Is there any way to get into New Zealand without having a degree?

[Linnet]

Fil has been offered a a 2 year contract for a job in South Africa. When he and his wife were telling us about it at the weekend his wife asked dh and I if we could move anywhere in the world where would it be?

We both said New Zealand but told her that we couldn't go as neither of us have a degree. Fil and wife were in Nz last year and she was saying how there were loads of jobs advertised and she met loads of British people working over there.

I think the people she was talking about must have been either residents or on a working holiday. it got me thinking so I looked it up out of interest but found that the working holiday is only available if you're between 18-30 and you can't take children with you. To apply for residency you need to have a degree or major qualifications in your job.

Dh and I don't have degrees, we don't have qualifications in our jobs as we started at the bottom and worked our way up and we have 2 children.

So does it look like we'd never be able to go live in New Zealand even for a year or two or is there a way round it based on work experience?

sorry for the long post but anybody know just out of interest?

Have you done the points calculation on the NZ immigration site? My BIL doesn't have a degree but his work experience has counted ... he can move here if he wanted to.

The family next door don't have any degrees and they are English, they have 3 teenage children.

What jobs do you do?

They are crying out for prison officers. a friend of mines brother and his wife have just gone. neither have degrees.

Dh is part of the management team in a restaurant, been there 13 years and worked his way up from waiter, no management qualification has ever been needed he was just promoted.

I work for my local council, I've been there 6 years. Before that I was a manager in a restaurant but again I started as a waitress and was promoted, but no management qualification.

Prison Officers, people who work on railways, nurses (especially mental health were they all seem to be British), radiographers, rest home workers, cops, airplane engineers...loads of areas.

For a temporary work permit you need to ;

Have an offer of a job from a New Zealand employer and are skilled in an occupation that?s in demand here

For work to residence you will need:

A genuine offer of full-time, ongoing employment from a New Zealand accredited employer* with a base salary of at least NZ$45,000 per annum

You get extra points for a job offer outside Auckland.

There does appear to be a sort of lottery for people who almost have enough points.

Sadly I don't think that restaurant work will be classed as in high demand. Wonder if we could persuade Dh's restaurant company to open a branch in NZ and we could go run it for them, lol
I know that won't happen though, shame really.
We'll just have to go for a nice holiday.

Are you in a position to buy a business?

Hi again, No we're not in a position to buy a business, but have been toying with the idea of starting something here and if it's successful then we'd have an avenue at looking to sell up and relocate. All just a pipe dream at the moment though but you never know.
thanks

Okay, what about a franchise - could you do that?

Just read your message. I am in Wellington and am reasonably familiar with immigration rules. Unemployment in NZ is practically nil and there is huge demand for all sorts of people regardless of whether they have degrees. Believe it or not chefs are on the skills shortage list - the service industry is big in NZ due to the importance of tourism. I'd have a look on a job website like www.trademe.co.nz and start sending in opportunistic applications (be honest that you have no work visa). If an employer is keen they will do the paperwork to get you a working visa here. The max period is 3 years but can be rolled over after that with support from employer. A degree is certainly not a prerequisite. Hope that helps!