New Zealand Class

[Graham798]

Hi

Sorry if this has already been asked, but I'm moving to New Zealand next month and will be looking to transfer my Class 1 to a NZ class 5, my understanding is that I need to have a medical and then pass a multiple choice Class 5 theory test, is this still the case?.

[Banquo]

Hi Graham,

This was still the case last January as i was over there , changed my class one for a class 5. Will need a medical and take multi choice test at any VTNZ testing station, there are 35 questions of which you will need 33 to pass. you can go through all the questions on line, so learn them off by heart. i also did a days course on log books which was useful.
There seems to be plenty of driving work , see the trade me nz website ,for jobs. I drove for linfox out of auckland but be aware the hours are long and most set ups are truck and trailer. if you're going to the south island i've be told there is plenty of work in Christchurch.

good luck

bq

[Trucker Rick]

Are truckers still on the jobs list

[Graham798]

Are truckers still on the jobs list

Hi

Not sure, I've managed to get a visa with my wife as she is a nurse.

[prefix]

Are truckers still on the jobs list

Yes, partially.

Class5 is still on CSSL, in other words you can still get work permit in Canterbury

When it comes to changing license, all I had to do was theory test, that was about 1,5yrs ago

[Trucker Rick]

Im class 1.Im told driving has been removed from occupation list.And that you don't have to do a theory test its olny people that come from countrys that carnt read English

[prefix]

Im class 1.Im told driving has been removed from occupation list.And that you don't have to do a theory test its olny people that come from countrys that carnt read English

Class5 IS still in CSSL-list, like I just recently wrote..

Transport Truck Driver (General) (733111) NZ recognised Full Class 4 or 5 Driver Licence
AND
a minimum of three years’ experience driving heavy rigid (gross laden weight of more than
18,000kg) or heavy combination (gross combined weight of more than 25,000kg) vehicles

You DO have to sit theory test if you wanna convert to NZ Class5 license

You do have to sit a theory test if:

you have a licence from a country not listed above, or
you are converting a heavy vehicle licence from any country.

[Trucker Rick]

Im class 1.Im told driving has been removed from occupation list.And that you don't have to do a theory test its olny people that come from countrys that carnt read English

Class5 IS still in CSSL-list, like I just recently wrote..

Transport Truck Driver (General) (733111) NZ recognised Full Class 4 or 5 Driver Licence
AND
a minimum of three years’ experience driving heavy rigid (gross laden weight of more than
18,000kg) or heavy combination (gross combined weight of more than 25,000kg) vehicles

You DO have to sit theory test if you wanna convert to NZ Class5 license

You do have to sit a theory test if:

you have a licence from a country not listed above, or
you are converting a heavy vehicle licence from any country.

Hi mate

How recent is this because im told this has been removed and when I look on the jobs list it was gone.Also a lot of truckers say they don't now anyone that has successfully moved over to NZ because its not a trade.If I could emergrate on a permanent basis I would do it

[ORC]

My understanding is that HGV driver was removed from the NZ national skills shortage list back in about February 2014.

However, Canterbury has put HGV driver on their regional critical shortage list because they still have a lot of cleaning up and rebuilding to do after the earthquakes. Note, though, that I don't think the Canterbury visa would lead to eligibility for permanent residency, it will only ever be temporary.

I am no expert, I may have got it wrong, but that is my current understanding. I remain hopeful that the NZ government might return HGV driver to their shortage list at some stage, as I am still seeing reports that their trucking industry is in trouble and local recruitment is not working to deliver enough drivers as the government intended.

[Banquo]

According to the NZ immigration site trucking is now off the long term and immediate skills shortage lists however you can still apply for an Essential skills visa for Canterbury-see below
Of course if you are under 30 years of age you can apply for a working visa


TRUCK DRIVER (GENERAL) is on the following lists:

Canterbury skill shortage list click to collapse contents


GENERAL
Required standard
NZ recognised Full Class 4 or 5 Driver Licence
AND
a minimum of three years’ experience driving heavy rigid (gross laden weight of more than 18,000kg) or heavy combination (gross combined weight of more than 25,000kg) vehicles

Related visa: Essential Skills
If you meet the above requirements and have a job offer in the Canterbury region then you may be eligible to apply for an Essential Skills temporary work visa. The duration of the visa depends on the term of your job offer and labour market conditions. Essential Skills work visas are intended to fill temporary skill gaps, so they do not lead directly to a residence application (however many of the occupations are eligible for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category).

Banquo

[Trucker Rick]

What a bummer.If it comes back on the list I will be straight over

[prefix]

Class5 is still on the list, but only on the Canterbury list. So you can still get a work permit in here.

Another thing is that our occupation doesn't take you any closer to residency but you never know, might end up with kiwi chick..

[Trucker Rick]

A lot of people reckon that class 5 is gonna go back on the skills list at some point

[gorrington]

G'day fellas. I'm on a 12 month work visa in Christchurch. Been here in NZ nearly three years. Most of the that time was spent working in Auckland, then they took truck driving off the skills list so had to move down to Christchurch. There's plenty of work here and to exchange your class 1 for a NZ class 5 is very easy, quick medical and a 35 question test on a computer, mostly common sense questions, easy, takes ten minutes. I've talked to the minister for immigration here and there are NO plans to put truck driving back on the shortage list NZ wide. You have to work in the Canterbury region which includes Christchurch.
It's long hours and about equivalent pay to the UK. A lot of the work is truck and trailer which can be tricky to reverse. But practice makes perfect. They're desperate for drivers in Christchurch, why not give it a go? After 25 years in London I'll never leave NZ.

[ORC]

After 25 years in London I'll never leave NZ.

How do you plan on staying? Isn't the Christchurch situation temporary visa only with no route to Permanent Residency?

[gorrington]

They'll be re building Christchurch for a long time to come.. You can get work to residency in some circumstances. The easiest way is just to hook up with a Kiwi woman . It's the natural course of things really. You live anywhere and you meet a woman. Whether it be here or back in the UK.

[gorrington]

Hi mate, only been down in Christchurch for three months myself. I'm looking for a new job myself. Was working for a demolition company, had a row with them on the last day before Christmas. Plenty of work about tho... Wages seem to be around the $24 an hour mark. Accommodation is expensive. I'm living about half an hours drive North of Christchurch, place called Rangiora. Renting a little one bed unit $300 a week all in.
As you will know, the Kiwis expect you to work up to the maximum hours allowed. DON'T work for a company called Rangiora Transport... I worked for them for a week.. Mon - Fri I did 80hrs driving really [zb] old trucks for $21 flat rate an hour. Never again.
Christchurch itself is nowhere near as good as Auckland, I lived in Auckland for two years. Since the earthquakes there's not much left of the centre of Christchurch, not really a lot of nightlife about. I like going out for a few beers, you end up drinking local.
I lived in London for 25 years prior to coming to NZ and for it's few faults I'd still choose NZ over London any day...
Let me know how you're getting on..
Simon.

[robinhood_1984]

Hi mate, only been down in Christchurch for three months myself. I'm looking for a new job myself. Was working for a demolition company, had a row with them on the last day before Christmas. Plenty of work about tho... Wages seem to be around the $24 an hour mark. Accommodation is expensive. I'm living about half an hours drive North of Christchurch, place called Rangiora. Renting a little one bed unit $300 a week all in.
As you will know, the Kiwis expect you to work up to the maximum hours allowed. DON'T work for a company called Rangiora Transport... I worked for them for a week.. Mon - Fri I did 80hrs driving really [zb] old trucks for $21 flat rate an hour. Never again.
Christchurch itself is nowhere near as good as Auckland, I lived in Auckland for two years. Since the earthquakes there's not much left of the centre of Christchurch, not really a lot of nightlife about. I like going out for a few beers, you end up drinking local.
I lived in London for 25 years prior to coming to NZ and for it's few faults I'd still choose NZ over London any day...
Let me know how you're getting on..
Simon.

At least you get paid by the hour, so you're already a hundred years ahead of Canada in who's the most Victorian in the employment condition league. If you earned 80 times $21NZD then thats 1680NZD which according to xe.com is 1521 Canadian dollars. I could easily do 80 of actual duty time here and come nowhere close to that due to mileage pay and while I do get pick and drop money and waiting time if all sorts of criteria are met, I wouldn't be able to match your wage. That is bloody expensive for a one room flat though. What are the wages like in Auckland and other big cities compared to the cost of living?

[prefix]

Hi mate, only been down in Christchurch for three months myself. I'm looking for a new job myself. Was working for a demolition company, had a row with them on the last day before Christmas. Plenty of work about tho... Wages seem to be around the $24 an hour mark. Accommodation is expensive. I'm living about half an hours drive North of Christchurch, place called Rangiora. Renting a little one bed unit $300 a week all in.
As you will know, the Kiwis expect you to work up to the maximum hours allowed. DON'T work for a company called Rangiora Transport... I worked for them for a week.. Mon - Fri I did 80hrs driving really [zb] old trucks for $21 flat rate an hour. Never again.
Christchurch itself is nowhere near as good as Auckland, I lived in Auckland for two years. Since the earthquakes there's not much left of the centre of Christchurch, not really a lot of nightlife about. I like going out for a few beers, you end up drinking local.
I lived in London for 25 years prior to coming to NZ and for it's few faults I'd still choose NZ over London any day...
Let me know how you're getting on..
Simon.

I beg to differ on few things in your post..

First of all, yes, accomodation can be expensive in ChCh but paying $300/wk in Rangiora.. ..you can get places in ChCh for that price, nothing fancy but still a roof on top of your head. And besides, have you heard of flatting, you can get 'packages' (rent+bills) for $180-250/wk anywhere in the city.

Secondly, not every company expect you to work full 70hrs/wk. Yes, there's lot of them but lot of cases you don't have to but you can if you want to. In my case, I've made it pretty clear that I work Mon to Fri and I'm happy with app. 55hrs/wk and my bosses respect that. Of course, if and when needed, I work more and might even do occasional weekend work but only if being asked nicely. I've told my bosses that I've got life outside work and they respect it, you can reason with kiwis easily.

And least but not least, ChCh ain't really that bad. Okay, you've lived in London so Auckland might be more your thing but just look at everything that's happening in ChCh atm, all this development and this opportunity to witness city rebuilding itself and becoming more like us, residents, want it to become. Yes, CBD is pretty messed up but pretty much every week there's something new coming up, whether it'll be a new corner pub or just a gap filler but honestly, this city is evolving every day. You just need to get out there and start exploring. And, instead of beers, head out to outdoors, we've got such a stunning nature around us, right within our reach. Think about it, you could start you morning surfing in New Brighton and by afternoon you could be skiing in Mt Hutt, only few hrs drive from the city.

[Driver-Once-More]

A friend of ours lives in Napier and reckons there are plenty of jobs and why don't we move there? .... Bit too late at our time of life

[Banquo]

Thanks Gorrington and prefix for replying with that information. Accommodation in Auchland was $300 for a room in shared house down in manukau not the best area. Indeed they work you every hour they can, (linfox) i don't think there are many 48 hour week driving jobs in NZ. I was in Napier which is a beautiful place but very expensive but there were driving jobs.(last year) .
I checked out trademe and found around 20 driving jobs in and about christchurch, The problem is getting a company to sponsor your visa application. i just may be easier to go out there on a tourist visa check out the companies and apply there and then. I found Auckland to be just like any other city, very crowded with some rough districts, it Christchurch is anything like Napier then it can't be that bad.

[Ste164580]

$300 for flatting? I pay $220 a week for a 2 bedroom house in the Waikato

[Banquo]

Hi Ste164,

You must live way out to get that price-well done.

[gorrington]

beg to differ on few things in your post..

First of all, yes, accomodation can be expensive in ChCh but paying $300/wk in Rangiora.. ..you can get places in ChCh for that price, nothing fancy but still a roof on top of your head. And besides, have you heard of flatting, you can get 'packages' (rent+bills) for $180-250/wk anywhere in the city.

Secondly, not every company expect you to work full 70hrs/wk. Yes, there's lot of them but lot of cases you don't have to but you can if you want to. In my case, I've made it pretty clear that I work Mon to Fri and I'm happy with app. 55hrs/wk and my bosses respect that. Of course, if and when needed, I work more and might even do occasional weekend work but only if being asked nicely. I've told my bosses that I've got life outside work and they respect it, you can reason with kiwis easily.

And least but not least, ChCh ain't really that bad. Okay, you've lived in London so Auckland might be more your thing but just look at everything that's happening in ChCh atm, all this development and this opportunity to witness city rebuilding itself and becoming more like us, residents, want it to become. Yes, CBD is pretty messed up but pretty much every week there's something new coming up, whether it'll be a new corner pub or just a gap filler but honestly, this city is evolving every day. You just need to get out there and start exploring. And, instead of beers, head out to outdoors, we've got such a stunning nature around us, right within our reach. Think about it, you could start you morning surfing in New Brighton and by afternoon you could be skiing in Mt Hutt, only few hrs drive from the city.

In reply to your reply....
I don't just want a roof over my head in reference to living in Chch, I want a small one bedroom house with a bit of garden and a bit of privacy. This is impossible to find in Christchurch for $300 a week everything included. I am a grown man and definitely do not want to share a place or go flatting . That's why I live way out in Rangiora.
Re working hours, I have talked to many employers and it does seem to be expected that you work to the maximum hours or close to it. If you've found a reasonable guy that let's you work 55 hours then we'll done,they are few and far between.
As for my free time.. I've done exploring. I've done nature. I've been round the world several times and have no wish to surf or climb mountains. I want a decent pub with a few friends and some live music on a fri/sat night.
Also, some semblance of public transport to get home at night would be good too... But NZ doesn't seem to really do much public transport.


.

[bigfatnick]

I have mulled no over a bit recently. I'm young enough to do a two year working holiday visa. Would this be an advantage or do I really need to have a proper visa to be taken seriously? Is their plenty of rural work? I think I fancy a bit of South Island rural living over North Island bustle.

[sas777]

Saw this article in the Herald today:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news ... d=11579723

It's the same old story. 5 years ago I saw an article from the Christchurch Press saying trucks were parked up due to driver shortages, and about 2 years ago the boss of Temuka Transport (Canterbury) was saying he was so desperate for drivers they could stay at his house!
All this whilst NZ is experiencing record migration, mainly from Asia with the new arrivals possessing little practical skills, and generally wanting to settle in Auckland.

How desperate is NZ for truck drivers? Well I have a Class 5, which is useful for my work as a HD mechanic, but I wouldn't call myself a driver. Despite this I often get asked to drive for various people and companies. I explain I am not a trained driver, so they offer to train me up. I don't want to change occupations, but this sure makes a mockery of Immigration NZ's stance that truck drivers are not skilled workers.




.

[ORC]

I'll do it!

They reviewed the skill shortage list as recently as December 2015 but didn't return truck driver to the list (it was removed a couple of years back). My dream is to migrate to NZ, but I can't get a visa that will lead to residency.

[adoptedkiwi]

I'm a truckie as they are known down this way. . There are opportunities a plenty petty much all over Nz..Some companies are now being forced into becoming accredited with immigration Nz.. To get over seas drivers.

[ORC]

Some companies are now being forced into becoming accredited with immigration Nz.. To get over seas drivers.

How does this work if the job is not on the official skills shortage list? I know there are temporary visas available around Canterbury but these do not give access to permanent residency.

[adoptedkiwi]

Some companies are now being forced into becoming accredited with immigration Nz.. To get over seas drivers.

How does this work if the job is not on the official skills shortage list? I know there are temporary visas available around Canterbury but these do not give access to permanent residency.

Difficult to explain in a few sentences.. No driver will gain P.R.
Straight off the bat.
Work to residence is the way in.
1 Employer must be accredited with imm.Nz.
2 Salary min. $55000pa. Based on 40hr wk. (Roughly $26.50 hr)
3 (offer of employment /medicals/police clearance?)

I personally know two guys who are going through this process. They were on work visas, but are putting their application in for work to residence visas.. PS. I'm based in Auckland