Anyone interested?

[MotherBear]

Would it be of any interest to members about to set foot in NZ for the first time, if there was a register of people, already settled in certain areas, who would be prepared to act as ?helpers? or ?point of contact?? It is a strange, bewildering feeling to suddenly find yourself in a strange town/city in a strange country where nothing looks familiar. If someone was having difficulty finding where to buy something, how to register somewhere, how to go about doing something, wondering what something means, where the best/cheapest shops are for certain items, which foods/brands can be substituted for the old UK favourites, which is the best local doctor, what?s the easiest route to get to?.. etc. etc., wouldn?t it be nice to drop someone an email or give them a phone and get, hopefully, an immediate answer from a friendly source?

Perhaps ?helpers? who agree to assist (and, therefore, whose names would appear on the list, which I would suggest would sit at the top of the page as a sticky) could be contacted initially via PM on the forum (to protect their privacy) and then a personal email or phone number could be given directly to the family who is looking for a contact for when they get to their selected area in NZ. Not everyone knows in advance exactly where they are going to settle but, for those who do, it would be useful to have some first hand knowledge of which areas are good to live in. There are heaps of little questions that need answering, which members would be hesitant to post on the forum and this would fill the gap.

Of course, the success of this would depend, firstly, on people in a variety of areas being willing to assist and also new migrants feeling they would like to have someone to call on if in need. Life is a lot easier if you have the strength of knowledge behind you and I think it could help people find their way around more quickly and confidently and, therefore, settle more easily. We don?t seem to have a lot of members on the move at the moment but it could be worth setting up a register now for use as and when it?s needed. Great way to meet friends as well! :icon_biggrin:

[SteveyC]

Sounds like a good plan. Are there that many nice people in the world anymore tho? I mean it could be a bit risky without knowing them really well first.

[MotherBear]

Would it be that risky when you're just communicating via emails and/or phone calls? It would be a bit like a help line. A point of contact in a strange country to give some advice while you're finding your feet. As long as the help wasn't abused by continually being overused.

Also, we don't have that many members on this forum that would swamp a particular helper and even less that are travelling out at any one time.

[Glenda]

Well ... I'm willing to help with any information I can offer to anyone moving to this part of New Zealand. The trouble is that a lot of us already in NZ on this forum have probably not been in NZ long, so our help is limited. :icon_lol:

I would also be willing to help further, though just a tiny wee bit worried at being unintentionally used as a 'relocation agent'.

Anyway, not as many people head for the Bay of Islands as, say, Auckland or Christchurch ... but, I'm here if anyone does.

::):

[selchie]

Sounds like a good idea, if as said before, people don't abuse the sysyem. I think that the helpers should have permission to say "enough" if they become swamped with requests for assistance.

I also recommend that the people asking for help consider offering a token of gratitude to the helper.

Difficult one to make a call on really. Some people will respect the system, and others could make life a living hell, calling at all sorts of silly hours with stupid questions like 'my hot water isnt working, is this normal?' kind of things.

It would either have to be limited to something like 3 questions and no more after that or for reward. Then it would be up to the individual helper whether they wanted to assist any further.

The last thing we want is someones dream turned to a nightmare through trying to be helpful to others!

[MotherBear]

Yes, I think there would have to be strict guidelines as to how far a new migrant could make use of the help system. I was thinking along the lines of just our members taking part, so there wouldn't be a tremendous load on any one helper, as we don't have many members who are on the move at any one time. It was just a thought that, if a migrant was stuck for something, they would have someone to ask whom they know has been through the same thing. I would suggest that the migrant gets together a list of questions at a time and presents them as such rather than repeatedly bombarding the helper with single requests for assistance. Many of the questions could well be answered in one sentence, like 'where can I find......?' Or if you want to tie it right down, perhaps it should be stipulated that the helper only be called upon when all else has failed. It's a nice idea to have someone to turn to for help when your life is in such an unsettled state, but it needs to have definite guidelines, so that the new migrant understands the pressure he/she is putting on the helper and behaves accordingly.

The next problem is whether there would be enough helpers available initially in the different areas or whether to run with the scheme and hope others join in when they are settled in their new area. Possibly such a scheme might also bring to light some past members who have been in NZ for a while now.

Many thanks for your support Glenda.

[SteveyC]

Sorry to be a pessimist but by the posts already in this thread it is evident that it would be ahuge thing to implemant on a formal basis, perhaps too complicated.

I think it's best if people just get to know folks on the forum and if they feel they have become good enough friends then I'm sure they will ask for help. I mean I'll be ringing Taffy and Welshgirl at all hours when I arrive cos they lurrrve me but I wouldn't ring Selchie as I've been mocking americans for ages and they probably all despise me hehe!!! :icon_lol: :icon_mrgreen:

[MotherBear]

[quote:ae3f169b7c]I mean I'll be ringing Taffy and Welshgirl at all hours when I arrive cos they lurrrve me [/quote:ae3f169b7c]
Oh, I wonder if that's why I got the 'line disengaged' tone when I just tried to ring them?
:icon_wink:

[SteveyC]

hehe. They won't even give me there number now lol. Welshgirl will have a fit when she comes back on :icon_lol: