News archive

Everyone wants the Kiwi dream

August 2010

New Zealand is the second-most desired country for potential immigrants and letting everyone in would see the population almost treble, according to a survey.

The country rose to second spot as the most popular migration destination, behind Singapore, in the Gallup Potential Net Migration Index.

New Zealand was third when the list was first compiled last year, with a net migration index value of 175 per cent. Respondents were asked: "If you had the opportunity, would you like to move permanently to another country, or would you prefer to continue living in this country?"

Researcher Elsie Ho, from the University of Auckland's School of Population Health, says New Zealand's clean, green image and the perception that it is a safe country was a drawcard.
More »

Grow the Country

May 2010

Keynote speech on economy from our Jewish born Prime Minister.

The May 20th Historical Budget had one underlying theme - grow the country. PM John Key, polling 56% in the current popularity polls, main architect of the Budget message will be most welcome by those considering immigrating to New Zealand. Against a background of reducing unemployment now down to 6%, the main points are:

• Out of the recession AND in stronger shape than in many countries. The economy is expected to grow by 3.2 per cent in the coming year.
• Focusing on faster and more sustainable economic growth - The Budget will help create jobs, boost incomes, raise living standards.
• The largest reform of the tax system in nearly 25 years. Across-the-board tax cuts.
• Increasing Superannuation, Working For Families
• BETTER HEALTHCARE - Boosting spending on health by $2.1 billion over four years. Investing more in disability support services and elective surgery - necessary operations such as joint replacements, cataract removal, and ear, nose, and throat surgery
• LIFTING EDUCATION STANDARDS - Boosting spending on education - by $1.4 billion over four years.
• Investing $1.45 billion in infrastructure such as broadband, rail, schools
• INVESTING IN NEW ZEALAND'S FUTURE - $321 million into new science, research and technology initiatives over four years.
• BOOSTING TOURISM - Big new additional investment in Tourism.

Jewish Cafe

Now open at the Greys Avenue Complex is The Grey's Ave Deli.
It is open daily Monday to Friday from 9am – 3pm and is at present the community's only kosher café.
Website: www.greysavedeli.co.nz
Phone: 09-373 2908 extn 401

New Zealand one of world's 'lifestyle superpowers'

BBC correspondent Nick Bryant says he wishes the rest of the world could be more like New Zealand.

New Zealand is "one of the great lifestyle superpowers of the world" according to the BBC's Sydney correspondent Nick Bryant, who wonders in a post on bbc.co.uk why the rest of the world can't be more like little ol' Aotearoa.

Bryant's thoughts, penned following a recent visit to our shores, were prompted by an encounter with "a middle-aged customs official with a sense of humour", the discovery that New Zealand has a 24-hour rugby channel, our "funky" arts scene and the "quaint fastidiousness" which still sees cricket commentators convene on the boundary during the tea break to enjoy - of all things, a pot of tea.

He points out too, that New Zealand can be "edgy and forward", citing the fact we were the first country in the world to give women the vote and the impending launch of the "world's most comprehensive emissions trading scheme to curb greenhouse gases".

"Best of all, perhaps, is how non-indigenous New Zealanders live in such harmony with their indigenous compatriots," writes Bryant, whose piece is among the most-read articles on bbc.co.uk today.

"Next year [New Zealand] hosts the Rugby World Cup," he concludes, "but for now I will leave this country with my usual parting thought: 'Why can't the rest of the world be more like New Zealand?'"

Earlier this year, an index compiled by International Living magazine ranked new Zealand as the fifth-best country in the world to live in.

The index ranks 194 countries, taking into account cost of living, culture and leisure, economy, environment, freedom, health, infrastructure, safety and risk, and climate.

New Zealand's "pristine landscapes", the Auckland waterfront and the Southern Alps were singled out for special mention.

What they said about New Zealand:

"There's a real purity in New Zealand that doesn't exist in the States. It's actually not an easy thing to find in our world any more.
- Actor Elijah Wood

"Fiordland, ladies and gentlemen. What a spectacle. Earth Destination Number One... To throw words at such a spectacle would be like throwing meringues at a charging rhinoceros. Fruitless. (Unless it's banana pavlova).
- Actor Stephen Fry

"I find that the girls [in New Zealand] are so like, beyond warm and polite. I don't know, do you guys have haters? America's all about haters. I don't feel that here... I always wanted to come to New Zealand, because the terrain is like, insanely gorgeous."
- Host of America's Next Top Model Tyra Banks

Job Vacancy

March 2010

We currently have a Recruitment Consultant who has an urgent vacancy for a person with programming experience in ASP, C#, ASP.NET, C++, PHP, Vbscript, Javascript, HTML and Transact SQL.

If you have the above field of expertise and have previously been assessed by IMMagine as being eligible to migrate to New Zealand, please contact the consultant who completed your written assessment/consultation.

Application for integrated Jewish College

March 2010

Kadimah College gets a big thumbs up from the New Zealand Education Review Office.

GOVERNMENT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - PRIVATE SCHOOL REVIEW REPORT:
KADIMAH COLLEGE, JANUARY 2010

"Kadimah College continues to provide a high standard of care and education for students. The newly upgraded facilities contribute to teachers maintaining these standards. Students are confident and capable learners. The school complies with its suitability statement and operates efficiently as defined by section 35A of the Education Act 1989."
Richard Thornton, National Manager Review Services, Northern Region

Integration means that the Education Board requires Jewish Culture and religious teachings to be maintained at the highest level when integration is granted.

Integration will also open the doors for Jewish families who previously could not afford Private School tuition fees.

Integration is expected to come into the fourth term of this year. To assist immigrants who will join before integration, free scholarships will be provided for approved families.

For further information contact the AJI.

Migrant entry rules relaxed

March 2010

Auckland Jewish Immigration (AJI) has welcomed the government's promise to putting the welcome mat for potential entrepreneur and investor migrants. From an AJI perspective, "growing the country" should be the government's highest priority, and encouraging entrepreneurs and investor migrants to come to New Zealand is a good way of doing so.

Four years ago changes to this category, which were driven by a wave of anti-immigration sentiment stirred up by Winston Peters, made the category inoperable - even though it remained on the statute books. However, minister of immigration Jonathan Coleman's recent announcement of the changes has reactivated the category.

The minister announced that investors with 10 million dollars will be able to get residency in three years, even without any English skills or business experience. There will be no age limit, and migrants will have to remain in New Zealand for only 20 percent of the year. Other changes include a more sensible investment option, and reduction of the time funds must be invested.

These changes to the category will be particularly good for migrants from countries with strong currencies (like the UK) and for migrants who are over 55 years old.

In the minister's announcement there was also a second option for migrants willing to invest $1.5 million in New Zealand. However, those migrants must meet language, age and business experience criteria, although at a lower threshold than before. Unfortunately, this category is written up with so many provisions that it may be difficult for reasonably financially comfortable, retired couples to retire to New Zealand.

The AJI receives regular enquiries from Jewish retirees wishing to live in New Zealand. Many of these enquirers can afford the 1.5 million investment, but still would not comply with the provisions of this category. As a result, the AJI believes the minister should commission an independent study of this retired group of would-be migrants to establish whether there are any financial benefits those couples might bring to the country, which may not have been recognised or considered to date.

Job vacancy - Consultant Breast Radiologist

18 February 2010

You will have experience in all forms of breast imaging, including digital and analogue mammography, breast ultrasounds, as well as ultrasound-guided biopsies, stereotactic biopsies, sentinel node injections and pre-operative localisations. You should also possess outstanding clinical and interpersonal skills. Full or part-time option considered with assistance offered to obtain further sessions in General Radiology. More »

Leslie Max made a Dame

NZ Herald, 31 December 2009

Leslie Max, one of the founding 2001 committee members of the Auckland Jewish Immigration (AJI) organisation was invested as a Dame in this year’s New Zealand New Year’s honours.

The recognition is in keeping with many Jewish Auckland congregants over the years, who have received recognition for their contributions to the broader Auckland community and further underscores the high regard that the Auckland Jewish Community is held in our city.

Click here to read the article in the NZ Herald »

Settlers organisation established

10 December 2009

Remember December 2009 as a red letter month for Jewish migrants - because it marks the establishment of a special new organisation committed to assisting newcomers in their first year in New Zealand.

Auckland Jewish Immigration (AJI) chairman Stan Rose says that, over the last 18 months, he and his committee have been working in conjunction with B’nai B’rith representative Stephen Scher to implement the concept of a settlers organisation which will assist new arrivals to the country in the first year.

“The AJI has strongly promoted the idea that a critical requirement for newcomers, in their initial settlement years, is ongoing support... after the AJI has helped them through the laborious immigration procedural process.”

For new migrants, the months after they have achieved immigration clearance are often the critical months which could determine whether their decision to immigrate here will be a happy and permanent one, says Rose.

“Offering ongoing assistance, guidance and support to new migrant families, and helping them to integrate with the broader established Jewish community will benefit Auckland’s entire Jewish community.”

The new settlement committee will be a sub group of the AJI, and will benefit from the advantages of links to the AJI’s successful web site, its widely distributed electronic newsletters and its sophisticated administration.

Stan Rose says the AJI’s links to the settlers organisation will also enable the new organisation to help immigrants who are advanced in their immigration application but have yet to arrive in New Zealand.

Both B’nai B’rith and the AJI will take on active supportive roles for the settlers organisation, and have agreed to work closely together to ensure its permanency and success.

At the organisation’s first meeting the following appointments were made:

• Trevor Cohen is the first chairperson
• Ray Abel is deputy
• Barbara Manning is secretary

The organisation’s committee will be made up of Alan Jaffe, Elias Blechman, Larissa Liebman, Robyn Gordon, and Steven Scher.

If you are interested in more information about the settlers organisation and/or want to get in touch with it, please contact:

• Trevor Cohen at TSCNZ@vodafone.co.nz; or
• Barbara Manning at g.bmanning@xtra.co.nz

NZ ranked third on list of migrants' choice and first for the most peaceful country to live in

New Zealand Herald, 6th November 2009

A global survey by Gallop says that the population of New Zealand would expand to 11million should it accept all the adults that wish to live here. With 135 countries considered New Zealand ranked third in respect of the potential Net Migration Index – the estimated number of adults wishing to leave a country permanently subtracted from the estimated number who wish to immigrate to the country as a proportion of the total adult population.

WANTING TO MOVE:
Countries with highest PNMI
1. Singapore (+260 per cent)
2. Saudi Arabia (+180 per cent)
3. New Zealand (+175 per cent)
4. Canada (+170 per cent)
5. Australia (+145 per cent)

New Zealand is selected by many ‘lifestyle migrants’ who choose New Zealand due to the excellent quality of life, great education and lack of international conflict that it offers. This is unsurprising as according to this year's Global Peace Index New Zealand was ranked the world's most peaceful country in.

Annual immigration to New Zealand is about 20,000, which the Department of Labour estimates to be worth $1.9 billion a year to GDP and circa $1000 per capita to GDP.

See full article at www.nzherald.co.nz.

News alert

October 2009

New Zealand in recent weeks reduced the pass mark for Skilled Migration to just 110 points. In July the pass mark stood at 140 points, so the reduction is significant and means many more migrants can now achieve a residence visa without needing a job offer. You could be enjoying life in New Zealand within a few months. However, for those in less of a hurry to leave, eligible migrants will have up to 3 years to emigrate, meaning you can move at your leisure. Equally important is the fact that with your residence visa already secured, it will be far easier to find the right job.

As a result of the above, we are already receiving enquiries from people who believe they should now priorities New Zealand as their preferred destination. They want the reassurance of knowing their residence visa can be secured quickly, thus protecting their future.

Job vacancy - Clinical Director, BreastScreen Auckland Limited

December 2009

Breastscreen Auckland Limited, the well established Lead Provider of Breast Screening services, are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Radiologist responsible for overall clinical and strategic leadership of our Auckland Breast Screening service in New Zealand.

The Clinical Director along with the Programme Manager will oversee the continuing development of an effective, high-quality, customer focussed service for Breast Screening.

You will oversee clinical performance monitoring, and take a key role in the implementation of a high quality mammography and assessment service in accordance with the Breast Screening programme's quality requirements.

The successful applicant will be medically qualified, hold internationally recognised vocational registration and be active professionally within breast screening

This is a permanent position with negotiable hours. No on-call duties are required.

BSAL is situated in a very pleasant location near the famous Newmarket shopping area only minutes from several parks and beaches and with a variety of transport options, there are so many reasons to join us in the beautiful "City of Sails". Working conditions are excellent and remuneration will reflect the significance of this leadership role and the clinical expertise required. Relocation expenses may be met for the suitable candidate.

Contact us for further details.

Auckland Jewish Leaders Honoured

June 2009

New Zealand has just enjoyed the June Queens Birthday long weekend – a traditional time to honour outstanding New Zealand citizens.

The spotlight was on the Jewish congregants with Gus Fisher on the honours list. Before this another leading congregant, Peter Gluckman was appointed as Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister who is also of Jewish descent, and as we write, congregant Lester Levy has been appointed Chairman of the large Waitemata Health Board.

Add to this Israel has just reopened the Israeli Embassy in Wellington (previously for a time administrated from Australia).

This highlights how influential and highly respected the small Hebrew Congregation is so highly regarded by the wider community and follows the historical trend of the congregation providing seven Auckland Mayors and three Prime Ministers.

New Zealand has been judged the most peaceful nation in the world

June 2009

An Australian think tank recognised our stable political situation, relatively low rate of violence and decrease in military spending.

The Institute for Economics and Peace list was created after the start of the global recession, finding the financial meltdown was dragging the world toward political instability and conflict...

Click here to read the full NZ Herald article.

NZ Government meets global turmoil with new immigration incentive

14 December 2008

We find that many people that might otherwise be considering applying for permanent residence in New Zealand that are put off by the fact that they may have difficulty selling houses and there may be other liquidity issues affecting some of their assets.

This however has created a new opportunity

Right now the pass mark is at record low levels brought about because of difficulties for some would-be migrants because of the global economic conditions, in liquidating personal assets.

This however makes it a great time to put your application in because the pass mark currently is at a low 110 points.

The pass mark has been at this low level for the past three fortnightly pool draws. The most significant implication of such a low pass mark is that there are likely to be more people selected that will not require any of the job and other normally required bonus points.

This opens another option – that is you can delay your final move to New Zealand for a period – (even up to 3-5 years) but still by acting now and filing an Expression of Interest (EOI) secure your selection at a much lower pass mark

In this way you can in a calm orderly way liquidate your property or hold off till your local economy improves. When time arrives, with your application approved, just book your flights and come on over.

John Key - New Zealand’s third Jewish–born Prime Minister

November 2008

On Saturday November 8th 2008 the New Zealand electorate overwhelmingly voted the new National government in with John Key as its Prime Minister.

As opposition leader the new PM consistently supported the Jewish communal activities so not surprisingly the Auckland Congregation is ecstatic with the election outcome.

Quickly interviewed by the Israeli press after the election results were known, the PM promised to return to the historically close relations that New Zealand has had with Israel.

John’s parents met in England in the aftermath of World War 2 – Ruth Lazar, John’s mum fled to Britain in 1939 as a school girl Jewish refugee from Nazi –occupied Austria. Ruth having escaped the Holocaust had to begin a new life.

Married at a registry office in Portsmouth in 1948 the family came to NZ in 1950 among the wave of $10 Pom immigrants.

John was born in 1961, and a there was very special life time bond established between Ruth and her new born son. Ruth was utterly devoted to John.

Unfortunately in 1969 the marriage broke up and within six weeks John’s father passed away at the age of 55.


This was a most difficult time financially for the family who moved South to Christchurch to a state house. Heavy in debt Ruth worked around the clock as a as a Porter and cleaner and taking in washing, but determined that the family would be brought up in the best possible way.

From these difficult beginnings our new PM went on to become a multi millionaire but returned to New Zealand, joined the National party six years ago and today it’s Prime Minister.

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