Rick(33)

I learned the trade at an installation company in Almere and then worked eight years as a self-employed plumber in the Randstad. There was plenty of work, but the cost of living and price competition made it increasingly hard to make ends meet. When a mate working in Australia told me that plumbers in New Zealand were on the Green List, I looked into it.

The Green List places plumbers in the Straight to Residence category. That means upon arrival with a job offer from an Accredited Employer you can immediately apply for residence — no waiting years on a work visa. The condition is that you must be registered with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB). My Dutch diploma had to be recognized through NZQA, and I had to take a practical exam.

The PGDB registration was the trickiest part. New Zealand plumbing standards (AS/NZS 3500) differ from Dutch standards. I had to take a bridging course at Ara Institute in Christchurch — four weeks theory and two weeks practical. The cost was NZ$3,500, but my employer paid for it. After the exam I was a registered plumber in New Zealand.

Christchurch is ideal for tradespeople. The city is still rebuilding after the earthquakes, and thousands of new homes are being added. My employer has more work than he can handle. I earn NZ$42 per hour as a registered plumber, which comes to NZ$88,000 per year. With overtime I reach NZ$100,000+. In Almere as a self-employed plumber I maybe cleared EUR 40,000 net after costs and tax.

Life in Christchurch is good. The city has been rebuilt with modern design, plenty of green space and good facilities. House prices are much lower than Auckland or Wellington — you can buy a three-bedroom house for NZ$550,000-700,000. I'm still renting (NZ$450 per week), but saving for a house. The mountains are within an hour's drive, the beaches within twenty minutes, and there's an active sports scene.

My advice to Dutch plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople: the Green List is your golden ticket. Start your NZQA assessment and PGDB or EWRB registration while you're still in the Netherlands. Christchurch offers work, a good salary and an affordable life. I received my residence upon arrival and haven't regretted it for a moment. New Zealand values tradespeople in a way the Netherlands has forgotten.