It's probably cos the partner uni won't accept PRs in the first place. After all, the reason why they open their doors to twinning students is for the $$$. If you're a PR, they won't get the $$$.

But that wasn't what I was referring to. What I meant was - if you tried getting entry from first year health science and failed, then went back to IMU, they won't let you twin back. Even if you're an international student. I guess I didn't make myself clear enough.

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Added on October 4, 2007, 7:17 amI'm sorry, can't tell you much more than I already did. For the MBA/IT/related to degree thing, you'll have to check with NZ immigration.

PhD fees are around $4000 per year. Before the govt implemented this policy, it was at least 3 times more. It varies from course to course though, more technical courses are more expensive. You'll have to find out the exact figures from the unis. You could always try looking for scholarships too.

NZ academia - I have no clue how hard it is. general tutorship positions while pursuing postgrad degrees aren't hard to get, but full-time positions are different. I suppose it depends on which institution you go to and whether there are vacancies. Standards are generally high since we don't have hundreds of private colleges here. They are equal opportunities recruiters, which basically means that you won't run into racism problems getting a job.

This post has been edited by wornbook: Oct 4 2007, 07:17 AM

I agree with your sentiments on medical schools. But with respect, I think you've gotten two situations confused.
1) A PR has never set foot in the university before, never attempted health science and applied for med school, an was therefore never rejected (obviously I'm referring to NZ unis here). He goes through IMU but is rejected by that uni.
--- This is as much for financial reasons as much as maintenance of standards. Note that it is not entirely a back-door route, unless you think that all IMU students get in through the back-door (lots of locals do actually).

2) A student, whether PR or international, fails to enter med school through the health sci route goes to IMU. That is definitely back-door entry, which I believe is what the unis to prevent.
--- This is maintenance of standards.

The sad thing is, it is not entirely true that you cannot buy a med degree in an developed country. That is pretty much what govts are doing when they form an agreement with the unis to send their students over here. In Otago, the average cut-off point for 2nd year med is in the high 80s. Govt scholars (whether from Malaysia, Saudi, Fiji etc) can get in as long as their health sci grades do not fall below 70%. Some are even accepted into 2nd year med BEFORE starting health sci. I know this guy who was given a telephone interview and a place by the uni before flying over. That said, he deserved his place as he averaged 93% in health sci that year. Not so for other scholars. So you can see why there's some jealousy going on - between locals and internationals, and between private-paying and govt-sponsored internationals, and then between students who got in the standard way and IMU students.

This post has been edited by wornbook: Oct 4 2007, 10:59 AM

Ok, get your point. It just wasn't clear enough before. Or maybe I'm just blur.

6 weeks? You must be kidding. Exams have started in some unis already. Others start next week. It's the last week of lectures here in Auckland Uni.

On average, Aussie semesters start and end almost a month later than NZ semesters. Like I said, some NZ people have started their exams already.

Anyway, I'll echo what you said. To those out there with 'em (I think it's only Emperor Meng), good luck with your exams!

Yep, with room for luxuries, expensive meals out, entertainment etc. $10,000 is enough for an ordinary life (with a couple of luxuries thrown in) if you're careful with money.

Huix,
Mostly I agree with Haya but you'll need to watch you expenses more if you have a car. Petrol costs are skyrocketing ($1.69 per litre now) and it will go higher next year when the new carbon tax comes info force. I believe they'll implement compulsory insurance soon and you'll have to pay for a warrant of fitness to be done twice a year, maintanence and other stuff. The only thing cheap about driving in NZ is the cost of cars.

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Added on November 19, 2007, 10:00 amSorry, missed this earlier...Ya, we would meet up sometime.

You're going to Wellington right? Are you talking about AirNZ airfares? Try www.flypacificblue.co.nz. It's a new airline, only started operation this month (owned by Richard Branson's Virgin). Cos it's just started, not too many ppl seem them as a potential carrier yet so their prices increase more slowly. I entered a random mid-Feb date and found flights for $69.

This post has been edited by wornbook: Nov 19 2007, 10:00 AM

Visas can take a while cos our side (Bukit Aman, which issues the letter of good conduct) takes its own sweet time. Maybe you could ask the NZ High Comm if you could pick your visa up in NZ. You can enter NZ without a visa for up to 3 months so you won't need a visa immediately. But try and sort it out ASAP before you leave, just in case.

It really should be a problem. There are many students who go over and don't leave till they graduate. All will have one way tickets since open ended return tickets are only for a year. It's a student visa, not a tourist visa after all.

I agree with Haya's method of getting a multi-plug board/power bank in Malaysia - most of your appliances will be from Malaysia anyway. Except that with the readily available $2 adaptors (international to NZ), I won't bother with changing the heads. Not worth the effort and less flexible.

The problem with that method is if and when you buy some NZ appliances (stuff like desk lamps, electric kettles) since you won't be able to plug them into the Msian multi-plug. You'll either have to get an NZ to Msia adaptor or get an NZ multi-plug and plug the M'sian multi-plug AND the NZ appliances into it. Not sure if that makes any sense...

Btw NZ and China 3-pin adaptors are interchangeable. But 2-pin Chinese ones can't be used in NZ since they're a different shape (like M'sia 2-pin) - beats me why.

My gripe with NZ power heads/plugs is their annoying shape. If you notice from Haya's pic, they jut out at 90 degrees from the wall (compared with Msia/UK flat ones). It's a real pain if you're trying to use a plug point behind furniture etc. You can get flat heads with some searching but any new appliances you buy will be in that irritating shape.

This post has been edited by wornbook: Jan 5 2008, 07:34 PM

It really depends on whether you're talking about domestic or international flights. From my experience, the folks at KLIA really don't care and give quite generous allowance for both check-in and hand luggage. Especially hand luggage. Never been asked to weigh it and they don't regulate the size, no. of pieces etc either unless it's really extreme.

Domestically within NZ though (and international departing from NZ), is another thing. The limit for check-in baggage is 20kg (with an allowance of approx +5). Anything more and you pay. Hand luggage is 7kg (they will weigh it if it looks heavy) and there's a specific size. Technically, you're only allowed ONE piece and laptops count as that one piece. But stuff like jackets and handbags don't count. So I used to carry my laptop as my one piece and a SMALL backpack as my "handbag". Never had any problems. But I saw someone stopped once for trying to bring a huge rucksack on board.

Or, just go out and buy a NZ power bank.

Also, if you look closely at mine, its one of those China made power banks which can accept the different plugs of the world, NZ included.
[/quote]
Those are great. I didn't even know they existed until a couple of months ago when I went to China where pratically every hotel had 'em. Can you get them in M'sia? I don't think they're available over here in NZ... unless the $2 shops stock them. Everything those shops carry are from China anyway.

That's what I said! Oh well, guess I wasn't clear enough.

To all those who've arrived or will be arriving soon, welcome to NZ.

Yep, laptop bags count as one piece. How big is your backpack? I've never had a problem with passing mine off as a personal item - it's a average (medium)-sized Reebok bag. As long as it's not stuffed really full, it should be fine.

Btw, if a piece of cabin luggage is over-sized/over-weight they simply won't let it onto the plane. It's for safety reasons, so a mere fine won't solve the problem.

Try HSBC. I don't know if they have a branch in Christchurch though - very few branches nationwide.

Any bank will do really. Your Dad can still transfer the $$$ over. I recommend National Bank or BNZ since their branches are everywhere, especially on/near campuses. You'll never have a problem looking for one.

'Cheque' is fine. Unless you want to go American, then it's 'check'. Since you're coming to NZ, better use 'cheque'.

HSBC might be convenient (provided you can do a direct transfer across borders) but if there isn't a branch in Christchurch, it won't help much in an emergency. A better precaution would be to just watch your spending so your account balance never drops too low.

I like ASB's interest rates but from the point of view of a student (with few savings), it gets a little inconvenient. I don't know about in Canterbury, but there's no ASB ATM/branch near the Auckland Uni campus. If you need $$$ or to do banking, you'll have to walk a distance. It's not THAT far, but it sure isn't convenient. It was the same in Otago - had to take a ten min walk to town to get anything done. And then there's the difficulty of finding ATMs when you're travelling, especially in smaller towns. There's always EFTPOS but sometimes you will need cash.

Let's not even get started on HSBC... National and BNZ are by far the most convenient. Plus National Bank offers 7.75% for their Online Account.

Btw, if you really want to take advantage of high interest rates, open a foreign currency account in Malaysia. Our banks are offering interest rates as high as 8+% for fixed deposits in NZD. The advantage is interest isn't taxed in Malaysia. If only I had enough cash to make that worthwhile...

True about cash out. But say you need to pay cash for something (eg student group organised trip). It can be annoying to go to a shop to buy something you don't need, just to get cash out. Besides, not all small shops give cash out and you won't want to walk all the way to a supermarket for that purpose. Or maybe it's just me.

Bout the exchange rate - you're right. But it's still something to consider for those who have the means. Fixed deposits don't have to be THAT long and from the looks of things, it's unlikely the NZD will fluctuate much within the next 6 months or so. I wish it would though...
Anyway, there's a risk factor in every investment. It's up to the individual to do the calculations and weigh the gains against the risk.

Btw, are you studying/did you study in NZ? I always had the impression you in the US...

Yep, every dollar earned in NZ is taxed from wages to interest. Students are not exempt. And if you don't have an IRD number, you get taxed more.

Welcome to New Zealand.

This post has been edited by wornbook: Jan 22 2008, 02:44 PM

My method is to 'cheat'. I just buy those instant sauces/seasonings from Msia (so much cheaper than here). Cut up meat and vege, add sauce as per instructions, stir, cook and viola - rendang, herbal chicken soup, satay, assam fish, prawn mee... You name it, I've got it.

That's how I cook anything that isn't a combination of salt, pepper, oyster sauce, and soya sauce.

Inform the bank and give them your number. Then inform IRD - you might be able to claim back some of the extra interest paid.

Kia Ora and welcome.

So you're in one of the rooms in the main building? Ya freaking small alright. Some of the rooms in the villa/house building next to the main one are bigger. Did they put all the Malaysians/IMU students on the same floor again?

Yes you can. BUT they must be properly commercially packed with the list of ingredients clearly printed on them. And no meats, fresh fruits/vege, or anything with seeds. And no dairy products (the exception being Milo MADE IN MALAYSIA).

Contrary to popular belief, there's actually quite a lot of food that can be brought into NZ. Among things I've brought in - roti canai, tau sa pau, mooncakes and even frozen (ocean) fish. I kid you not.

Just stick to things not on the banned list AND ALWAYS DECLARE THEM. What I do is to pack all food into a separate bag and show it to customs. So much simpler than digging into 2-3 bags for bits and pieces. The easier you make their life, the nicer they'll be.

There's a Taiping Supermarket for Asian food products in the CBD. You can also get lost of seasoning packets from places like New World and Countdown these days. There's really no need to go all the way out east, unless you live nearby.

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Added on January 25, 2008, 7:26 pmYes, I'm in Auckland.

By foreigners, I take you mean non-Kiwis? Most locals are still on summer break aren't they?

The sticking to own groups phenomenon is very common. I hate to say it, but Malaysians are just as bad. Our only saving grace is that we speak better English than other Asians in general and so hang out with other people better. But only just a bit better.




This post has been edited by wornbook: Jan 25 2008, 07:26 PM