JKlighting Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Hi My partner and I are thinking of moving to New Zealand. I've spoken to a few companies over there and they say there is work available. I was wondering if anybody on here currently lives and works in NZ and can offer any advice on finding work. Cheers Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImagineerTom Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Before you get too involved, make sure you fully familiarise yourself with the visa / work permit / residency requirements. Theatre/events/conference doesn't count as one of the "essential skills" so you will fail on points score application, but is also too specialist to fall under the "casual worker" definition that enables you to use one of the youth visa's meaning you will need to be on a spousal visa (assuming your other half has a skill that does qualify as essential) or you've got to find a local company that's prepared to sponsor your application which whilst not unheard-of is certainly highly unusual and risky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.elsbury Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I do corporate AV, what sort of work are you looking for? It's been ages since I've been in the theatre scene. Right now I'd say corporate is picking up, festivals are really big over summer but we're sort of past that :) David Also, what part of NZ are you looking at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Are you rich enough to be admitted, Does your partner have an "in demand skill trade or profession" Would you take unique skills to NZ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKlighting Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 My other half is on the skilled list and we have pretty much sorted the visa out. I can do sound and light to a high level and have management experience. Have mainly been looking around Auckland, but will go wherever the work is. Can anybody recommended any companies to send CV to? I've already been touch with a few. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Be very certain that OH's skilled list position permits you to take employment. Have a backup plan in case the relationship fails. A friend was a USA citizen and lived with his UK GF in (and worked in) London but on the day the relationship ended he had to be out of the UK by midnight or risk being permanently barred from the UK (including transit stopovers) He had to ring his employer from the USA to explain that he wouldn't be back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 "Have a backup plan in case the relationship fails." How about...hide? I would be there in a heartbeat if I could. Its an amazing place full of friendly positive people, and the weather and scenery are awesome.Do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 A friend of mine (Chartered Management accountant) went to the USA with her Chartered Accountant husband. HIS firm (big name) sorted his work permits etc, but didn't sort her work permits, she can't work over there and here professional qualifications are fading with lack of current use. Please read the full details about your visa and work status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GridGirl Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Oceania is one of the bigger companies and spans lighting, sound and AV. I spent a summer working for them years ago (between my two years at drama school) and they were pretty good to work for. Spotlight Systems is also in Auckland and do a lot of big gigs too. If you're looking for venue work, Auckland Live run the big venues in the city (including the Civic, pretty much my favourite theatre ever - google it and you'll see why!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GR1 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 I used Oceania to supply a rig for a New Zealand tour in 1987. It was the first Broadway musical to tour New Zealand. Great service and run by a very nice man. It's pleasing to see they are still going strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistermorton Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 That is a great looking theatre, Anna. Yup, I can see why you'd love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marineboy63 Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Auckland is a beautiful city and a great place to live. Spent six years in NZ. Two of them in Auckland. The Auckland theatre tech scene can be very cliquey though. Nearly everybody trained at Unitec and most of the tutors are ex students so they're a bit inward looking. Most of the venues are run by the Council (Auckland Live) which can make it difficult to get a foothold, but they are well worth contacting as they use freelance crews a lot.There are only a couple of professional theatre companies in Auckland and they tend to stick to people they know. The rest of NZ is mostly community theatres with very small tech crews. It's a good idea to contact the suppliers, Oceania for sound, LSC for lighting among others and of course Selecon. It's a beautiful pace to live but the distances between population centres can be unexpectedly vast. Auckland to Wellington is an eight hour drive so get used to flying everywhere. Check out the Mexican Cafe on Victoria Street West. Amazing food and a great Tequila bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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