An elderly Indian man trying to emigrate to New Zealand had a difficult problem when New Zealand immigration officials told him he had to consult an astrologist about his medical condition.
Archive for July, 2009
New Zealand visa slowed after immigration tells man to ’see an astrologist’
Friday, July 31st, 2009Mixed report for Kiwis on progress
Friday, July 31st, 2009Mixed report for Kiwis on progress
By REBECCA PALMER - The Dominion Post
Last updated 05:00 31/07/2009
By REBECCA PALMER - The Dominion Post
Last updated 05:00 31/07/2009
We are better educated, better at recycling, and more productive.
But only one in seven of us has a "healthy lifestyle", less of our electricity comes from renewable sources, and our native species have less room to move.
A new study from Statistics New Zealand gives a mixed report card on the country’s sustainability, bringing together official data from the past 20 years to measure not only environmental progress but social and economic.
The report defines sustainable development as development that meets present needs without threatening those of future generations.
It says there is no definitive answer to the question whether New Zealand is progressing to or away from sustainable development.
Instead, it measures the country’s performance against a set of 85 sustainability targets.
Government statistician Geoff Bascand said the report showed our living standards had improved in the past 20 years and income levels had climbed.
But the increased wealth had not been shared evenly the gap between those on high incomes and low-income earners had widened.
The resources available to future generations showed "mixed results", he said.
While total net greenhouse gas emissions had increased, they had decreased in relation to the country’s economic activity.
The proportion of Maori speakers of te reo Maori "an aspect of culture which is unique to New Zealand" had decreased slightly, he said.
Among the new measures used is one that combines five lifestyle behaviours to show that only one in seven Kiwis has a "healthy lifestyle".
Those behaviours are non-smoking, safe drinking, getting enough physical activity, adequate fruit and vegetable intake, and maintaining a healthy weight.
The report finds the two healthy behaviours people are least likely to follow are eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and getting enough exercise.
Men are less likely to drink alcohol safely or eat enough fruit and veges, and women are less likely to do enough exercise.
From here.
Hi everyone
Friday, July 31st, 2009Hi Everyone,
My name is Ali and I am from Iraq.
I have been reading this forum for a while now and I find it to be very beneficial.
I intend to migrate to New Zealand. In fact I have submitted my EOI and got the ITA last week so I feel excited but sick whenever I think of the number of documents needed. hopefully I will be able to get it ready in the time stipulated.
Again, Please keep those advice coming as it is really helpful.
Cheers,
Ali
Changes to New Zealand’s Business Migrant Investor a welcome step forward
Thursday, July 30th, 2009The New Zealand Government released its long awaited business investor policy today.
The notable changes are:
- No more global investor policy requiring NZ$20 million invested – investment amounts are now $10m or $1.5million
- Recognition that English language is not as important to the outcomes the Government seeks than under previous policy
- Simplification of where the money must be invested making it easier to satisfy investment requirements
- More sensible investment options available
- Reduction of the time funds must be invested from four years to three in one of the two categories
Today the options for Investors has gone from three categories to two but represents a huge step forward in a policy area effectively killed off by the Labour Government. We now have something that can be marketed to the world and which makes clear NZ is open for business again to the wealthy who have capital to contribute to New Zealand and be available to New Zealanders.
One pathway is now available to what I would term a seriously successful investor at $10 million and the other far more accessible for more people and may in fact satisfy demands for a (semi) retirement visa that have bubbled away under the surface for many years. These two policies have been given the names Investor Plus and Investor respectively.
The Investor Plus category importantly removes the barrier that the high standard of English created in the previous policy which largely resulted in those that were non native English speakers shut out regardless of how successful their business backgrounds and their ability to make serious investments in New Zealand’s future prosperity. This is typical National Party territory and a clear recognition that they are serious about inward direct foreign investment. They realise full well that much of it these days is only going to come from Asia and to be competitive we need to have a policy that is attractive to everyone with the capital and desire to invest here and not just those from a few select countries. It is also a recognition that another immigration policy of the previous Government was an abject failure but finds good balance between what wealthy migrants can offer us and how high we place the bar for them to join us. A nice balance has been achieved in my view.
Under the more plainly titled Investor Policy the importance of English language is down graded (but not totally eliminated) and the amount of investment funds has fallen to $1.5million making it far more attractive. The upper age limit under this category has been increased to 65.
Overall these changes are solid and the Government we believe will not struggle to fill the 300 places (applications, not people) they have allowed under the category.
At last a sensible marketable policy that will not only enable very wealthy to invest in New Zealand and secure residence but under the Migrant Investor policy create an opportunity for the reasonably well off to make New Zealand their new home.
It is not often a new policy is released that we do feel is flawed but it is hard to see too many in this one. There are some however. In particular the Investor Policy has the appearance of a Dutch auction i.e. there is no automatic ‘pass mark’ so investors will not know when they file their applications that they are certain of being selected with any particular numerical points claim. That may well be Government’s intention but we suspect it is a flaw that might come back to haunt them. Migrants want, in fact demand, certainty and rich ones have the luxury of demanding even more as they are mobile and can take their money elsewhere. As yet it is unclear what would happen if for example someone is selected from the pool with say 60 points but the pass mark required to have been selected was only 45 points. Those 15 points represent $750,000 in additional investment funds the 45 point applicant does not need to invest for three years. Would the 60 point investor be able to reduce the points they claimed they would invest to the minimum to get them to 45 points or would they have to submit a new Expression of Interest and start over?
Nobody yet knows but overall this is a good policy and we welcome the return to a policy we can actually market that will be good for the country.
New Zealand government opens up investment visa
Thursday, July 30th, 2009The New Zealand Government has recently loosened some of the restrictions on the investor visa policy, which
it blames for a sharp decline in business migration to New Zealand over recent years.
Quick
Thursday, July 30th, 2009Can someone tell me please how long does it take for one to find a IT job in NewZealand and settle down ?
Is this the right time to stay in NewZealanf if one is job hunting in IT/Software?
Or one should come at some other time or come at all if one wants to work in IT field?
All types of feeback welcome , positive or negative?:eusa_boohoo:
Is this the right time to stay in NewZealanf if one is job hunting in IT/Software?
Or one should come at some other time or come at all if one wants to work in IT field?
All types of feeback welcome , positive or negative?:eusa_boohoo:
different shippers claim I need different size containers
Thursday, July 30th, 2009Has anyone else had this?
So far I’ve had four shippers come to quote (Pickfords, Robinsons, PSS and Abel) and had three different sizes of containers suggested.
So far I’ve had four shippers come to quote (Pickfords, Robinsons, PSS and Abel) and had three different sizes of containers suggested.
We’re taking the contents of a small 3-bed house which is being used as one bed, one home office (for a techie with way too many computers), and one study (with about 1000 books). We’re also taking a 1968 Beetle car and a Yamaha motorbike.
Pickfords (who physically measured everything except the car, which wasn’t here) tell me that it wont all fit in a standard 40ft container and we’d need a 40ft ‘high cube’ container.
Robinsons (measured only the bike) say that the household goods themselves would be slightly more than a 20ft container and so, with the car and biek we’d need a standard 40ft container and it would not be quite full.
PSS (measured nothing but want bike & car measurements) said that the household contents PLUS the bike should be slightly more than a 20ft container so we could have a 40ft or have a 20ft (if we were able to reduce the contents very slightly) and send the car separately as it might be cheaper.
Abels (measured nothing, want bike measurements) say a 40ft container will be adequate for it all. They were the only ones (so far) to say that they didn’t need the car measurements as they could look it up.
I’ve have Crown and Sterling still to see, and have just realised that I didn’t arrange for Anglo Pacific to quote (thought I had).
So were Pickfords being over cautious? Are the others wrong? I’m sure I’ve read on here that people have got rid of stuff and then found that there was room in the container after all, or that stuff didn’t get into container.
Has anyone used Abels? I thought I must have heard of them on a forum but can’t find any mention of them. Now see that they were one of the five I contacted online via International Movers - intlmovers.com. International Moving Companies.
One of the others - Movecorp - emailed an estimate without bothering to come out and the others Removal Group, The Euro Group and F + N Worldwide Moving didn’t bother to get back to me at all.
Fancy a sing song?
Thursday, July 30th, 2009Count to 10 in Maori. Altogether now. :Titter:
Thanks to Helen on Facebook if you’re looking in. :smiley4:
Skilled Migrant Visa Advice !!!!
Thursday, July 30th, 2009Hi,
I am currently doin Diploma in Horticulture (Level 4) from christchurch. I jus checked in the NZ immigration website dat to apply for the skilled migrant visa u need (Bachelor’s degree majoring in Horticulture OR National Certificate in Horticulture (Advanced) (Level 4) with strands in Fruit Production or Production Horticulture OR Diploma in Horticulture (Level 5) AND three or more years’ experience). Are they askin the 3 years or more exp. in the horticulture field or any kind of exp. I am a international student and I have more than 5 yearz of exp. in different fields bt nt in Horticulture.
PLS HELP !!!!
New investor policy announced for those wanting to emigrate to New Zealand
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009The New Zealand Minister of Immigration and the Minister of Economic Development have jointly announced today that a new Investor Policy – the Migrant Investment Policy will come into effect.