Watch those School “Donations” when you move to New Zealand.
I blogged about the rather mis-named school donations a while back, and how for many parents it is not the voluntary donation it should be. Well now it seems that some schools are going even further to try to force parents to pay up.
It seems that some schools are now reporting unpaid donations to the Credit agency to Baycorp, the credit agency -which now means that some parents will have problems with credit scoring. Worse – there are also schools who have passed on the “debt” to debt collection agencies.
This is so far out of order it just isn’t funny. We all know that schools don’t get enough money – but hey – parents don’t either, and screwing up their credit rating is just appalling. Pulling a stunt like this is just not on. It’s dishonest and unethical at best.
“Principals say the tactic shows that schools are under-funded and want the Government to stop “playing games”.”
I agree – the government should pull all funding to schools that try and extort “donations” out of parents and blackmail them by using credit agencies and debt collectors.
Just take care when you move here – the free education is getting less free as time goes on, and you need to be aware of the situation and ready for it. Make sure you budget for it – and make sure you find out what the fees will be for any schools you are considering for you family.
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Air NZ has a new toy :)
I do like gizmos – and Air New Zealand have a pretty nifty one. Its called How Far Can I Go, and it really fun to play around with. OK, you will get bored after 5 minutes – but hey – it’s 5 minutes of free entertainment.
Basically – you tell it where you want to travel from, an then you use a slide bar on the right hand side to say how much of a budget you have. Then you watch as the lines expand out from your base and show you how far you can fly for less than your budget. It then shows you the flight options and prices on the left hand side, from where you can investigate further.
Just be aware that as this is Air New Zealand, some of the prices quoted are one-way and some are return flights. It can make flights look cheaper than they really are.
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Weekend Blog Roundup 28th June
On the money and budgeting front – there is an interesting blog at Money and Markets
Readers of the blog have sent in stories, anecdotes and thoughts on money managements, and it has been compiled into a list of 5 rules. The first rule is Start Budgeting – so I’m happily on board with this.
Domestic Executive has an amazing photo show of the tickertape stock quotes on the NZX building in Wellington. and also reveals that at some point they managed to bring their UK£ over for more than $3 to the pound. I have tears in my eyes just thinking about it!
If you want to see some photos of Wellington’s stunning coast – you will find that at Chez Lee.
And if you are thinking of getting a lifestyle block and growing Olives – you might want to take a look at Moon Over Martinborough. These guys are in our neck of the woods – but are a whole lot less lazy than I am and have a large area of land for Olives. And can tell you what to do with them. Not that I like Olives – but hey – they are enjoying their lives – and that is what matters. They also take really nice photos !
And just to prove that I am not the only complete skeptic when it comes to Swine Flu – This New Zealand life comments on the stupidity of thinking that a msak can save you.
“Those same nano-sized viruses that are to the weave in his face mask like marbles to a football net.”
On the forum front – someone has posted on UK2NZ asking for people living in the UK but considering emigrating if they would take part in a survey.
[Edited 22/12/2009 - removed broken link to UK2NZ emigration survey]
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Auditor General’s Report – we got a mention :)
As we (slowly) work the OAG report in the stuff ups that Immigartion New Zealand have been making for years – we were a bit gobsmacked to find that a (small) part of our submission to them was included.
Knowledge of complaints processes
5.132
We received an expression of concern from a member of the public (Thats lil ol’ me) that the
complaints procedures were hard to find. Certainly, it is not possible to easily
submit a complaint either through the Department of Labour website or through
the Immigration New Zealand website. We were told that the Department is
reviewing the publicly available descriptions of, and means of access to, the
complaints procedures.
5.133
In our view, members of the public should be able to easily find out how to raise
concerns with Immigration New Zealand and know how their concerns will be
dealt with
Way to go!!!
This is a small reminder that no matter how tiny and insignificant you might feel as one or two people trying to make a change in the world – it is worth perservering in the effort.
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Emigrate to New Zealand: Character Waivers Part 1.
There is very little information available on the process of applying for a Character Waiver. Funnily enough – there is no published guide from Immigration New Zealand on how to proceed if you are in the position of having to apply for this. Why am I not surprised???
What is available is a section in the Operations manual showing the actions that case offices are supposed to take when dealing with issues of character.
A5.25.1 Action
a.Visa and immigration officers must not automatically decline residence applications on character grounds.
b. Officers must consider the surrounding circumstances of the application to decide whether or not they are compelling enough to justify waiving the good character requirement. The circumstances include but are not limited to the following factors as appropriate:
i if applicable, the seriousness of the offence (generally indicated by the term of imprisonment or size of the fine);
ii whether there is more than one offence;
iii if applicable, the significance of the false, misleading or forged information provided, or information withheld, and whether the applicant is able to supply a reasonable and credible explanation or other evidence indicating that in supplying or withholding such information they did not intend to deceive the NZIS;
iv how long ago the relevant event occurred;
v whether the applicant has any immediate family lawfully and permanently (see F4.1.1) in New Zealand;
vi whether the applicant has some strong emotional or physical tie to New Zealand;
vii whether the applicant’s potential contribution to New Zealand will be significant.
c. In the case of a person covered by A5.25(j) and (k) above, officers must consider, in addition to any relevant matters listed in A5.25.1(b) above, the following:
i the length of time since the applicant publicly expressed the views, or was a member or adherent of the group or organisation, and
ii whether the applicant still holds the views or still belongs or adheres to the group or organisation, and any evidence of a change in views, and
iii the extent to which the applicant was involved in publishing or distributing the views, or the extent of involvement in the group or organisation, and
iv. the nature of the views, or the nature of the group or organisation.
d. Officers must make a decision only after they have considered all relevant factors, including (if applicable):
i any advice from the National Office of the NZIS, and
ii compliance with fairness and natural justice requirements (see A1 (See: “A1 Fairness and Natural Justice” on page 1)).
e. Officers must record:
i their consideration of the surrounding circumstances, (see paragraph (b) above),
noting all factors taken into account, and
ii the reasons for their decision to waive or decline to waive the good character requirements.
f. Any decision to waive the good character requirements must be made by either:
i a seconded visa officer; or
ii an officer with schedule 1 delegations.
OK, so what on earth does that all mean???
Firstly – it suggests that NZIS have to give you the opportunity to state your case. There are people who are not eligible to apply for character waivers – that is under a slightly different heading in the Operations manual. These tend to be people connected to regimes and groups that would be detrimental to New Zealand’s reputation if they lived here – basically the more serious criminal types.
If however it has been determined that you have criminal convictions, or that you said something on your application that isn’t true – then according to the above list INZ cannot simply turn you down for a Visa.
So in terms of whether NZIS can waive the character requirement – they need to look at 7 things under section b. above – the surrounding circumstances.
Once again – I am disgusted to say that they do not clearly state how they approach this, or how they make the determination – however we have found a case at the Residence Review Board that does explain it.
In this case – Appeal 14978 – you actually get to see the process for NZIS to work through these 7 sections. It’s about half way down the file, and there is a table with a “Negative” column and a “Positive” Column. NZIS work through the 7 factors and determine whether the applicant scores a + or – for each item, and puts it in the appropriate column. I guess if you have more positives than negative – you get the character waiver.
Why on earth NZIS can’t just say that to the people involved in these cases is just beyond my comprehension I’m afraid.
Please note: We do not KNOW if this is the process NZIS use to work through the waiver process. We have no way of being able to tell for sure.
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Emigrate to New Zealand: Good Character Requirements.
Ive been doing a little bit of research on Character Waivers – and I’ve actually found it a little bit difficult to get my head round. Why are these never simple and in Plain English?
So what can I tell you?
Well, first of all if you want to Emigrate to New Zealand – you have to pass what is termed “Good Character Requirements”.
From the Operations manual:
A5.1 Requirement of good character
Applicants for all visas and permits must:
a. be of good character; and
b. not pose a potential security risk.
This basically means you need a clean criminal record, and not be involved in groups that generally want Politicians to die horribly and governments to be brought down in a local bloodbath.
This is why as part of the application process – whatever route you take – you need to provide INZ with a police certificate confirming whether you have any convictions or not. If your record is not clear – you are likely to be turned down for Residency unless you are granted a Character Waiver.
The reasons you can be turned down are long, varied and (unsurprisingly) longwinded.
A5.25 Applicants normally ineligible for a residence visa or permit unless granted a character waiver
Applicants who will not normally be issued with a residence visa or granted a residence permit, unless granted a character waiver (see A5.25.1(b) below), include any person who has been:
a. convicted at any time of any offence against the immigration, citizenship or passport laws of any country; or
b. convicted at any time of any offence involving prohibited drugs; or
c. convicted at any time of any offence involving dishonesty; or
d. convicted at any time of any offence of a sexual nature; or
e. convicted at any time of any offence for which they were sentenced to a term of imprisonment (whether the sentence was of immediate effect or was deferred or was suspended in whole or in part); or
f. convicted (whether in New Zealand or not) of an offence committed at any time when the applicant was in New Zealand unlawfully or was the holder of a temporary permit or was exempt under the Act from the requirement to hold a permit, being an offence for which the Court has power to impose imprisonment for a term of 3 months or more; or
g. convicted at any time of any offence involving violence; or
h. convicted at any time during the last five years, of an offence (including a traffic offence), involving dangerous driving, driving having consumed excessive alcohol (including drunk driving and driving with a blood or breath alcohol content in excess of a specified limit) or driving having consumed drugs; or
i. in the course of applying for a New Zealand visa or permit, has made any statement or provided any information, evidence or submission that was false, misleading or forged, or withheld material information; or
j. at any time in a public speech or public comments, or public broadcast, or in publicly distributing or publishing a document:
i argues that one race or colour is inherently inferior or superior to another race or colour, or
ii used language intended to encourage hostility or ill will against any person or group of persons on the basis of colour, race or ethnic or national origins of that person or group; or
k. has been, or is, a member of (or adheres or has adhered to) any organisation or group of people which (at the time of the person’s membership or adherence) had objectives or principles based on:
i hostility against people or groups of people on the basis of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins, or
ii an assumption that persons of a particular race or colour are inherently inferior or superior to other races or colours; or
l. in support of any application by another person for a New Zealand visa or permit, has made any statement or provided any information, evidence or submission that was false, misleading or forged.
Note: When considering whether or not an applicant has committed an act that comes under
A5.25 (i), (j) or (k) or (l) above, visa and immigration officers should establish whether, on the balance of probabilities, it is more likely than not that the applicant committed such an act.
This means that as well as being kept out of New Zealand for having a criminal record – you an also be denied residency if you lie on your application or do not tell the whole truth, under the Good Character Requirements. I’ve highlighted these areas – as It is something that can easily be overlooked, and because very few people are aware of the consequences of missing things out on the application forms.
If you fall under any of these categories – you will be assessed as not having good character, and at that point you go through the Character Waiver Process.
Coming next: Emigrate To New Zealand: The Character Waiver Process.
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Masterton flight review
Filed under: Hubby's Views, Jobs & Work, Life in New Zealand
Having recently done the Auckland (AKL) – Masterton (MRO) flight I can now report first hand on the ambience and experience of flying into Masterton;
1 Door to door service.
The plane pulls up at the arrivals lounge. It’s a 10m (that’s metre, not minute) walk into the building, another 5m to the exit door on the other side, and another 5m to your car. That’s what I call integrated public transport! No 10 minute walk just to get out of the terminal.
2 By the time you’ve left the arrivals lounge, walked to the car, started it to warm up the inside (!), and wandered back to the arrivals lounge, your luggage is ready for you to collect in it’s own little room.
- Yes, how many of us walk off a plane, straight to the car park, start the car to warm it up, and then go back to collect our luggage. Ah – it’s times like these that life in NZ just throws you one of those OMG curve balls. In the UK even at our rural town supermarket, I’d lock the car after loading the shopping whilst I took the trolley back to the trolley park 10m away.
3 It’s a hop, skip and a jump, and you’re flying.
Seriously – it’s like long jump without the run up. The plane turns onto the runway, they rev the engines, it feels like you move forwards a skip, and the plane just jumps into the sky.
4 Scared of flying?
Then sitting in seat 1F, you can hold the pilots’ hand if you’re nervous. Sitting in 2A? hold the hand of the person in 2F – all the way across the aisle.
5 One draw back – there’s no trolley service
- so no coffee/tea, banana chips or immitation crisps. Still no getting stuck the wrong side of the trolley when you really need the toilet and they refuse to get out of your way.
6 The best bit though
- it’s a 15 minute drive to the airport to be there 20 minutes before the flight leaves for it’s 75 minute journey to Auckland. Compared with a 120 minute drive down to Wellington, 10 minutes to park up and work your way back to the departures terminal to ensure you’re checked in 30 minutes before the flight.
So if I go via Masterton I can be getting in a taxi at Auckland airport to head into the city, before I’d even got to Wellington airport!! Plus I save on petrol and parking.
Uh Oh – I’ve got a sore throat.
Swine flu fever (forgive the pun) shows no signs of abating – with even our local café having a hand sanitizer pump available, and the surgery having signs up telling you to “STOP!” if you have symptoms and put a mask on.
So – it is with a certain amount of dread that I woke this morning with my throat feeling like sandpaper and being just a touch under the weather. No – I’m not in the least bit concerned that I have some dreaded pandemic – but I now have to put up with everyone making “Oink Oink” noises every time I cough.
It’s a Cold!!! It’s Winter!!! It Happens!!!
My brother made the mistake of sneezing last week when he went for his blood tests for the immigration medical. The Phlebotomist (the person who takes the blood samples) was horrified and got into a bit of a panic. She then wanted to know when exactly the family had arrived off the plane, and was even more horrified to find out that not one of them had had to fill in health questionnaires, nor had been checked in anyway for Swine Flu symptoms.
Things got worse when it was pointed out to her that people die of Flu every year, and that this was a slight overreaction to a sneeze. Her reply?
“Well that only happens to old people!”
I kid you not. What an awful attitude to have – especially in someone working in Healthcare. I think the look of disgust on the faces of my family at such a callous remark told the silly woman what they thought of her.
And even if that wasn’t enough – the woman didn’t even wear gloves to take the blood sample. Sheesh – panic over a sneeze, and yet handle taking blood samples without the most basic precautions. Daft woman! Hepatitis is a lot more serious than the vague possibility of flu. Some perspective wouldn’t go amiss here.
From Wikipedia: According to the World Health Organization: “Every winter, tens of millions of people get the flu. Most are only ill and out of work for a week, yet the elderly are at a higher risk of death from the illness. We know the worldwide death toll exceeds a few hundred thousand people a year, but even in developed countries the numbers are uncertain, because medical authorities don’t usually verify who actually died of influenza and who died of a flu-like illness
This is normal seasonal flu. It kills people. The fact that it is the elderly and the already ill who die does not lessen the fact. There have so far been 273 confirmed deaths from Swine Flu (Wikipedia). I think Im going to sip warm drinks and suck on throat sweets.
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Auditor Generals report on Immigration New Zealand – links
Filed under: For the numpties amongst us, Hubby's Views, NZIS & Immigration issues
Well it’s not a surprise to find that the things NZIS didn’t want to cover in their response to our issues, are exactly what the Auditor General says is wrong with NZIS in their recommendations here
The OAG’s report into NZIS would be easy to find don’t you think? Well interestingly enough it’s not easy to search for these reports – burying bad news or am I just too cynical?
So if you want some reading material to send you to sleep – or you just want to check that I am not making this up – here are the links to find the original reports.
Visa Scammer has been arrested at last.
Its about time too! Gerard Otimi has finally been arrested over his Immigration Visa scam, and at the same time the body that now licences and overseas immigration agents and advisors are also investigating him. Unfortunately from the reports he seems neither bothered by this, nor in the least bit sorry about what he has done.
A Detective in the case is reported as saying: “He is very passionate and he believes in his cause,”. Hmm yes, I’m also passionate about bringing my family to New Zealand – but I’m pretty sure I would have been rotting in jail the minute I slapped a fake Visa in my parents passports. Even if my parents didn’t make a formal complaint to police against me.
EDIT:
There was a piece on this on the 6 o’clock news and the same detective was asked by Mr Otimi if he was going to be arrested if he didnt go down to the station – this was the reply:
“Am I under arrest if I refuse?”, Otimi asked police.
“Well, its entirely up to you. If you want to be arrested you can be arrested. It’s over to you.”
You couldnt make this up!
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