NZ MIGRANT EXPO
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: Starting out in Auckland : A solo Filipina's perspective |
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Hi JPE
Can we publish your topic in our Migrant Handbook which we are putting together for new migrants to New Zealand? We also publish www.pinoy.net.nz and organise the www.migrantexpo.co.nz and www.fiestapilipinas.co.nz
Looking forward to your reply to: pinoy.net.nz@xtra.co.nz
Maraming selamat po
S Mariano
| jpe wrote: | Hi everyone,
It's been a while since I posted on this forum. Sorry, I was preoccupied with starting up my life here in Auckland since I arrived on 19th October. It's been really tough and I learned a lot from the experience, so I thought I'd share some insights from a Filipina without either a relative/friend, a home or a job, & not to mention, with only limited funds, coming here all by herself. Arrived with just 1 luggage, not knowing what to expect.
Accommodation
I arrived here with no place to live so I booked 1 week at the Ponsonby Backpackers Home. You get the 7th day free. Got the cheapest room (didn't feel comfortable sharing) of ~$35 per night, approx ~3sq m. Very basic - it may seem pathetic by Philippine standards staying in a such a small place, but hey, anything goes here. I didn't mind as long as I was comfy. The place is very clean and the owners, Diana and Yoshi, Kiwi and Korean, respectively, are very helpful and kind - giving me tips on how to get to places. Ponsonby is a lovely area with lots of cottages, just a 15-20 min steady walk to the CBD (Central Business District).
It took me days and miles and miles of walking to search for a flat/apartment/unit. The best place to start is the NZ Herald - Wednesday and Friday when you get the most ads. Better to view this online so you can save - their newspapers here are bulky, too. Unfortunately, most of the ads are posted by agents so you'll end up with the rent cost, the letting fee, and sometimes, the agent's fee as well. It's worthwhile to view the properties, the vicinity and the transportation. If you have kids, school should be a primary consideration, too. I was more concerned with living as far away from the city as possible, but with access to transportation. Other considerations were enough privacy, a courtyard/garden, lots of windows,2 bedroom and preferably separate kitchen. Why 2 bedroom? The landlords I've spoken to set a maximum number of tenants - which would pose a problem if family members visit. If you see really cheap 2 bedroom apartments in CBD, they're most likely be the ones designed for the Asian students of which major influx happened in the early 90's. I found them too small for my taste. And I was fed up of living in the city anyway. So, in desperation, I subscribed to HomeAds so I can get away with agents' fee and deal with the landlords directly. It's just a $100 annual membership which was fine to me as I expect to be moving around until I finally settle in anyway. So if you're in a search for a place to live, I can share this service with you. I get regular updates from them, it will spare you of the agents and letting fee. Just let me know how I can help.
You should also check the neighborhood where you want to be. A local told me to avoid places like Otahuhu, Mangere and Otara. These are middle-lower class places. I've been around Otahuhu - it can be compared to our Divisoria, Chinatown in Manila. You'll read a lot of gangster problems in those areas. These areas you'll witness more poverty and graffitti. If you're into Ayala Alabang type of areas, then go for Mt. EDen, One Tree Hill, Royal Oak, Remuera, Epsom, Mt. Wellington, and others. But those places I've mentioned, I have already seen. However, rent is higher. I chose one that's in an old and peaceful town, pretty much a retirement place - Onehunga.
Now, I'm pretty settled in my new home, here in Onehunga, a 45 min bus ride to CBD. It's quite an old fashioned 2 bedroom house. It needs a lot of work (paint falling out, bat cave garden, etc), but I've fallen in love with this new place. The kitchen attracted me the most; I have my own garden and tiny courtyard to dry my laundry (save electricity from using dryer), separate old fashioned kitchen and living room. It came unfurnished except for the only whiteware - the electric stove/oven. It's not bad for a $220 per week rent.
I moved in on 27th October, so you can imagine the panic to buy the basic necessities - a bed. After paying my 4 week bond and 1st week rent to my landlord, I rushed to the nearest furniture shop called Otahuhu Auctions. An Auction shop that sells 2nd hand stuff. Immediately purchased a sofa bed, a desk, a chair, washing machine, and a fridge - all 2nd hand, costing around $800. The only brand new stuff I bought were the doormats which cost $3 each. I befriended the owner, a Kiwi, and his partner. They were kind enough to drop the items at my place so I didn't have to sleep on the floor on my first night. And upon learning that I'm an IT consultant searching for a job, offered me to help install, implement and teach them a software they bought, MYOB (Mind Your Own Business) accounting system, to help run their business. I was delighted to find a temporary job, more to keep me busy. But I'll talk about jobs later.
When I arrived, it was late Spring. I underestimated the cold. My home didn't have central heating and I didn't buy a heater, so you can imagine me huddled in the sofa bed without a blanket all night, gritting my teeth to survive the cold. It was approx 20 degrees celsius. It was cooler inside the house than outside at daytime. The following day, I almost cried when I saw the eggs frozen, along with my vegetables inside the fridge. Everything I placed inside my fridge was frozen. Learned my lesson to keep the veggies and eggs outside.
Utilities
Another thing you should keep in mind when you move is the utility service. Although there was power (electricity) in the home, I had to ring them to transfer the account to my name. I had to find out who the provider was first. YOu can ring any electricity provide i.e. Empower and they can find out where the account of the home is. Take note - make sure you write down the meter reading when you arrive. I forgot to do this, and it's only 3 days after that I gave them my meter reading. Here, you not only deal with the electric provider, but also the transmission provider. In Manila you only have to deal with Meralco, not Napocor. Here though, although the transmission costs are incorporated in your power costs, the provider of the transmission will stay in touch with you as well, just in case you have problems with the transmission. So it's like talking to both Meralco and Napocor. I created my account by phone, so no initial cash outlay. All dues will be on the first billing. A bond and 1st month due are expected.
Another thing was the phone. A lot of transactions here are done by phone. So it pays to have good English. I had to ring Telecom to activate the line. Fortunately, I didn't have to get it installed for it's been there already - which saved me around $99 installation fee. In this case, it's very fast, you can get connected in 2-3 days. For instance, I applied on a Thursday, I had an active phone line the following day. I had to buy my own phone though - which was only $40. Telecom also supplies phones but I found them more expensive. It helps to shop around to get the best deal. When you set up an account with Telecom, you're expected to pay a bond and the monthly service, all due on your first billing.
During my stay in Ponsonby, I immediately purchased a cellphone from Vodafone. It the best way for potential employers to contact me wherever I was. Texting here is very common, so we Filipinos have an edge  Phone calls are very expensive though. It costs me $2 for each phone call, or maybe I just miscalculated that. Also, when you load up your prepaid account (here they prepay), you call that 'top up'. So if you want to 'buy a load' as we would say in Manila, you want to 'top up your pre pay'. IT seems the costs for texting locally and internationally are the same. It was how I stayed in touch with my family back in Manila.
Internet is also a common means of communication and transactions here. Almost everything can be done over the internet. I subscribed to Telecom's broadband service, got a good deal of $39.95 per month (the cheapest), time unlimited, but limited to 1GB of download. They request for a bond though ($90), due next billing. Their service is efficient, because I was already a TElecom phone subscriber, they activated my broadband in 3 working days, also giving me temporary free dial up service. If you have a laptop, go for the Plan 100 which comes with the wireless network card, allowing you to hook up anytime anywhere in NZ.
Transportation
Just like in any other city, it's hard to get around without your own car. I didn't have the luxury of having a friend or relative to drive me around either. Worse, it's left hand side driving!! So that's a major consideration. I survived though, thanks to my stamina, walking, walking, walking.
The bus system here is very good (by Philippine standards). There are bus schedules and different routes in the CBD and nearby suburbs, ferries to North Shore and trains to other destinations. The key here is to understand how to use the system. Buses at times arrive either late or early. So you have to give some allowance for your trip. While this seems to be efficient, it's not as convenient as the bus system in the Philippines where you almost have lots of choices at any point in time, because we don't follow schedules . Here, the bus system is called Maxx. You can either phone, text or browse on the internet (http://regan.maxxdesign.co.nz/). They can also provide tiny booklets of various routes and bus schedules. I suggest that this early, you orient yourselves with this system. Initially, I didn't plan my daily trips well enough so I spent a day checking out only 2 apartments, maximum, which was not productive at all. I became wiser, so I grouped the apartments by vicinity and studied the buses routes. I texted the MAXX system and a computer would reply back on the times and the route number of the bus. I didn't know at first that it was a computer, so I texted it with a lengthy description of my destination. MAXX texted back ' Sorry, I'm a computer, please text your bus route number, street number, etc, etc.'
At first I didn't know how to ride a bus. I stood there a the bus stop one time and my bus just drove past me. A woman told me I had to flag them down. I wanted to cry because the next bus was due 45 mins later and it was getting dark. Had no choice but to huddle in the bus stop in 20 degrees celsius. Getting around the CBD is convenient though. There is the Link bus, it's called. It just goes around the city - just like the Makati bus (forgot what it's called). And standard fare is $1.50.
Oh, there are ways to save on commuting. Just find out the details when you get here. If you are a frequent commuter, just get a monthly rider card and 'top up' if you run out. Here, when you get on the bus, you pay first. Even if it takes ages for each and every passenger to get on, each pays the bus driver upon getting on. You either pay cash or use your rider card. The bus driver has a ticketing machine. You only have tell him how many stage (or leg) you need, he punches some buttons and a ticket is issued. Upon getting off, it's common courtesy to thank the bus driver. People getting off from the back, just shout, 'Thank you driver!!' Students and old people alike do that. It's good practice to greet the bus driver when you step into the bus though. Here, it's normal to treat each and everyone with respect, regardless of the profession. Inside the bus, just be aware of areas that are meant for the elderly and disabled. Also, here, although bus drivers would be willling to take or drop passengers at non bus stop areas upon request, it's better to be picked up or dropped off at the designated bus stops so as not to disrupt the scheduled service. Watch out for tiny box signs on some posts indicating bus stops. There, you can hail any bus that drives along. DRivers here are just as good as drivers back home People drive fast around here. Most people respect the traffic rules though.
Another note when taking buses, they drive on the left hand side of the road. Make sure you take a map along with you. For instance, on several occasions, I would wait on the wrong side of the road, so instead of heading North, I always head South (and that made me go places outside of the city). Same with trains. Make sure you are waiting on the correct side of the road to get to your destination. If unsure, just ask the bus driver. People don' tmind if you ask around here.
If you want to orient yourself with a the left hand side driving, a good way is to sit on the first row, so you can get a feel of the driving and know your bearing as well. It helped me a lot. Quite confusing but it was effective. When I rented a car over a weekend (to do groceries and minor shopping for the house), it came out naturally. Occassionally though, I found myself turning on the wiper instead of the indicator (signal light they call it here). Be sure that you read the driving and parking rules before you drive around here. The Philippine driver's license is valid for 1 year here. Then you can contact AA to apply for a driver's license. You should take time to orient yourself with the directions of where you're headed. The car rental company would be happy to lend you an AA driving map. As the manager advised me, when I was too nervous to even start, it's mind driving. Just keep your focus and as another friend advised me, make sure your side is in the middle of teh road. Keeping that in mind while driving will ensure that you're driving on the right side of the road. Such tips are helpful.
If you want to buy a car, which everyone would advise that you do upon arrival, go for the 2nd hand first just to save. Lots and lots of choices around here. People seem to replace their cars upon release of a new model. You get lots of ads through circulars every weekend. Another source is Trade & Exchange (http://www.te.co.nz/TEProject/general/) ad paper, it's just like our Buy & Sell in Manila. Or the most popular right now is the Trade me Auction website (http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/login.asp) which functions just like eBay, online auctioning. I got my ADSL modem for only $50 from this site.  Now I'm bidding for a queen sized bed and a 2nd hand car.
I tried to apply for financing but the finance companies I talked with disqualified me as soon as they learned I'm not a resident. Some would allow you if you give an agreed minimum deposit.
Banking
Not much to tell about this as I didn't shop around for rates. I just needed a bank account and based on the feedback I've read on forums and a friend, ASB is best as they have branches in the UK, I saw on in Singapore as well. It's also part of the Cirrus network so you can even withdraw your money from Metrobank using ASB, however, the transaction fee fro ATM withdrawal is $7.00 which is pretty expensive. It's either you come here with your cash or have bank transfers. I read somewhere that HSBC makes this easier. They can transfer HSBC accounts to HSBC here. Just shop around and see the bank that suits your best interest.
Credit cards is hard to get though. ASB required me a $5,000 deposit which I didn't have at the time, so I ended up using my Manila Citibank credit card. Here, their debit card system is called EFTPOS. You can use your ATM EFTPOS card in majority of stores, even the simple Tip Top stores (in Manila, the sari-sari stores) have EFTPOS machines. I only came across a couple of Chinese restaurants that only accept cash.
I met a Filipina banker in ASB Onehunga and she gave me a lot of helpful hints on managing my finances. Among her tips is to make sure you establish a good credit standing in a bank so you can loan out for housing and autos soon. She's been here in NZ for 6 years. She said, here, it is common to have loans. Vendors are, most of often than not, more than willing to give you loans and financing - before you know it, you have a lot of debts to pay.
Basic necessities & practical living
With regard to where you can buy cheap stuff, there are lots of options. If you want really fresh veggies and fruits at a cheapest price, Pak N Save, is a place to go. It's like our SM department stores in Manila, or Makro. But quality is very good. Another common option is Foodtown, although just yesterday, I compared prices, and Pak N Save still turns out cheaper. Veggies and fruits here are delightful and at a cheap price. It really feels so heavenly to eat home made salads and veggies. Asparagus, mushrooms, broccoli are very cheaper, comparable to the prices in Manila. Meat here is excellent. They don't shrink like the meat in Manila and are tastier than those in the US. They say that The Mad Butcher is where you can find the cheapest meat. Have not visited those as yet because I don' thave a car, but will surely do one of these days. I buy my meat from Pak N Save. The fish is expensive. There is a fish market and small fish shops around town. YOu might want to shop around and see which are most inexpensive.
When it comes to home improvement, accessories, and utilities, The Warehouse is a place to go -just like SM. I bought my brooms, dustpan, kitchen cutleries, etc from there. There's also K Mart and other places worth checking out. One stop shops are not as common as in Manila. Shops here are specialty stores, just like in the US. And of course, if you want the Divisoria, Asian products, imported from China, it's worth visiting the Otahuhu town centre. You can see products from China and from the Pacific Islands. You also get to see more Maoris and other Pacific Islanders there. There is a huge Asian food court if you are craving for Asian food. Lots of Chinese with their own Chinese run stores. Indians are very common here too. They run a lot of businesses.
If you have shipment, it makes sense to ship products from Manila as you can save a lot upon arrival here. If you convert the costs to Peso currency, You're still better off using your old kitchen stuff from Manila. The key here is to know where to find the cheap stuff.
Job hunting
Which I considered the most important such that I went to an interview the following day to my arrival in Auckland. Yep, I jumped right into interviews - 2 interviews a day for the 1st week and up to now, no offer. Most of the recruiting goes through agents. The ads that you see on SEEK IT seem promising but it's a different story when you get here. As I am marketing myself as an IT SAP project manager, and seeking either that or a Business Analyst role, it's quite tough. I was feeling really despondent last week because no progress in all my applications. Either the process is slow, I'm over qualified, or I'm underqualified. The fact is, the demand for my skills is there, but it's the lean period for recruiting. Two agents have told me that this is not a good time to apply, thru December - January months. People do tend to move from one job to another so January season is a good time to apply. A Kiwi told me that here in NZ, people generally jump from one company to another, unlike in Japan where people work for a company for life. Also, the recruiting process here takes a long time. Another Indian confirmed that to me. One of the agents told me, you'd need at least 4 weeks to get hired - well that is, if you go through a recruiting agency. Otherwise, you could get one directly.
Fortunately, I had lowered my expectations prior to coming here so low that I am willing to take on whatever job there is. There are lot of jobs around, don't get me wrong. Some jobs though require you to have NZ experience, which I personally think is irrelevant in IT since the IT standards are the same globally. If you're in IT, by the way, you should make sure you get Microsoft or Java certifications or work experience. Web programming is very hot here too. And data warehouse or Business Intelligence.
Lots of jobs around - in sales, office administration, call centre, and helpers. The key to survival is not to be choosy. YOu can temp while on a permanent job search. Last night, I found some opportunities in farm helping to be appealing. It's a great idea because I have not seen the countryside since I've arrived. I'd have yet to see the beauty that NZ offers. And farm volunteering is an option. Check out www.fhinz.co.nz. There are lots of seasonal jobs around - like strawberring picking and other stuff. Lots of volunteer jobs, too. Filipinos will not have a problem because we speak very good English. I think NZ will soon realize at the strong potential we Filipinos bring into this country.
When you apply for a job, make your CV presentable. Bring your passport with you at all times as you would sometimes need to supply a copy of your passport front page as well as the work visa. The agents are very helpful, they'll give you interview tips and other advice on improving your CVs. They key is to find right agent. Don't ask me as I have yet to see the results of my applications to know who's best. They've all been very helpful, it's just that it's taking such a long time. Note also, that some of the agents only deal with the HR of companies, so in most cases, applicants are all piled up and ignored if you don't have the key points that HR is looking for. Good to find an agent that has contacts directly with the line managers. Also, when you sign up with a recruiting agent, you will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. AGents will ask you the companies you've already applied for. Most of them tell me how they hate it when their applicants, upon finding out which companies they are lined up for, would apply to the companies directly. YOu have to respect that agreement with them. Let them do the applications for you when you sign up with them.
Well except for the temporary job the the furniture owners offered me, I am not really in the position to give solid advice regarding job applications. I'm in the dark at the moment, and will be a bum starting Monday. Agents discouraged me from seeking temporary jobs because companies may hesitate to hire you if you're already hired.
So anyway, wish me luck on the job hunt.
Support
As soon as I arrived, I tried to contact the KIT officer listed on our letter from NZIS. Unfortunately, I didn't find my officer helpful as she required me to find a more permanent address because I was staying at the backpackers at the time. I subscribed for a 3 month mailbox at the Travel Contact centre that was suggested on the Backpack New Zealand Forum site, however, the KIT officer didn't acknowledge that, too. It was only when I transferred to this new home that I was entertained and my profile updated on the NZIS database. I was told to expect a welcome pack but have not received it as yet. I tried to apply to the Kiwi Ora programme but that too failed because they only serve immigrants - with permanent resident visa. I was extremely disappointed because all the practical things I needed at the time, I had to learn by myself, painstakingly.
If you ask me why I didn't contact other Filipino Kiwi wannabes, I guess I was too proud. I wanted to go through the transition process myself. My mind was very open and I figured I'd be more receptive if I jump into life here by myself instead of having my comfort zone. It also helped me blend into the society faster. Now, people think I'm a local. They can hardly believe that I've been here only for 3.5 weeks. I know my way around and can talk to anyone. I don't fear the streets, or even the bus stations in Otahuhu or Mangere. I feel I can go anywhere I want - up to the end of NZ and feel safe. I still keep my light on at night though . Perhaps it's living for 2 years in the US, 6 months in Nigeria and other countries by myself that I learned to adjust fast. However, it does take courage to get into the state I am now. Most of the Asian migrants who come here are couples or families or have families here. It's uncommon to find someone like me - a solo immigrant.
I have survived, yes. However, I still advise you to seek temporary accommodation with someone you know here to help you get started. Going through the process as I did is expensive and at the moment, I'm pretty broke, but a lot of character now . Once I'm fully settled in, I'd be most happy to help out and accommodate you. Will let you know.
Others
I came across a question on permanent address requirement for banks and IRD. No, you don't need a permanent address. I set up my account with ASB using th ePonsonby Backpackers address. I used the Travel Contact Centre address for applying IRD. I had no problems whatsoever, it's only with the NZIS that I did. I was also told that a work-to-residence visa does entitle you to get approval for permanent residency after 3 months, but you still have to go through the EOI process again. It confuses me but not to be bothered at the moment as I have more pressing things to tackle. Will figure that out after three months when I'm settled in.
People here are very, very friendly. I was turned off when I arrived because I was in the city. The farther you are from the city, the kinder people are - Maoris and NZ Pakeha (the British descendants) are. I've been offered rides by a number of people at the bus stops or when they see me walking with lots of groceries. It's relatively safe here. A Kiwi told me that here, people don' thave pick pocket skills so you're not likely to encounter pickpockets. Best to keep watch of your belongings though, especially in the rough areas where there are occurrences of people snatching your bag - in the Otahuhu, Mangere areas I think (although I can be mistaken). Here, people leave their car doors open. People are very helpful here. I started feeling so much at home on my 3rd day. Children aren't shy, they greet, smile and genuinely say hello, especially in the suburbs. It's a very relaxed atmosphere. Don't be disappointed when you encounter rude people in the city though. People are in a rush in CBD - it's just like in Singapore. You'd sometimes find the migrants themselves unfriendly at first. That's just an observation. Not everyone though. YOu have to be outgoing yourself - talk to people, just talk - about the weather, about yourself. Who knows what information you can find. For instance, I complained about the sun here to the attendant of the car rental company (when he dropped me off at the CBD upon returning the car) and he advised me to put sunblock lotion every 2 hours under the sun, and pure aloe vera gel to sunburn. Truly effective. Oh I forgot to mention - put sunblock here - the Ozone layer is thinner and the sun truly hurts - it's like being in a desert. Manila is hotter, but here, you can feel the direct heat of the sun. STrangely though, the wind is cold, so you can't help but wear sweaters on a sunny day.
Oh, the community centres are great here. You have free access to the community libraries. They're networked. I applied for a card for free. YOu can book books, DVDs online. You check out your items by yourselves, too.
Hope my experience will help you a bit. I don't have a job next week so if there is anything you'd like me to research on, I'd be most happy to help as best as I can. Most information can be found on the web though, but I'd be happy to guide you. I am still in the learning mode myself but will try to share as much information as I can.
In the meantime, to help prepare yourselves, read up on what's going on here in Auckland. Be informed - it'll help you in the transition process. Increase your awareness and get a feel of the environment you're going to be in. Helpful sites :
www.aucklandstuff.co.nz
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz
seasonal work
www.alphajobs.co.nz
www.worldwideworkers.com
www.seasonalwork.co.nz
While I have yet to explore the natural beauty of NZ, nature is not far at all. Just take a ferry to Devonport from Auckland Viaduct, you'll be captured with awe by the beauty of the islands and the water. A pleasant feeling when your ferry is surrounded by yachts and speedboats. Auckland is truly the city of sails. The water at the bay is very clean - you won't smell the Manila Bay scent at all. Just last week, there was a triathlon competition from the Viaduct to the Devonport. People swam along with the ferries. And thousands participated. I couldn't, I'm too scared to swim in open water. When you visit the quaint and lovely Devonport, make sure you visit the North Head. You'll have a beautiful view of Auckland. Just a pick a spot. A walk along the beachfront is soothing as well. You'll be surrounded by familiies and children who fearlessly jump into the water anywhere, or build sandcastles. It seems you can swim anywhere here. There is a strong sense of close family ties here, even in Auckland!! Oh, I have not seen a single sheep since I've arrived. That's my next goal.
Also, I have not had any problem with my language. American English or Filipino English is okay - you can get by and be easily understood. Just speak slowly. If you have trouble understanding - Auckland is very cosmopolitan - you'll talk to Kiwi English and Non Kiwi Non English speakers, just ask them to elaborate or repeat just to ensure that communication is clear. To help you prepare, watch the Australian and BBC channels in Manila. Those English accents come close to NZ accent, though not exact. For instance, their seven here sounds siven. Park sounds and is said as Pahk!! yes, with exclamation mark. Eight is like Ayt. The letter 'R' like British english is silent when preceeded by a vowel (I think )).
To those who are patiently and impatiently waiting for their WTR visas, do be patient. Behind everything is a reason. Perhaps it's God's way of telling you that now's not the right time to come here i.e. job hunting season, etc. Trust in God's will. He knows what best for you. And He will surely lead you the way. He has been to me.
All the best.
jpe |
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haayy, buti pa si JPE may work na, ako wala pang scheduled interview... 
