Working For Propellerhead and Moving to New Zealand
The thought of moving to a remote country like New Zealand and then working for a company you don't know can be daunting, especially if you're currently based on the other side of the world. But there is no need to fret. New Zealand is an incredible country filled with lovely people and exciting, beautiful places to explore.
Our offices in Freemans Bay, Auckland.
Propellerhead Details
Central Office Location:
Our beautifully designed office is located the heart of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, in a suburb called Freemans Bay. Our office is surrounded by a collection of cafes and eateries, and we have Auckland’s largest inner city park, Victoria Park, right on our doorstep.
La Zeppa Kitchen and Bar
Victoria Park
Hardware:
New employees are provided with a new, latest model MacBook Pro to use for all work purposes. Within the office, you will be provided with an 18" x 34" curved LG monitor, an electric standing desk, a keyboard, and a wireless mouse. You also will have access to stationery and a library full of books, and if you need anything else, we can likely provide that for you too.
Transport:
The most cost-effective way to get to our offices is by public transport. Auckland Transport buses stop very close to our offices (and you'll have the pleasure of using the AT Mobile app, which we have built and maintain!). Team members also cycle, motorbike, walk, train, or are dropped off by family members. If you'd like to drive, there are also many nearby car parking options.
Coffee and Office Snacks
Our office has an excellent Italian coffee machine which you can use for all your caffeine needs. You will have unlimited access to artisanal coffee beans and various milks so you can ensure that you can make your coffee just the way you like it! If you’re not a coffee person, we have many hot chocolate and tea options available. We also provide an unlimited supply of a large range of snacks, and we are happy to take snack requests :)
Meetings and Celebrations
We host a catered staff meeting every month, and we have fortnightly Knowledge Sharing sessions led by our team members. It's also very common for us to celebrate holidays and other special occasions with champagne and treats.
Philanthropy
Propellerhead actively supports STEM and IT related initiatives, including Shadow Tech Day and Shadow IT (events allowing female high-school students to 'shadow' a female IT professional for a day in the workplace), MIT Code Camp (a boot camp teaching high-school students coding and computer game development), and JHack (an event bringing together over 100 students from over 20 high schools to complete in a series of programming challenges).
Shan, Sophie and Sia from a recent Shadow Tech Day, along with Maddie and Elyse from Propellerhead.
We also recently donated 27 computers and 27 monitors to the charity OMGTech!, to help with their mission of teaching young New Zealanders how to utilise technology.
We have provided sponsorship for the Junior Dev Auckland Meetup and Hardware Meetup AKL.
Would you like to know anything else about Propellerhead? Please let us know!
About New Zealand
New Zealand is a small country with many benefits. Within one day, you can see beaches, rolling green farmland, forests, mountains and cities. We’re a very diverse nation, and we offer excellent work/life balance, a thriving tech scene, and some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet.
A typical New Zealand forest.
A beach close to Auckland City.
New Zealand is a nation of birds - you’ll find the world’s only alpine parrot, the Kea, here.
The view of Auckland City from Mount Eden.
The view towards Mount Cook, our tallest Mountain, in the South Island.
Relocation Tips
Visas
What's the visa process?
Our Propellerhead team consists of people from all around the world, including Germany, France, Russia, Ukraine, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Argentina, Columbia, and Mexico.
It's illegal for us to give immigration advice, so we advise on which visa to apply for. Recent international employees have applied for one of three visas:
It takes between 2 weeks and 3 months for new employees to receive the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa, once they have completed all necessary paperwork.
The Immigration New Zealand website is very detailed, so please spend time going through it: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas
We have recently become an Accredited Employer with Immigration New Zealand, so new employees can now apply for the Talent Work Visa. These visas are often easier and much faster, and are a direct path to residency. Our accreditation number is 17088328.
What should I do first?
Immigration New Zealand have provided a great check list: https://nzready.immigration.govt.nz/
What do I need in order to be granted a visa?
Take a look at what's required for your entry to New Zealand here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/work/explore-work-visa-options
Do I need an immigration advisor?
Most employees who have successfully moved to New Zealand haven’t used an immigration advisor. If you'd like help, or think there will be complications with your application, you can enlist the services of an advisor and they can help you with visa preparations.
What happens if I don't get my visa before the date I'm supposed to start?
If your visa is taking longer than average, we can try to speed things up with Immigration New Zealand. A common detail which slows down applications is a lack of complete documentation.
What happens if I start after the date on my employment contract?
If for whatever reason you can't start on the date listed in your agreement, we can amend your offer with a new date. We are flexible with this and understand that there are sometimes unforeseen events.
What if I have a partner and kids?
Here's more info: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/join-family/explore-family-visas
Your Salary
It’s important to note that salaries in New Zealand are, on average, a lot less than American salaries, can be on-par with some European salaries, and are generally higher than salaries in Asia.
The average salary for a Senior Software Developer in New Zealand is around $120,000 per year. Initial Propellerhead salaries sit around or slightly above that figure.
The cost of living in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland, is high but a technology professional can live a very comfortable life here. It’s important, however, that you are relocating to New Zealand for more than just the potential salary. Relocating to New Zealand offers you the opportunity to live in one of the safest and cleanest countries in the world.
Your Relocation
Here’s what most new team members do when relocating to New Zealand:
Book AirBnB accommodation for 1 - 3 months prior to moving
Look for a house or flat to rent when they get to New Zealand
Short-Term: AirBnB
Most people moving here book an AirBnB for their first few weeks/months of living in New Zealand. This seems to be the most convenient option and not too expensive if you pick the right places and organise well in advance.
To be most cost-effective, look for a room in someone's house with great reviews. If you’re bringing your family and want an entire apartment/house, book well in advance to get the best deals, or look at suburbs outside of the central city suburbs.
Prices will depend on whether you want an entire house/apartment or whether you are happy occupying a room in someone else’s house. Rooms can be from $30 upwards per night. Entire houses are around $80 upwards. If you contact the host, you might be able to negotiate a deal for staying longer.
Long-Term: Renting or Buying
Sooner or later, new employees will want to find a house to rent long-term or a house they can buy. It’s common for people to look on TradeMe for long-term houses, apartments and rooms for rent and for sale.
The process can seem daunting, as housing in Auckland is competitive and landlords or property agents often have many people to choose from.
Here’s a few tips from recent emigrants who have all found houses to rent:
Available houses will have ‘open-homes’ where everyone interested in the property views it at the same time
If interested, you’ll need to fill in a number of forms containing detailed information, so be prepared for this
You’ll have the most success if you’re quick, and ready to move in. If you like a place, offer to take it right away. Don't wait until the next day, or "consider"
If a landlord doesn’t select you, don’t worry. This can happen sometimes as landlords will often have many people to choose from. Just move on and try another house
Location
Suburbs close to the Propellerhead office:
Freemans Bay
City Centre
Wynyard Quarter/Viaduct
Ponsonby
Grey Lynn
Other suburbs to consider:
Mount Eden
Eden Terrace
Sandringham/Balmoral
St Lukes
Newmarket
Kingsland
St Marys Bay
Herne Bay
Parnell
Suburbs further out than that:
Further out means you might need to use the motorway. This can become congested in mornings/night times and travel times can be lengthy. If you don't mind this, then anywhere else in Auckland is fine to live too.
Cost of Living
Living in New Zealand is more expensive than many parts of the world. It’s important to note that New Zealand typically prices accommodation and utilities Per Week, not Per Month.
Article of interest:
Accommodation:
Houses vary from NZD$300 per week for a cheap, small apartment, to over $1000 for a very nice house. It’s common for people renting to pay upwards of $500 per week. Renting entire houses is quite competitive in Auckland so it's something you'd want to start organising as soon as you can.
Costs For You To Consider:
Day Care: This isn’t free, and prices vary https://www.huggies.co.nz/parenting/family-budgeting/cost-of-baby/child-care-costs
Primary School: This is free, or almost free in New Zealand.
Rent: $300 to $1000 per week: https://www.barfoot.co.nz/market-reports/2017/december/rental-report
Utilities: $20 to $50 per week: https://www.mercury.co.nz/pricing, https://www.genesisenergy.co.nz/electricity
Food (including groceries and eating out): $200 to $400 per week.
Public Transport: maybe $40 per week https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/fares-discounts/bus-train-fares/
Transportation/gasoline: $50 per week
Clothes: depends on family
Health Insurance: $15 to $50 per week https://join.southerncross.co.nz/quote/step2
Extra Spending Money: this will depend on your interests and hobbies
Tax/Money/Banking
Money & Tax - Immigration New Zealand
Banks our staff have accounts with are ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, TSB, Westpac.
Information about tax can be found at Inland Revenue.
Corruption
New Zealand was ranked first on the global Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of 2017, and has ranked consistently in the top two since 2012. The Corruption Perceptions Index annually ranks countries "by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys."
Transport
Auckland can be navigated by car, motorbike, bicycle, scooter, train or bus. If you’re lucky to live in Auckland Central, you’ll be able to walk to work. The outer suburbs of Auckland and beautiful natural areas such as beaches and native bush are best accessed by car. It’s common for newcomers to purchase a car once they get to New Zealand. It also allows them to travel to different parts of New Zealand with ease.
Transport - Immigration New Zealand
Transport - Tourism New Zealand
Your Drive - car sharing
Zoomy - cheaper New Zealand version of Uber
Food
New Zealand food is well-known to be fresh and tasty. You’ll find no shortage of great places to eat, and supermarkets filled with fresh food around Auckland. Often your food bill will be more expensive than other parts of the world - as an isolated, small country, we often can’t reduce the cost of food like bigger countries can.
Shopping - Immigration New Zealand
Top Restaurants - Tripadvisor
Supermarkets we use are Countdown, New World and PAKn'SAVE
A gourmet supermarket is Farro Fresh
Auckland has a number of farmers markets where you can buy fresh produce and other items.
Language
English is the de facto official and predominant language of New Zealand. Almost the entire population speak it either as native speakers or proficiently as a second language. The Māori language (te reo Māori) of the indigenous Māori people is also an official language, as is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). Many other languages are used by New Zealand's minority ethnic communities.
English language for your visa - Immigration New Zealand
Public Holidays
Public holidays and anniversary dates - New Zealand Government
Healthcare
People in New Zealand enjoy the benefits of a comprehensive and heavily government subsidised health system. It is all part of the Kiwi way of giving everyone ‘a fair go’ in life
Public healthcare is free or low cost if you hold a work visa valid for two years or more, are a NZ or Australian citizen, or are a resident in NZ. You also have the option of taking medical insurance for private healthcare, although many New Zealanders choose not to.
Healthcare Services - Immigration New Zealand
Is Health Insurance Worth It? - Sorted New Zealand
Getting Publicly Funded Healthcare in NZ - NZ Government
For health insurance, many people use Southern Cross, nib, or AA to name a few, though it is a good idea to research health insurance in New Zealand before taking out a plan.
New Zealand History & Government
History & government - Immigration New Zealand
Entertainment
Roys Peak, Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.
New Zealand is a wonderland for people who like outdoor activities and nature.
Activities
Tourism New Zealand - New Zealand's top tourist attractions
Eventbrite - for finding upcoming city-specific events
Meetup - for finding activity groups
Travelling Around New Zealand
Air New Zealand - our national airline
Grabaseat - cheap flights through Air New Zealand
Jetstar - budget airline offering flights around New Zealand
Education & Schooling
Kids
Education - New Zealand Immigration
School holiday dates - New Zealand Government
Older Students
Tertiary education and training - New Zealand Immigration
New Zealand universities include AUT, Canterbury, Lincoln, Massey, Otago, University of Auckland, and Victoria.
StudySpy is a place to find relevant courses from universities and other providers.
More Resources:
Take a look at How To Move To New Zealand, an information hub built by people who have made the journey here. It contains a lot of valuable info about what you can expect, and what you need to prepare.