Hi my name is Gary, I am an ODP (Anaesthetic Technician) and I made a permanent move to NZ from the UK with my wife and son. The process from my EOI until arriving in NZ took approximately 4 months.
The easiest part was getting the job! Accent sorted out my application and interview, gave me good pointers for the interview as well.
The most challenging part was definitely getting the visa sorted. Managing to compile everything needed was very difficult in the timeframe and the whole process was far more expensive than we thought it was going to be. All in all though, the money spent was well worth it!
NZ to me is like England was when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's. Everyone is very friendly, it is a safe, clean and healthy place - perfect for bringing up a family! The best parts are definitely the landscape scenery; mountains, beaches, lakes etc. It is very beautiful.
What do I miss most about UK? Well, apart from my family and friends ...... nothing!
My advice would be to give yourself plenty of time to get the whole visa application, submit your EOI early, prepare to spend a fair bit of money, don’t get disheartened if it takes time and make sure to check and double check everything in your visa application!