DRAFT: Why I Want to Migrate to New Zealand

[mbarrick]

Given that Lotus Domino and related products are typically deployed by larger organisations and development is typically done from "head office" locations, opportunities for employment in my profession tend to be concentrated in a small number of cities. In the English-speaking world this comes down to New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Sydney, Melbourne, Aukland, and Wellington. Within Canada, Vancouver is pretty much a "branch office" city and I have reached a point in my career where if I am to continue grow as a Lotus specialist I find myself looking to the opportunites in these other cities.

On a personal level, I'm not particularly fond of especially hot or cold weather, and neither is my common-law wife, and I also like being near both the ocean and mountains. Melbourne, Aukland and Wellington all have a climate, surroundings, and culture that compares very favorably to what we have become used to here in Vancouver - moreso than even my Canadian options of Calgary, Ottawa, and Toronto. New Zealand is especially attractive to my wife and I since she lived on the North Island for a year and she has maintained her friendships from that time and we also have a friend originally from here in Canada that has recently taken a position in New Zealand.

Another strong draw are the housing prices in New Zealand. Average house prices within the city of Vancouver are now well over one million dollars, making ownership nearly impossible without being forced into very long commute or settling for a tiny condominium in the city. The affordability of homes in New Zealand puts the prospect of owning a home and genuinely settling-in within reach.

Comments? Suggestions?

Comments

[agentdanak.livejournal.com]

also then myself and dtts will have a reason to vacation in nz.

that aside, it sounds great.

[vomvamuse.livejournal.com]

"Common law wife" just sounds funky. I would put "partner".

Kudos for adding that she has ties there.

I am excited for you!

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Thanks, but I chose that carefully. It's a legal designation that has bearing on my immigration (and doesn't sound so funky to Commonwealth ears, particularly to people in banking and law, which is who will be reading this).

[vomvamuse.livejournal.com]

You crazy canadians and your ears. :P

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Friends, Romans Canadians, countrymen...

[valerian.livejournal.com]

I love it. Very well phrased, all of it. From a banker/immigration/lawyer's point of view, those are some pretty damned realistic reasons. And they *are*.

:)

[valerian.livejournal.com]

Oops, except fix this run-on:

New Zealand is especially attractive to my wife and I since she lived on the North Island for a year and she has maintained her friendships from that time. We also have a friend originally from here in Canada that has recently taken a position in New Zealand.

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[vomvamuse.livejournal.com]

ya, he done good.

Not sure if I am ready for you all to pack up and leave however I am super excited for you both at the prospect!

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if we're ready to pack up an leave, either, but one more birthday (6 months!) and my "value" as an immigrant by Aussie and Kiwi rules drops like a rock.

[princessdoodle.livejournal.com]

I lived in New Zealand for a good chunk of my childhood and one of my sisters was actually born there. Unfortunately, due to a slump in the economy, my father lost his job and we did not have the means to support ourselves there and had to move back to Canada. If things had not gone that way, I do not think we would have ever left. It is an amazing country and I miss it so much. If you have the opportunity to move there, do it! It is so hard for immigrants to get into the country (I am lucky, my mother, me and two out of three of my siblings all have citizenship and can therefore move there without trouble), and I am sure you would find yourself at home there.

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Good to hear.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_disdain_/]

Look good. I assume you are applying for a job overseas?

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Past tense now. I have applied for a job overseas. We'll see what they make of it...