Securing your Visa is just one part of a very big process and so, to help you plan your entire move, we have compiled a few key things you might want to consider in the page below. We will be adding to and updating these links and details over time, so check in regularly.
To help you get the most out of our service and your move, we have compiled some useful tips and advice that you can use throughout the relocation process. This page will be updated regularly and will contain useful information relating to various parts of your move (non-Visa related).
Legal Assistance
When you arrive in New Zealand and as you settle in to your new surroundings there will be a number of things you will need to consider, including eventually purchasing a property, establishing a will or trust or setting up a business. Trying to do these things in a new country with different laws and regulations can be tricky but we have you covered. The team at Turner Hopkins Lawyers can provide legal advice across a wide range of issues and are on hand to help. We have provided links below to the areas we think might be relevant for you as you make New Zealand home:
For residential property matters click here.
For business and commercial legal advice click here.
For family law matters click here.
For all other legal queries click here.
You can also reach out to your consultant who will be able to put you in touch with one of the team directly.
Shipping
When you are ready to move your goods, you will need to think about securing a reliable shipping company to organise a quote as well as explain the process involved. Timing the move is also important and in most cases we do not recommend you move any of your goods until you have a Work Visa in hand at least (there are specific requirements for the Visa you hold, to avoid paying customs on your goods). Your consultant can point you in the right direction in terms of who to contact, however also recommend thinking about the following:
It might be a good time to clear out the clutter because you dont want to pay to ship items that you no longer use or will end up throwing away. Perhaps sell off the items you dont need and use the funds to finance moving the rest.
Think carefully about how much you bring, particularly as you may not have space for all of it when you arrive in New Zealand. Sometimes downsizing can be a good idea.
Shop around for a good quote but don’t focus on the cheapest mover. You want to make sure your goods arrive as safely as you do and sometimes that means paying a fair price for someone you can trust.
Local Trades - Plumbers
B&B Plumbing are based in Penrose and offer an Auckland wide service. We have staff on call 24/7 and are specialists in all aspects of Residential/Commercial Plumbing, Gas Fitting, Drainage and Roofing. Ranging from reactive maintenance to renovations we cover it all. Have you got a plumbing, drainage, roofing or gas fitting issue? Contact us today for a free, no obligations quote. In an emergency please call 0800 TODAY (0800 002 329)
Email any queries to – tom@bbplumbing.co.nz
Banking & Finance
New Zealand has a lot of banks (some might say too many) and they all offer essentially the same services. Most of our banks are owned by Australian parent companies although Kiwibank is a wholly NZ owned banking provider. There is a heavy reliance on internet and phone banking in New Zealand and whilst we still use bank branches you can do almost all of your banking online or via mobile app.
We also work with the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), who can assist you in opening an account before you arrive. If you would like to do this, contact Symon Holden-Gemmell by email.
If you are interested in opening an account before you arrive, speak to your consultant for details. Generally banks will allow you to open an account from offshore but you may not be able to use it to transact until you have arrived in New Zealand and provided your identity documents and signed various declaration forms.
Payments for most goods and services are made either by EftPos card (like a credit card but uses funds in your account) or online banking (bank to bank transfers). There are generally no transaction fees applied to most payments.
Mortgages are available from all banks subject to various criteria (deposit, buidling checks etc.) but normally only accessible once you have secured Residence.
We can provide you with contacts for banking, finance and insurance although many of these are very easy to access when you are in New Zealand and often can be secured online.
UK Pensions
Did you know that while your pension remains in the UK, it could be stacking up a potential New Zealand tax liability? In fact, for some people, 100% of their pension may be liable for tax at retirement.
Based on Auckland's North Shore, GBPensions is run by British expats and specialises in the complex area of pension transfers. We can help you track down your Defined Benefit (DB) or Defined Contribution (DC) pension scheme details so you can make an informed decision about what to do next.
GBPensions' director Tony Chamberlain is originally from Harlow, and worked on his first pension case in 1990. Having emigrated to New Zealand with his family in 2005, he's specialised in this increasingly complex financial sector for many years and founded GBPensions in 2012 to offer clients objective, independent advice. Tony's one of only a handful of financial advisers in New Zealand to be both a Certified Financial Planner and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary – which means you can be assured of his commitment to professional excellence.
To learn more about your UK to NZ pension transfer options, visit the GBPensions website and download our free booklet.
Web | Email: gbpensions.co.nz | transfers@gbpensions.co.nz | 0800 427 693 (GBP NZD) (within NZ) or +64 (0) 9 414 2089 (from overseas)
Personal Risk Insurance
AdviceFirst is a nationwide network providing high-quality financial and insurance advice to help thousands of Kiwis prosper and protect themselves. They provide comprehensive insurance reviews ensuring their client’s insurance coverage suits their personal circumstances. Types of insurance they can help with are:
AdviceFirst experts can help with the following:
Life Cover - Life insurance is that extra bit of financial help for the people you care about in the event of your death.
Income Cover - Income cover can provide financial stability if you find yourself unable to work due to a serious illness, injury, or disability as defined in the specific policy.
Trauma Cover – Trauma cover can help to minimise stress and provide financial stability if a traumatic life event such as a heart attack, stroke, or cancer diagnosis occurs.
Disability Cover - Total and Permanent Disability insurance can provide you with a lump sum payment if you become permanently disabled as a result of an accident or illness and are unable to work.
Health Cover - Health insurance provides peace of mind that you and your family can have faster access to medical treatment when you need it most.
These reviews are zero-cost, and there is no obligation to take their recommendations. Learn more about AdviceFirst’s services here.
Accommodation
For most applicants, securing accommodation will happen in three steps - the first being something temporary for a few weeks when you arrive, the next being a rental (or perhaps several) as you decide where to live and navigate your new work commute, the last being the purchase of a property.
For the first two stages, there are a number of options available for temporary accommodation however we recommend a good place to start is using TradeMe which covers a wide spectrum of property services including rentals.
We also recommend that you bring with you a reference if you have been renting previously and be prepared to cover the upfront costs for a deposit. Rental deposits in NZ are held by a Government agency on behalf of you as the tenant and also your landlord. We have a formal process for renting a property which provides you as the tenant a number of protections. This is a good site to read up on which explains your rights and obligations - Tenancy NZ.
When it comes to buying a property there are a number of things to consider including the legal process involved with the sale and purchase. We recommend you contact the team at Turner Hopkins Property to give you a head start on how to navigate this process.
Mortgage Services
Edge Mortgages – Making Finance Easy
You’ve come to the right place if you are looking for finance because the team at Edge specialise in making finance easy. Edge Mortgages, offer friendly and personal service whether you’re looking for a new home loan, re-structuring your mortgage or getting finance for business or personal projects. Edge can organise loans for people from all over the world who are buying in New Zealand – so no matter where you are you can get in touch. Edge Mortgages can arrange home loans against a large number of mainstream banks and non bank lenders.
Contact Glen McLeod directly (glen@edgemortgages.co.nz) and he will look after you.
Health Services
Healthcare in New Zealand is a mixture of public and privately funded services with most people (who are working) holding some form of private medical cover. To qualify for publicly funded healthcare you need to hold a Work Visa valid for at least two years (that may include time on other Visa prior to the Work Visa) or hold a Resident Class Visa.
Doctors visits will cost you a small fee under the public system but beyond that almost all treatments are covered with no further payment required. Medication costs are heavily subsidised for most treaments and you pay a very small “admin” fee to pick up a prescription. When you arrive in New Zealand if you hold the right Visa we recommend you register with your local GP clinic and all you will need is your passport and Visa confirmation.
For private insurance there are a number of providers, many of which are now online and the industry is becoming a lot more competitive particularly on price. For many people some form of private cover is useful although we recommend you speak to an expert to assess your individual needs.
Education
Schooling and education are very significant issues for most family’s looking to make the move and planning what lies ahead for your children when you do arrive here takes some time and having access to the right information.
Considering the different age brackets, types of schools and funding processes, we have created a very detailed guide, which you can download here - this will give you all the information you need to know in order to start planning how your children will be able to make the transition in to the New Zealand education system.
Travel Transport
Most people in New Zealand own at least one car and it is common for most families to have two vehicles available. There is a rapid move to electric vehicles for new cars but the bulk of our vehicle fleet is still made up of petrol vehicles and we buy and sell a lot of used vehicles. You can get a good quality second-hand car for a reasonable price and in may cases this will be all you need for the first year or two in New Zealand. It is important however to do your homework before you buy a used vehicle including a pre-purchase inspection. Used vehicles can be sold privately or through dealerships and TradeMe is a good place to start when looking for something to buy.
To drive in New Zealand you will need to have a license althoguh you can use your overseas license for up to 12 months from the day you arrive - you do not have to secure an international drivers license or permit. You can then apply for your NZ license when you are here and depending on where you are coming from you may or may not have to sit a practical test, although everyone has to do a theory test.
Public transport is also available, generally very safe and also quite reliable - however each region, town and city will have a different mixture of transport types. The larger centres may offer all of the options including buses, trains, ferries and taxis where some of the smaller areas may be limited to only buses and taxis. Uber is also available in most parts of New Zealand although in some more remote areas or smaller towns the services may be very limited (or non-existent). Check in your local area (when you are here) as to what options are available for you and give the system a go as it can often be cheaper and more convenient to travel by public transport than by private vehicle.
