People & Places
Happier in Napier
Despite having travelled the world, Florence and Steve Naphen from Castlethorpe, Buckinghamshire, along with son Andrew and dog Max, knew that New Zealand was for them
Five months on, we talk to them about the trials and triumphs of emigration and their new life in Napier.
Emigrate New Zealand (ENZ): Why did you chose New Zealand?
FN: We did consider moving closer to the sea in the UK but we could not agree on anywhere we both liked. Steve liked Cornwall and I liked Scotland. New Zealand is at least somewhere we could both agree on!We chose Napier because we wanted somewhere smaller than a city, for more of a community feel like the village we left, and it's by the sea. Napier is an absolutely fabulous coastal town. I guess it is the North Island equivalent of Nelson. It has certainly come on in the 15 years since we spent a weekend here.
ENZ: How long did the emigration process take?
FN: We applied under the Skilled Migrant Category when we saw it drop to 100 points in September 2004. We flew out exactly a year later in September 2005.
ENZ: Did you encounter any problems uprooting and moving to New Zealand?
FN: Having lived and worked abroad before, I think it was easier for us to uproot than might be for others. We knew we did not want to stay in England forever. But some of our family feel this is rather final and that they may never see us again. That caused some emotional upsets, particularly as they either can't afford to fly out here, or won't fly at all! On the emigration process we especially had two main problems, namely qualifications and medical issues. On finding out we had been selected with our 100 points we went about getting the paperwork together, and thought a job offer would ensure we kept our points.
We didn't want to drop under due to any misunderstanding: we were uncertain, for example, if some of Steve's overseas work experience in certain countries, could not be supported due to lack of references.
So we went to an emigration agency but they were very negative about Steve's prospects for work as he had never served a traditional apprenticeship after he gained his City and Guilds plumbing qualification. They also anticipated problems with the medical process which, at the time, was going through changes. We seemed to have acquired more problems than we at first anticipated. When Steve came back from his interview with the emigration and job agency we really felt like giving up, but we picked ourselves up, wrote off their fee, and got straight onto New Zealand House who were very helpful in clarifying the concerns about qualifications in terms of the points calculator. They also made it clear that Steve's work experience in certain countries, like Ethiopia, would be recognised. Needless to say I am now not a fan of emigration agencies. To their due, they came back and said they realised they had been a bit negative after they had tehmselves spoken to New Zealand House. The moral of the story is take in as much advice as you can, but do not give up and do not believe the first thing you hear. Check, check and double check all the facts, particularly with agencies. Keep persevering to get to the bottom of the problem because it may not be a problem after all. New Zealand House were extremely positive and supportive!
ENZ: How has your life changed since you moved to Napier?
Steve is much happier at work, driving around Napier is much easier. There is no rush hour, just a rush five minutes! We spent so much more time outdoors at the beach, just swimming in rivers and walking along the Marine Parade. Five months on, it still feels like a holiday in many ways. Because we are home earlier, we can go for a swim after work. There is plenty to do that does not cost much – last weekend was a Fishing Fun Day and the National Aquarium were providing sun cream, bait and spot prizes. All the fish caught went back to the Aquarium as food! Because the summer weather has been so fine, you can fill the school holidays with days out and about with a picnic and not have to think of too many 'rainy day' activities which would cost more. I am doing more baking and cooking than I have done in years. New Zealanders are very creative and like good food and wine. There is a much more laid-back and relaxed atmosphere in New Zealand, people are friendly and even strangers will say hello. There's more space – bigger houses, bigger bedrooms, bigger gardens. On the negative side, we are not going to have as much disposable income as we had in the UK. Houses in Napier are some of the most expensive in NZ. A decent three-bedroom is over NZ$300,000 (around £116,000) and the most popular areas are NZ$400,000 (£156,000) and upwards. Our friends paid NZ$630,000 (£244,000) and that is not unusual here as Napier is a lifestyle area, popular with Aucklanders and Wellingtonians. Only one of us is working and half of our income goes on rent, which comes to NZ$350.00 (£135) for a three-bedroom house. The rest to pay the bills. I have tried to get work recently but lack of local knowledge as come up as a reason for not employing me. Also, offices are often very small, usually less than ten people, so they look for a lot of all-round skills. When I do get a job we can afford a mortgage, but will not have much more disposable income.
We took the unusual step not to sell our house in the UK as we came out on work permits and would like to keep it for a source of income and, in the long-term, a retirement pension. Even if we sold it, the prices of houses here mean we would still need a mortgage in New Zealand. It isn't a good time just now, anyway, to bring large sums of money over due to the low rate of exchange. So money has been a big issue for us and my wish to work only part-time may not be fulfilled. Many Kiwis have two jobs to get by.
ENZ: Many people worry about putting their children into schools abroad, how have you and your son Andrew found the education system in New Zealand?
FN: Andrew joined at the end of Year Three and has settled in really well. He experienced some bullying in his first month but that was quickly dealt with by the school and is unusual. He found Year Three reading far below the level in Britain. This seems a common complaint amongst all parents, even Kiwis. He hopes he will get more out of Year Four. His school has a good sports programme and an outdoor pool which the kids love using every day over summer, they also manage to get away with climbing school trees. Andrew has made friends with both Kiwis and ex-pats and has adapted socially very well. But the consensus is that he will lag behind UK by about a year which is only a concern if we were to return. What we are concerned about is the Intermediate stage here, which is the two years the children spend between primary and senior school at about 11–13, Year Seven and Eight. Even the kiwis in Napier are concerned about standards at those schools and at least one family we know have resorted to private school. But I think we are lucky that we can choose to buy a house close to the best school as part of the new life, and make sure we are in the right catchment. Academically, children seem to need a lot more support at home to develop their skills in English and Maths. But it is early days for us so something we need to keep a close eye on.
ENZ: You've mentioned the property market having had some surprises for you, what would your advice be to other emigrants preparing to come to live permanently in NZ?
FN: Don't go by the 'average' value if buying in popular centres. The NZ housing market is now flattening out, it has really peaked. Properties are sitting on the market for longer periods and we are seeing published 'reductions'. We saw properties on the web we liked but, when we arrived, there were reasons not to buy. Wait until you are here and be patient. Rent first and get to know the areas near work, near schools and friends. Make sure you have a deposit as you will get a better rate if you need a mortgage. Definitely wait to see how much you will earn to see if you can afford a mortgage and rates. Don't assume you will be mortgage free, even if we sold our UK house we would still need a mortgage.
ENZ: What is the job market like in Napier in general?
FN: My recruitment agency says the local knowledge issue is a widespread problem which has been raised with the Chamber of Commerce. There is definitely a shortage of Human Resource (HR) jobs outside Wellington and Auckland. There are plenty of jobs but very few paying more than NZ$40,000 (£15,500), even for qualified accounts and finance staff. I was one of three people interviewed for a personal assistant job which attracted 27 applicants. One recruitment agency told me she had only seen four HR jobs in one year. Hawke's Bay Today is the local paper with jobs advertised on Saturdays and repeated on Wednesdays.
My latest application is to the Inland Revenue Customer Service work but the pay range is only NZ$28,000–$32,000(£10,800–£12,300). The bonus is that it might lead to something more later. Having left a UK job at £26,000 you have to keep telling yourself you are not here for the money! Steve is lucky to have his job. He found out about it through a friend, who saw an advert for a gas fitter in the newspaper. There have only been one or two advertisments for similar positions over the last five months. He didn't have a job when we arrived but followed up on the advert and started two weeks later. Although he is only on NZ$46,000 (£17,800) just now, an advert with another company for a gas fitter craftsman, which takes at least two to three years to qualify for under NZ regulations, will pay NZ$65,000 (£25,000). So roll on 2009! Now that Steve has been working for three months we have our application for Residence approved and that will hopefully also make it easier for me to get a job. This is important as it gives the authorities confidence that you are here to stay.
ENZ: Would you say you were well prepared for the rollercoaster job searching before you left Britain?
FN: Definately not. People say I have a great CV and, if I were in Wellington, I would walk into a government or office job, no problem. But here they are looking for people who can do a number of different things for only a little pay. Our agency told us of another who gave it a year, and then left. Luckily, Steve has a job. Before I came to New Zealand, I didn't think I wouldn't even get an interview for jobs I am well qualified for, or find that my skills are too specialised. When I have applied for 'lower' jobs in an organisation which interests me, I still get stuck because they say I will get bored when in fact I would be happy to just have a job! Because higher paid jobs are so sought after, they often go to 'internal' candidates. So I would advise anyone looking for a job to ask for feedback and then make the most of the covering letter explaining the reason for applying.
Read another case study about emigrating to New Zealand:
Making it in Christchurch
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