A call out to Ingolifs (and any other NewZealanders)

[scaddenp]

22% still actively practise religion? No way I'd live in that backwater

cf 44% for USA.

 

[Archonsod]

Archonsod and Ingolifs: you talk of grants and the NZ government practically getting down on its knees begging for more skilled immigration. Are we talking native speakers of English and/or specific professions or all things go?

Depends on the country of origin I think, and it changes all the time. Last time I checked there's a list of specific professions which offer fairly large government grants or benefits packages as long as you fulfil the requirements (to use the plumber as an example, I think it was a professional qualification to a certain level, plus over two years experience working as a plumber to qualify). There's also lesser grants for other professions, including a graduate program. There's also several organisations and trust funds which offer grants to those wishing to emigrate there providing they fulfil their own criteria, and I believe there's loan packages and similar available from the NZ government or banks to help with moving and setting up costs.
If you're really serious, it's sometimes worth checking within your own country for specific programs and similar which can help too. Usually they won't pay you to emigrate (obviously ) but you can sometimes find grants to go and work there temporarily. There are also charities and programs which will allow you to go out there to do certain activities for a few months, which can give you a good idea of whether you'd like to live there permanently (it also helps with the imigration process if you can show you've been there a few times Going over and doing charity or volunteer work tends to be more impressive than saying you've been working as an economic migrant too). Even places like New Zealand have active charities who'll take volunteers from abroad specifically (usually you'll need to pay for your flights and similar, but they'll sort out accomodation and the like. It's a good way of scoping out the country prior to going over there.)

 

[Feerspoir]

Thanks Archie. I'm not seriously planning on emigrating as of yet, was just curious. But you never know and it never hurts to get some extra info. Again, thanks.

 

[Archonsod]

Hey, no problemo. It also works for cheap holidays too, I've gotten around most of Europe as a volunteer (furthest I've been is Japan and Madagascar). It's worth doing simply for the experience (also really impresses at job interviews )

 

[Cirdan]

22% still actively practise religion? No way I'd live in that backwater

cf 44% for USA.

More like two-thirds for the USA. But the USA is so eighteenth-century anyway. Here (France) the Catholic Church itself admits that less than 5% still practise Christianity, so there's actually more Muslims than Christians in the country. But all religions put together don't ammount to more than 15%.

 

[Volkier]

Well my impressions of the US regarding religion are actually very decent. My current employers, are, in-fact ministers in a church. They are open and honest about it (unlike some other people I've seen who are almost ashamed of their religion), but they don't try to convert me or anyone else they meet even though I'm staying in their house. I don't get any funny looks from them or their friends either - like the ones I've gotten from a lot of 'worshippers of a different to my religion' in the Asian region ::\

Anyway, I'm likely going to take the NZ job offer. They are giving me a house with all expenses paid for, and $600 p/week as starting salary. Not too grand, but not too shabby either, enough for me to live off of - plus I've always wanted to live there :

 

[Archonsod]

Try not to worry any sheep.

 

[Cirdan]

Try not to worry any sheep.

Yeah, I like my Kiwi lamb roasts.

 

[Esorp]

22% still actively practise religion? No way I'd live in that backwater

cf 44% for USA.

In one of the recent census's, it was  50% of the population which called themselves christians, and IIRC, over 90% believed there was a god.


As for where I live, Palmerston North, it is awesome. There is a huge amount of things you can do, and I'm not being sarcastic at all. There is a, uh, broken clock tower... corner dairy owned by an indian, and uh... me? Unreliable weather and nothing to do is the worst of Palmy, its upsides is that it is in the country so if you like hiking or anything like that, its fantastic. Housing is relatively cheap, excellent university, and many sheep. (Speaking of sheep, did anyone here about that gigantic stone statue of a ram in australia?)

Wherever you are going, make sure it isn't wanganui (horrible crime rates and gangs), auckland (unbelievable house pricing which is increases a lot), or wellington (lots of crazy people down there).

 

[calandale]

What else? If you live out in the country, you can get away with some bizarre ****, as long as you're discreet about it, and it doesn't involve pedophilia.

For Volkier's sake, what if it does? 

Crap, I didn't see that. What's the age of consent?

 

[Ingolifs]

Palmerston north? good for you.
Well at least you don't live in hamilton... I remember as a german student, I watched a video of students from hamilton having to talk (in german) about their home town and what you can do in it. Basically, all they could come up with is "Well, hamilton has a river and uhh..."
Hamilton: famous for its motorway bypass.


Hey, just read about Mt cleese in wikipedia. Was any of that your doing?



16

 

[Death From Above]

Gallipoli
"Yay"

 

[Volkier]

Ohhkay.. Nothing to see here for now.. Should I need to summon Ingo's again in the near future due to remembering something I've forgotten to ask, I'll unlock this.