My Name is Fiona, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ in February from the United Kingdom. The process to come to NZ took me 11 months.

The easiest part of the process was using ACCENT. It meant that once I had completed their paperwork, I didn’t have to duplicate it for my employer. The most challenging part of the process was waiting for the CGFNS process to complete the New Zealand nursing registration.

My recruiter at ACCENT was Hayley and she helped to explain the whole process to me, with pretty accurate expectations of timescales for each part. We met over Zoom/Teams and she was very friendly and approachable, encouraging me to ask about any aspect of life in NZ. Hayley sent me lots of information about living in NZ and offered to put me in touch with other nurses that had been through the process. We had a meeting just before my interview so she could help me focus on what I might discuss.

My first impressions of NZ were – Wow! We arrived between the January storm and Hurricane Gabrielle in February. That was wild weather. We still managed to explore Auckland a little and Whangarei before Gabrielle hit but my first week in work was during the storm.

What I specifically like about NZ is being outside, the landscape is stunning with coastline, forests and many walking trails. I particularly love the wildlife here. I think the best parts of NZ are that I have managed to explore some of Northland, having gone to Cape Reinga last weekend. The Tutukaka coastline is just wonderful, and I very much enjoy Auckland. I am keen to spend some time in the South Island in the coming months, shame I have to work!

We live in a fabulous tiny house, with a beautiful view, which is at the end of our landlord’s garden. My landlady regularly leaves me fruit and vegetables from her garden at the front door. She is lovely, and I see this kindness from people at our community “Pataka Kai” (open street pantry movement) https://www.patakai.co.nz/

I have a 10km cycle ride to work (when it isn’t raining too hard) and this goes through a mangrove trail. I love to see the sunrise here and spot the kingfisher, Tui and occasional spoonbill, it makes for a great start to the day. I am less keen on the mosquitos who love my English blood….. There is no getting away from the fact that family and friends are on the other side of the world, and I miss going for beers with my mates! My dad and a friend are coming for a visit later in the year with another friend planning a trip next year. Social media does help us all to stay connected and I have also managed to find a phone contract with a decent amount of international minutes per month which is important when some relatives are not fond on using Skype etc.

I want to visit the South Island and plan to go to Christchurch quite soon. I like city life and am told this is a fantastic city to visit. I would also like to see Kaikoura and hopefully be lucky enough to spot a whale or two.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to get over here, it’s fab! Look into getting a good international bank account to transfer funds across. We have recently used Wise https://wise.com/nz/. This type of account has been useful for us to see the currency exchange rates and make a choice in when to transfer balances.

The work/life balance made a difference to my life, being a nurse, my work hours are very similar to the UK. In terms of work/life balance I would say that there is immediate access to the great outdoors here with an abundance of outdoor activities in awe inspiring environments.

Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in UK? In the UK I worked in an NHS hospital whereas I am now working in a private hospital, and it feels very different but I think that working in the Public Hospital system would probably be quite similar.

Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily? A common language (even though its very different…..)

Cheers

Fiona 😊

My Name is Fiona, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ in February from the United Kingdom. The process to come to NZ took me 11 months.

The easiest part of the process was using ACCENT. It meant that once I had completed their paperwork, I didn’t have to duplicate it for my employer. The most challenging part of the process was waiting for the CGFNS process to complete the New Zealand nursing registration.

My recruiter at ACCENT was Hayley and she helped to explain the whole process to me, with pretty accurate expectations of timescales for each part. We met over Zoom/Teams and she was very friendly and approachable, encouraging me to ask about any aspect of life in NZ. Hayley sent me lots of information about living in NZ and offered to put me in touch with other nurses that had been through the process. We had a meeting just before my interview so she could help me focus on what I might discuss.

My first impressions of NZ were – Wow! We arrived between the January storm and Hurricane Gabrielle in February. That was wild weather. We still managed to explore Auckland a little and Whangarei before Gabrielle hit but my first week in work was during the storm.

What I specifically like about NZ is being outside, the landscape is stunning with coastline, forests and many walking trails. I particularly love the wildlife here.

I think the best parts of NZ are that I have managed to explore some of Northland, having gone to Cape Reinga last weekend. The Tutukaka coastline is just wonderful, and I very much enjoy Auckland. I am keen to spend some time in the South Island in the coming months, shame I have to work!

We live in a fabulous tiny house, with a beautiful view, which is at the end of our landlord’s garden. My landlady regularly leaves me fruit and vegetables from her garden at the front door. She is lovely, and I see this kindness from people at our community “Pataka Kai” (open street pantry movement) https://www.patakai.co.nz/

I have a 10km cycle ride to work (when it isn’t raining too hard) and this goes through a mangrove trail. I love to see the sunrise here and spot the kingfisher, Tui and occasional spoonbill, it makes for a great start to the day. I am less keen on the mosquitos who love my English blood…..

There is no getting away from the fact that family and friends are on the other side of the world, and I miss going for beers with my mates! My dad and a friend are coming for a visit later in the year with another friend planning a trip next year. Social media does help us all to stay connected and I have also managed to find a phone contract with a decent amount of international minutes per month which is important when some relatives are not fond on using Skype etc.

I want to visit the South Island and plan to go to Christchurch quite soon. I like city life and am told this is a fantastic city to visit. I would also like to see Kaikoura and hopefully be lucky enough to spot a whale or two.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to get over here, it’s fab! Look into getting a good international bank account to transfer funds across. We have recently used Wise https://wise.com/nz/. This type of account has been useful for us to see the currency exchange rates and make a choice in when to transfer balances.

The work/life balance made a difference to my life, being a nurse, my work hours are very similar to the UK. In terms of work/life balance I would say that there is immediate access to the great outdoors here with an abundance of outdoor activities in awe inspiring environments.

Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in UK? In the UK I worked in an NHS hospital whereas I am now working in a private hospital, and it feels very different but I think that working in the Public Hospital system would probably be quite similar.

Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily? A common language (even though its very different…..)

Cheers

Fiona 😊

My Name is Lars. I am an Emergency Department Registered Nurse. I came to New Zealand in January 2023 from the USA. The process to come to NZ took me 6 months.

The easiest part of the process was, honestly, I feel like it was all fairly straight forward. Any questions I did have I was able to easily talk to Hannah and clarify what was needed and go from there!

The most challenging part of the process was gathering together all of my school transcripts (which was partly a me problem since I bounced around a few different universities). The other headache was the medical visit. Schedule it early and know where to go for these visits. There’s only a handful of places in the USA that can provide these services.

ACCENT Health Recruitment helped my process to come to NZ because Hannah spelled it out so well and made it clear what was needed. There’s no way I could’ve figured out all the little steps and necessary documents without her. I had previously visited New Zealand before, so I wasn’t in a huge shock of what it looked like on first impressions, but I was so impressed with the speed people live their life. Coming from Metro Atlanta everything was fast paced, and NZ people love living their life and enjoying the things around them.

I think the best parts of NZ are the outdoors and the simplicity of how we are able to live. I love the outdoors. I am so close to all the things I love. Beach, mountains, lakes, it has it all. I love that people here work so they can go enjoy their lives, not the other way around.

I love living in Hamilton cause nothing is far away at all. Both coasts are within an hour and a half, Rotorua is close for hiking and biking, and Auckland is close for a night out on the town when needed.

We’ve been to the South Island once but plan to go back and hike and bike and do it all. It’s BEAUTIFUL. We plan on going and doing as much as possible. We love to get out and go. That includes Australia and lots of the pacific islands. It is a bit difficult being on the other side of the world from family especially with time zone changes, but the extra effort needed to call and FaceTime makes us value them that much more.

We make an effort to celebrate holidays that we typically would in the States. Like the Fourth of July. It’s a bit different and hard to make the traditional American dishes for that day but the extra little effort helps. I also have an open-door policy for any friends and family that many have already taken us up on.

How has the work/life balance made a difference to my life? It’s made all the difference. I feel it’s so much easier here to prioritize my home life because that’s what matters most to me while others I know prioritize work but that’s what works for them. Flexibility would be the perfect word.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to try to link up with someone who’s made the transition previously. There’s a lot of terminology and things we get used to in the USA that is a bit different here. Like applying for rental housing, car registrations, etc. Questions about your new workplace: Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the United States? I practice as an RN and find that my role is very similar. Nothing massive that stands out to me.

Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily? Honestly just having a friend or mentor in the workplace that allows you to ask shame free questions about work, culture, or country. It helped create a safe space to learn what I needed.

Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession? Not really. I came for an adventure and change of pace, and I have gotten all of that and more. There are some terms that doctors use here that we don’t use or use differently but you quickly adjust after a couple months of practicing.

I have felt so accepted and welcomed by people in my workplace and clubs I’ve joined since being here. Kindness really is a common language here.

Lars

My Name is Lars. I am an Emergency Department Registered Nurse. I came to New Zealand in January 2023 from the USA. The process to come to NZ took me 6 months.

The easiest part of the process was, honestly, I feel like it was all fairly straight forward. Any questions I did have I was able to easily talk to Hannah and clarify what was needed and go from there!

The most challenging part of the process was gathering together all of my school transcripts (which was partly a me problem since I bounced around a few different universities). The other headache was the medical visit. Schedule it early and know where to go for these visits. There’s only a handful of places in the USA that can provide these services.

ACCENT Health Recruitment helped my process to come to NZ because Hannah spelled it out so well and made it clear what was needed. There’s no way I could’ve figured out all the little steps and necessary documents without her.

I had previously visited New Zealand before, so I wasn’t in a huge shock of what it looked like on first impressions, but I was so impressed with the speed people live their life. Coming from Metro Atlanta everything was fast paced, and NZ people love living their life and enjoying the things around them.

I think the best parts of NZ are the outdoors and the simplicity of how we are able to live. I love the outdoors. I am so close to all the things I love. Beach, mountains, lakes, it has it all. I love that people here work so they can go enjoy their lives, not the other way around.

I love living in Hamilton cause nothing is far away at all. Both coasts are within an hour and a half, Rotorua is close for hiking and biking, and Auckland is close for a night out on the town when needed.

We’ve been to the South Island once but plan to go back and hike and bike and do it all. It’s BEAUTIFUL. We plan on going and doing as much as possible. We love to get out and go. That includes Australia and lots of the pacific islands.

It is a bit difficult being on the other side of the world from family especially with time zone changes, but the extra effort needed to call and FaceTime makes us value them that much more.

We make an effort to celebrate holidays that we typically would in the States. Like the Fourth of July. It’s a bit different and hard to make the traditional American dishes for that day but the extra little effort helps. I also have an open-door policy for any friends and family that many have already taken us up on.

How has the work/life balance made a difference to my life? It’s made all the difference. I feel it’s so much easier here to prioritize my home life because that’s what matters most to me while others I know prioritize work but that’s what works for them. Flexibility would be the perfect word.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to try to link up with someone who’s made the transition previously. There’s a lot of terminology and things we get used to in the USA that is a bit different here. Like applying for rental housing, car registrations, etc.

Questions about your new workplace: Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the United States? I practice as an RN and find that my role is very similar. Nothing massive that stands out to me.

Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily? Honestly just having a friend or mentor in the workplace that allows you to ask shame free questions about work, culture, or country. It helped create a safe space to learn what I needed.

Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession? Not really. I came for an adventure and change of pace, and I have gotten all of that and more. There are some terms that doctors use here that we don’t use or use differently but you quickly adjust after a couple months of practicing.

I have felt so accepted and welcomed by people in my workplace and clubs I’ve joined since being here. Kindness really is a common language here.

Lars

Hello, my name is Taylor and I am an Registered Nurse from Canada! I came to New Zealand at the beginning of December 2022 (just over 6 months ago) and am living and working in Wellington.

The longest process was getting my nursing license transferred over, it was also the most expensive. Every step had an associated cost. Getting my license took about 8 months, I would suggest starting early and save up at least $1000 to cover some of the costs. Kristin was available for any questions and guiding my process. You don’t have to come right away once the license is in, I waited another 5 months to enjoy the summer in Canada. The easiest part was the job hunt and visa, I did the Accredited Employer Visa. With Kristin’s help we set up Zoom interviews, accepted a position and waited for the hospital to submit the paperwork to immigration. It took a lot of work off my plate in terms of applying for a visa.

I waited for the confirmation of my visa, booked my flights and left Canada 2 days later. Needless to say, I was ready to go (I also wanted to leave before the snow came). Arriving in Wellington was lovely, it was December 2nd, and the weather was beautiful. I booked into a hostel for the first week to allow for house hunting. It was important for me to have my own flat and I am probably paying a little more than most people would want to. I managed to find something and move in on December 10th which is unheard of. I think it helped having saved up and being able to show that I had the funds for a few months of rent and a job to start. I started at the Wellington Blood & Cancer day unit a couple days later. I was working in inpatient end of life care, so this was a big shift for me, the work life balance has been game changing. I still miss EOL care but in my current position I don’t take work home with me. I leave the hospital and I leave the job behind! The transition between Canada and NZ was pretty smooth, the odd difference in resources and policies but overall similar. Getting around Wellington is pretty easy, they have a comprehensive bus schedule (though cancellations were pretty frequent over the summer break). Walking around town is easy, a lot of people bike as well. Parking in the city is hard and expensive, I’ve opted to not get a car and I haven’t felt the need for one since being here. Overall, would definitely recommend Wellington, even if it is the windiest capital city in the world!

I haven’t found myself missing specific things about home, I keep in contact with friends and family daily even if it’s just a quick photo. I think knowing a date to go back and visit has also helped give me something to look forward to, I’ll be home for 4 weeks in September!

I’ve just come back from 3 nights in Queenstown which was a great change in scenery. Even alone I found a ton of stuff to do. I’d love to continue travelling to different areas of the country and would like to try a camper van trip when my Mom comes to visit.

So far, Wellington has been a great decision and I can’t recommend making the jump more!

Taylor

Hello, my name is Taylor and I am an Registered Nurse from Canada! I came to New Zealand at the beginning of December 2022 (just over 6 months ago) and am living and working in Wellington.

The longest process was getting my nursing license transferred over, it was also the most expensive. Every step had an associated cost. Getting my license took about 8 months, I would suggest starting early and save up at least $1000 to cover some of the costs. Kristin was available for any questions and guiding my process. You don’t have to come right away once the license is in, I waited another 5 months to enjoy the summer in Canada. The easiest part was the job hunt and visa, I did the Accredited Employer Visa. With Kristin’s help we set up Zoom interviews, accepted a position and waited for the hospital to submit the paperwork to immigration. It took a lot of work off my plate in terms of applying for a visa.

I waited for the confirmation of my visa, booked my flights and left Canada 2 days later. Needless to say, I was ready to go (I also wanted to leave before the snow came). Arriving in Wellington was lovely, it was December 2nd, and the weather was beautiful. I booked into a hostel for the first week to allow for house hunting. It was important for me to have my own flat and I am probably paying a little more than most people would want to. I managed to find something and move in on December 10th which is unheard of. I think it helped having saved up and being able to show that I had the funds for a few months of rent and a job to start. I started at the Wellington Blood & Cancer day unit a couple days later. I was working in inpatient end of life care, so this was a big shift for me, the work life balance has been game changing. I still miss EOL care but in my current position I don’t take work home with me. I leave the hospital and I leave the job behind! The transition between Canada and NZ was pretty smooth, the odd difference in resources and policies but overall similar.

Getting around Wellington is pretty easy, they have a comprehensive bus schedule (though cancellations were pretty frequent over the summer break). Walking around town is easy, a lot of people bike as well. Parking in the city is hard and expensive, I’ve opted to not get a car and I haven’t felt the need for one since being here. Overall, would definitely recommend Wellington, even if it is the windiest capital city in the world!

I haven’t found myself missing specific things about home, I keep in contact with friends and family daily even if it’s just a quick photo. I think knowing a date to go back and visit has also helped give me something to look forward to, I’ll be home for 4 weeks in September!

I’ve just come back from 3 nights in Queenstown which was a great change in scenery. Even alone I found a ton of stuff to do. I’d love to continue travelling to different areas of the country and would like to try a camper van trip when my Mom comes to visit.

So far, Wellington has been a great decision and I can’t recommend making the jump more!

Taylor

My Name is Anmarie. I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ on the 27th of December 2022 from South Africa. The process to come to New Zealand took me 24 months.

The easiest part of the process was to get a work through ACCENT Health Recruitment. The most challenging part of the process was saying goodbye to family and friends.

Hannah my recruiter was excellent from day one until even after we have settled in, she followed up. She provided me with lots of options (work) to choose from. She always supported me and was very prompt with feedback. Not only ACCENT helped with work, but also advised on schools and a place to stay. A very helpful to do list/ reminder list was given to me and it also helped a lot! Thank you!

My first impressions of NZ were – Wow! Wow! Awesome place to be and the best is Tauranga! I specifically like the no stress and calmness. I think the best parts of New Zealand is Tauranga. It is safe, quiet (work night duty), everything you need is nearby.

I miss my two eldest children who stayed in South Africa the most. To help support that, I do video calls, teams, plan their visit with them in December 2023 and have “coffee dates” with them on video calls…

How has the work/life balance made a difference to my life? I have more time to spend with my family and do not have the 24-hour stress I had in South Africa. I work very hard for 8.5 hours but then I am finished.

Nursing is nursing no matter where you are, but I am in a different role now and I do have less responsibility which gives me a better work life balance. 90% similarities between nursing in New Zealand and South Africa, this helped with the orientation and transition. I only have to build new relationships with colleagues… and that will take time… I am super excited because in New Zealand they follow protocol and in my profession as a nurse it is imperative…

My advice if you are planning to come to New Zealand is to plan it properly, do lots of research/ reading (not social media). Check out websites of schools/ work/ town. Understand your own reason why you want to immigrate, you will refer back to that reason if needed.

This has been the most difficult decision we ever made, but the best decision.

Anmarie

My Name is Anmarie. I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ on the 27th of December 2022 from South Africa. The process to come to New Zealand took me 24 months.

The easiest part of the process was to get a work through ACCENT Health Recruitment. The most challenging part of the process was saying goodbye to family and friends.

Hannah my recruiter was excellent from day one until even after we have settled in, she followed up. She provided me with lots of options (work) to choose from. She always supported me and was very prompt with feedback. Not only ACCENT helped with work, but also advised on schools and a place to stay. A very helpful to do list/ reminder list was given to me and it also helped a lot! Thank you!

My first impressions of NZ were – Wow! Wow! Awesome place to be and the best is Tauranga! I specifically like the no stress and calmness. I think the best parts of New Zealand is Tauranga. It is safe, quiet (work night duty), everything you need is nearby.

I miss my two eldest children who stayed in South Africa the most. To help support that, I do video calls, teams, plan their visit with them in December 2023 and have “coffee dates” with them on video calls…

How has the work/life balance made a difference to my life? I have more time to spend with my family and do not have the 24-hour stress I had in South Africa. I work very hard for 8.5 hours but then I am finished.

Nursing is nursing no matter where you are, but I am in a different role now and I do have less responsibility which gives me a better work life balance. 90% similarities between nursing in New Zealand and South Africa, this helped with the orientation and transition. I only have to build new relationships with colleagues… and that will take time… I am super excited because in New Zealand they follow protocol and in my profession as a nurse it is imperative…

My advice if you are planning to come to New Zealand is to plan it properly, do lots of research/ reading (not social media). Check out websites of schools/ work/ town. Understand your own reason why you want to immigrate, you will refer back to that reason if needed.

This has been the most difficult decision we ever made, but the best decision.

Anmarie

My Name is Mei, a registered nurse. I came to NZ in Feb 2022 from Singapore.

The process to come to NZ took me 6 months. The easiest part of the process was having Prudence help with the interview and CV preparation. The most challenging part of the process was getting the CGFNS credentials verification.

Prudence helped me find the job and facilitated the process of New Zealand nurse registration after receiving the CGFNS reports. Prudence is an amazing person. She always responds very quickly. She not only helped me in my job search but also helped in my personal life as well. She always does what she needs to and beyond. I have never seen such a responsible, efficient, guiding and helpful person. My first impressions of NZ were that people are so friendly here and have a strong mindset of protecting nature.

What I specifically like about NZ is the work-life balance. I think the best parts of NZ are the good relationship between healthcare workers and patients. What I like about the area I live in is the quiet neighbourhood, the beautiful nature, which is all around us, in addition to the proximity to the city centre and hospital. I plan to visit Wellington soon as my friend is there.

What I miss the most is Singapore food and my friends. What have I put in place to help support what I miss is to dine at authentic places and contact friends regularly online. The major difference between my current role in NZ and my previous role in Singapore is that there is no Enrolled Nurse to team up with me during work. I am fully in charge of the patient’s care alone, including basic nursing care. But there are shared HCAs in the ward to give me a hand when I need it. Otherwise, the work situation is quite similar to Singapore.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to prepare your documents and send them to CGFNS early as it takes months to complete the process.

The work/life balance made a difference in my life. I enjoyed work and life more than ever!

Thank you very much!

Kind regards,

Mei

My Name is Mei, a registered nurse. I came to NZ in Feb 2022 from Singapore.

The process to come to NZ took me 6 months. The easiest part of the process was having Prudence help with the interview and CV preparation. The most challenging part of the process was getting the CGFNS credentials verification.

Prudence helped me find the job and facilitated the process of New Zealand nurse registration after receiving the CGFNS reports. Prudence is an amazing person. She always responds very quickly. She not only helped me in my job search but also helped in my personal life as well. She always does what she needs to and beyond. I have never seen such a responsible, efficient, guiding and helpful person.

My first impressions of NZ were that people are so friendly here and have a strong mindset of protecting nature.

What I specifically like about NZ is the work-life balance. I think the best parts of NZ are the good relationship between healthcare workers and patients. What I like about the area I live in is the quiet neighbourhood, the beautiful nature, which is all around us, in addition to the proximity to the city centre and hospital. I plan to visit Wellington soon as my friend is there.

What I miss the most is Singapore food and my friends. What have I put in place to help support what I miss is to dine at authentic places and contact friends regularly online.

The major difference between my current role in NZ and my previous role in Singapore is that there is no Enrolled Nurse to team up with me during work. I am fully in charge of the patient’s care alone, including basic nursing care. But there are shared HCAs in the ward to give me a hand when I need it. Otherwise, the work situation is quite similar to Singapore.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to prepare your documents and send them to CGFNS early as it takes months to complete the process.

The work/life balance made a difference in my life. I enjoyed work and life more than ever!

Thank you very much!

Kind regards,

Mei

My name is Elisha. I am a Registered Nurse in Aged Residential Care in Palmerston North. I came to NZ on Christmas Day 2022 from South Africa (best Christmas gift ever). The process to come to NZ took me 15 months. Starting with the English Language Test on 11 September 2021 to setting foot in Palmerston North on 25 December 2022. The easiest part of the process was probably finding work with the help of Accent Health Recruitment. The most challenging part of the process was the waiting. Every part of the process involved periods of waiting. Waiting for a case manager to be assigned, waiting for documentation, waiting for registration, waiting for visas, waiting for results of applications. So much of the process lay in the hands of other people.

My recruiter was Kristin McNaughton. I was referred to her. She helped me to find work by organizing interviews in the locations that we wanted to live in. I only needed two interviews. But she didn’t only organize interviews: She helped me to prepare for the interviews before the time. She called me before the interviews. She followed up afterwards. She helped to negotiate an appropriate starting date for me. And then she frequently contacted me, even after we arrived in New Zealand, to ensure that we were okay. She helped me to find a job, but also offered invaluable moral support throughout the process.

I had to start work within 10 days. During this time, I had to sort out the practical items e.g. tax number, car license, bank account, a vehicle, etc. I found that the people I dealt with were very friendly and exceedingly helpful. Everything was sorted out very quickly and very efficiently. Our first impressions were that it is a beautiful country in terms of nature and cleanliness. NZ has lived up to these first impressions. I specifically like that the people are friendly and helpful. It is a beautiful country, with many public parks and rivers and nature walks to enjoy. The areas we live and work in (Feilding and Palmerston North) are very clean – even the city centres! The roads are in good condition, and we feel very safe. We enjoy identifying birds that we have never seen before and the occasional hedgehog in our garden. We also have a constant supply of electricity.

We live in Feilding and work in Palmerston North. The schools in Feilding have a good reputation and our children appear to have settled in well. We like that we have a bit of both worlds (Palmerston North is a small city -8 th biggest in NZ): city life and slightly quieter life in Feilding. In Feilding everything is quick to get to. And even though I drive about 20km to work, there is not a single traffic light between our home and work!

So far we have travelled as far as Matamata and to the Waitamo Caves. We were surprized by the Desert Road and blown away by Lake Taupo. We have not been to any big cities, so we cannot comment on what the cities are like – all we have seen is the incredible nature and immense farmlands. Oh, and the ice cream in New Zealand and Whittaker’s chocolate is delicious! NZ still has corner shops (called ‘dairies’ in NZ) and bakeries and farmer’s markets. Fantastic!

We have already been to Hobbiton (which has always been on my bucket list) and we went to see the glow-worms at Waitomo Caves. I definitely want to see Milford Sound and see a live kiwi bird. My husband would like to do white water rafting and go to the military museum. We would also like to visit friends who have immigrated to New Zealand, in New Plymouth and Auckland.

How has the work/life balance made a difference to my life? I have come from a situation In South Africa where I was working 7-1, Monday to Friday however in my role here I am now in a fulltime position working rostered shifts which is an adjustment for me however I knew that this would be the situation coming to New Zealand and starting out. Fortunately, nurses work 8-hour shifts in NZ (as opposed to the normal 12-hour shifts in SA). 8-hour shifts are far better, because at least I am able to see my children and spend time with them either way. Also, I did not come to NZ to better my life. I came to NZ to provide my children with better opportunities, and I was willing to sacrifice a lot to give that to them. The bright side is that my current working situation has also forced them to become ever-so-slightly more independent e.g., now they walk to school and back, as needed.

We have only been here for four months, so one could argue that I am still in the honeymoon phase. But this has truly been the best decision of our lives and my only regret is that we did not do it sooner. We could not have done it without all the role players who stood alongside us in this journey e.g. Accent Health Recruitment. I am extremely grateful to Kristin for the help that she provided. And I am not ignorant of the fact that she also helped me to find a job in an amazing workplace with fantastic colleagues. It could have been worse. It has turned out amazingly well.

I was advised by Kristin to look for a similar nursing role in NZ, as everything else would be new and different. It would help make the process easier. Such good advice! My role is very similar! From my role as registered nurse, to the work that I have to do (administer medication, wound care, etc) to the names of the medications that I administer. The biggest differences are that I now work for a large company, I work in a bigger facility, and I carry more responsibility.

My first day at work was overwhelming, as any first day in any new job could be. But the process was definitely made easier by the fact that not everything was foreign to me. There are three major differences: Firstly, competencies that need to be revised annually. Secondly, in SA I was able to administer Warfarin and Insulin without a second person needed to double-check. Here in New Zealand Warfarin and Insulin are basically treated like control drugs. The entire working environment is much more controlled and there is a lot more paperwork. Thirdly, in order to keep registration, nurses have to do a certain number of hours of training. Fortunately, I enjoy learning and have appreciated the hours of learning already provided to me.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared for the high cost of fresh produce and rent. Ignore the nonsense on social media about the fact that shops don’t have variety and that you have to pack your own stuff – this is not true. Many of us are immigrating later in life and have to start from nothing again. Be prepared for this. And, if you are used to having a domestic worker in South Africa, say hello to cleaning your own home and doing your own ironing. We have been told that all you need to survive winter is a good pair (or two) of woollen socks, gumboots, and a down jacket (well, on the North Island at least). Always keep in the forefront of your mind the reason that you immigrated.

Elisha

My name is Elisha. I am a Registered Nurse in Aged Residential Care in Palmerston North. I came to NZ on Christmas Day 2022 from South Africa (best Christmas gift ever). The process to come to NZ took me 15 months. Starting with the English Language Test on 11 September 2021 to setting foot in Palmerston North on 25 December 2022. The easiest part of the process was probably finding work with the help of Accent Health Recruitment. The most challenging part of the process was the waiting. Every part of the process involved periods of waiting. Waiting for a case manager to be assigned, waiting for documentation, waiting for registration, waiting for visas, waiting for results of applications. So much of the process lay in the hands of other people.

My recruiter was Kristin McNaughton. I was referred to her. She helped me to find work by organizing interviews in the locations that we wanted to live in. I only needed two interviews. But she didn’t only organize interviews: She helped me to prepare for the interviews before the time. She called me before the interviews. She followed up afterwards. She helped to negotiate an appropriate starting date for me. And then she frequently contacted me, even after we arrived in New Zealand, to ensure that we were okay. She helped me to find a job, but also offered invaluable moral support throughout the process.

I had to start work within 10 days. During this time, I had to sort out the practical items e.g. tax number, car license, bank account, a vehicle, etc. I found that the people I dealt with were very friendly and exceedingly helpful. Everything was sorted out very quickly and very efficiently.

Our first impressions were that it is a beautiful country in terms of nature and cleanliness. NZ has lived up to these first impressions. I specifically like that the people are friendly and helpful. It is a beautiful country, with many public parks and rivers and nature walks to enjoy. The areas we live and work in (Feilding and Palmerston North) are very clean – even the city centres! The roads are in good condition, and we feel very safe. We enjoy identifying birds that we have never seen before and the occasional hedgehog in our garden. We also have a constant supply of electricity.

We live in Feilding and work in Palmerston North. The schools in Feilding have a good reputation and our children appear to have settled in well. We like that we have a bit of both worlds (Palmerston North is a small city -8 th biggest in NZ): city life and slightly quieter life in Feilding. In Feilding everything is quick to get to. And even though I drive about 20km to work, there is not a single traffic light between our home and work!

So far we have travelled as far as Matamata and to the Waitamo Caves. We were surprized by the Desert Road and blown away by Lake Taupo. We have not been to any big cities, so we cannot comment on what the cities are like – all we have seen is the incredible nature and immense farmlands. Oh, and the ice cream in New Zealand and Whittaker’s chocolate is delicious! NZ still has corner shops (called ‘dairies’ in NZ) and bakeries and farmer’s markets. Fantastic!

We have already been to Hobbiton (which has always been on my bucket list) and we went to see the glow-worms at Waitomo Caves. I definitely want to see Milford Sound and see a live kiwi bird. My husband would like to do white water rafting and go to the military museum. We would also like to visit friends who have immigrated to New Zealand, in New Plymouth and Auckland.

How has the work/life balance made a difference to my life? I have come from a situation In South Africa where I was working 7-1, Monday to Friday however in my role here I am now in a fulltime position working rostered shifts which is an adjustment for me however I knew that this would be the situation coming to New Zealand and starting out. Fortunately, nurses work 8-hour shifts in NZ (as opposed to the normal 12-hour shifts in SA). 8-hour shifts are far better, because at least I am able to see my children and spend time with them either way. Also, I did not come to NZ to better my life. I came to NZ to provide my children with better opportunities, and I was willing to sacrifice a lot to give that to them. The bright side is that my current working situation has also forced them to become ever-so-slightly more independent e.g., now they walk to school and back, as needed.

We have only been here for four months, so one could argue that I am still in the honeymoon phase. But this has truly been the best decision of our lives and my only regret is that we did not do it sooner. We could not have done it without all the role players who stood alongside us in this journey e.g. Accent Health Recruitment. I am extremely grateful to Kristin for the help that she provided. And I am not ignorant of the fact that she also helped me to find a job in an amazing workplace with fantastic colleagues. It could have been worse. It has turned out amazingly well.

I was advised by Kristin to look for a similar nursing role in NZ, as everything else would be new and different. It would help make the process easier. Such good advice! My role is very similar! From my role as registered nurse, to the work that I have to do (administer medication, wound care, etc) to the names of the medications that I administer. The biggest differences are that I now work for a large company, I work in a bigger facility, and I carry more responsibility.

My first day at work was overwhelming, as any first day in any new job could be. But the process was definitely made easier by the fact that not everything was foreign to me. There are three major differences: Firstly, competencies that need to be revised annually. Secondly, in SA I was able to administer Warfarin and Insulin without a second person needed to double-check. Here in New Zealand Warfarin and Insulin are basically treated like control drugs. The entire working environment is much more controlled and there is a lot more paperwork. Thirdly, in order to keep registration, nurses have to do a certain number of hours of training. Fortunately, I enjoy learning and have appreciated the hours of learning already provided to me.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared for the high cost of fresh produce and rent. Ignore the nonsense on social media about the fact that shops don’t have variety and that you have to pack your own stuff – this is not true. Many of us are immigrating later in life and have to start from nothing again. Be prepared for this. And, if you are used to having a domestic worker in South Africa, say hello to cleaning your own home and doing your own ironing. We have been told that all you need to survive winter is a good pair (or two) of woollen socks, gumboots, and a down jacket (well, on the North Island at least). Always keep in the forefront of your mind the reason that you immigrated.

Elisha

My name is Melissa, I am a Registered Nurse – Diabetes. I came to NZ in June 2021 from Malaysia/Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me 2 years.

The easiest part of the process was having Prudence help in interview and CV preparation. The most challenging part of the process was to obtain an interview from the hospital during the peak of Covid-19 lockdown and border closure in NZ. Prudence submitted my CV again after trying for a year (during Covid) and I received a job offer with the diabetes service shortly after the interview.

My first impressions of New Zealand were that it was beautiful outdoor and friendly neighbourhood. I specifically like the peaceful and slow-paced life. I think the best parts of NZ are the work/life balance and understanding employers. The area I live in is a safe and quiet neighbourhood with easy access to amenities and parks. What I miss the most is affordable Malaysian/Singaporean hawker food. Being in a Malaysian Facebook group helps to connect and attend gatherings during traditional festive celebrations such as Malaysia Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya etc.

I plan to visit the Coromandel – hot sand beach, the cove.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared to experience four seasons in a day.

The work/life balance has absolutely made a difference to my life!

Thank you, Prudence, for not giving up on me finding the perfect job match for my area of interest.

Melissa

My name is Melissa, I am a Registered Nurse – Diabetes. I came to NZ in June 2021 from Malaysia/Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me 2 years.

The easiest part of the process was having Prudence help in interview and CV preparation. The most challenging part of the process was to obtain an interview from the hospital during the peak of Covid-19 lockdown and border closure in NZ. Prudence submitted my CV again after trying for a year (during Covid) and I received a job offer with the diabetes service shortly after the interview.

My first impressions of New Zealand were that it was beautiful outdoor and friendly neighbourhood. I specifically like the peaceful and slow-paced life. I think the best parts of NZ are the work/life balance and understanding employers. The area I live in is a safe and quiet neighbourhood with easy access to amenities and parks.

What I miss the most is affordable Malaysian/Singaporean hawker food. Being in a Malaysian Facebook group helps to connect and attend gatherings during traditional festive celebrations such as Malaysia Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya etc.

I plan to visit the Coromandel – hot sand beach, the cove.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared to experience four seasons in a day.

The work/life balance has absolutely made a difference to my life!

Thank you, Prudence, for not giving up on me finding the perfect job match for my area of interest.

Melissa

My Name is Laurelle, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to New Zealand on 30 December from South Africa. The process to come to NZ took 5 months. The easiest part of the process was getting a job. The most challenging part of the process was my visa application.

Hannah was my recruiter. ACCENT made the process of job hunting so much easier. Hannah was always available to me if I had any questions, and she made a normally stressful experience so much easier. She was a gem!

My first impressions of NZ were that I thought it was beautiful with lots of trees and parks. I specifically like the people and the beauty of it. I have not explored New Zealand enough yet to decide on the best parts! I plan to visit the South Island. I’m told that’s where I will get to see the natural beauty of New Zealand.

What I like about the area I live in is that it’s close to shops, malls, and schools.

I miss my family the most. I call family daily …keeping in touch helps.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to make sure you do lots of research! And plan everything. I feel more relaxed than I did back home, so I’m enjoying that. I was an outpatients nurse back home, now I’m training in operating theatre. It’s a completely different environment. The hospital I work in has lots of gadgets and machinery to assist with different procedures. e.g. lifting patients, keeping patients warm etc I’m amazed at the amount of options there are to assist patients.

I’m so grateful to ACCENT for the service they provide. So happy I found them when I did.

Laurelle

My Name is Laurelle, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to New Zealand on 30 December from South Africa. The process to come to NZ took 5 months. The easiest part of the process was getting a job. The most challenging part of the process was my visa application.

Hannah was my recruiter. ACCENT made the process of job hunting so much easier. Hannah was always available to me if I had any questions, and she made a normally stressful experience so much easier. She was a gem!

My first impressions of NZ were that I thought it was beautiful with lots of trees and parks. I specifically like the people and the beauty of it. I have not explored New Zealand enough yet to decide on the best parts! I plan to visit the South Island. I’m told that’s where I will get to see the natural beauty of New Zealand.

What I like about the area I live in is that it’s close to shops, malls, and schools.

I miss my family the most. I call family daily …keeping in touch helps.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to make sure you do lots of research! And plan everything. I feel more relaxed than I did back home, so I’m enjoying that. I was an outpatients nurse back home, now I’m training in operating theatre. It’s a completely different environment. The hospital I work in has lots of gadgets and machinery to assist with different procedures. e.g. lifting patients, keeping patients warm etc I’m amazed at the amount of options there are to assist patients.

I’m so grateful to ACCENT for the service they provide. So happy I found them when I did.

Laurelle

My name is Chiyiwe. I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ on 12 August from Zimbabwe. The process to come to New Zealand took me 3 months. The easiest part was to get an interview with my now employer (don’t know how Hayley did that). The most challenging part was to get a visa.

ACCENT Health Recruitment helped me from arranging my CV to the time I arrived here in New Zealand, and beyond, because I still go back to them for advice and encouragement when I feel low. My recruiter was Hayley. Hayley was lovely from the word go to the end. Up to now she checks on me and I can shout out to her anytime. The whole team has been lovely and helpful because I have interacted with almost everyone, one time or the other. My first impressions of New Zealand were that it is beautiful, people are lovely…they greet with their eyes and a smile. What I like about New Zealand is the water everywhere, coming from a landlocked country myself. Best parts of New Zealand must be Milford Sound…..I am still to see it. I like Rotorua for its many tourist attraction places. I miss my children the most, I talk to them on video almost every day. I plan to visit Australia because my sister lives there and the weather is like my country.

My current role is somewhat different because now I’m practising as a nurse whereas in my Botswana, I was a midwife. I’m fascinated by how so many midwives, obstetricians, and paediatricians attend a birth, something that we are far from overseas due to shortage.

My advice if coming is relax and enjoy your last days. Work/life balance has made a real difference in my life because back home I would not afford to have the ‘luxury’ of going to places.

Chiyiwe

My name is Chiyiwe. I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ on 12 August from Zimbabwe. The process to come to New Zealand took me 3 months. The easiest part was to get an interview with my now employer (don’t know how Hayley did that). The most challenging part was to get a visa.

ACCENT Health Recruitment helped me from arranging my CV to the time I arrived here in New Zealand, and beyond, because I still go back to them for advice and encouragement when I feel low. My recruiter was Hayley. Hayley was lovely from the word go to the end. Up to now she checks on me and I can shout out to her anytime. The whole team has been lovely and helpful because I have interacted with almost everyone, one time or the other.

My first impressions of New Zealand were that it is beautiful, people are lovely…they greet with their eyes and a smile. What I like about New Zealand is the water everywhere, coming from a landlocked country myself. Best parts of New Zealand must be Milford Sound…..I am still to see it. I like Rotorua for its many tourist attraction places.

I miss my children the most, I talk to them on video almost every day. I plan to visit Australia because my sister lives there and the weather is like my country.

My current role is somewhat different because now I’m practising as a nurse whereas in my Botswana, I was a midwife. I’m fascinated by how so many midwives, obstetricians, and paediatricians attend a birth, something that we are far from overseas due to shortage.

My advice if coming is relax and enjoy your last days. Work/life balance has made a real difference in my life because back home I would not afford to have the ‘luxury’ of going to places.

Chiyiwe

My Name is Sonia. I am a Registered Nurse, and I came to NZ in March 2022 from Australia. The process to come to NZ took me 4 months.

The easiest part of the process was the recruitment process by ACCENT. The most challenging part of the process was obtaining the required visa.

ACCENT (Ms. Kristin & Prudence) evaluated my profile and carried out an initial interview by themselves. Soon after the initial interview, ACCENT liaised with prospective employers and scheduled dates for interviews.

I got selected in the first interview itself and accepted the offer.

Kristin has helped me very much in the process. She guided me in every step. She enquired about the status of my visa application process on a regular basis, provided me with the required checklist for the arrival to NZ, contacted the migration agent to speed up the process etc… Truly, I received an outstanding service from ACCENT Health Recruitment. Kristin and Prudence were always ready to provide the best service by telephone and email. Kristin used to email / telephone me every week to check with status of my work for more than six weeks from the date of my arrival. My first impressions of NZ were that it is a nice, beautiful place and has good people. I specifically like the beauty of New Zealand, the nice weather of Auckland and the lovely people of New Zealand. I think the best parts of NZ are the nice people!!

What I like about the area I live in is its proximity to the workplace. What I miss the most is the scorching heat of Alice Springs. I plan to visit all areas of New Zealand to enjoy the beauty of New Zealand.

Similarities that helped me transition easily is that everything is like Australia’s nursing practice. The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I am happier here mainly because I am on a fixed roster. I can plan for the weekend activities.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is that it is a very good place to work and live. Again, New Zealanders are very good people.

Sonia

My Name is Sonia. I am a Registered Nurse, and I came to NZ in March 2022 from Australia. The process to come to NZ took me 4 months.

The easiest part of the process was the recruitment process by ACCENT. The most challenging part of the process was obtaining the required visa.

ACCENT (Ms. Kristin & Prudence) evaluated my profile and carried out an initial interview by themselves. Soon after the initial interview, ACCENT liaised with prospective employers and scheduled dates for interviews.

I got selected in the first interview itself and accepted the offer.

Kristin has helped me very much in the process. She guided me in every step. She enquired about the status of my visa application process on a regular basis, provided me with the required checklist for the arrival to NZ, contacted the migration agent to speed up the process etc… Truly, I received an outstanding service from ACCENT Health Recruitment. Kristin and Prudence were always ready to provide the best service by telephone and email. Kristin used to email / telephone me every week to check with status of my work for more than six weeks from the date of my arrival.

My first impressions of NZ were that it is a nice, beautiful place and has good people. I specifically like the beauty of New Zealand, the nice weather of Auckland and the lovely people of New Zealand. I think the best parts of NZ are the nice people!!

What I like about the area I live in is its proximity to the workplace. What I miss the most is the scorching heat of Alice Springs. I plan to visit all areas of New Zealand to enjoy the beauty of New Zealand.

Similarities that helped me transition easily is that everything is like Australia’s nursing practice. The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I am happier here mainly because I am on a fixed roster. I can plan for the weekend activities.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is that it is a very good place to work and live. Again, New Zealanders are very good people.

Sonia

Hi! My Name is Aye. I am working as a Registered Nurse at Wellington regional hospital. I came to New Zealand in May from Singapore, originally from Myanmar. The process to come to New Zealand took me about 9 months. I would say getting a quick response from Prudence through the Accent website to start my job hunt was the easiest part of the process. The most challenging part of the process was waiting for verification of credentials as the process took longer than expected.

ACCENT Health Recruitment made my journey to New Zealand smoother than expected. They were always there to guide me through every step of the process by providing important information and answering all my queries. I am grateful to the ACCENT team for everything that they had done for me and my family to settle down in New Zealand. Special Thanks to my recruiter, Hannah. She is very kind, helpful and approachable. Thanks for always being attentive to all my queries and problems that I faced during the process of getting my NZ registration and Critical Purpose Visitor Visa – CPVV. My first impression of New Zealand was it is a beautiful country, and I am loving to get outdoors and explore. The scenery is beautiful, and people are friendly and welcoming. New Zealand offers a lot of beautiful places, and we cannot wait to visit every place after we get our driving license. The work-life balance and slow pace of the working environment is worth the decision of coming to New Zealand. But I do miss authentic Asian food and getting ingredients for home cooking.

My advice if you are planning to come to New Zealand is to do a thorough research where you want to settle and work before you come. And having a valid driving license will make your life easier in getting anywhere you want to visit.

The major difference in Singapore and New Zealand working as a Registered Nurse is having to do paper charting. However, the foundation of nursing practices are the same and the medical equipment is not much different from that we used in Singapore.

If you are thinking about coming to New Zealand, just do it. There are wonderful things to see here and don’t miss a chance. 🙂

Aye ❤

Hi! My Name is Aye. I am working as a Registered Nurse at Wellington regional hospital. I came to New Zealand in May from Singapore, originally from Myanmar. The process to come to New Zealand took me about 9 months. I would say getting a quick response from Prudence through the Accent website to start my job hunt was the easiest part of the process. The most challenging part of the process was waiting for verification of credentials as the process took longer than expected.

ACCENT Health Recruitment made my journey to New Zealand smoother than expected. They were always there to guide me through every step of the process by providing important information and answering all my queries. I am grateful to the ACCENT team for everything that they had done for me and my family to settle down in New Zealand. Special Thanks to my recruiter, Hannah. She is very kind, helpful and approachable. Thanks for always being attentive to all my queries and problems that I faced during the process of getting my NZ registration and Critical Purpose Visitor Visa – CPVV.

My first impression of New Zealand was it is a beautiful country, and I am loving to get outdoors and explore. The scenery is beautiful, and people are friendly and welcoming. New Zealand offers a lot of beautiful places, and we cannot wait to visit every place after we get our driving license. The work-life balance and slow pace of the working environment is worth the decision of coming to New Zealand. But I do miss authentic Asian food and getting ingredients for home cooking.

My advice if you are planning to come to New Zealand is to do a thorough research where you want to settle and work before you come. And having a valid driving license will make your life easier in getting anywhere you want to visit.

The major difference in Singapore and New Zealand working as a Registered Nurse is having to do paper charting. However, the foundation of nursing practices are the same and the medical equipment is not much different from that we used in Singapore.

If you are thinking about coming to New Zealand, just do it. There are wonderful things to see here and don’t miss a chance. 🙂

Aye ❤

My Name is Karen, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ in July from South Africa. The process to come to NZ took me in total 3 years from the first contact I made with an immigration lawyer until the day I stepped on the plane. I can honestly say that the easiest part of the process was securing a job. The help that Kristin from ACCENT Health Recruitment gave me was priceless.

Professionally the most challenging part was waiting out the time that the council registration took. Personally, the most challenging part was saying goodbye to my husband and daughter whom I left behind to get to New Zealand to apply for our one-off residency visa.

My recruiter was Kristin. She was absolutely amazing. She was with me every single step of the way. She secured me an interview at the exact hospital and town that I hoped to go to. She helped me prepare for the interview, by sending me most frequently asked questions to prepare, she contacted me via Skype to have a preparation interview with me and hour before my proper interview, followed up with me afterwards to find out how it went, followed up with the unit manager a few days later. After receiving my job offer and contract, she kept on following up with me as I waited for my critical purpose visitor visa, she kept track of my dates when I was flying out and I received multiple emails from her reminding me about things I might’ve forgotten or didn’t even know. She sent me exact instructions on how to get my driver’s license converted, my IRD number etc. In other words, she left no stone unturned, making sure that I was all right, even enquired about my accommodation and transport. After I started work here, I still received mails from her to ensure that I didn’t need anything and that things were going fine. She was like my Guardian Angel! My first impressions of New Zealand? I was in total awe of the beauty of the country and region that I get to call home now. The kindness and generosity of the people also took my breath away.

I am calling New Plymouth my home now and what I love best of Taranaki is the absolute breath-taking nature, the kindness of the people and the fact that it is off the beaten track. Here you get the feeling that people still care about each other, and it is big enough to have most things one might need, but small enough to have time for each other.

I still miss my husband and daughter a lot. Fortunately, our residency visas have been approved and they should join me by the end of February, then we can really start our new life here.

There aren’t huge differences between my current role here compared to my role in South Africa, apart from the fact that there I was working as a midwife as well, where here that training is not recognised. One thing I had to get accustomed to in my specific role here in New Zealand, was the fact that not all the nurses are certified to do e.g. intravenous cannulation, venesection and male catheterization where those skills were incorporated in our initial training in South Africa and part of all registered nurses’ daily job.

I suppose bedside nursing stays the same everywhere one goes, apart from differences in documentation, equipment used and the overall health system. But for those I had amazing support from my colleagues and manager. The four weeks orientation time I had, working alongside a buddy meant the world to learn all the differences and give me the necessary confidence to hit the floor running at the end of the orientation period.

Real time electronic documentation makes life real easy here in New Zealand!!

Don’t look back. Embrace the opportunity you get to come here and be happy. All immigrants know how it feels to leave your country of birth, and I think most of us will say that it is one of the most difficult things one will ever have to do, and therefore you owe it to yourself to wake up happy every morning and seize the day!!

Karen

My Name is Karen, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ in July from South Africa. The process to come to NZ took me in total 3 years from the first contact I made with an immigration lawyer until the day I stepped on the plane. I can honestly say that the easiest part of the process was securing a job. The help that Kristin from ACCENT Health Recruitment gave me was priceless.

Professionally the most challenging part was waiting out the time that the council registration took. Personally, the most challenging part was saying goodbye to my husband and daughter whom I left behind to get to New Zealand to apply for our one-off residency visa.

My recruiter was Kristin. She was absolutely amazing. She was with me every single step of the way. She secured me an interview at the exact hospital and town that I hoped to go to. She helped me prepare for the interview, by sending me most frequently asked questions to prepare, she contacted me via Skype to have a preparation interview with me and hour before my proper interview, followed up with me afterwards to find out how it went, followed up with the unit manager a few days later. After receiving my job offer and contract, she kept on following up with me as I waited for my critical purpose visitor visa, she kept track of my dates when I was flying out and I received multiple emails from her reminding me about things I might’ve forgotten or didn’t even know. She sent me exact instructions on how to get my driver’s license converted, my IRD number etc. In other words, she left no stone unturned, making sure that I was all right, even enquired about my accommodation and transport. After I started work here, I still received mails from her to ensure that I didn’t need anything and that things were going fine. She was like my Guardian Angel!

My first impressions of New Zealand? I was in total awe of the beauty of the country and region that I get to call home now. The kindness and generosity of the people also took my breath away.

I am calling New Plymouth my home now and what I love best of Taranaki is the absolute breath-taking nature, the kindness of the people and the fact that it is off the beaten track. Here you get the feeling that people still care about each other, and it is big enough to have most things one might need, but small enough to have time for each other.

I still miss my husband and daughter a lot. Fortunately, our residency visas have been approved and they should join me by the end of February, then we can really start our new life here.

There aren’t huge differences between my current role here compared to my role in South Africa, apart from the fact that there I was working as a midwife as well, where here that training is not recognised. One thing I had to get accustomed to in my specific role here in New Zealand, was the fact that not all the nurses are certified to do e.g. intravenous cannulation, venesection and male catheterization where those skills were incorporated in our initial training in South Africa and part of all registered nurses’ daily job.

I suppose bedside nursing stays the same everywhere one goes, apart from differences in documentation, equipment used and the overall health system. But for those I had amazing support from my colleagues and manager. The four weeks orientation time I had, working alongside a buddy meant the world to learn all the differences and give me the necessary confidence to hit the floor running at the end of the orientation period.

Real time electronic documentation makes life real easy here in New Zealand!!

Don’t look back. Embrace the opportunity you get to come here and be happy. All immigrants know how it feels to leave your country of birth, and I think most of us will say that it is one of the most difficult things one will ever have to do, and therefore you owe it to yourself to wake up happy every morning and seize the day!!

Karen

My name is Theresa. I am a Registered Nurse. In July I came to NZ from the United States. The process to come to NZ took me about 18 months. The easiest part of the process was interviewing and securing a job.

The most challenging part of the process was getting qualified through CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools), the bureau which certifies nursing credentials. There were significant delays due to Covid protocols. I had to make regular calls to my alma mater universities to prompt them to submit the documentation and prompt CGFNS to review the documents.

My recruiter was Hayley with whom I truly enjoyed working. She and Prudence are fantastic, responsive, and provided valuable insight on the locales I was most interested in. I always felt that I was in good hands, I asked many questions and received trusted advice.

My first impressions of NZ were that the people are genuine and friendly. The best parts of New Zealand are the people, as they are friendly and open to others. There is a collective mindset where everyone deserves a “fair go” which can be quite different from the States. The pace of life is slower and work-life balance is prioritized. It’s a change of mindset from US culture.

Even though I’m in a moderate sized city, it retains a small-town connectedness where people look out for and care about others. I moved to a vibrant city which I sought out for its history, art, architecture, and immigrant population. It’s refreshing to live in a country that is connected to the landscape, environment and to each other, as NZ is. I am enjoying the picturesque landscape and learning about Pasifika cultures.

In the first 5 months I have seen the Fiordlands, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, Moeraki and Oamaru, Kiwi birds and penguins. I plan to visit more tourist sites, see more wildlife, and enjoy the natural beauty. And the Central Otago wine region is high on my list, too. I miss my family and being able to pop in to visit them or meet them for an impromptu dinner gathering. I compensate by having frequent video calls and more text chats.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to make sure you get started earlier rather than later! Start researching and asking questions. The document processing takes a little longer than expected and when that falls into place the pathway will open quickly. If you are thinking about moving, thin out your material possessions early on and travel light.

Time is a gift. The work/life balance has nurtured my appreciation for my relationships, my self-care and has renewed my passion to my profession. I appreciate being in this health system which I see as a mixture of private and public care. I feel as if I’m not only living here, but also contributing to the community.

Thank you to Hayley and the team at Accent who unlocked access to a great job and a life changing move across the globe. Hayley and Prudence connected me with other medical professionals so that I would have a support system during transition. They were especially helpful with paring down living locations and potential workplaces and were in frequent contact through every step of the process. It is because of your expertise, network, and insight that I am able to soar toward my goals.

Theresa

My name is Theresa. I am a Registered Nurse. In July I came to NZ from the United States. The process to come to NZ took me about 18 months. The easiest part of the process was interviewing and securing a job.

The most challenging part of the process was getting qualified through CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools), the bureau which certifies nursing credentials. There were significant delays due to Covid protocols. I had to make regular calls to my alma mater universities to prompt them to submit the documentation and prompt CGFNS to review the documents.

My recruiter was Hayley with whom I truly enjoyed working. She and Prudence are fantastic, responsive, and provided valuable insight on the locales I was most interested in. I always felt that I was in good hands, I asked many questions and received trusted advice.

My first impressions of NZ were that the people are genuine and friendly. The best parts of New Zealand are the people, as they are friendly and open to others. There is a collective mindset where everyone deserves a “fair go” which can be quite different from the States. The pace of life is slower and work-life balance is prioritized. It’s a change of mindset from US culture.

Even though I’m in a moderate sized city, it retains a small-town connectedness where people look out for and care about others. I moved to a vibrant city which I sought out for its history, art, architecture, and immigrant population. It’s refreshing to live in a country that is connected to the landscape, environment and to each other, as NZ is. I am enjoying the picturesque landscape and learning about Pasifika cultures.

In the first 5 months I have seen the Fiordlands, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, Moeraki and Oamaru, Kiwi birds and penguins. I plan to visit more tourist sites, see more wildlife, and enjoy the natural beauty. And the Central Otago wine region is high on my list, too.

I miss my family and being able to pop in to visit them or meet them for an impromptu dinner gathering. I compensate by having frequent video calls and more text chats.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to make sure you get started earlier rather than later! Start researching and asking questions. The document processing takes a little longer than expected and when that falls into place the pathway will open quickly. If you are thinking about moving, thin out your material possessions early on and travel light.

Time is a gift. The work/life balance has nurtured my appreciation for my relationships, my self-care and has renewed my passion to my profession. I appreciate being in this health system which I see as a mixture of private and public care. I feel as if I’m not only living here, but also contributing to the community.

Thank you to Hayley and the team at Accent who unlocked access to a great job and a life changing move across the globe. Hayley and Prudence connected me with other medical professionals so that I would have a support system during transition. They were especially helpful with paring down living locations and potential workplaces and were in frequent contact through every step of the process. It is because of your expertise, network, and insight that I am able to soar toward my goals.

Theresa

My Name is Nurul, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ on the 2 September from Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me 9 months.

The easiest part of the process was booking flight tickets. The most challenging part of the process was waiting for the Visa approval.

Hannah from ACCENT Health Recruitment guided me through each step of the way, checked in frequently, and really without Hannah’s help, I wouldn’t be here! My first impressions of NZ were that it is peaceful, calm and they have VERY KIND people! I specifically like the picturesque views everywhere. I think the best parts of NZ are the kiwis. People are so so kind here. We took a mini road trip to Wanaka and Lake Tekapo, next we are driving up to Christchurch to visit a family friend.

I live in Dunedin, and I wake up to a fantastic view every day. Dunedin is handy to all tourists’ attractions here. I miss my family and friends back in Singapore.

My advice if you are coming to NZ is to invest in a good camera, to capture all the beautiful scenery and memories with your family.

Definitely! the work/life balance made a difference to my life. I am a much happier mum now compared to the grumpy mum I was in Singapore. I have MORE time to spend with my children and not worry about spelling lists =) Take that leap of faith if you haven’t already, the grass is definitely greener here (pun intended). Thank you so much ACCENT Health Recruitment, and especially Hannah, for your guidance and patience in answering all my queries and doubts.

Kind Regards, Nurul

My Name is Nurul, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ on the 2 September from Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me 9 months.

The easiest part of the process was booking flight tickets. The most challenging part of the process was waiting for the Visa approval.

Hannah from ACCENT Health Recruitment guided me through each step of the way, checked in frequently, and really without Hannah’s help, I wouldn’t be here!

My first impressions of NZ were that it is peaceful, calm and they have VERY KIND people! I specifically like the picturesque views everywhere. I think the best parts of NZ are the kiwis. People are so so kind here. We took a mini road trip to Wanaka and Lake Tekapo, next we are driving up to Christchurch to visit a family friend.

I live in Dunedin, and I wake up to a fantastic view every day. Dunedin is handy to all tourists’ attractions here.

I miss my family and friends back in Singapore.

My advice if you are coming to NZ is to invest in a good camera, to capture all the beautiful scenery and memories with your family.

Definitely! the work/life balance made a difference to my life. I am a much happier mum now compared to the grumpy mum I was in Singapore. I have MORE time to spend with my children and not worry about spelling lists =)

Take that leap of faith if you haven’t already, the grass is definitely greener here (pun intended). Thank you so much ACCENT Health Recruitment, and especially Hannah, for your guidance and patience in answering all my queries and doubts.

Kind Regards, Nurul

My name is Courtney. I’m an ICU RN. I came to New Zealand in March 2022 from the United States.

Once I started the process to move to New Zealand it took me about 12 months to complete. The most difficult part was waiting for each step to get approved by the CGFNS. The easiest part was applying for jobs with the help of ACCENT. My recruiter was Kristin. She helped to submit applications, prepare for interviews, and communication with the hospitals. Kristin was also available to answer any questions I had about the application process for my nursing license and work visa. I noticed the vast greenery and the clean appearance of New Zealand when I first arrived here. The people were also very friendly and helpful as I was sorting out paperwork and everything to start a life in a new country.I’m living and working in Dunedin. Dunedin has beautiful scenery and friendly people. My favorite part is being close to the beach and a short drive to multiple areas with great hiking. Te Anau, Queenstown, and Mt. Cook are very easy to drive to for a short weekend. I plan to visit Milford Sound to hike the Milford track and go scuba diving in the Milford Sound.There have been many ups and downs throughout the process. The best advice I got from others was to be patient with myself and it’s normal to have rough days as your adjusting to this new life. The hardest parts have been missing friends and family, adjusting to new routines, and learning the nursing processes here.

I’m excited to continue exploring New Zealand and jumping into a new role at work as a retrieval nurse.

Courtney

My name is Courtney. I’m an ICU RN. I came to New Zealand in March 2022 from the United States.

Once I started the process to move to New Zealand it took me about 12 months to complete. The most difficult part was waiting for each step to get approved by the CGFNS. The easiest part was applying for jobs with the help of ACCENT. My recruiter was Kristin. She helped to submit applications, prepare for interviews, and communication with the hospitals. Kristin was also available to answer any questions I had about the application process for my nursing license and work visa.

I noticed the vast greenery and the clean appearance of New Zealand when I first arrived here. The people were also very friendly and helpful as I was sorting out paperwork and everything to start a life in a new country.

I’m living and working in Dunedin. Dunedin has beautiful scenery and friendly people. My favorite part is being close to the beach and a short drive to multiple areas with great hiking. Te Anau, Queenstown, and Mt. Cook are very easy to drive to for a short weekend. I plan to visit Milford Sound to hike the Milford track and go scuba diving in the Milford Sound.

There have been many ups and downs throughout the process. The best advice I got from others was to be patient with myself and it’s normal to have rough days as your adjusting to this new life. The hardest parts have been missing friends and family, adjusting to new routines, and learning the nursing processes here.

I’m excited to continue exploring New Zealand and jumping into a new role at work as a retrieval nurse.

Courtney