Devon, United Kingdom to Wellington, New Zealand 17 Jun 2010
Related articles
CASE STUDY: Stuart Birch, Patent Officer, now in Wellington, from Devon, UK
"The job prospects here are very encouraging - it seemed like a better way of life, while having all the advantages of home."
Twenty eight year-old Stuart Birch freely admits he's living a life in New Zealand which he simply couldn't afford back in the UK. What was intended to be a brief visit to New Zealand to cap off his overseas experience, turned into something more permanent, when Stuart realised the lifestyle on offer was something he couldn't pass up.
Stuart, from the county of Devon, reflects that if he had stayed in England he'd be "renting a bed-sit and living off creamed rice." He readily admits moving to Wellington has given him a life which he wouldn't be able to finance in England. "The wage here grants you a very good quality of life that you wouldn't have on an equivalent wage at home. I have a beautiful flat with a view – if I was in the UK I wouldn't be financially able to live as I do now."
Stuart arrived in New Zealand in March 2002, anticipating a brief holiday before moving on. "I'd spoken to a number of Kiwis travelling in Australia and Asia, and decided to give it a try." However, after receiving a job offer as a Mechanical Patent Officer for the Ministry of Economic Development, he decided to prolong his stay. His degree in product design and manufacture is particularly relevant as his job involves assessing the viability of patent applications. "Basically, people come to me with ideas for patents and I examine their application and decide whether the subject matter is patentable."
Realising he wanted to make his stay more permanent, Stuart submitted an application under the Skilled Migrant Category at the start of 2004. "Originally I was granted a work permit. After four months I received an invitation to apply for residence, and I got my residence in December 2004."
Today Stuart is taking full advantage of the outdoors opportunities his new home has on offer. A keen snowboarder, he's only four hours drive from Mount Ruapehu in the central North Island. Over Christmas and the New Year he hired a campervan and toured the beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula, finishing off his holiday at Lake Taupo. "The beauty of New Zealand is that it's not only unique, it's accessible. I hadn't meant to stay here – I fell in love with the beauty of the country."
"Before I left, my Dad said 'Don't come home before seeing New Zealand'. I think he regrets it now because I've never looked back."
Source: Immigration New Zealand
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more