What to do when you first arrive
5 things to do to help you settle in
- Contact your nearest Settlement Support NZ office.
- If you haven’t found work yet, continue looking for a job.
- Find a General Practitioner for you and your family and register with them at a local Medical Centre. Look in the “Medical” section of the White Pages or go to www.whitepages.co.nz
- Enrol your children in early childhood education if you want to, or if they are 6 – 16 years old, they must go to school.
- Apply for a New Zealand driver’s licence. You can drive for up to one year if you have a current valid driver’s licence from another country or you hold an International Driving Permit. If you plan to stay longer than a year, you should apply for a New Zealand driver’s licence. Find out more about driving here by contacting the New Zealand Transport Agency on 0800 822 422 or at www.nzta.govt.nz
Further information
Finding work
The Situations Vacant sections of the major newspapers or online:
Education
- Find a list of early childhood services in the ‘Child Care and Education’ section of the Yellow Pages or at www.yellowpages.co.nz
- Talk to your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau about education options – you can reach them on 0800 367 222 or at www.cab.org.nz
Contact the Ministry of Education, 04 463 8000 or look up the Ministry of Education website for more information on education options for parents.
Help with documentation
If you need help with your documentation, consult a Justice of the Peace. Look under “Justices of the Peace” in the Yellow Pages.
