Some much needed comedy relief: part 2.
Just couldn’t resist this one – it’s happened to hubby 3 times now in New Zealand:
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Beach Time
Filed under: Beaches in New Zealand, Hubby's Views, Life in New Zealand
I’ve learnt to relax about time since we came to NZ.
In the UK I’d always be wearing a watch and needing to keep an eye on the time. Time to be somewhere, do something, time to get somewhere else – especially during the working week. Much like Alice in Wonderlands mad march hare – mustn’t be late!
Holiday’s always used to be down time, where I didn’t wear a watch ‘cos I’m on holiday and the time generally didn’t matter.
So having moved to NZ and got used to people being more relaxed here, I stopped wearing my watch. While of course mobile phones are everywhere, and I’m hardly without mine these days, there is still some symbolism for me in not wearing a watch.
So today in talking with Avalon about some other people saying they haven’t got time to do stuff, I was pondering beach time as we drove back from Riversdale.
Beach Time, it’s a bit like Island Time for anyone who has been to the smaller south Pacific islands.
It goes something like this;
- What time is it? – time to head to the beach
- What time is it? – time to head into the surf
- What time is it? – time to dry off and read a book
- What time is it? – time to apply more sunblock
- What time is it? – time to turn over and continue reading my book
- What time is it? – time to have a snooze
- What time is it? – time to head back into the water
- What time is it? – time to get some ice cream
- What time is it? – time to go back and get some coffee
- What time is it? – time to catch some more waves
What time is it? – who cares, we’re at the beach!
Progress on the Rimutaka Hill Road.
It’s scarily impressive to be honest. Diggers are perched high up on the hill, cutting a way through the sharpest bends. Sometimes it really does look as if they are about to go hurtling down the hill and end up somewhere in the valley.
These photos were actually taken a few weeks ago:
These are taken from the summit looking south towards Wellington.
This is looking up towards the summit, traveling from Wellington (The weather was crap that day!):
And a Closer view of what they are doing – not that it makes much sense to my untrained, un-engineering eye.
Sorry the photos aren’t the greatest – they are taken on an iPhone !
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
The IAA is in the news again :)
Filed under: Life in New Zealand, NZIS & Immigration issues
See- it isn’t just me that thinks this supposed licensing body needs a leash on it – it really isn’t!
Lincoln Tan reports in the Herald that Immigration Watch have now written to the Attorney General asking for the law to reviewed to give us back our right to free speech. Because no matter what our MP’s claim, the IAA is restricting that freedom by using the threat of prosecution.
“These freedoms supersede and overrule any other Act of Parliament before, or after, its passing into law,” Mr Ogilvy said in his letter to the Attorney-General.
“We are asking you to report to Parliament to inquire as to what constitutes “immigration advice” in the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act.”
I hope they get further than me, because other than some woolly “you can give personal experience” from the minister, which completely contradicts the stand taken by the IAA, I can’t get a straight answer still. Given that the IAA says anything I say is illegal if its about how to Immigrate simply because I own a website or blog – its a bit silly of the Minister to ignore the problem like this.
Funnily enough the immigration Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman now says he cant comment as the situation has gone to the Attorney General. I can’t help but see that as a cop-out.
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Coffee: what does it say about you?
Some body language “experts” have written a book called The You Code, and in it have analysed the following coffee choices, which if nowt else, is worth a laugh on a Sunday:
THE ESPRESSO DRINKER – James and Moore describe the espresso as “the unfiltered cigarette of the coffee drinking world”. Espresso drinkers tend to be moody, hard-bitten and hard working. They are into leadership and fast goals. They don’t suffer fools but are hard living and prone to “night-time shenanigans, followed by a rather louche attempt at day time repair”. The espresso drinker can be an experienced, exciting and consummate lover but is not known for reliability or unswerving loyalty.
THE BLACK COFFEE DRINKER – This type is al about minimalism and takes a no-frills, direct approach to life.
The black coffee drinker can be quiet and moody but prone to brief bursts of extroversion. “A difficult but potentially rewarding friend, colleague or partner,” James and Moore conclude.
THE LATTE DRINKER – Typically metrosexuals or cuddly-toy collectors, latte drinkers are pleasers with an overwhelming compulsion to be liked. A latte drinking boss will use a baby voice to tell you off.
By taking a dark and dangerous drink and turning it into a comforting milky bedtime beverage, James and Moore say, latte drinkers reveal that while they may want to come across as hot shot contenders, they have an immature side.
THE CAPPUCCINO DRINKER – What’s not to like about the extroverted, optimistic cappuccino drinker? Like their drink, cappuccino drinkers are all froth and bubble, bored by detail and liking – but not obsessed with – material objects. “Freud would have a field day here,” write James and Moore. “Cappuccino froth gives the tongue the mother of all workouts and is all to do with the physicality of the experience rather than the basic consumption of the beverage.” The cappuccino drinker enjoys sex but is easily bored by an unimaginative partner.
THE INSTANT COFFEE DRINKER – These are cheerful, straight forward types, who like a laugh and live by the maxim “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. But instant coffee drinkers can be unadventurous in their careers and need to let others see the hidden depths in their personality. The no-nonsense instant coffee drinker is allergic to pretentious behaviour, say James and Moore, and they are likely to keep their socks on during sex.
THE DECAF SOY MILK DRINKER – A self-righteous eco-worrier and attention seeker with a tendency to be picky, fussy – and squeamish in the bedroom. What’s more, this faux choice implies a pretentious, high-maintenance type who wants what they can’t have and is disguising their true personality. “If caffeine gives palpitations and cow’s milk brings you out in spots there’s little hope for you in the cockroach society that is city dwelling”, James and Moore conclude.
THE FRAPPUCINO DRINKER – Flighty and shallow, the frappucino drinker will try anything once – especially if a celebrity has done it first. They fancy themselves trend setters but send out the message that they are someone who favours style over substance. The frappucino drinker’s relationships often last as long as their drink choice, according to James and Moore.
THE NON-COFFEE DRINKER – Unfortunately, the verdict isn’t good. Frightened of coffee equals frightened of life, say James and Moore. If the taste of coffee puts you off you really are a child, they say, and it’s time to join the world of grown ups. But there’s hope. “Twenty one days is all it will take to break your cycle of disgust and then you’ll be back in the real world.”
No mention however of the Flat White – which means they need to get out more, or they dont come from New Zealand. The Flat White is the epitome of New Zealand Coffee, particularly in Wellington. Without it – all business in the city would grind to a halt, the government would collapse, everyone would turn in to zombies, and starting eating each others brains in a desperate attempt to drain the last dregs of caffiene from the poor sod who got in their way.
And then, we would all have to go back to drinking TEA!
It doesn’t even bear thinking about!
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Immigration Advisers Licencing Act: Update 3 Responce from the opposition
At the same time I sent my second letter to the Immigration Minister, I also sent copies of everything to Lianne Dalziel, the Labour MP who first introduced the bill to licence Immigration agents. As she was helping the owners of the Move2NZ forum, and they dont appear to be concerned about anyone else, I thought she might need to know that other people were being affected by this law. Which was a good idea, as she seemed completely unaware that it was affected anyone else.
She had passed on my letters to Pete Hodgson, the opposition spokesmand for immigration who replied:
Hon Lianne Dalziel has passed your letter of November 26th to me for a response, and she and I have discussed the situation you find yourself in.
In short we are both of the view that a law change in not necessary. Rather we are both of the view that Hon Coleman’s reply to oyu of 20th october is far too restrictive and prescriptive, especially toward the end where he offers you the choice of displaying publicly available information, or acquiring a provisional license or of getting a licensed (or exempt) person to contribute.
We beg to differ. In our view the law does not precelude the publicaiton of generic comment, including adverse comment, or generic advice at all. That would, as you point out, be contrary to freedom of speech.
So our advice is to continue with your activities. You could if you wished add a routine disclaimer that your material does not represent immigration advice directed towards an individual.
In the event an official comes ‘knocking at your door’, please let me know and I will engage futher. Be aware however that a law change would inevitably take time, even if it were agreed to. I think what you are dealing with is a new law being bedded in by folk in immigration who are a little more conservative than they are legally entitled to be. I think it is that simple.
SO basically, as far as they are concerned the IAA are overstepping the mark, and abusing thier position: rather than policing Immigration agents, they are enabling them and victimising anyone who isnt a paid agent. As we have said before, this is hardly surprising given that every single member of the advisory board is an immigration agent.
I cant help but be a bit cynical about this though. It seems to me that rather than having the courage to admit openly that they made a mistake, and that the IAA are behaving in a way contrary to that expeceted – they are all going to sit back and wait till someone gets taken to court before they act. And if they think thats a grand idea – then they should be taking a moment to look at the bad publicicty government is getting becuase a Blogger is being forced into court for challenging Name Suppresion Laws.
I also cant help but think that if Labour were in Government, and National in opposition, then Pete Hodgson would be saying “Nothing wrong here!” :
And Jonathan Coleman as opposition leader would be decrying the behaviour of the IAA and be the one telling me to carry on with what I was doing in the first place: publising general advice based on my own experience.
Its kinda hard not to have a certain lack of respect for anyone involved in immigration here at this point.
So – the general concensus of anyone not in the pay of Immigration agents is that the IAA are behaving appallingly, and in a way which they have no right to do, and is against the legislation.
Oddly enough, thats legal advice given by people who are not qualified or licenced to give it.
Which says it all really!
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide: How to Live the Dream Without Breaking The Piggy Bank.
An interesting Immigration report – part 2
Filed under: Hubby's Views, Life in New Zealand, NZIS & Immigration issues
I blogged last week about the two immigration reports that were published side by side.
The first one was fascinating.
I’ve now read through the second one, Migration Trends & Outlook.
It was nowhere near as interesting as the first. Which is strange.
This second report is the one produced annually, is the major report that the first one uses as a basis, it has more content, more statistics & should be able to discuss trends better – and yet it does not. If anything the ‘trends’ part of the title is highly deceptive, as there is very little analysis or discussion of trends. Let alone any extrapolation of those trends in to the future. So the ‘outlook’ part of the report is also fibbing.
So we’re left with a report on Migration.
Which about fits, since it’s a mainly dry analysis of the statistical facts, with few conclusions drawn. And a lot of repetition. Apart from the odd self-congratulatory back slapping about what a good job INZ is doing. Which is repeated a few times just in case you didn’t get the message the first time round.
So what interesting information can we gleen from this report?
1. The Foreward tells us that 60% of the growth in the working age population from 2001-2006 has been from inward migration.
Which is then set against actual population growth in NZ. Natural population growth (births) is seen as the main driver, although that number is only an estimated figure put at 28,000-35,000 per year – compared with net migration of some 4,500 in recent years. Put a different way around, the spikes in NZ population growth are due to net inward migration, and most of those people (not unsurprisingly) are of working age.
2. The first major piece of spin we come across is in the section on how the impact of the global economic slowdown has been felt on migration to NZ.
In a very ‘we’re better than anyone else in the world‘ manner, it’s pointed out that every other country in the world has had to take action at a policy level to stop the flow of migrants into their country. But since INZ are so good at their job, and the NZ policies work so well, NZ hasn’t had to do that. It’s all labour market driven, and with more Kiwi’s competing for jobs, fewer migrants get those jobs.
Which is exaclty what happens in other countries, you don’t give temporary work visa’s to migrants to do jobs, since the locals are getting those jobs.
Then three pages later they actually say that NZ did make policy changes;
Taking some occupations off of the skills shortage list. Just like the UK, USA, Ireland & others.
They then forget to mention that they [INZ] have made it more difficult to renew temporary permits, just like other countries.
Although it could of course be argued that INZ refusing to renew a permit and people being forced to leave isn’t limiting the possibility to renew a permit, it’s just stopping it dead.
So beyond the spin, INZ is doing a job just as effective as any other country.
Which then leads us neatly into another interesting finding about the number of temporary vs permanent visa’s INZ has been issuing.
3. While some of the numbers vary in the report, and I’ve not quite got my head around why that is, the vast majority of people who were granted residency in the last couple of years previously held another type of temporary permit, such as Student or Work. What this means is that less people currently outside of NZ are being granted residency before they get here. On the latest numbers, look at figure 5.2, 81% of all successful residency applications are lodged within NZ.
Back when we applied you could only get residency with a job offer in hand, and then they relaxed the rules a little, so people got residency without job offers. While that still may be happening, INZ appear to be giving out more temporary visa’s to people, who are then told to come to NZ, try their luck and get a job..
Very Dangerous for the migrant in our opinion!
Because of course if you can’t find something, then tough, and you have to head back to your home country. INZ wrap this up in a nice little bow by saying they are allowing immigrants the ‘opportunity’ to labour market test their skills. i.e. your problem, your risk, that’ll be a temporary visa fee thanks, and another permanent visa fee if you are lucky enough to get a job.
And by the way, aren’t out policies great because they minimise effort required by Govt. to respond to changes.
4. There’s a lot more family members coming in from China. With China being the largest source of Parent/Sibling sponsorship & uncapped family (partners of Kiwi’s) applications. With the high number of Chinese students studying in NZ, I feel the only surprise is that it’s taken this long to notice that a lot of them were bringing their family over. After all, it’s a (relatively) quick and risk free method of migrating the family out of China. Study here for a few years, work part time, you’ve then got a degree & NZ work experience, get your permanent residency and sponsor the family in a few years time. Mum & Dad don’t need skills, or lots of money to invest in a business to get them over here, and the youngling has had a great experience leanring to live away from home in another culture.
All round good for them, and well done on making immigration policies work for them.
5. There’s finally another admission that the main interest with foreign students studying in NZ is the income NZ derives from them. Education, when classed as an export (same as tourism is classed as an export) is now one of NZ’s top five export industries. (Dairy is joint first with Tourism, with Meat & Mineral fuel exports being 3rd & 4th respectively).
Which would explain why anyone can give advice to a foreign student, you don’t have to be a licensed Immigration Adviser to do that - it’s ALWAYS about the money.
6. Figure 3.5 on p25 makes for some interesting study.
Arrivals (i.e. returns) of Kiwi’s to NZ has stayed approx the same, in a 10k band.
Arrivals of non-Kiwi’s has trippled in the same time.
Departures of Kiwi’s has fluctuated a lot, however remains consistently higher than arrivals(returns).
Departures of non-Kiwi’s has remained relatively flat, and it’s only in the last few years that the number has increased, to the point where it’s almost as much as Kiwi’s returning to NZ.
All four numbers taken together give you the view of net migration.
So if you step back from the hullabloo about the percentrage of migrants who don’t stay in NZ, and look at the raw numbers, there’s still a much greater number of Kiwi’s “buggering off” from NZ than non-Kiwi’s. More detail on the source countries for those migrants who are absent is included in Appendix D of the report, and makes for some interesting reading again.
7. By the numbers, China has the highest absent number of 14,868 (25%), while the UK is 2nd with 14,650 (only 16%). By the numbers, that accounts for a third of all the absent migrants. It would be interesting to see what would happen to the NZ economy, job market etc. if all those from the UK or China who were entitled to be here actually returned.
8. table 3.4 provides a year by year view of those absent from NZ. I’m sure I saw a nice chart of this somewhere, but can’t find it now, so we’ll stick with showing you the table.
This shows, the longer you’ve been in NZ, the higher the chance that you’ll leave next year. It is worth noting that those who have come here via a family category, are much more likely to be here in a few years time. Although the numbers don’t say whether the numbers of family sponsored people staying has a link to the original sponsors also staying, it would make sense. I just don’t have the linked numbers to prove it.
9. Figure 6.5 is also curious, more for the information about ‘other’ which is absent.
We look at the settlement regions of migrants to NZ. Auckland accounts for about 44%, with the rest of the country getting the remaining 56%. However, if you add up the numbers, you find that after the top five regions, there’s another 17% of migrants unaccounted for – which would make ‘other’ the 2nd largest settlement region for migrants in NZ. While we don’t have a clear citation for where this graphic comes from, you could probably find out through one of the Longtitudinal studies that StatsNZ carries out. I’ll have a dig around and see what I can find.
So there you go, a slightly less interesting report from Immigration. Chock full of numbers. If only INZ treated all their clients like this, it would be a much more friendly and personable dept. Oh, wait a minute, silly me, they do. We’re all just statistics.
The life and times of a Swimming Pool
Pools- lovely to look, but you have to clean them if you want to use them. Not that we have used ours this year yet – because the summer has been a very long way away.
This is how it starts off at the end of winter. The water is slightly green, murky and full of leaves (even with a pool cover you can’t quite stop all the leaves getting in).
So the first step is to dump some Chlorine in to get rid of the green murk.
But this still has crud in the bottom – so a bot of hoovering, filtering and backwashing is in order:
And then you end up with a clean sparkly pool all ready to play in:
With water the most stunning colour in the sunlight:
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Well I never: An interesting Immigration report
Filed under: Getting to New Zealand, Hubby's Views, Life in New Zealand, NZIS & Immigration issues
So fair play, reading through the two reports from Dept. of Labour has actually been interesting. Well written, with conclusions and recommendations, not just dry statistical facts.
Something interesting from INZ/DoL for a change. Whatever next, Winston Peter’s as Immigration Minister? - Well stranger things have happened!
Seriously, the two reports;
International Migration Outlook & Migration Trends & Outlook sound similar – and to be honest there really isnt much difference (but hey – its waste some extra tax money writing 2 reports instead of one.)
Both are well written, and for a change have dozens of citations. So you can actually check where they are getting some of their facts from, and that they aren’t lying through their teeth. I was pleasantly surprised to find most of the cited reports are publicly available too. So you can read & draw your own conclusions.
Anyhow, interesting things/facts/observations from the IMO;
23% of NZ’s resident population as of June 2009 were not born here – and that number has been going up. Here’s a table showing where that 23% came from;
If you look at the ‘working age population’ that 23% turns into 25%.
This means that more migrants are staying in NZ longer, it’s now only 24 leavers for every 100 new migrants during the 2001-2006 period. Which, as we’ve mentioned earlier, is actually showing more loyalty to their new home than the 40%-ish of Kiwi’s who leave.
The employment numbers are a little worrying;
Unemployment rates for immigrants are about 3% above the national average. Perhaps not surprising with plenty of migrants coming in as Skilled Migrants or on Work To Residence without job offers.
New migrants are paid $10k-$15k less than their previously resident Kiwi colleagues.For performing comparable work
And it ‘only’ takes 15 years for that gap to close! 
15 years! OMG, you gotta be kidding? Come to NZ, take a huge pay cut, and if you’re lucky, you’ll earn the same as your colleague in a mere 15 years. humpfhh.
Still this may have something to do with another finding. That there was no evidence from another Dept. of Labour report that migrants were choosing to settle in an area which had higher than national average salaries, or lower than national average unemployment. i.e. new migrants weren’t actually picking the geographical area’s with fewer people having the in demand skills. hmm, perhaps we were just a little strange that way. We came to Wellington because the pay is better and its where the demand is – mostly because its where the government is. Most migrants still gravitate to Auckland, where the wages are lower and house prices are higher. Take note!
Wowing an potential employer at interview is going to do you a lot better than hoping that ‘averages’ will mean you get a better salary. Clearly some of this report points to studies showing that isn’t the case and you’ll get less than the average of your new Kiwi colleagues.
Time to brush up the interview skills.
Of course if you bring kids over with you when you migrate, then they don’t have to work to close that 15 year gap. The study showed that 18 year olds entering the work place faced no discrimination over salary whether they were Kiwi born & bred, or had arrived the day before their 18th birthday. So that’s reassuring.
There is also a (brief) section on the economic impacts of immigration. Only based on one study mind you. Basically, immigrants are good for the economy. In ‘productive’ terms;
- Migrants bring cash which they spend (really?! – you don’t say),
- Pay more in taxes to Govt. than they draw in benefits (shock horror, migrants aren’t here to sponge off the state!)
- Migrants reduce production costs (read as: are forced to accept lower wages)
- Improve the competitiveness of NZ goods & Services, which helps exports. (same as above really)
So I’m not so sure that this study really does justice to the ‘immigrant’ contribution to the NZ economy. I wonder if they actually asked migrants what their ‘contribution’ was?
A Royal rugby team?
There’s a couple of curious coincidences that happened in the last few weeks which gave me a startling idea this afternoon.
- A few weeks ago I happened to be walking past the Intercontinental hotel when Prince William came out and drove off to do his childrens ward hospital visit. There were some crowds outside the hotel. And to be fair, more crowds at the hospital.
- Then yesterday I happened to be walking to the bank, and there was the rugby seven’s parade working it’s way down Willis St. There were some crowds along (both sides of) the street, (round the corner, up the road, back along two other streets and filling civic square).
“So what?” you may think.
A republican minded Green MP has got his private members bill randomly selected for consideration in parliament. This private bill is to hold a full referendum on whether NZ should become a Republic, and cut the last remaining Govt. & Monarchy links with the UK. We would no longer hold allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand. {Is it just me, or do the Greens have no Green policies? Their major contributions to NZ politics in the last few years; A Republic referendum bill, anti-smacking legislation & a ‘Buy Kiwi made’ advertising campaign}.
Anyway.
This bill proposes more than one Republican option, and if they’ve learnt anything from the failed attempts of the republican movement in Australia years ago, they will have a bit more sense about wording the question. And think very carefully about the options they give us to choose from.
Next to this, there is a debate about changing the NZ flag. So all this is being talked about a lot. Something along the lines of ‘Look how well Canada has done with a new flag, showing it’s maturity and responsibility’. A bit like a teenager getting a hair cut & colour in rebellion against stuffy old parents.
But anyway.
What occurred to me was, if the Monarchy don’t want NZ to go republic, they need to form a rugby team.
huh!? you may be thinking.
And take part in the sevens tournament. Or indeed any rugby match taking place up and down the country or oversea’s where NZ is playing – just so long as they don’t always beat the NZ team.
double huh!?
It’s no surprise to hear that rugby is popular here, and if you want to win popularity you need to appeal to the people. By this point you’re probably thinking, ‘what’s he going on about’.
Well look at the crowd pulling power involved here;
Prince William (who likes rugby!), makes his first official visit to NZ. Look at the crowds;
While of course the Police were keeping people away from the hotel lobby, the crowd is standing in the middle of this picture, and there’s lots of empty space around. I’ve seen more people waiting for the first thing in the morning train on a Monday in sleepy Carterton. And that’s at 5:45am.
Compare & Contrast with – The rugby sevens teams, who visit every year, and will be here again next year;
Yes, okay, there’s some empty space in civic square, but look below at the roads outside and people queueing to get in;
&
.
So my theory is, if the Royal’s want greater popular appeal and keep NZ aligned with the British monarchy – they need to form a rugby team.
{ssshh, don’t tell anyone, but it’s 9pm on a Friday evening, we’ve got the opening match of the seven’s playing and yes, I’m writing a blog. ssshh, we don’t follow the rugby}
