KiwiBirkin Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 After quite a bit of discussion with my partner Marg we decided a while ago to look at moving to Aussie for a change of pace after the EQ here in Christchurch and also looking for a warmer climate, we decide Brisbane would be the place to start this new life as we liked the city and also have the Gold Coast on one side of the city and the Sunshine Coast on the other side of the city, best of both worlds really. While on our most recent trip 3 weeks ago I had a chance meeting with a mate at Christchurch airport who was moving to Brisbane with his company from NZ as they were setting up shop after being brought out by a big international company, I ended up having a very informal interview for a job while on holiday on the last day. On Thursday I ended up with a final interview with the GM here in Christchurch and have now had a formal offer of a job with the Yakima Products as a Product Development Engineer (you guys will know Yakima). I have accepted and they want me to start on the 20th August.....eeekkk... that was fast. As soon as I get the contract and sign it my house will be up for sale and the stuff we dont want sold or given away....cars will be sold, the Birkin will be sent to Aussie under the Personal Import Vehical scheme once I can get the permit issued, I will be there in 6 weeks with Marg following with out housload of gear and Grace in a container as soon as lose ends are tidyed up. So its done, we are on moving across the ditch with the many other Kiwis who are moving to Aussie in greater numbers each year, dont get me wrong I love NZ its a beautifull country but after 27 years I feel a change is needed and slowley the life force is being sucked out of the working population here and they have no respect from those who use their taxes. Cheers Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 Stephen, Congrats on the new job and getting out of shaky town. Best of luck in your new adventure. I'm glad Grace is going along with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 congrats on the change of scenery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 how is the immigration procedure works between NZ & Aussie? here in states, I can cross to canada & stay but not allowed to work without a proper paper. there is also a limited time & stay to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 Australia is pretty good at accepting refugees from third world countries. It is easy to get working visas sorted out and move across the Tasman Sea. I think there are more Kiwis (aka New Zealanders) in Australia than there are in New Zealand as there are more job opportunities given the strong economic growth. If he was a miner then he would have an instant $150k+ job in Western Australia - they are so desperate for workers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 Good Luck Stephen... at least you don't have to drive on the other side of the road;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I am assuming this is with Whispbar and you are talking about Yakima racks? Want to get me a deal on a new Whispbar set up I have been looking at for my daily driver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMike Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Stephen, Good luck with the move and new job. At some point, I hope to visit Australia again. I lived in Canberra until I was 10 years old. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 I am assuming this is with Whispbar and you are talking about Yakima racks? Want to get me a deal on a new Whispbar set up I have been looking at for my daily driver? Yep thats the one, I will be designing and developing how they attach to car roofs and also what gets put on the rack as well to hold all the gear we carry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 So... from windscreen to rollbar, over the passenger side of a 7 or using the spare tire mount off the back;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 +1 for a luggage rack using the spare tire mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 (edited) When we get Grace there were going to take the car to the workshop to see if we can make a frame to mount on the car to put a Whispbar roof rack on it to carry a 9ft longboard, it will be a interesting project and great if it works out and I can drive Grace to Noosa with the surfboard. Edited July 9, 2012 by KiwiBirkin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 Update. House has finally confirmed and the deposit has been paid, Grace is back in the garage after getting a once over by McGregor Motorsport who have looked after my car since I started ownership, now I just have to give her the final clean before going in the container on the 22nd August, I did managed one more final run in her this weekend just gone and now its timeto deregisterd the car in NZ. I finish work on the 10th and leave on the 13th to the Gold Coast where I will stay with a mate for a couple of days, a side trip to Byron Bay is on the cards to check out a new Mctavish 9"6 longboard I have my eye on. Marg finishes work on the 17th and is staying on to pack the house up and then will join me in Brisbane on the 31st August. We have our eye on a 2009 Rubicon Jeep Wrangler and a Jayco Hawk off road popup camper, this will allow us to get away on weekends exploring the coast N & S of QLD. The board shorts and jandels (not sure what there called in the US maybe flipflops, thongs ??) have been brought out of hibernation so we are good to go for the warmer climate. Cheers Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobone Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Sounds like a great adventure all around. Its great to see that you have embraced the change and are getting ecited about this new chapter. I'm sure there are aspects of leaving your home and country that tug hard at your heart and head. Life is short and you only have one to live. If you ask me, pulling up to the sea shore with a long board on my seven sounds like the worlds most perfect combination. I've only surfed once. The feeling of getting up on a wave is so elemental. Pure joy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Update. House has finally confirmed and the deposit has been paid, Grace is back in the garage after getting a once over by McGregor Motorsport who have looked after my car since I started ownership, now I just have to give her the final clean before going in the container on the 22nd August, I did managed one more final run in her this weekend just gone and now its timeto deregisterd the car in NZ. I finish work on the 10th and leave on the 13th to the Gold Coast where I will stay with a mate for a couple of days, a side trip to Byron Bay is on the cards to check out a new Mctavish 9"6 longboard I have my eye on. Marg finishes work on the 17th and is staying on to pack the house up and then will join me in Brisbane on the 31st August. We have our eye on a 2009 Rubicon Jeep Wrangler and a Jayco Hawk off road popup camper, this will allow us to get away on weekends exploring the coast N & S of QLD. The board shorts and jandels (not sure what there called in the US maybe flipflops, thongs ??) have been brought out of hibernation so we are good to go for the warmer climate. Cheers Stephen Stephen, Sound like your going to enjoy QL and are looking forward to the move. Looking forward to reading about your adventures and seeing photos of your new environment. Here is how I transport my board with my 7. http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6549 Post Number 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Stephen - Good luck with the move. Having done 14 country moves before I can assure you that it will be a PIA. It does help that you are moving to a first world country where they (mostly) speak the same language. Some areas where I have had monumental fails in my moves: (a) Never try to ship a wine/beer/spirit collection - it always gets hammered with customs taxes as you just exceeded the duty free limit. (b) Dispose of your garbage in the trash and dont let some overexcited puppy of a mover pack it into a box and ship it. One it stinks everything out when you open the box at the other end and, two, worse, the customs guys freak out. © Do not try to ship your fireworks collection or the contents of your refrigerator, or Marg's beauty creams and lotions, or even the contents of your laundry cupboard. (d) Customs will always find the most embarrassing item of clothing you possess and ask "what is this?" (e) I assume the Aussie customs guys will want to wash your shoes, hiking boots, car, wardrobe in insecticide and disinfectant to kill those nasty diseases before you come into the country (no I am not joking!). (f) Label each box with the room it belongs in and the contents. There is nothing worse than trying to find bed sheets or parts of beds at midnight at the end of the move day. (g) Speaking of beds, never let a mover drain your waterbed prior to lifting it out of the bedroom. My downstairs UK neighbors did not like me for this. (h) Your ice axe, ice crampons and ski stocks will be mistaken for BDSM equipment with undesired customs attention. Keep smiling whatever happens - a cold beer always puts a good perspective on problems! :cooldude: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemtd Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Croc items d & h seem like sage advice... but my mischievous side thinks it could warrant procurement of decoy attire & accesories. p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 (edited) Stephen - Good luck with the move. Having done 14 country moves before I can assure you that it will be a PIA. It does help that you are moving to a first world country where they (mostly) speak the same language. Some areas where I have had monumental fails in my moves: (a) Never try to ship a wine/beer/spirit collection - it always gets hammered with customs taxes as you just exceeded the duty free limit. (b) Dispose of your garbage in the trash and dont let some overexcited puppy of a mover pack it into a box and ship it. One it stinks everything out when you open the box at the other end and, two, worse, the customs guys freak out. © Do not try to ship your fireworks collection or the contents of your refrigerator, or Marg's beauty creams and lotions, or even the contents of your laundry cupboard. (d) Customs will always find the most embarrassing item of clothing you possess and ask "what is this?" (e) I assume the Aussie customs guys will want to wash your shoes, hiking boots, car, wardrobe in insecticide and disinfectant to kill those nasty diseases before you come into the country (no I am not joking!). (f) Label each box with the room it belongs in and the contents. There is nothing worse than trying to find bed sheets or parts of beds at midnight at the end of the move day. (g) Speaking of beds, never let a mover drain your waterbed prior to lifting it out of the bedroom. My downstairs UK neighbors did not like me for this. (h) Your ice axe, ice crampons and ski stocks will be mistaken for BDSM equipment with undesired customs attention. Keep smiling whatever happens - a cold beer always puts a good perspective on problems! :cooldude: My Permit has arrived for my car so that is the last piece of this jigsaw puzzle and a load of my mind. As for (a) we drank it all with a :party: this weekend just gone, as with (h), Croc sounds like you have some experience with this Edited August 5, 2012 by KiwiBirkin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 Well we have arrived and are settled in to our new country, I arrived 4 weeks ago and Marg joined me last week after staying behind to tidy up the house sale and some other issues. Our container has not left NZ yet and leaves on the 26th Sept and arrives on the 9th Oct. We have purchased a stock 2007 JK Wrangler Jeep and love it, we looked at lots of cars but didn't want a boring tin box to sit in so picked the Jeep as it will be a fun car to own and gives us some options opposite to what the Lotus gives us. Loving the weather so far, QLD has been 41 days with out rain and clear blue skies and the winter temps have been about 5-7deg in the morning up to 20-25deg by late afternoon, temps are starting to creep up now with the arrival of spring. Grabbed a nice 9"6 long board but the surf has been flat since getting it :ack:, still its great to be able to sit on the beach in winter and swim in a mild 20deg sea temp, started to look at house's and have decided a pool and out door living area is a must have for us. Anyway a couple of pics from out new country of residence. The Jeep http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Aussie%20Holiday%20Nov%202011/aussie%20move/8072C285-4DDA-45BC-B2A0-0F607E32E4F4-4350-0000088FBB2F931A.jpg View from the Q1 tower of the Gold Coast http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Aussie%20Holiday%20Nov%202011/aussie%20move/D0E97A47-B81D-4E09-B96D-784F0C610779-9790-00000FFCA0C9F2E3.jpg Not a bad spot for a winters day. http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Aussie%20Holiday%20Nov%202011/aussie%20move/3DC773A1-F263-4FE5-858C-D78DA165E993-291-0000003EDE1DC005.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 Another shot of Noosa beach http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Aussie%20Holiday%20Nov%202011/aussie%20move/A00B8D56-BFEE-4FB2-8A15-F81686253138-291-0000003EE988557A.jpg Saw my first Seven on Sunday a 2004 Birkin http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Aussie%20Holiday%20Nov%202011/aussie%20move/9D4016C8-F296-443E-9F03-C417A71C4035-9790-00000FFC903360E0.jpg Having breakfast at one of the many Surf Life Saving Clubs along the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Aussie%20Holiday%20Nov%202011/aussie%20move/BB00737C-7AA8-4877-86F8-CE9E294008A7-291-0000003EA02127F9.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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