New Zealand Immigration Consultants

For those who worry about such things….

Price of alcohol to rise
Last updated 15:01 30/06/2009

Adding to the gloom of winter and a recession, the price of booze is likely to rise when the Government increases the excise tax on alcohol by 2.8 percent tomorrow.

Some retailers tried to resist passing on price rises from the main breweries in March but would be forced to increase prices now, Hospitality Association of New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson said.

"My understanding is that most manufacturers are going up similar amounts or more – I certainly know that Lion (Nathan) and DB (Breweries) are increasing their prices by at least 3 percent, and we’re certainly expecting that retailers are going to have no choice but to pass that on to consumers," Mr Robertson said.

Different rates of tax are paid on different levels of alcohol, but the 2.8 percent increase will apply to all tax rates.

Prices were expected to rise over the next month, with some retailers likely to apply it immediately and others using up stock before passing on the increase.

Tax increases could contribute to a further decline in sales, and job losses across the hospitality, entertainment and beverage industries, the Distilled Spirits Association said.

The Hospitality Association had written to Minister of Finance Bill English asking that the annual adjustment be deferred.

The tax, which is adjusted to reflect the rate of inflation, rose by around 3.5 percent last year.

- NZPA

From here.

Immigrants deceived, says support group
4:00AM Tuesday Jun 30, 2009
By Lincoln Tan

A migrant support group has accused the Government of "taking migrants’ money, using their skills and then telling them to bugger off".

Mike Bell, a spokesman for the Move 2 New Zealand Trust, representing mainly migrants from Britain, Europe and South Africa, says migrants not only bring skills and experience to New Zealand, but contribute $8 billion annually to the economy.

He said thousands of migrants who had moved to New Zealand on the promise of permanent work and residency visas were being told to "bugger off".

The Government appeared to be "working hard to sabotage this lucrative source of income by effectively kicking [out] staff that employers badly need", said Mr Bell.

"Worse, this over-reaction to rising unemployment, which is based on poor data, is likely to destroy many more Kiwi jobs than it saves.

"It is totally unethical for this Government to not only turn their backs on a group of people who have made such a strong contribution to the country, but also add to their hardship."

More here.

Hi guys, i am so relieved i just had to share my news with you , i went to a friends barbe-q on saturday with my daughter and hubby and we met a kiwi guy their we talked to him all evening about NZ, and out of the blue my daughter( who i have had constant battles with for a year now saying she was not comming with us) announces that she will be comming afer all :Yahoo!: well for a year any way to see what its like pheeew never thought she would change her mind :smiley4:,

regards cradley x

.. at a NZ National Nude Day rugby match. It all sounds like fun. Be sure to see the wee article, complete with a piccie of some rugger players. I love the hand prints on their rumps!

Westpac makes another multi-million dollar blunder
7:55AM Saturday Jun 27, 2009

Westpac, which last month mistakenly transferred $10 million into the account of a Rotorua businessman who is still on the run, has made another big-figure error.

Hamilton computer firm Elite Business Systems received a Westpac fax telling them $4.3 million had been transferred into its account on behalf of a client paying a bill.

Administration manager Graeme Richer couldn’t believe his eyes because the sum owed was just $43,000.

"We were hopeful, almost had our tickets booked to fly out to Hong Kong," he told The Waikato Times.

However, Mr Richer said the correct amount was transferred into the firm’s bank account.

The mistake, which Westpac spokesman Craig Dowling said was "a simple typing error", had been corrected.

Last month, Rotorua couple Leo Gao and Kara Hurring skipped the country for Hong Kong after Westpac mistakenly put $10 million into Mr Gao’s account.

Mr Gao had asked for a $100,000 overdraft.

Westpac said most of the money had been recovered but $3.8 million was still outstanding.

Police are seeking the help of Chinese authorities to find the pair.

- NZP

From here.

I’ve been talking to various shippers, arranging for them to come and quote for our removals. For each one, in my initial enquiry (usually via their website) I mentioned that we will be taking a 1968 Beetle and a Yamaha Thunderace motorcycle. Each one that called me acknowledged this.

But today I had a strange (to my mind) conversation with the lady from Crown.

Cr "I believe you want to ship a car and a motorcycle’
Me "yes"
Cr "Is your husband going with you?" (a bit presumptios, I thought, but still)
Me "two people, my partner and me"
Cr "good, because it would have an effect on the vehicles if he wasn’t"
Me "pardon? do you mean to say that if I were going alone I couldn’t take both vehicles?"
Cr "yes, that’s right"

Is it though? I’ve not seen mention of it here before. They sent me an email confirming the date they are coming and attached a ‘Customs Sheet on Private Motor Vehicles’. I’ve read it twice, and just about managed to stay awake, but can’t see any mention of this. Any one know anything about this?

My first two thoughts are
1) if that’s wrong, what else will they tell me that is wrong
2) if it’s right, will it be a problem that they are both registered in OH’s name?

hi guys.
My name is Martin married to Amanda with our daughter Hayley 16 and Jazz the springer spaniel.
I’m a 36 year old carpenter and Amanda is a pre-school manager. We are at the stage now of looking for jobs we registered with New Life New Zealand last year and we are now document ready.Started applying for jobs this week but i know it may be difficult as carpenters have been taken off the skills shortage list but i am still hopefull, any advice gratefully received.

Martin

Hi All

I am new to this forum, trying to find my way around.

I have a very long story to tell.

Me Yuan- 48 years, married, no children.
Husband : KL- 49 years.

We came to NZ on visitor permit in November 2002 from Hong Kong, then on work permit from June 2003 onwords. KL was found found to be positive for the Hepatitis B antigen when under full medical check up for our residence application in 2006. After further examination it was found that KL suffered from liver cirrhosis due to Hepatitis B. He then attended a hospital clinic to consult a Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist and require santi-viral therapy indefinitely with three-monthly blood test monitoring and specialist review every six months. KL has a good response to anti-viral therapy and it is unlikely that he would suffer any serious complications related to his liver disease, application for residence was declined as he did not have an acceptable standard of health in August 2007.

An appeal was lodged against the decision of Immigration New Zealand declining the application in August 2007. As we wish the Residence Review Board to consider our special circumstances. KL and I have no children. After six years living and working in New Zealand we have considered New Zealand our new home as KL’s elderly mother and five siblings are all living in New Zealand.

However the appeal was not successful. We received the decision of the Residence Review Board in March 2008. The appeal was declined as the Review Board supported the decision of New Zealand Immigration to decline our application due to he does not meet the health Standard,despite the fact that KL has a good response to anti-viral therapy and it is unlikely that he would suffer any serious complications related to his liver disease. He is able to and willing to pay for the cost of health services. All KL’s immediate family lawfully and permanently resident in New Zealand. He has been living in New Zealand for six years and consider New Zealand his home.

We paid big money to an agent who said he could help us towords our NZ residence due to the special circumstances. However, this turned out to be a nightmare, the agent took our documents and money and disappeared.
We are not sure what to do, where to go.

It would be appreciated if any one can any light.

Many thanks

Yuan