Moving to Taranaki is easy

If you are a visitor to New Zealand, we extend you a warm welcome. We hope that your stay is a pleasant one and that you come again. If you are an immigrant to New Zealand, welcome to your new home. To all returning New Zealanders, welcome home. If you are considering a move to New Zealand there are a range of support services that are designed to make this process as simple as possible.

New Zealand Immigration Service

If you are from Australia, you are automatically eligible to enter New Zealand. If you are from anywhere else you will need a visa. Many countries do have reciprocal agreements, so check this out with the NZ Immigration service, which provides information on what visas are available and what you may be eligible to apply for. www.newzealandnow.govt.nz

Visas come under a number of categories – residence, work, study, working holiday, visitor, skilled migrant, family, business and investment, so make sure you get the right one to suit you and your situation.
www.immigration.govt.nz

Citizenship

In New Zealand, residence and citizenship are different. If you are granted residence, you retain your original citizenship. However, after you’ve held residency here for a certain period of time you may apply for New Zealand citizenship and the right to hold a New Zealand Passport.

New citizenship requirements came into effect in April 2005. As a result, you may need to have lived legally in New Zealand for five years (formerly three years) before applying for citizenship, depending on when you were granted residence. For official New Zealand Government information on citizenship requirements, visit the Department of Internal Affairs website. www.dia.govt.nz

Immigration Advisors
You may like to employ the services of a New Zealand immigration advisor to assist your visa application. As of May 2009 anyone providing immigration advice must be licensed with the Immigration Advisors Authority. The authority’s website lists those who have achieved accreditation and their contact details. Lawyers are exempt from this legislation and there are a number of law firms in Taranaki that can assist you with your immigration application. 

To find an Accredited Immigration Advisor visit www.iaa.govt.nz , 

Or contact Mike at www.britsnz.co.nz , Connor at www.newlifeglobal.com or www.workingin-visa.com/new-zealand  for immigration and settlement assistance.

Shipping / relocation companies

If you are looking to relocate your possessions, pets and vehicles we recommend you contact a reputable shipping and relocation company to manage the packing and shipping of your prized possessions.
www.hookers.co.nz
www.alliedpickfords.com

Customs
New Zealand welcomes travellers and trade but also protects its community and environment by controlling what crosses its borders. To protect New Zealand and keep it a safe place to live, the Customs service is strict on what travellers can bring into the country. There are a number of items that are prohibited including weapons, drugs, objectionable material and endangered flora and fauna. You must declare any animal products, shells, plants and plant products including seeds and nuts, camping / hiking / riding and fishing gear and footwear.
www.customs.govt.nz

Settlement Support

Settling into a foreign country is one of the most important and often difficult processes for newcomers. Whether you feel settled often determines whether you will or won’t stay in a new place or job. The Department of Labour has acknowledged this and created the Settlement Support Network for newcomers, migrants and refugees.

Settlement Support New Plymouth is a clear point of contact for anyone moving to the Taranaki region. The service helps newcomers to overcome the challenges posed by living in any new country and helps people from other cultures and countries feel comfortable and welcome in Taranaki. The service is situated in the Kings Building on Devon Street West in central New Plymouth.
www.ssnp.org.nz

English Language Partners – ELP

If you would like to improve your English to increase your chances of finding work and settling successfully then we recommend you utilise the services of an English tutor, before and/or once you arrive in New Zealand. There are also Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses available at WITT, the region’s polytechnic.
www.esolht.org.nz, www.witt.ac.nz

Banking

Deciding to move to New Zealand is a big step, so you will want to make sure that all your banking requirements are organised before you leave or as soon as you arrive. Opening a bank account is quick and easy, but you will need one before you can start work.

New Zealand has modern banking practices, from traditional to online and in Taranaki you will find you have all the options to meet your banking and financial needs. In fact, the region is home to the highly reputable Taranaki Savings Bank, which is one of the fastest-growing banks in the nation. If you are interested in moving to Taranaki and would like to contact a local banking institution, the following links will take you directly to the bank’s website for more information.

www.anz.co.nz
www.asb.co.nz
www.bnz.co.nz
www.kiwibank.co.nz
www.nationalbank.co.nz
www.psis.co.nz
www.tsb.co.nz
www.westpac.co.nz

Tax

Inland Revenue is the Government Department that collects taxes and is popularly referred to as the IRD. You will need an IRD number to work in New Zealand, with the tax year being from 01 April to 31 March. Most people pay their taxes as they earn their income, so employers deduct tax on salary and wages. The below tax rates include ACC (New Zealand’s accident compensation scheme) levies.
www.ird.govt.nz, www.acc.govt.nz

Individual Tax Rates
Income band Tax rate
$0 - $14,000 12.5%
$14,001 - $48,000 21%
$48,001 - $70,000 33%
$70,000 and over 38%
Current as of July 2010

Accountants

Getting sound advice for your financial and business decisions is important and can help you successfully settle and reach your work / life balance goals. There are a variety of accounting firms and business advisors in the region, who can assist you with your financial planning. www.yellow.co.nz

KiwiSaver

KiwiSaver is a voluntary, work-based savings initiative that is similar to a pension scheme, and has a range of membership benefits. It is designed to help set you up for your retirement. Most members will build up their savings through regular contributions from their pay.
www.kiwisaver.govt.nz

Goods and Services Tax

GST is charged on all goods and services in New Zealand and is a consumer tax. Currently the GST rate is 15%. www.ird.govt.nz/gst/ 

Pensions / Superannuation

If you would like to transfer your pension to New Zealand please contact a reputable pension transfer company to manage this process for you.

Driving in New Zealand

In New Zealand, we drive on the left. Whether you are here for a short or long stay you will need to be prepared that while our road rules are similar to those in the UK, there are some important differences that you need to be aware of. You will need to bring your current driving license from your home country and you may also need an international driving permit or translation if it is not in English. If you are staying for more than a year you will need to acquire a New Zealand driving license. We strongly suggest that you study a copy of the New Zealand Road Code before heading out onto the roads.
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/residents-visitors/driving-nz.html

Public Holidays

New Zealand has 10 public holidays per year, mostly in the warmer months between October and June, plus one regional public holiday – Taranaki’s Anniversary day is 8th March. http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/dates/2010_13.html