emmigrating to New Zealand

[grand cherokee]

thinking very seriously about this - in my view this country is on the decline and no sign of it getting any better - Europe/Islamification/EU migrants etc etc

not forgetting Iran/North Korea

anyone here done it?

i'm 59 yrs old - single - and enough money to support myself over there (yes, i know about the investment/maintenance sums)

main attractions - shooting/fishing and 'nature' - can take my Range Rover without import duty and good dealer network - plus they drive on the 'proper' side of the road!

i may retire or may invest in a fishing venture?

good and bad comments appreciated

thanks

[grand cherokee]

Mobile Chicane said:

Have you actually been to New Zealand?

It has its problems too with immigration, crime, the Nanny State and suffocating political correctness.

been there - have friends living there

nothing like the UK - immigration rules are so strict you don't get economic refugees/EU dross like the UK

to 'retire' i'd have to invest about £350K for two years/£250K in maintenance fund/£30K pa income from pensions etc - thats what this country should do - how many Eastern Europeans could meet that criteria?

[grand cherokee]

not sure on South/North Island?

north has the best fishing at Taupo but the south has the best deer stalking - if the rest of lifes choices were so easy?

[grand cherokee]

arguti said:

Is that under the investor route?

I thought you needed to bring over more funds http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/inve...

To go down the temporary retirement route you need to 66 or older

Edited by arguti on Saturday 9th March 13:23

there are various options regarding investment etc

i'm contracting a specialist company next week to discuss options - i could happily invest in a sport boat fishing venture or even open a tackle dealership - big market in NZ for 'old' european tackle esp House of Hardy

[grand cherokee]

Jasandjules said:

At the moment I would say that I would if I could take my animals with me easily.

is taking dogs a problem? - both UK and NZ are rabies free afaik?

[grand cherokee]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Why would you want to see out your dotage in the most boring country on earth?

Its basically a slightly up-market Wales - moderately attractive country-side, interspersed with small, ugly, dull towns full of backward, bigoted in-bred people who can't decide to use a first class stamp without state approval

lake taupo/marlin/yellowfin tuna/red deer/sika/roe/english style pheasant shooting etc etc - seems like heaven to me?


don't know where you have been but the towns i've seen are far from ugly/dull - think your talking about the UK?

and backward/bigoted/inbred describes the UK to a tee!

[grand cherokee]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Then we will have to agree to differ - I have been many times and find it more loathesome with each visit.

If stalking/shooting/fishing are your drivers, why not somewhere in Southern Africa which is at least game rich and beautiful and where your grey pound will go a million miles?

South Africa is the next Zimbabwe in the making - we used to have an office in Joburg and closed it - moved it the Francistown in Botswana

plus i don't want to hunt endangered species or be murdered/raped because i'm white

if your south African then NZ may be a problem for you because 99% of white 'ethnic' Afrikaans have a massive chip on their shoulders?

Edited by grand cherokee on Saturday 9th March 14:09

[grand cherokee]

WhereamI said:

I agree, I first went to NZ expecting to like it and found instead a place I can't wait to leave. It's remote, insular and boring, unfortunately I have to go there in a couple of weeks time.

remote, insular and boring suits me perfectly - an ideal house about 50 miles from my neighbour

[grand cherokee]

sday12 said:

grand cherokee said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Have you actually been to New Zealand?

It has its problems too with immigration, crime, the Nanny State and suffocating political correctness.

been there - have friends living there

nothing like the UK - immigration rules are so strict you don't get economic refugees/EU dross like the UK

to 'retire' i'd have to invest about £350K for two years/£250K in maintenance fund/£30K pa income from pensions etc - thats what this country should do - how many Eastern Europeans could meet that criteria?

It's st, but I would gladly recommend it to such as hateful rascist like yourself, fill yer boots.

got bad news for you - if by those comments i'm a hateful racist so are at least 80%+ of Brits!

[grand cherokee]

many thanks for most comments

please keep them coming

special thanks to those who have invited me to email them - will certainly take you up on your generous offers

been looking on Trademe at car/house/fishing prices - very interesting

looking into legislation for owning shotgun/hunting rifle (would sell mine in UK) - seem to see that a referee needs to have known you for two years in NZ? - are there exemptions or can you still hunt with a NZ permit holder and use one of their guns?

[grand cherokee]

Bapple said:

Shouldn't be a problem to "accompany" someone who holds a licence.

Out of interest, what field are you in and does a particular part of the country interest you?

thanks - im now retired with a dodgy hip (will get replacement before emigrating - i hope)

i trained as an architect but left the profession and became a 'sporting agent' in Scotland - basically leased 2.5 miles of the River Tay - i also arranged shooting/stalking - and did deer control (culling)

though with no 'formal' qualifications i'm an experience fishing guide/casting instructor in trout and salmon fishing - also experience in boat handling on large/rapid stretches of rivers

also i'm an experienced 4x4 offroad driver/demonstrator using 'standard' road vehicles - and have 'manual' skills in repairing and renovating traditional wooden fishing boats (not trawlers - lol)

no particular area as yet but Taupo has its obvious plus points!

Edited by grand cherokee on Sunday 10th March 08:40

[grand cherokee]

uncinqsix said:

Check out Central Otago. It'll be right up your alley. Kind of like Scotland, but the temperature gets into the high 20s/early 30s in summer.

had a look - very enticing - particularly the presence of Chinook salmon - seems like most NZ fishers spin for them and heavy sinking fly line fishing is still in its infancy - maybe an opportunity as its an 'area' in which i'm very experienced

interestingly been watching the cricket from Dunedin and noted how beautiful the countryside looks

[grand cherokee]

might be a silly question to some but is there a Land Rover dealership in Dunedin/surrounding area as i'd take my Range Rover with me?

on a cold dank English winter morning the more i hear from you the better it looks moving to NZ

one big thing in my favour is that when/if i move i'll have no ties to the uk in terms of family etc - my parents are in their 90's and obviously won't last forever - would never move whilst they are alive as i live near them and help them etc

EDIT - just found Armstrong Land Rover in Dunedin - are they any good?

also if parts are not available in NZ how long does it take to get parts ex UK (assume 24/48 hours for small items) or is there a main depot in Aus?

Edited by grand cherokee on Sunday 10th March 09:19

[grand cherokee]

GravelBen said:

Make that high 30s/early 40s, around Cromwell/Alexandra is seriously hot in summer. Queenstown and Wanaka a bit cooler but still get mid 30s pretty often. Flipside is it also gets quite cold in winter, but generally a dry crisp cold not a damp cold - Cromwell only gets 400mm of rainfall per year!

ETA: It sounds like work as a South Island hunting/fishing guide would be right up your alley, not sure about fishing but from what I've heard being a hunting guide doesn't pay that well unless you own the company - competition from young guys willing to do it for peanuts to live the lifestyle.

I expect you'll find things like masses of free public land hunting a bit of a change too, but I don't know how the UK system works to compare.

No problem for you to go shooting/hunting without a licence if you're supervised by a licence holder - legally they're supposed to be in a position to take control of the gun at any stage, so effectively its one gun in use per licence.

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 10th March 09:51

thanks Ben - as i'm coming up to be 60 i think my days as a stalking guide as over - the local guys know the species/terrain better and who am i as an 'incomer' to take a job from them?

maybe the fishing scenario is better? - as i said it seems like fly fishing for Chinooks is in its infancy? - maybe a chance to teach European methods such as Spey casting etc (these tactics have been 'exported' successfully worldwide)

also i've been 'trading' in second hand fishing tackle - companies like House of Hardy seem to be popular in NZ so with UK contacts this could be another avenue to consider?

anyway guys - so many thanks

keep the comments coming

[grand cherokee]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Just a thought, esp as you're single; 50 miles from the nearest house might be great now - and I hope for many years to come - but, if you get a bit doddery, would you not be better a little closer to civilisation?

ok 50 miles was probably too high - lets say 5 miles - lol!

[grand cherokee]

Bapple said:

I'm in mid Canterbury and it seems the hunting and fishing industry is growing every year,. I am sure you would find a niche. Might want to read up on fishing in "braided rivers" though!

had a look at 'braided rivers' - challenging to say the least

it seems that i might have something to 'offer' with my various fishing skills?

the last thing that i want to do is be an 'incomer' taking jobs from locals - hence my thoughts on fly fishing for the Chinoooks?

tackle trading is another option as previously noted - split cane fishing rods are in big demand and prices - need to check out the NZ market?

historically the UK in the form of House of Hardy still has a worldwide reputation for quality fishing tackle up until say 2000 - when the company lost its 'ethos' and standards

i was in India some years ago and there are still local fishing shops displaying the Hardy badge from the days of the Raj and Mahseer fishing

[grand cherokee]

i've heard that NZ building 'standards' are not high in terms of workmanship? - is this just bad press?

also do they use timber framed construction - as makes sense in an earthquake zone?

how easy is it to get planning permission to build a home on a 'green field' site?

and how easy to build it yourself using local builders/contractors?

sorry to be a pain in the ass

[grand cherokee]

thanks again for all your comments - much appreciated

another question if i may? - health care

if i was to live permanently in NZ would i as a Brit get full health care or have to have insurance?

thanks

[grand cherokee]

Esprit said:

ACC covers you for injury or accident, this is free and all taxpayers contribute. You'll need to take out private healthcare to cover against illness or elective surgery etc though, unless you're happy with the public health system.... which is actually quite good in NZ. I THINK this covers you even if you're not yet a permanent resident.

thanks very much

[grand cherokee]

Pothole said:

t's also closer to North Korea.

i really fail to see the relevance of that comment?

you live in the UK anyway?