Sander(29)

After my vocational training in electrical engineering in Groningen, I worked five years at an installation company. The work was good, but the housing crisis made it impossible to buy a house in the north. When I read that electricians were on Immigration New Zealand's Green List — a fast track to residence — I started looking into emigration.

The Green List is a list of occupations for which New Zealand has an acute shortage. As an electrician (ANZSCO 341111) you qualify directly for a Straight to Residence visa, provided you have a job offer from an Accredited Employer and your qualifications are recognized by the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB). My Dutch diploma had to be assessed by NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority), which took six weeks.

Hamilton is in the Waikato region on the North Island, an hour south of Auckland. It's not a glamorous city, but that's exactly what makes it attractive — houses are affordable (NZ$550,000-700,000 to buy), there's plenty of work and the community is close-knit. My employer, a medium-sized installation company, arranged my AEWV and later sponsored my residence application.

The EWRB registration process was the most time-consuming part. You must demonstrate that you meet New Zealand safety standards, which differ from Dutch NEN standards. I had to do a practical assessment and a theory exam on the AS/NZS 3000 wiring standard. With some self-study and a preparation course at Wintec (the polytechnic in Hamilton), I passed first time.

What strikes me about working here is the work-life balance. I earn NZ$38 per hour as a registered electrician, which comes to about NZ$80,000 per year. Overtime is well paid. But the best part is that I finish at four and ten minutes later I'm fishing on the Waikato River. In Groningen I'd still be stuck in traffic.

My advice to Dutch tradespeople: check the Green List. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters — New Zealand needs you and the visa process is much faster than the regular Skilled Migrant Category. Start your NZQA assessment and EWRB registration while you're still in the Netherlands. Hamilton may not be sexy, but it's honest, affordable and you're within an hour of the beach or the mountains.