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41 years + 1 day ago, my mother and I returned to the US from New Zealand. Every time I see a story like this, I wonder if that was really such a great idea. Go

41 years + 1 day ago, my mother and I returned to the US from New Zealand. Every time I see a story like this, I wonder if that was really such a great idea. Good for them. I'd be pleased and proud to have Jacinda Ardern leading my country.

cflewis 7y ago
I lived there for a couple years about a decade ago. I left because the job opportunities for highly-qualified software engineers in NZ was basically zero. The only real option presented for Kiwis was to move to Sydney. It is very frustrating to hear multinationals opening offices in Sydney and saying "New Zealand people can work there too, it's all the same" when it's not. American companies open Canadian offices all the time because the cultures are different. Australia and New Zealand have the same relationship: same language, different cultures. It grinds my gears to this day because I would love to return for good, but I can't/won't give up my career, and I don't really want to move to Sydney. I want to move to New Zealand.
- edsrzf 7y ago
  I live in Auckland and the tech scene has really been booming in the last year or two. Obviously it's no SF bay area, and there are now companies struggling in the current economic conditions, but it may be worth another look in, say, a year.
  - y-c-o-m-b 7y ago
    Is there still a shortage of qualified tech workers and do you know if they make exceptions for those that don't meet the required amount of points for immigration? I'm short by 5 points because I don't have a degree (but I have well over a decade of experience in software development). EDIT: N/M looks like I can get in easily if I'm offered a job by an NZ employer listed as an "absolute skill shortage", so I guess I answered my own question. I'm using this tool for anyone curious: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/tools/points-indicator-smc-28aug https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-...
    - dzhiurgis 7y ago
      Those are usually filled by cheap workers who can just barely copy paste code and get it to compile...
    - indemnity 7y ago
      I came here with only high school, and I got in when my visitor visa explored via skill shortage path. I had 2 years of experience at the time. This was a over a decade ago though. Not on SV wages, but comfortable enough to be a single income household, supporting family of 4 with home almost paid off (140k USD p.a).
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- shaoonb 7y ago
  I managed to return to New Zealand recently (currently in mandatory quarantine) and it's amazing how different the job market looks after just one year in a bigger city (London).
  - cflewis 7y ago
    Interesting; is this in Auckland or Wellington? What sort of companies are opening up?

cflewis 7y ago

I lived there for a couple years about a decade ago. I left because the job opportunities for highly-qualified software engineers in NZ was basically zero. The only real option presented for Kiwis was to move to Sydney. It is very frustrating to hear multinationals opening offices in Sydney and saying "New Zealand people can work there too, it's all the same" when it's not. American companies open Canadian offices all the time because the cultures are different. Australia and New Zealand have the same relationship: same language, different cultures. It grinds my gears to this day because I would love to return for good, but I can't/won't give up my career, and I don't really want to move to Sydney. I want to move to New Zealand.

edsrzf 7y ago
I live in Auckland and the tech scene has really been booming in the last year or two. Obviously it's no SF bay area, and there are now companies struggling in the current economic conditions, but it may be worth another look in, say, a year.
- y-c-o-m-b 7y ago
  Is there still a shortage of qualified tech workers and do you know if they make exceptions for those that don't meet the required amount of points for immigration? I'm short by 5 points because I don't have a degree (but I have well over a decade of experience in software development). EDIT: N/M looks like I can get in easily if I'm offered a job by an NZ employer listed as an "absolute skill shortage", so I guess I answered my own question. I'm using this tool for anyone curious: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/tools/points-indicator-smc-28aug https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-...
  - dzhiurgis 7y ago
    Those are usually filled by cheap workers who can just barely copy paste code and get it to compile...
  - indemnity 7y ago
    I came here with only high school, and I got in when my visitor visa explored via skill shortage path. I had 2 years of experience at the time. This was a over a decade ago though. Not on SV wages, but comfortable enough to be a single income household, supporting family of 4 with home almost paid off (140k USD p.a).
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
shaoonb 7y ago
I managed to return to New Zealand recently (currently in mandatory quarantine) and it's amazing how different the job market looks after just one year in a bigger city (London).
- cflewis 7y ago
  Interesting; is this in Auckland or Wellington? What sort of companies are opening up?