Mr Sawtell: > there are exceptions, but that is my perception. I have a > friend who got a very good degree in Comp. Sci. and then > sat on the dole in Christchurch for well over a year. > Eventually he got a very suitable job in Auckland.
There may well be jobs in Auckland, but the point system for qualifying for residency awards more points to folk who settle outside of Auckland (I am in touch with quite a number of residency seekers). The current way it works is this - first get a work permit (you'll need to get an offer for a job that can't be filled easily by New Zealanders - call centres employ a lot of english speaking foreigners). Once you're settled you can start applying for residency. This seems to have replaced the old practice of applying for residency from overseas. Check out the immigration details at http://www.dol.govt.nz/NZIS.asp Of special interest is: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/Migrate/#Applying+for+residence+as+a+skilled+migrant Good luck! Yuri
