The Definitive Engineers

Guide To Moving Your

Career And Family
To New Zealand

Read this guide and you will discover

• 12 Costly Myths Stopping People Making The Move To New Zealand

• The 11 Biggest Mistakes People Can Make When Moving To
New Zealand
• The 8 Dangers Of Working With The Wrong Recruiter
• 3 Mistakes People Make About New Zealand Recruiters
• 8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions To Ask New Zealand Based
Recruiters To Make Sure You Are Working With The Best
• 12 Reasons Why You Should Move To New Zealand
• Directory Of Useful Information
• 4 Steps To Finding Out If New Zealand Is A Viable Option For You
And Your Family
Sponsored By
Catalyst Recruitment

The Definitive Engineers Guide To Moving Your

Career And Family To New Zealand

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself”

12 Costly Myths Stopping People

Making The Move To New Zealand

1. It is too difficult to get a Visa

Incorrect It is difficult to get a visa for Australia or Canada, so people incorectly assume
that it is difficult to get a VISA for New Zealand as well. The NZ immigration process can
be very friendly for the right person.
2. It will cost too much to move there
Moving countries can be expensive – however in some (or usually most) cases you can
gain assistance from your potential employer who will put together a relocation package
to assist you. Compare the cost of moving to a less expensive lifestyle to the cost of stay-
ing in the UK and you will probably be far better off.
3. It is too far away from home
It is approximately 24 hour journey time to New Zealand; you can be back in the UK for
any reason the next day. New Kiwi’s usually find that the benefits of living in New Zealand
far outweigh any distance issues as you quickly settle into your new life.
4. I will be leaving all of my friends and family behind
True, although phone calls can be as little as 0.7p per minute or free on Skype and you
will very quickly make new friends who share your values. As for your UK family – they will
probably have the best holidays of their lives when they come to visit.
5. The kids will be leaving all their friends and family behind
True, but usually the kids are the easiest of the family to settle as they make new friends
very quickly. Again they have the phone and Skype to stay in touch with the UK and to get
them through the early stages. Your children above anyone else in the family will just love
their new outdoor lifestyle.
6. The education system is not as good as the UK
Not true, the education system in New Zealand is ranked as one of the best education
systems in the world and the individual school information can very easily be checked out
on the internet.
7. The education system is not recognised internationally
This is untrue again. New Zealanders are highly sought after in a range of international
locations. Australia and the UK are the two largest markets for Kiwis although the USA and
Middle East are equally keen to employ our best.
8. I will not earn enough in New Zealand to keep the same living standards
This again is untrue. Although if you convert your NZ$ salary into £ you may feel that you
are earning less, but it is all relative. The actual cost of living in a beautiful country where
you can walk or drive to the beach without traffic jams or paying to park or whichever
activity takes your fancy – far outweighs having a few extra pounds to spend on an indoor
activity in the UK. The quality of life your family will be able to afford cannot be bought in
most parts of the UK.
9. I won’t be able to get a job in New Zealand
If you hold a professional position in the UK, there is every likelihood that you will be able
to secure a similar position in New Zealand. This is because we have a skill shortage in
New Zealand as our professionals are constantly poached to travel overseas.
10. The family will make no friends
This depends entirely on your attitude. If you come to New Zealand and are truly prepared
to give it a go and fit in, you will find Kiwis are some of the most hospitable people in the
world. We have all heard of people migrating to New Zealand and not fitting in. This is
only the case if you come here and start telling the Kiwis that they are doing it all wrong. In
that case, they will be right in asking why you came here in the first placel
11. I don’t like dealing with recruiters
It is well known that the recruitment industry in the UK is a cutthroat industry where nobody
seems to win. In New Zealand, most recruiters are highly professional long termers who
know the market and the clients and will provide you with the highest levels of service.
The best recruiters work on your behalf in a consultative manner and aim to secure you
the best available role with the right company in the right location. This is because New
Zealand is a much smaller market and you can’t afford to get a bad reputation – ever –
something that everyone needs to remember whichever industry they work within.
12. New Zealand is a backward country with no technology
Untrue. In many ways, New Zealand leads the world in technology, although we have a
much more laid back approach to most things. When the heat is on, Kiwis will usually end
up on top.
“A decision made in fear is always the wrong decision” Tony Robbins

The 11 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Moving

To New Zealand

Here is a list of mistakes people can make if they do not have the right information.
1. Get the wrong job – it is important that you match your skills and ambitions and
personality with the right role with the right company in the right location.
2. Expect to be treated like an expat – there are many British people in New Zealand
and they tend to integrate with the easy going culture very easily
3. Accept a job on too low a salary – it is important to do your homework and make
sure you know what you want and the market rates for your field before you accept a role
4. Did not talk it through fully with the family and they were not fully on board resulting
in you getting blamed when it went wrong - it is important you discuss the decision with
your family thoroughly before you make contact with potential employers in NZ.
5. Accept a job in a very small town that will not provide the opportunities that
you were expecting. If you are not fully prepared for the location in which you accepted
a role this is probably because you have been misinformed by either the company (if you
went direct) or a poor recruiter. Your lifestyle will vary dramatically depending on where
you end up so do you homework and match the lifestyle you want with the location in
New Zealand.
6. Accept a job with the wrong company with a poor reputation in the market,
who do not look after their staff. Again, you will avoid this if you deal with a recruiter
who is viewed as an industry specialist and who knows your market.
(See the questions in the appendix for assessing recruiters)
7. Use too many recruiters – a professional football player only has one agent to look
after his affairs, your career is just as important so it is best to select the best person to
represent you so they understand you and your needs closely and work solely on your
behalf.
8a. Accept a job with a similar job title to your current one – only to find that it is a
very different role in NZ. Again – there is no replacement for local specialist knowledge.
You need to avoid being sold a line by potential employers or.
8b. Accept a job with the right title that was very different in new Zealand and
nobody was able to advise me as I went direct. As above in 8a.
9. Not fully understanding the migration process and applying for the wrong
VISA, putting the family’s future on hold while you wait – use a recruitment firm that
specialises in assisting British people move into New Zealand. They will be able to point
you in the right direction to ensure a smooth passage.
10. To presume that New Zealand is just like the UK - in many ways the culture is
similar but there will be surprising differences, be flexible and ready to adapt, that is half
the fun.
11. To accept the wrong role only to find that your career has been put back
several years – once again a quality recruiter will be able to advise you accurately so
you have a good understanding of your employment options.
It is important that you receive a balanced view of New Zealand so that you
are aware of some of the potential dangers of coming to New Zealand. Once
you know what these issues are, you can seek out the right knowledge to
eliminate the dangers. The key to success is to have a great team working on
your side but you need to select your recruiter carefully.

The 8 Dangers Of Working With

The Wrong Recruitment Consultant

Your best insurance is knowledge,

1. Some recruiters will send your CV out to clients without ever speaking to you;
this actually breaks the Privacy Act. The likely outcome is that your CV will not be
presented in the best possible way to the clients – limiting the number of companies
that will potentially interview you. Each company should be individually approached by
phone – not just sent your CV. This means you may miss out on the roles that best suit you.
2. Some recruiters will just try to place you to get a fee rather than know the
market well enough to discuss all of the potential employers who may be
interested in your CV. This also means you may miss out on the roles that best suit you.
3. Some recruiters do not have your best interest at heart and will convince you to
take a lower paying job or miss-inform you about a job just to get the placement.
Your goal and the goal of your recruiter MUST be to get you the best job in the best
location for your career, lifestyle preferences and family needs. Do not accept anything
less than 100% commitment from your recruiter to achieve this goal.
4. Some recruiters do not have your best interest at heart and will convince you to
take a position in a poor location just to get a placement. Once again the recruiter
must be working with your best interests at heart of you will not get the best options
available to you.
5. Some recruiters will not understand your background and therefore may not
be able to secure you that all important interview or not submit your CV to the
correct companies. If they do not take the time to understand you and your family and
your individual needs how can they help you get where you want to be?
6. There are recruiters out there with a bad reputation and many potential
employers will not read cv’s from them. These recruiters will tell you that they can
help you, but will not represent you strongly because in a small country like New Zealand
reputations are everything.
7. Some recruiters know nothing about migrating to New Zealand and the
challenges this can pose if you’re not careful. The only option is to use an
experienced recruiter with an extensive track record of bringing people into New Zealand.
That way you can be assured that your family has the best team on your side.
8. Some companies involved in helping people get to New Zealand actually
charge a fee. No recruiter should ever charge a candidate a fee! Companies that offer
a ‘job search’ service for a fee usually end up contacting specialist recruiters as the
specialist recruiters hold the in-depth relationships with the clients.
These are not difficult to overcome as long as you are aware of them.

3 Mistakes People Make About Recruitment Agencies

1. Most recruiters are like used car salesmen! This is untrue. In New Zealand, most
recruiters do a fine job because reputations are very important in New Zealand, but like
anything you have to research carefully to find the right person to speak with and interview
them as much as they interview you!
2. Believing your recruiter when they say New Zealand is perfect! The truth is
New Zealand is great but not perfect, if anyone tells you we don’t have our fair share of
problems they’re not being completely honest with you and not focussing on your needs.
You need to gain a balanced view of New Zealand before you arrive so that you and your
family are not disappointed from the start.
3. Believing false promises from your recruiter. Recruitment is competitive and
sometimes some recruiters will oversell a job to secure a candidate. Unfortunately it
usually ends in disappointment for all concerned and a lot of wasted time. If something
sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions To Ask Recruiters To Make Sure You Are
Working With The Best

“Fortune favours the bold”

Selecting the best recruitment firm to work with you can be as easy as knowing what
questions to ask and knowing what answers to look for. The difference between having
the best players on your team and average players in any area of life can make all the
difference to your family’s happiness in New Zealand

8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions To Company Company Company

Select Your Recruitment Partner 1 2 3
1. How many people have you personally been
responsible for relocating to New Zealand?
2. Would you please explain the depth of rela-
tionships you personally hold with your clients?
3. Are you allowed to speak to line managers
or just HR?
4. Can you explain your personal knowledge
of the industry you work within?

5. Are you a specialist within your field

6. How well do you understand my role

technically?
7. Which companies are you not allowed to
send CV’s too?
8. How quickly does the process work? What is
your process?
12 Reasons Why You Want To Give Your Family The Gift Of A
Life In Paradise

“You only get one shot at this game…life is not a dress rehearsal”

1. Beaches - from all of the three biggest cities you can be on the clean sandy beaches
in less than 10 minutes.
2. Safety – New Zealand is one of the safest places in the world to live, even the
Government is rated as one of the least corrupt!
3. Space - 4 million people in a country bigger than the UK. Freedom, less stress and
bustle and with the sun on your back! (just remember the sun block).
4. Weather - Christmas dinner on the beach, make sure to wear sun screen and put
some shade over the Xmas Pudding, and ice to chill the wine and beer.
5. Commuting – It is unusual to have to travel more than 20 minutes to work. Parking is
usually outside where you work and traffic is getting busier in some parts but nothing like
the UK. Work hard and then leave work and go straight to the beach or a park with the
kids.
6. Skiing - what you don’t ski yet? Well you will soon, the fields are easy access from all
the main cities and the snow is clean and crisp
7. Kids - let your kids grow up in sunshine and safety
8. Outdoors - spectacular scenery, you are free to roam and discover world class
countryside. They did not shoot the Lord of the Rings in New Zealand for nothing!
9. Culture - work to live not live to work
10. Sport - Skiing/Rugby/Golf/Sailing/Cricket/Ironman/Surfing, whatever you like to
play or watch this is a sports mad culture where it is safe and quite possible to go to any
sporting event.
11. Health - live the healthiest outdoor lifestyle; give your kids something to do that is
more exciting than TV and computer games.
12. Auckland is consistently voted as one of the best-of-five cities in the world to live and
according to some it is New Zealand’s third best city!

Amazing facts about New Zealand

NZ has more golf courses per capita than any other country
NZ was the first country in the world to allow women to vote
NZ has the highest car ownership in the world
NZ has no dangerous snakes or spiders and no crocodiles or
Australians!!
NZ is over 1000 miles from Australia
22% of New Zealanders were born overseas
Directory of Useful Websites and Books For Information
and Further Research

New Zealand Immigration websites

www.immigration.govt.nz/
Immigration Consultants
www.malcolmpacific.co.nz/
www.immigration.co.nz/
General Information
www.emigratenz.org/LivingInNewZealand.html
www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/cat/C50/
http://www.move2nz.co.nz/
Tourism Websites – for generic city information
www.nz.com
www.tourism.net.nz
www.aucklandnz.com
www.arc.govt.nz
www.wellingtonnz.com
www.wellington.govt.nz
www.christchurch.org.nz
www.ccc.govt.nz
www.hamilton.co.nz
www.tauranga.govt.nz
Education
www.ero.govt.nz
Technical Professional Recruitment
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz

Amazing facts about New Zealand

NZ is home to the worlds smallest dolphin – Hectors Dolphin
NZ is home to the worlds rarest Sea Lion – Hookers Sea Lion
NZ is home to the world’s largest parrot – the flightless Kakapo
NZ is home to the world’s oldest reptile – the Tuatara 225 million years
NZ is home to the heaviest insect – the Weta (bigger than sparrows)
NZ is home to the smallest bats in the world – only 10 grams
4 Steps To Finding Out If New Zealand Is A Viable Option For
You And Your Family

1. Make a commitment to act

‘Nothing happens until something moves’ is the title of a book by Robert Ringer and he is right.
If things are not as good as you want them to be then get serious about finding out if New
Zealand could be feasible for you.
2. List your objectives
Here is the most important step. Unless you know what you want you will never know
where to find it.
3. Ask questions
The right answers lie behind asking the right questions of the right people.
4. If you are a suitable candidate and you know New Zealand can give you want you
want for your career and your family then take a deep breath, be bold and do it!
There is no class system in New Zealand, if you are a good person then you will be
respected and you will succeed. We sincerely hope we get to see you when you get here.

Amazing facts about New Zealand

Sir Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay were the first to conquer Mt Everest
Auckland’s Sky Tower is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere
New Zealand has the longest place name in the world:-
‘Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu’
There is no tree on Auckland’s One Tree Hill!
90 mile beach is actually only 65 miles long!
New Zealand has deserts, glaciers, rain forests, alpine & geothermal regions
The Cropp River region received 18.4m of rain in 1997
Appendix: OK… So How Does Catalyst Recruitment Stack Up Against The
8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions To Selecting A Recruitment Partner?

8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions To Select Catalyst Company Campany

Your Recruitment Partner Recruitment 2 3
1. How many people have you personally been
responsible for relocating to New Zealand?
More and more people are coming from the UK
and more recruiters are getting involved. Having
successfully moved 200 families from the UK over
4 years we understand the process, many don’t!
2. Would you please explain the depth of
relationships you personally hold with
your clients?
New Zealand is a small place and relationships
are absolutely key to being successful. We’ve
been working with our clients for well over 4 years
now and
know them inside out. When you can take them
to the rugby and support opposing sides and still
do business afterwards you know you’ve got a
good relationship.
3. Are you allowed to speak to line
managers or just HR?
If you can speak to the line managers you can
get a real feel for a department or division within
a company and pass that onto your candidates.
Initially our clients were reluctant to let us have
that access but after 4 years we’ve gained their
trust and now can
speak openly about their particular needs and
styles of leadership.
4. Can you explain your personal knowledge
of the industry you work within?
4 years of industry knowledge is a surprising
amount. A lot happens in the industry and a good
recruiter knows what work is coming up as well as
the people who are involved. Of course we don’t
know everything but we do have the relationships
to find out!
5. Are you a specialist within your field?
Yes is the quick answer. If you don’t work with
a specialist you risk missing opportunities that
may be perfect for you. Also, only a specialist
would have access to the right people in an
organisation, a general recruiter won’t get past
the door!
 6. How well do you understand my
role technically?
As above it’s imperative to speak with a specialist.
At the end of the day we are recruiters and so we
won’t know your job inside out. However in four
years of interviewing the right candidates and
speaking with our clients continuously we can
discuss in some detail what you want and where
you are likely to be successful.
7. Which companies are you not allowed to
send CV’s too?
No recruiter can work with everyone in New
Zealand and give a good service. For whatever
reason there will be a few companies we don’t
deal with and that’s fine, a good company will
tell you who they are. What they definitely will
have though is a list of companies they do work
with that they know very well and have great
relationships with, all the better for securing you
the right role.
8. How quickly does the process work? What
is your process?
It’s difficult to say how long the process should
take; it can depend on the time of year, the type
of work you want etc. Once we have spoken to
you and gone through all you needs regarding
New Zealand we will immediately get your
CV out to our clients. From then there is close
communication to take you step by step through
interviews, immigration etc until you arrive in
New Zealand. Of course it doesn’t stop when you
arrive either as we’ve got to take you for a beer!

Amazing facts about New Zealand

New Zealand has more Scottish pipe bands than Scotland
Dunedin’s Baldwin Street is the steepest street in the world
Wellington is the most Southerly capital city in the world
Gisbourne is the first city in the world to see the sun rise each day

Thank you for taking time to read this summary report based on an interview with
Andy Hopkins and Phil Ponder at Catalyst Recruitment
Who are Andy Hopkins and Phil Ponder?
Andy and Phil both moved to New Zealand in search of a better life. For them the
experience has been such a good decision that they now spend their days making the
process easy for other adventurous people who want to make the same journey.
Andy was a Civil Engineer working on the M1 Widening Project in 1996, when he decided
to move to New Zealand to play a season of rugby. He loved his first 6 months so much that
he decided to stay and is now married to a Kiwi with a 2 year old daughter. Since his arrival
in New Zealand, Andy has been recruiting in the Technical Disciplines for 12 years.

“When I was first considering the idea I guess I was a little scared, it’s a daunting decision as
all my friends were moving to Australia, but after a few months I knew I was in the best place
in the world as the quality of life for my family is incredible” Andy Hopkins
Phil Ponder came to New Zealand 7 years ago as a school teacher however he made a
career change four years ago when he decided to specialise in recruiting people for the civil
construction industry.

“I was living in Sheffield when we decided to move, we were living in a cardboard box
on the side of the street. Little did we know what we were missing when we came to New
Zealand, we now have a two storied cardboard box with all day sun” Phil Ponder

Former Brits Andy and Phil are leading experts in recruiting technical professionals
for Consulting Engineers, Civil Contractors, Local Government, Government
Agencies and Utility companies.