Greetings from New Zealand

February 2021

How are you finding 2021?

There's an air of cautious optimism here. Our summer weather lingers while students head back to school, and we're holding our breath in hopes of a year with minimal disruption and opportunity to explore some of New Zealand's great hidden gems that have been re-discovered through increased domestic travel.

We hope that you're well and will soon be able to join us.

This month, we're sharing:

How to Prepare for Your NZ Job Search
Latest Move to New Zealand resources
Is KiwiSaver for everyone?
Immigration and border updates
Getting Started in NZ Schools
Phrases of the Month: Gold Coin Donation | Koha

How to Prepare for Your NZ Job Search

Wouldn’t it be nice to know how you can get started with your job search before you land in New Zealand? We can help with that!

We recently sat down with Emily Boyce, an experienced Change Practitioner, who moved back to Auckland after more than a decade in the US.

She shared some key ways that you can prepare for your next career stop in New Zealand:

Be prepared to show New Zealand knowledge or experience. For example, you may need to be familiar with relevant employment law for an HR role. If you can’t show that you already have the knowledge, you can show commitment to getting it, such as enrollment in a relevant course.

Adapt your CV to the New Zealand market. Translate your job titles to be easily understood by the Kiwis reviewing your materials. Recruiters can often help you identify where you need to make adjustments.

Join your profession’s association or professional group. You’ll get exposed to job opportunities and have a great place to start networking once you land.

Once you know when you’ll be arriving, use LinkedIn to identify interesting people in your field or people doing work that interests you...and then reach out to them. People can be incredibly generous with their willingness to meet virtually and in person to share advice and make introductions.

Is KiwiSaver for everyone?

Once you start your New Zealand employment, you’ll likely be automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver, a voluntary saving scheme that the government established to allow you to save for retirement. Even if you’re self-employed, there are options for joining. The investment stays with you when you change employment and can be accessed for a first home purchase.

How’s it work? You choose a percentage of your income to contribute, and your employer is required to contribute at least 3% of your gross income as well. On top of that, the government contributes to the account annually.

Free money! Who’s going to argue with that?

American passport and green card holders (who remain liable for US taxes even after leaving the country) should consult a qualified tax advisor before enrolling in KiwiSaver. The US IRS doesn’t treat KiwiSaver the same as US IRAs, which can result in significant compliance and tax burdens.

It’s good to get on top of this early because you can only opt-out of automatic KiwiSaver enrolment in the first 8 weeks of employment, and you can’t get out if you choose to join KiwiSaver.

Getting Started in NZ Schools

Whether your child is going to start their New Zealand school at the beginning of the year or sometime in the middle, you'll want to remember these details so that they're all set their first day of school.

Many schools require uniforms, though the formality varies by school. Some require simply a particular colour of polo shirt, trousers, etc. where other schools have a particular uniform with school crest or print that must come from designated shops. Similarly, some schools require a particular colour of shoe where others require shoes be a particular colour and style.

You can source school stationery - supplies that each child needs - by purchasing them independently, (at some schools) by ordering the whole list from an affiliated office supply store, or (at some schools) directly from the school.

Expect to pay school fees and donations even at government funded schools. Fees are required while donations are strongly suggested to make up the difference between funding from the Ministry of Education and the actual cost to educate a child at that school.

Be ready to pack lunches each day because hot meals are rarely available through the school. Many schools work with outside vendors to provide a prepared food option (sushi, pizza, pitas, etc.) on certain days of the week.

You can get more information about NZ primary school education here.