Job Discussion Forums

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Just saw a travel show on NZ. What a country. Shocked

Funny so many brits never consider it as a travel destination, me too. Anyway I was just wondering if anybody out there could tell me of my chances of building up some privates. Where do you think would be the best city for this? I can't get a visa as I'm too old, 36, so this would be the only way. I would supplement my income with about 1500 NZ dollars a month but of course would be happy to use less. Anybody any experience?

JosephP · Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 445

You are not too old. I'm 47 and I was able to get a three year work permit. And with the recent changes in the immigration scheme, if you have a trade in the identified skill-shortage area (builders, plumbers, etc.), you should find it easy to get residency. Check out NZ immigration site for more info.
As for privates, an idea might be to print up some flyers and post them in places where there might be lots of folks who might want to improve their English, such as Asian supermarkets, internet cafes, travel agencies, hostels, etc. You would need to get a mobile phone and with a local library, you're in.

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Hi Joseph.
Sorry I ment too old for a working holiday visa. The thing is, I am TEFL teacher, no other trade or skill to my name. Hardly a shortage of them in NZ. Did you get a work visa via a school or through another avenue? I didn't think any school could sponsor a foreign teacher as there are planty of kiwis who could do the job.
Thanks for any help.

JosephP · Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 445

The long and short of it is that the ESL business here as taken a hit with student numbers way way down.
As for my own situation I was hired by an Auckland language school when student numbers, mostly Chinese, started to boom. Anyone with a TESOL certificate could have probably got a work permit. Now, the boom has gone bust so I imagine that finding a school to act as your employer would be a bit of work to find. Having said that, I have seen on the NZ government immigration site that Christchurch and Auckland still list ESOL teachers in the skill shortages area, so who knows?