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Calling New Zealand home

Mark Gilbert’s emigration journey started when he became fed up of working up to an 80 hour week and missing out on family life. He and his wife, Anna began talking about emigrating but didn’t know how to go about it. They visited a few migration shows in the UK but didn’t think that there were any options for them as they couldn’t get enough points to qualify for a residency visa.

Finally though, after another visit to a show they discovered a new option – retraining towards a new life in New Zealand. Mark says, “we found that you could get a visa to train in an area of skills shortage and that under this arrangement your partner could also get a work visa and your children domestic student visas.” In September 2006 Mark found a course that captured his imagination – UCOL in Palmerston North (North Island of New Zealand) were offering a Diploma in Furniture Design and Making.

Mark and Anna completed all the necessary forms and found that after that everything moved very quickly. Within a month they were accepted by Immigration New Zealand. “I had no previous experience in furniture making but Immigration New Zealand were happy to give me a go as UCOL has proper accreditation with them,” says Mark.

The Gilbert family which includes their 3 children, Milly, Elli-Mae and Max decided to settle in a small farming town called Feilding which is just 20 mins outside of Palmerston North. One of the best things about living in New Zealand for Mark and Anna is how happy their children are. “It was extremely hard for my eldest daughter at first because she left some good friends behind but now she loves it,” says Mark. “We always sold New Zealand as a big adventure and have tried to keep it that way going out as often as we can”.

Mark is loving his course and has found that the college goes out of its way to help international students settle. Anna has also found work as a receptionist at their local doctors and is very happy in her new role.

Mark and Anna are passionate about New Zealand and although they do get the odd homesick feeling they just look at their lives now and know that they have done the right thing.

As Mark says, “It is never too late to change and if you are lucky like me you will find a new passion for work, family and life.”

Source – Emigrate New Zealand Published by Outbound Media