Being in a position to say "no" always helps with your negotiations. I would start looking for something about 12 months early. Scout around online, talk to p

Being in a position to say "no" always helps with your negotiations. I would start looking for something about 12 months early. Scout around online, talk to people doing things you're interested in, etc. I personally think that if you're skilled and flexible you could find something without too much effort. One thing that comes to mind is looking for some startup companies in a very early stage, where you could work from NZ for a bit before actually relocating. Then everyone knows it's a good fit and worth the hassle. Downturn economies are often a good time for motivated people to do well, but it takes a lot of effort.