Moving to NZ from USA, help me get to know some of you!
04-02-18, 07:12 PM
#1
Moving to NZ from USA, help me get to know some of you!
Hey guys,
I'm planning on moving to NZ this September(provided I can find a job by then) and I'd like to get to know more about the country and make some friends over there before then!
I'm a rotary engine nut like probably most of you, I work as an engineer/machinist for a small manufacturing company, we make MAF housings, weld on flanges, block off pieces among thing that there happens to be interest for and do other contract work as well. I do manual and cnc machining, CNC programming, product design and development, customer outreach, technical support, you name it. At home I'm all about powersports and my rx7s. If you guys happen to know any places looking for someone like that, im looking!
As far as where in New Zealand, that's still totally up in the air and depends on employment. I would however like to hear from you guys on what areas are nice!
How is the car scene there? Where is it? How tough is the govt on modified cars? You guys are famous for your burnouts on YouTube over here and ppre but that obviously doesn't tell the whole story.
Looking forward to hearing from you guys,
-rob
I'm planning on moving to NZ this September(provided I can find a job by then) and I'd like to get to know more about the country and make some friends over there before then!
I'm a rotary engine nut like probably most of you, I work as an engineer/machinist for a small manufacturing company, we make MAF housings, weld on flanges, block off pieces among thing that there happens to be interest for and do other contract work as well. I do manual and cnc machining, CNC programming, product design and development, customer outreach, technical support, you name it. At home I'm all about powersports and my rx7s. If you guys happen to know any places looking for someone like that, im looking!
As far as where in New Zealand, that's still totally up in the air and depends on employment. I would however like to hear from you guys on what areas are nice!
How is the car scene there? Where is it? How tough is the govt on modified cars? You guys are famous for your burnouts on YouTube over here and ppre but that obviously doesn't tell the whole story.
Looking forward to hearing from you guys,
-rob
10-19-18, 11:37 AM
#2
I heard from one of you when I first posted this, I'm surprised that's been it seeing how big the rotary scene looks to be in NZ. I'd love to hear form more of you on anything from the car scene, to work, to daily living.
I'm still looking for employment, one of you rotorheads must know someone who needs a mechanical engineer!
I'm still looking for employment, one of you rotorheads must know someone who needs a mechanical engineer!
10-19-18, 12:01 PM
#3
I am a Permanent NZ resident (lived there for many years before moving to Canada) so I am very familiar with VISA's and work etc.
if you are under 31 you could get a working holiday visa, turn up and wing it. But if you want a guaranteed job and visa then you would need to be on the skills shortage list - does a mechanical engineer qualify? You can check the lists online, if you qualify companies can sponsor you entry - as a mech eng have you looked at the mining companies over there?
What areas do you want to move to? City/Rural? North or South Island?
Tom
if you are under 31 you could get a working holiday visa, turn up and wing it. But if you want a guaranteed job and visa then you would need to be on the skills shortage list - does a mechanical engineer qualify? You can check the lists online, if you qualify companies can sponsor you entry - as a mech eng have you looked at the mining companies over there?
What areas do you want to move to? City/Rural? North or South Island?
Tom
10-19-18, 12:06 PM
#4
Also, the hassle of owning a modded car REALLY depends where you live.
Cops in NZ are notoriously hard on speed (i have tickets for doing 102 in a 100 zone!) and modified cars always get pulled over. for roadside noise testing and checks on ride height. I lived in a rural area so avoided most of this.
You also have to get a MANDATORY vehicle inspection (tires, brakes, suspension, noise, emissions, lights, rust etc etc) every 6 months on cars over 5 (i think) years old - so unless you find a "friendly" garage to pass you, you will have a nightmare, but thankfully there are a lot of them :-)
Cops in NZ are notoriously hard on speed (i have tickets for doing 102 in a 100 zone!) and modified cars always get pulled over. for roadside noise testing and checks on ride height. I lived in a rural area so avoided most of this.
You also have to get a MANDATORY vehicle inspection (tires, brakes, suspension, noise, emissions, lights, rust etc etc) every 6 months on cars over 5 (i think) years old - so unless you find a "friendly" garage to pass you, you will have a nightmare, but thankfully there are a lot of them :-)
10-19-18, 04:42 PM
#5
I'm 29 and I'm working towards getting a skilled migrant Visa, a job offer is the last piece of the puzzle, I have everything else together for the Visa. Mechanical engineers are in the long term skills shortage list thankfully. I haven't looked into mining companies specifically but I have applied to probably 30+ different jobs there, most want you to already have the right to work in NZ already though, finding a job there has been far more difficult than I had imagined.
As far as where, I'm pretty open to anywhere close to the coast, north island maybe would be a little more preferable but just for the slightly warmer weather.
102 in a 100.. it's hard to believe that they can justify such a negligible difference. Definitely good to know.. I dont need to get myself in trouble down there. From what I read the roads arent so great there so driving fast isnt so tempting like it is in the states.
I'm used to yearly inspections so I suppose every 6 months isnt too much worse. You really need to know somebody for an inspection on a modified car here too.
Tom, why the move to Canada?
As far as where, I'm pretty open to anywhere close to the coast, north island maybe would be a little more preferable but just for the slightly warmer weather.
102 in a 100.. it's hard to believe that they can justify such a negligible difference. Definitely good to know.. I dont need to get myself in trouble down there. From what I read the roads arent so great there so driving fast isnt so tempting like it is in the states.
I'm used to yearly inspections so I suppose every 6 months isnt too much worse. You really need to know somebody for an inspection on a modified car here too.
Tom, why the move to Canada?
10-19-18, 10:43 PM
#6
Yeah the Kiwi Governments war on speed sucks - revenue gathering at its worst/best. I almost lost my license twice all for tickets at 102-111 km/hr in a 100km/hr zone......they have ZERO tolerance.
However, there are some EPIC roads that are 100km/hr that no matter how hard you drive you will be lucky to hit 80 due to all the twisties
I moved to Canada because I met a girl - you know the story! But we both intend to move back to NZ in the future, I LOVE it there.
I mentioned the mining companies because they earn major money and don't bat an eyelid at sponsoring someone for a visa. I am a Mining Engineer and that's how I got into NZ from the UK on the long term skill shortage list. If you haven't worked in mining it may be a shock at first, it's an archaic industry and the hours are long, night shifts are the norm, pressure to produce results is high. But the pay is hard beat, although it is not for everyone. I have frequently seen people walk away from >100k jobs because they have had enough, myself included.
If you have any Q's about NZ hit me up, I was there for 6 years and toured the country extensively. Have a look into the working holiday visa, if you can get one, then you can apply for jobs when you are there. Worst case you use it to get a 6-12 month contract and then try to get them to sponsor a full visa once you show them how great you are
However, there are some EPIC roads that are 100km/hr that no matter how hard you drive you will be lucky to hit 80 due to all the twisties
I moved to Canada because I met a girl - you know the story! But we both intend to move back to NZ in the future, I LOVE it there.
I mentioned the mining companies because they earn major money and don't bat an eyelid at sponsoring someone for a visa. I am a Mining Engineer and that's how I got into NZ from the UK on the long term skill shortage list. If you haven't worked in mining it may be a shock at first, it's an archaic industry and the hours are long, night shifts are the norm, pressure to produce results is high. But the pay is hard beat, although it is not for everyone. I have frequently seen people walk away from >100k jobs because they have had enough, myself included.
If you have any Q's about NZ hit me up, I was there for 6 years and toured the country extensively. Have a look into the working holiday visa, if you can get one, then you can apply for jobs when you are there. Worst case you use it to get a 6-12 month contract and then try to get them to sponsor a full visa once you show them how great you are
Last edited by FEED AFFLUX v5; 10-19-18 at 11:20 PM.
10-21-18, 10:14 PM
#7
Full Member
Hey man ive lived in Auckland most of my life, the car scene is pretty incredible - there are unofficial/unorganized meets every friday/saturday night where people meet up at a couple of gas stations in town and then form up trains going to spots out of town. Automotive culture as a whole is pretty massive in NZ, id say realistically every 1 in 3 people you talk to is going to have an interest in something with wheels haha
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10-22-18, 02:25 PM
#8
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10-24-18, 04:23 PM
#10
FEED Are radar detectors legal in NZ? They've been my savior for years.
it's good to hear nothing put positive things about NZ, it sounds more and more like paradise every day, minus the speeding tickets but those happen everywhere!
I cant say the mining industry sounds like it's for me, if I wanted to chase high pay I would stay in the states.
the working holiday Visa sounds like a great option if I continue having trouble finding a job, I hadn't considered it yet.
aramir that's great to hear, a lot of the jobs that I've been looking at have been in Auckland. There are a ton of cars over there that the states don't get that I would love to get my hands on, so I'm pretty excited to get into the car scene there.
it's good to hear nothing put positive things about NZ, it sounds more and more like paradise every day, minus the speeding tickets but those happen everywhere!
I cant say the mining industry sounds like it's for me, if I wanted to chase high pay I would stay in the states.
the working holiday Visa sounds like a great option if I continue having trouble finding a job, I hadn't considered it yet.
aramir that's great to hear, a lot of the jobs that I've been looking at have been in Auckland. There are a ton of cars over there that the states don't get that I would love to get my hands on, so I'm pretty excited to get into the car scene there.
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