting PR is less than a a year, so that is what I am hoping for.
The process looks a little overwhelming at this point. A migration agent is out of the question due to financial constraints. However I’m very good at research and I love a cheallenge so I think I can do it (with your support)
I plan to be in NZ by 2012. (crossed fingers)
I see that some people have not had the positive experiences they had hoped for by immigrating, however I know that New Zealand is a different country , with a different culture and I don’t plan to be some whenwe that whinges (ala ex Rhodies in the 80’s) We are prepared to work hard and I hope that we are able to find jobs in NZ.
In the meantime I will search the forums and post a ton of questions if I need help.
Thanks for this website
Karen
