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As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

nytimes.com

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Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#31

Post by knz »

zinckiwi wrote: post #14

I'm an expat kiwi would would have loved to move back from the US over the past few years, but unfortunately it suffers from a similar problem to the San Fran/SV scene here. Most tech employers are in Auckland, and the housing prices are insane. Remote work isn't embraced even a tenth of what it could or should be. I love it there, but for the kind of environment I'd need (affordable family home + strong job propsect…

Likewise. It's hard to justify moving back when you look at housing costs (especially if you live somewhere with low cost of living and high wages).

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#32

Post by besogno »

It all revolves around jobs in which face-to-face spitting is deemed essential. My own job is about programming. I do that from Southeast Asia nowadays.

I wonder why I would ever consider doing that from New Zealand?

I would not make one more dollar while I would spend truck loads on things that I do not need, such as taxes and inflated housing cost, and what have you.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#33

Post by ctvo »

systems wrote: post #24

New Zealand, Australia and Canada are nowadays the primary destination for skilled worker immigrants They are the future ... Europe and USA will have to rely on in house minds .. which I believe will bring more equilibrium to this world USA, Europe and Japan are not going anywhere I am not predicting their demise .. just that CANZAU will be the beacon

[Giant Citation Required]

Those three countries you grouped together are very different in terms of compensation, quality and volume re: tech companies. Australia leads in all three while quality and volume are an issue in NZ and Canada's compensation vs. the cost of living in its larger cities (Vancouver, Toronto) feels very off.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#34

Post by theparanoid »

flexie wrote: post #22
ryandrake wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But, like Tulsa, I'd be worried about what happens when that tech company, which I moved myself and my family halfway around the world for, goes under and I'm out of work. I'm sure there is more than one tech company in Auckland, but how many? And how many of those will want to hire me? And out of those how many will I want to work for? And out of those, how many will pay enough where it makes sense for me to stay? T…

Wouldn't most tech guys be able to support a family working for any of the local web developers, app developers or IT departments of non tech companies that you find all over Florida, New Zealand and most of the Western world? In urban areas of Florida and New Zealand you will find these jobs everywhere within a 5 mile radius. Maybe not always so interesting or well paying as some jobs in IT corporations, but good to…

Working in a software company is qualitatively different than working in an IT department. One of them gets first dibs on dual monitor desktops. The other is cost center.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#35

Post by mywittyname »

flexie wrote: post #22
ryandrake wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But, like Tulsa, I'd be worried about what happens when that tech company, which I moved myself and my family halfway around the world for, goes under and I'm out of work. I'm sure there is more than one tech company in Auckland, but how many? And how many of those will want to hire me? And out of those how many will I want to work for? And out of those, how many will pay enough where it makes sense for me to stay? T…

Wouldn't most tech guys be able to support a family working for any of the local web developers, app developers or IT departments of non tech companies that you find all over Florida, New Zealand and most of the Western world? In urban areas of Florida and New Zealand you will find these jobs everywhere within a 5 mile radius. Maybe not always so interesting or well paying as some jobs in IT corporations, but good to…

> $50,000 in Fort Lauderdale is as good as $120,000 in the valley.

No, it's really not -- it's actually more like $77,000[1]. With the bulk of the difference being driven by housing prices. And $77,000 is actually above the average salary for a SE in Ft. Lauderdale (according to Glassdoor: $73,000).

[1] http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-l...

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#36

Post by sampo »

flexie wrote: post #22
ryandrake wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But, like Tulsa, I'd be worried about what happens when that tech company, which I moved myself and my family halfway around the world for, goes under and I'm out of work. I'm sure there is more than one tech company in Auckland, but how many? And how many of those will want to hire me? And out of those how many will I want to work for? And out of those, how many will pay enough where it makes sense for me to stay? T…

Wouldn't most tech guys be able to support a family working for any of the local web developers, app developers or IT departments of non tech companies that you find all over Florida, New Zealand and most of the Western world? In urban areas of Florida and New Zealand you will find these jobs everywhere within a 5 mile radius. Maybe not always so interesting or well paying as some jobs in IT corporations, but good to…

> Wouldn't most tech guys be able to support a family working for any of the local web developers, app developers or IT departments of non tech companies that you find all over Florida, New Zealand and most of the Western world?

Probably, but doing menial tasks behind where the modern edge progresses in technologies, your skills would become obsolete in 5-10 years. You'd either need to proceed to a general managerial path in your chosen no-name company, or devote time for self-study to stay in touch with the fashionable technologies.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#37

Post by chadgeidel »

TheAlchemist wrote: post #13

That's interesting ! I'm intending to make a move with my family in near future, and we actually went to visit the northern island for 15 days last month. The country is really beautiful, and there are not a lot of people around, so you can't help but feel blessed by the surrounding nature. The people are great, probably the nicest I've ever seen (as a whole). I've noted some cons though (not blocking for us thankful…

The Internet connectivity issue was the big deal-breaker for me. Australian bloggers have been complaining about it since the beginning of the WWW. Apparently there's one provider and they don't care about anything beyond "email and casual browsing". I've heard that Australia and New Zealand share the same ISP and the same policies.

This is going to be a huge hinderance for any tech enterprise.

I'm glad to see @bspn (sibling comment here) say that the Internet quality is improving.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#38

Post by sampo »

hamandcheese wrote: post #26
tonmoy wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When they won't let me come in the US at the border after visiting a different country, not watching the new will be very helpful indeed

GP said relocate to middle America.

Even if you relocate to Colorado, Kansas, whatever, one occasionally needs to travel to other countries, no?

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#39

Post by pjc50 »

nandreev wrote: post #2

Has anyone here made the move? It would be interesting to hear some real life stories, and post honeymoon-phase pros/cons evaluation of NZ.

Not me, but I knew someone who moved to Christchurch. He had to delay his interview because the office was demolished by an earthquake.

He loves the place, but I think would agree with the "poor housing" comments upthread - inexplicably under-insulated.

Re: As New Zealand Courts Tech Talent, Isolation Becomes a Draw

#40

Post by Gatsky »

I love NZ... but I live in Melbourne, Australia and there are tons of kiwis here (including many close friends and colleagues). They come here because salaries are better, adjusted cost of living is less and there are just more opportunities for professionals.

Australia isn't perfect but I'm not really sure that NZ is a more attractive destination for tech workers.

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