MoveToNZ moving out of the square!

Hi All,

No, I dont mean Albert Square!

I've been thinking (as I do) about this site and the trends that happen over time. Usually, this is what happens:

Member joins
Member joins in and gets help / is helpful to others
Member moves to NZ (hopefully)
Member is usually never seen again! Well, not often anyway!

Now, is this because everyone hates the site and cant wait to leave it, or is it because people just get caught up in their new life?

Well, I hope its the latter of the two, so I thought maybe we can create something that supports people after the move, and not just before.

We've probably got members who live in most parts of NZ by now, so with good coverage perhaps we could establish some expat groups? Sort of a 'friendly face in the neighbourhood' thing?

I know of a nationwide commercial service similar to this idea, and it seems to benefit a lot of people.

Any thoughts?

Sounds familiar .

Usually, this is what happens:

Member joins
Member joins in and gets help / is helpful to others
Member moves to NZ (hopefully)
Member is usually never seen again! Well, not often anyway!

I'm not the only one that's noticed this then. We don't seem to encourage lasting friendship/loyalty on here, which is a great shame. I know new immigrants have a lot to do setting up their new lives, but maybe one evening a week, when there's nothing on TV, it would be good if a few popped into the forum to let us know how they're getting on and to answer any questions pertaining to life in NZ. A few do come on when they first arrive, then disappear into the mists of time, satisfied that they've done their bit.

I wouldn't want to put potential members off joining the forum if they think it's going to be obligatory to stay with us once they've settled in NZ, but I would put the idea into people's minds that we do rely on and relish any information that comes out of NZ. I've often thought about topics I would have liked to start, but there aren't enough of the NZ contingent left on the forum to make a go of it.

We've probably got members who live in most parts of NZ by now.....

Probably have, but first you have to dig them out of 'retirement'.

Would be good to see something set up, but getting sufficient support for it will be the biggy.

It's a great site. I think that most forumites tend to stop coming on here when they have moved to NZ and are busy trying to settle in. I suppose most are too busy trying to get jobs, go on tours of NZ, or just generally getting things organised.

I think I'll need all the advice I can get if I ever move over there, so I'm afraid I'll probably hang around for a long time yet. ::) [smiley=icon_eek.gif] [smiley=icon_confused.gif]


Tottefan.

Funny, but I was thinking about the same issue this past week. I'll admit, I went out and looked for another site where I could interact with more Kiwis who had already settled.

I think an expat forum would be terrific, as well as a friends-of-expats forum, too. I'd like to hear from more natives, myself.

Sadly, I don't really have any ideas for how to make that actually happen. :(

Hello,

I think it would be a great idea to try and stay in touch after the move, I'd like to think that once me and Stu move out we'll be still posting updates on the forum. Perhaps not straight away as, as you say we have to get settled in first but it would be an idea to try and build communications with people who are already in NZ.

Is there any way you can send a global email to everyone who's registered with the forum to see what they think?

Stu and I were thinking about doing a weekly email to friends and family - just a small update on what we've been doing, where we've been. This might be a good start to get people do some sort of periodical update say monthly and then we could see what topics arise and we could set up another forum like the EOI stuff etc for xpat issues?

Stu and I were thinking about doing a weekly email to friends and family - just a small update on what we've been doing, where we've been.

You could always set up a blog , which allows for photos as well. This one is basic, but it's free and does the job. Family and friends can check in every now and then, read what you've been up to and add their own comments.

Perhaps it should be on a seperate website? I can put all sorts of cool stuff that people in NZ need on there, while keeping all the things looking to move stuff seperate on here. I can just link the forums together then so people here can still help out.

I?m trying to figure out what form this service would take. At the top you?re talking about forming groups, then lower down you mention a forum.

Perhaps the responses are a bit slow coming in, but I don?t see a rush from members already in NZ. Whatever form the new service takes would have to be attractive enough to entice them to take part if their input is going to be crucial to the success of the venture.

I think some plan of action is required on here urgently, as quite a few of our regular members are about to make the move down under, which will leave our most active membership somewhat depleted.

Perhaps what is needed is ex-pat groups meeting locally two or three times a year. By locally, I mean within 300km radius as there not enough active members at this stage for anything less. Maybe these meetings can be advertised in a room on the site.

[smiley=icon_biggrin.gif]

I think it's a good idea to encourage continued participation and offer other assistance for those who have arrived. I'm not sure what this would entail, as I'm still in the Old Country.