Migrants tell their story...
Neill Sperath,
Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Neill Sperath, a recent migrant to New Zealand recounts his migration experiences and how New Zealand has had a profound impact on his life...
Ever since traveling to New Zealand as part of a “Round the World” trip in 2000, I was fascinated with New Zealand and wanted to live in this beautiful country. Throughout my visit, New Zealand had struck me as a country with a great climate, friendly people and beautiful countryside.
I returned to Germany (where I lived at the time) to begin a well-paid position as Centre Manager for a shopping centre but the possibility of living in New Zealand just didn’t leave me. I felt like I was right back in the European rat-race and always longed to return to the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud.’ After a second visit in January 2003 in what seemed to me like a homecoming, I made a firm decision to emigrate. The same day that I returned from this visit I ‘phoned ‘The Emigration Group’ to find out more about the services they provide. Interestingly, I had picked up their brochure about immigration to New Zealand in 2000 and had kept this for three (!) years.
What impressed me was that they offered a full service to potential immigrants. A service that included professional assistance in the preparation and correct submission of immigration documents to the authorities but also the very important job search aspect of the process. Most emigration consultants offer merely the first but even if an applicant is able to secure a Visa without a job, the chances of successfully resettling in New Zealand without a job is almost nil. I will return to the importance of a job offer later.
I have now been in New Zealand for around a year band a half and have earned the nickname “Mr. New Zealand” from my friends because I surely must be the country’s number one fan! I cannot even begin to imagine going back to Europe to live. Why do I like New Zealand so much?
This space is not large enough to write all the reasons why I love this country, but I will identify some of them...
Having the job offer and contract in writing, I could now apply for residency or a work permit. Due to the complex nature of immigration laws, I could only apply for a work permit at the time, which after a long wait I finally obtained in early March 2004. The same day I booked my flight to New Zealand and a week later I was on the plane to Auckland!
The Emigration Group in the UK did not stop assisting me at this point. They continued following up with NZ Immigration, lodging my residence application and handling everything to do with obtaining residence for me. Six months later, on 19th October 2004, I obtained my Residence Visa and was delighted to be allowed to stay permanently in what I consider to be the most beautiful country in the world.
Although still in employed in my position as Marketing Manager, I am also busy setting up my own business called "T.I.M.E.Unlimited", which involves personalized travel planning for overseas tourists to New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific. This is something I am very excited about because I have traveled a lot and have often found that I didn't see the best part of a country - often off the beaten track - because I didn't know about those areas beforehand and the best tours were booked out when I arrived.
Having traveled around New Zealand and getting to know it intimately, combined with my passion for the country, helps me in ensuring that my customers will also enjoy the very special places that the region has to offer. Or who likes traveling to a beautiful and serene place, only to be surrounded by five tour buses full of tourists when they arrive? I ensure that people see the most beautiful places away from the crowds, ones that others don’t even seem to know about. Very exciting!
The fresh air, great climate, lovely people and stunning scenery are a combination that is unique in this world. I have certainly not even for a moment regretted my decision to emigrate from Germany to New Zealand. Furthermore, I am very thankful to “The Emigration Group” and “Taylor & Associates” for having assisted me so brilliantly in realizing my dream to live here. I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone that really wants to emigrate.
And finally, the best thing about my new home is that the reality has turned out to be even nicer than I had imagined in my dreams. Last but certainly not least, I found the woman of my dreams in New Zealand and we will get married in February 2006.
Ever since traveling to New Zealand as part of a “Round the World” trip in 2000, I was fascinated with New Zealand and wanted to live in this beautiful country. Throughout my visit, New Zealand had struck me as a country with a great climate, friendly people and beautiful countryside.
I returned to Germany (where I lived at the time) to begin a well-paid position as Centre Manager for a shopping centre but the possibility of living in New Zealand just didn’t leave me. I felt like I was right back in the European rat-race and always longed to return to the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud.’ After a second visit in January 2003 in what seemed to me like a homecoming, I made a firm decision to emigrate. The same day that I returned from this visit I ‘phoned ‘The Emigration Group’ to find out more about the services they provide. Interestingly, I had picked up their brochure about immigration to New Zealand in 2000 and had kept this for three (!) years.
What impressed me was that they offered a full service to potential immigrants. A service that included professional assistance in the preparation and correct submission of immigration documents to the authorities but also the very important job search aspect of the process. Most emigration consultants offer merely the first but even if an applicant is able to secure a Visa without a job, the chances of successfully resettling in New Zealand without a job is almost nil. I will return to the importance of a job offer later.
I have now been in New Zealand for around a year band a half and have earned the nickname “Mr. New Zealand” from my friends because I surely must be the country’s number one fan! I cannot even begin to imagine going back to Europe to live. Why do I like New Zealand so much?
This space is not large enough to write all the reasons why I love this country, but I will identify some of them...
- The incredible natural beauty that New Zealand offers. It is unrivalled anywhere in the world. In one day, you can go tramping through a rainforest in the morning, go skiing in the afternoon and relax on an amazing beach in the evening. No other country in the world offers such diversity.
- The locals. Kiwi’s are a nice, easy-going and friendly people. New Zealand is very culturally diverse, so as an immigrant it is not as difficult as in many other countries to fit in and you’re made to feel welcome. However, you have to make an effort and I would generally only advise outgoing, open people to emigrate. If you’re not prepared to change your old ways, I suggest you stay at home.
- The pace of life. While Kiwi’s work hard for comparatively little money, the lower income is more than compensated for by all the free things one can do. Hiking, fishing and generally the great outdoors are free for everyone to use, so your income also goes further than it does in Europe. On any day of the year, I can go to beautiful beaches to relax and enjoy this amazing country. There are also many business opportunities here given the reduced level of bureaucracy, which leads to many small businesses being set up. I am a good example for this as I have outlined below.
- The climate. On a normal winter’s day in Auckland, the temperature is around 15 degrees Celsius, while in Summer it is normally quite consistently in the high twenties – not too hot, not too cold. It is worth noting that average daytime temperatures in winter are the same as many summer days in the UK!
- Let me now return to the importance of employment. Trying to find a job from 12,000 miles away is no easy matter. It has to be the right job, one that matches (in the eyes of the NZ Immigration Service) an applicants qualification and experience. For me this was too important a factor to be left to chance. I had no knowledge of the local labour market and knew that the more help I had the better my prospects would be. Thus, I needed little persuasion to enroll onto the Jobsearch Programme offered by Taylor & Associates.
Having the job offer and contract in writing, I could now apply for residency or a work permit. Due to the complex nature of immigration laws, I could only apply for a work permit at the time, which after a long wait I finally obtained in early March 2004. The same day I booked my flight to New Zealand and a week later I was on the plane to Auckland!
The Emigration Group in the UK did not stop assisting me at this point. They continued following up with NZ Immigration, lodging my residence application and handling everything to do with obtaining residence for me. Six months later, on 19th October 2004, I obtained my Residence Visa and was delighted to be allowed to stay permanently in what I consider to be the most beautiful country in the world.
Although still in employed in my position as Marketing Manager, I am also busy setting up my own business called "T.I.M.E.Unlimited", which involves personalized travel planning for overseas tourists to New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific. This is something I am very excited about because I have traveled a lot and have often found that I didn't see the best part of a country - often off the beaten track - because I didn't know about those areas beforehand and the best tours were booked out when I arrived.
Having traveled around New Zealand and getting to know it intimately, combined with my passion for the country, helps me in ensuring that my customers will also enjoy the very special places that the region has to offer. Or who likes traveling to a beautiful and serene place, only to be surrounded by five tour buses full of tourists when they arrive? I ensure that people see the most beautiful places away from the crowds, ones that others don’t even seem to know about. Very exciting!
The fresh air, great climate, lovely people and stunning scenery are a combination that is unique in this world. I have certainly not even for a moment regretted my decision to emigrate from Germany to New Zealand. Furthermore, I am very thankful to “The Emigration Group” and “Taylor & Associates” for having assisted me so brilliantly in realizing my dream to live here. I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone that really wants to emigrate.
And finally, the best thing about my new home is that the reality has turned out to be even nicer than I had imagined in my dreams. Last but certainly not least, I found the woman of my dreams in New Zealand and we will get married in February 2006.
