Travel Tips » Other tips

Working in New Zealand

Vi — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:00:17 +0000

NOTE: if you are looking for long term work visa or thinking about migration to New Zealand please go back to Google search or visit official NZ immigration site.

New Zealand is far away country and it cost a lot to travel there and around. But you have some options to make some money there by doing some temp job.

Of course the best option is Working Holiday Visa (WHS). But this option is not applicable if you are older then 30 or your country doesn’t have any agreement with New Zealand about working holiday schema.

But there couple options even you are not eligible for working holiday visa.

First option is visa in RSE category. You should check Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) work category if you are still overseas and in the planning stage of your trip to New Zealand. To get RSE category work permit you must have job offer from recognized employers. Here is the list of eligible employers on NZ immigration site. You should do some home work to contact those employers to get job offer. RSE visa is limits your right to do seasonal work in the horticulture and viticulture industries is planting, maintaining, harvesting, and packing crops in the horticulture and viticulture industries. So you should be willing to do such job and most importantly you should carefully read all conditions before applying to visa of this category. If you approved to work under RSE category you will be granted an RSE limited visa. This means you cannot apply for a different type of visa while they are in New Zealand and cannot lodge an appeal if they stay in New Zealand beyond the expiry of their visa.
Another and probably the best option for travelers is visa in SSE category. SSE (Supplementary Seasonal Employment) work visas may only be granted to people who are in New Zealand, and will be granted for no longer than six months. But…Unfortunately there is always but. There are a limited number of places available for workers under the SSE category and your application cannot be approved if there are no remaining places when you apply. And because of the seasonal nature of positions in the horticulture and viticulture industries employers do not always have positions for all the SSE workers they have been approved for. Check NZ immigration site for latest information about available SSE position.
The last option is VOC. VOC (Variations of Conditions) visa allows visitors in New Zealand to undertake seasonal work for a short period (maximum 6 weeks). Before you can apply for a variation of conditions under this category, the Ministry of Social Development must have declared a seasonal labour shortage. You can only work in region(s) where a labour shortage has been declared. At the moment there is no any shortage declared, but keep eye on VOC page for latest news.

To summarize all info

Visa category	Where to apply	Visa valid for	Cons
RSE	outside NZ	???	You must have a job offer from an employer approved Immigration NZ
SSE	inside NZ	maximum 6 months	There are a limited number of places available for workers under the SSE category
VCO	inside NZ	maximum 6 weeks	Must have declared a seasonal labour shortage

For latest updates please check official New Zealand Immigration site’s pages related to seasonal work in the horticulture and viticulture industries
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/hortandvit/

Check this map about places where is job demand during season you want to visit New Zealand.
http://www.picknz.co.nz/Seasonal-Work/Information/Regional-Map.htm

Working in New Zealand is a post from: Travel Tips

Japanese style toilet

Vi — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:00:41 +0000

What is Japanese style toilet? I had the same question before my trip to Japan. During preparation for this trip I found there two styles of toilets in Japan: “Japanese” and “Western”. I was very curious to see how that Japanese style looks like.

Japanese style toilet

It won’t be big surprise for you if you have been traveling in countries like Russia as you could see similar toilets there too.
Don’t worry if you afraid you don’t know how to use it. In most public toilets you’ll find both (Japanese and Western) style toilets. In hotels there are Western style toilets so won’t be any problems to use it there.
It was another main issue with public toilets in Japan. Toilet paper usually is not provided in public washrooms. Paper towels or dryers are not always available too. So always carry paper tissues with you in case you’ll need to use public toilet.

Check here for instructions how to use Japanese style toilet.

Japanese style toilet is a post from: Travel Tips

Be careful what you are posting on social networks

Vi — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:00:17 +0000

Be careful you are tweeting about

Did you already read this recent story about British couple sent back home by US Department for Homeland Security because of tweet made by the guy?

Be always careful what your are posting on social networks. It doesn’t matter is it Twitter or Facebook or Google+ or any other social network. It public space which can be read by anybody. Especially with privacy rules changed so frequently by these networks (Facebook is the worst on this list) any information you think is hidden can suddenly become available to millions. May be all these networks should introduce some warning system to inform you about existence of some inappropriate information in your message you are ready to post or tweet?

Share this story with your friends to make them alert.

Be careful what you are posting on social networks is a post from: Travel Tips

Best translation tool for travelers

Vi — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:00:39 +0000

I just got news letter about sale discount for this software and want to share it with you. It called Babylon. I am using it for 5-6 (or maybe even more) years now and I am so happy with it.
You can find a lot of online dictionaries, but most travelers knows what there too many places where there are no cellular reception and usually in such remote places you are having problems with communication.
Babylon enables to translate words and expressions in 75 languages and you can use it everywhere because it has online and offline dictionaries. Isn’t that great?
I am is still using version 5 on my laptop, but I think it is time to upgrade it myself. Latest version has editions for most popular mobile phones iPhone, BlackBerry and phones with Android.

The best part. You can get 70% off using this link. It is not affiliate and I am not getting any commissions. It is just link from newsleter I got from Babylon with last sale for 2011 offer. If you go straight to www.babylon.com you’ll 30% discount, but by pressing first link you’ll get 70% discount.

Best translation tool for travelers is a post from: Travel Tips

Christchurch struck by earthquake again

Vi — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:17:52 +0000

A car rests in a sink hole caused by liquefaction in the Christchurch suburb of Parklands after a series of earthquakes. Photo / Simon Baker

Actually it were two powerful earthquakes in Christchurch today. It happened less in a year from last large earthquake in Christchurch on February 22 this year. In this video possible to see what was happening.

In case you are planning your travel to New Zealand, you should check what situation is in Christchurch area as it can be not safe to enter that area.

Check this map www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/today what is happening there right now.

For latest news and updates check live coverage of NZ earthquake on ABC News 24 www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24

Christchurch struck by earthquake again is a post from: Travel Tips

Best new iPad for travellers :)

Vi — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:00:06 +0000

Did you see newest version of iPad, Xmas edition? (Turn on subtitles, as video is in German)

I would love to have one. Unfortunately it is only a joke, but wouldn’t be it nice to have one? You can sit on the wild beach. Nobody around you, but just turn on your iPad if you want some cold drink and you got one
Happy Christmas everyone

Best new iPad for travellers :) is a post from: Travel Tips

Travel luggage scales

Vi — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:01:14 +0000

Do you have frequently traveling friends? Do they use to fly budget airlines? If yes, you probably heard stories about trouble with the weight of their luggage at the check-in. Every airlines company is trying to save on any bit of your trip. Especially budget airlines and they are getting more and more strict about weight and measurement of your luggage. You can check your luggage weight at home, but it can be problematic if you are away. That is why everybody must to travel with a luggage scale. Nowadays these scales are very light, compact and accurate. Weighs in pounds or kilograms, very easy, very convenient to use and to carry.
You can find different travel luggage scales, but they are very similar to the one shown in picture. It can weigh up to 75 pounds (34 kilograms) and it is more then enough as most airlines don’t allow more then 50 pounds (23kg) weight per item. And it cost less then 15$US. So if you still think about buying Christmas gifts this one would be perfect present for somebody who travels a lot. You still be able to get it from amazon before holiday season starts.

Travel luggage scales is a post from: Travel Tips

How to avoid pickpockets

Vi — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:01:40 +0000

This summer I was spending a lot of time in big European cities and saw so many people careless about their belongings. There are so many pickpockets out there and you should always be aware about it especially in in crowds.
Here are some tips how to avoid to become a victim of pickpockets:

Beware of crowds. Be particularly cautions on trams, buses, subway, when visiting sights, in harbours, at markets and restaurants, beaches and other public places.
Always carry your bag zipped up or closed and preferably carry it in front of you.
Keep your money and bank cars in you pocket at all times.
Beware of people impersonating policemen. Never obey a stranger’s request to show your wallet.

How to avoid pickpockets is a post from: Travel Tips

Beware trams on the streets

Vi — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:01:02 +0000

Latest fatal accident in Melbourne is another reminder to be more careful on the street. Especially I am talking about tourists as most of them are not used to trams and for some reason they are not obey signs. I personally saw accident in Sydney when somebody just stepped in front of tram as I think that person just didn’t expect any vehicles in pedestrian area and didn’t see rails.
Yarra Trams in Melbourne is one of the world’s largest tram network operator started campaign about tram danger comparing it with running rhinos.

Be careful !!!

Beware trams on the streets is a post from: Travel Tips

Travel Essentials.Permanent marker

Vi — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:01:47 +0000

I can bet permanent marker was never on your travel check list. It wasn’t on mine either as usually I am traveling solo or only with couple friends. But in recent years I was on couple group tours and after these trips permanent marker become must to have. Why do you need it? Let’s say you are on bus tour. Everybody are buying the same kind of water bottles and if you won’t keep your bottle in the hands all the time after awhile you’ll can find which one is yours. All you need the simple permanent marker and write your name on the bottle. The same can be done with all belongings which are not unique in the group and can be lost.
I was started to use in hostels for marking food I was leaving in the kitchen. As post-it notes I used before usually get lost. So buy permanent marker which cost less then buck but it makes your travel belongings so much more organized.

Travel Essentials.Permanent marker is a post from: Travel Tips