Looking for Visa Help for New Zealand

Esqulax

I've tried a few channels, but I'm not getting too many replies, but If I'm anything, I'm persistent.

Ok, I'm planning to head to New Zealand. Ignore my current sig - I'm debt free (Besides finance on a Motorbike) and already have a few grand in savings.

I want to go to NZ, buy a motorbike and use that to tour the islands, while picking up work here and there.
To work casually in New Zealand I will need a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) - The traditional one is only available to 18-30 year olds. As I'm 33 (34 by the time I travel) I'm not eligible. I've read that in some circumstances it can be older, but that was a vague reference.
BUNAC (A working holiday company) have exclusive access to a different WHV called the IEP (International exchange Program) which is for upto 35yr olds.
They have allocated all of this years, and they all got allocated in 2 days.
The next lot will be available 'Umm... maybe the tail end of the year, start of next?'
Not a promising line of inquiry, considering they will need to take my passport for upto 2 months

I tried to get in touch with NZ immigration, but getting to their actual contact form was a pain, and even then, it didn't work.
Might try contacting the NZ embassy in the UK.
I hate being old! (And I'm not even old).
If anyone has any advice or experiences with this, I'd appreciate it greatly!

Voyager2002

Advice: do this trip in Europe while you still can. Or just save up so that you won't need to work in NZ.

agrinnall

One tip, don't refer to the NZ Embassy in the UK, it's a High Commission.

tykesi

No advice on the visa situation but I did exactly what you're planning to do (except I didn't need to work in the end but wish I had). It's an amazing experience, enjoy!

Esqulax

@Voyager2002 - I'm ok with Europe, as I am an Irish citizen (Have an Irish passport), although been resident in the UK for about 20 years.

@Agrinnall - I don't know what you mean by 'High Commission'

@Tykesi - I know! I can't wait. I did a WHV in Australia for 6 months about 10 years ago. My ONLY regret was not taking budgeting seriously while out there, and had to come back earlier than planned.

The recommended budget - Based on my experiences and also a bit of current research - is that if I don't work, I'll need about £1k per month I'm away. That covers accommodation, food, drinking and the odd trip. coupled with the other costs needed (Flight, cost of bike etc) I'm looking at needing to save about 9 or 10k for a 6-month trip. Thats do-able, but I'd rather have that as a backup and/or use it to enable me to travel onward after NZ is done, which is why I'm trying so hard to get a WHV.
I think the most frustrating part is the lack of dates. If I knew the date that the IEP visas were next available, I can get my flights booked and start planning some sort of itinerary.
I know that I'd like to visit Dubai on the way, as I have a couple of friends out there, and also hit Fiji too. Going on, perhaps TEFL in China or Korea or an American Summer camp, depending on the dates.
The more things I say, the more expensive it gets, So I'm gonna try my hardest to gain the ability to work!

agrinnall

Esqulax wrote: »

@Agrinnall - I don't know what you mean by 'High Commission'

Commonweath countries don't have an embassy and an ambassador in other Commonwealth countries, they have a High Commission and a High Commissioner. They serve a similar purpose but it's a subtly different function.

MoneySaver83

Esqulax - I'm 33, 34 when I travel and am also on the waiting list for this years IEP. I'd like to get to new Zealand in Feb/March next year.

When are you hoping to travel?

I've next backpacked before and am slightly nervous that I'll be the only older person doing it. Glad to see someone else my age doing it too!

Esqulax

Brilliant! Well, Hopefully we can stay in touch over the year, and have a beer in Aukland!
Backpacking is great. It's not for everyone, but if you keep an open mind it can be mind-blowing. I don't mean in a hippy 'Spiritual way', more... Well, if some friends you just made invite you on a road trip... Theres literally nothing stopping you from going.
Don't get me wrong, if you are into the spiritual stuff, fill yer boots!

I think the older backpack needs to also readjust perspectives aswell. Sleeping in a hostel with 7 other people in the room, making the cheapest food possible, drinking at breakfast... It's all stuff that we grew out of, but thats the backpacker culture - Very like student culture in the UK, just more adventurous.

If thinking about the trip gives you happy butterflies in your stomach (Or butterfree - Pokemon Go! anyone?) then you will love it!

ABARKIE

Plenty of work in Queenstown I would imagine

Beautiful place

Auckland becoming very expensive for rent

Based upon visit in May and friends living there

Hope that helps

Esqulax

Thanks Abarkie, I'm not too worried about finding work, as I found it pretty straightforward when I was in Oz. My concern is getting a visa to be allowed to work.
I've kept at it though, but keep hitting brick walls.
They don't know when the IEP will be available, and that's the only way I can work casually in New Zealand.

I'm formulating a plan, although it may be a bit risky as it involves posting a passport across the world.

dondo

ABARKIE wrote: »

Plenty of work in Queenstown I would imagine

Beautiful place

Auckland becoming very expensive for rent

Based upon visit in May and friends living there

Hope that helps

We travelled around NZ last year on holiday- seemed plenty of foreign workers in Queenstown- heard a lot of Irish accents too