Opportunities in Christchurch

With the rebuilding of Christchurch set to take off in 2013, Sharon Davis explains why this is a unique opportunity for Brits, with experience in the construction industry, to secure a job in the land of the long white cloud…

People with experience in concrete foundations, timber framing and cross-skills in building will be in high demand, and earn good pay.

One of the positive outcomes of the recent earthquakes affecting Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury plains is the anticipated boom in the construction industry, which is set to take off from 2012.

With estimates for the Christchurch rebuild now standing at £15-billion the picturesque garden town, which boasts an attractive outdoor lifestyle, is expected to be the hub of the construction industry in New Zealand for at least the next 10 years.

The scale of construction required in Christchurch and the Canterbury region is enormous. There are an estimated 10,000 homes due to be demolished, and at least 6,000 will be rebuilt. More than 100,000 damaged homes require repairs, while undamaged buildings need modifications and strengthening… not to mention the land reconstruction, and road and sewer repairs that are needed.

Although reinsurers’ reluctance to provide on-going insurance has hampered the start of much construction to date, this expected to be resolved soon. Economists and people working in the industry expect residential construction to take off from 2012 and anticipate that commercial construction will be slower to gain momentum, forecasting 2013 as the date most of this work is likely to start.

The city will need between 8,000 and 20,000 additional construction workers and there are already a number of construction jobs on the special Canterbury Skill Shortage List, including building inspectors, building project managers, site foremen, quantity surveyors, urban planners, various types of engineers as well as electrical workers, advanced scaffolders and upholsterers.

This list is expected to grow as construction takes off next year and skilled artisans with five or more years’ experience can expect to find it relatively easy to get a visa to work in New Zealand. People with experience in concrete foundations, timber framing and with cross-skills in building will be in high demand, and earn good pay.

A move to Christchurch presents good long-term employment prospects in a city that will be a hive of economic activity – and the chance to a more laidback Kiwi lifestyle, with good health services and great education opportunities.

For construction workers in the UK, and particularly in Ireland where the construction industry has slumped, a move to Christchurch presents good long-term employment prospects in a city that will be a hive of economic activity driven by the construction boom – and the chance to enjoy a more laidback Kiwi lifestyle, with good health services and great education opportunities.

Life in Christchurch

New Zealand’s population of just over 4-million people enjoy a fairly relaxed lifestyle and the crime-free environment by cosmopolitan UK standards, and Christchurch, NZ’s second-largest city after Auckland, is no exception.

In spite of the recent earthquakes, Christchurch is still the gateway to the scenic South Island and the reconstruction in the city is likely to drive economic growth in the region, if not the whole of New Zealand.

Although parts of the central city were destroyed and some areas are still cordoned off for safety reasons, life in the coastal town goes on as normal for most of Christchurch’s residents – with a combination of work and play.

 Whether you’re into road cycling, mountain biking, boating, fishing, tramping (Kiwi-speak for hiking), trail running, snow boarding, skiing, golf, or a social game of soccer or rugby, you’ll find Christchurch and surrounding areas has more opportunities than you’ll have time to explore. Christchurch has a reputation for a healthy, active lifestyle with a mix of sandy beaches, rocky coves and the Port Hills on your doorstep and snow sports and spectacular wildlife and scenery within a two-hour drive.

 If all the activity sounds like too much hard work, you could be relaxing in nearby hot thermal springs, sipping a latte at a seaside café, or catching up on retail therapy in one of the suburban malls. Cultural aficionados won’t be disappointed either. Christchurch and Canterbury have a very active arts and crafts scene, interesting museums and galleries and two world-class universities.

 Christchurch facts

Traditionally the most English of New Zealand cities, Christchurch will have a lot to remind you of home – except the weather. Christchurch on the east coast of South Island is situated in one of the drier regions of New Zealand, with an annual rainfall of 0.75m and an average of 2,100 sunshine hours a year.

 Summers are warm with a daily temperature averaging between 12.2 and 22.5 degrees Centigrade in January while winter temperatures can drop below freezing, with daily temperatures averaging between 1.9 and 11.3 in July.

Christchurch boasts an international airport, an effective public transport system, good road transport with nearby Lyttelton Harbour providing a sea link to the city. The flat topography makes Christchurch ideal for cycling and the city has a number of dedicated bicycle lanes as well as off-road tracks.

Did you know?

• The Maori name for Christchurch is Otautahi. The name is derived from a Ngai Tahu chief, Tautahi, who built a settlement on the banks of the Otakaro (Avon River) in the Avon Loop area.

• Christchurch City is known as the Garden City due to its expansive parks and public gardens.

• The City of Christchurch, conceived in the late 1840s in England, was planned as a model Anglican (church) settlement. It was established as a colony in 1850.

How to go about getting a visa

You and your family will need to pass a medical examination and get police clearance as part of your visa application. The visa application process is quite complex and can take anything from a couple of weeks to a year or more to process. It’s best to put your application in as soon as possible. 

• Start by getting advice from a licensed immigration adviser to find out if you’re eligible for a visa.

• If you’re eligible for a visa, a licensed adviser will be able to advise you on the best type of visa to apply for and provide invaluable assistance with your application.

• A licensed immigration advisor can manage the whole visa application process for you, troubleshoot where needed, and possibly even help you obtain a job offer than meets immigration requirements if you need a job offer for your visa application.

• It’s important that you are honest and upfront with your immigration adviser. False declarations or problems that are uncovered later can jeopardise your visa application.

• Be aware that you might need to register with your relevant New Zealand industry or trade body before you can start working in New Zealand.

This magazine advertorial was written by Shaz for Business Immigration NZ Ltd for publication in a UK-based magazine in 2012.