Turner Hopkins Law

The world is a pretty chaotic place right now and for many people, finding a "safe haven" is becoming not just a choice but a necessity. New Zealand has often been seen as just that - a respite from global trouble and strife. In this week's article from the Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists team we take a look at what that means, why people might consider this little island paradise as a good option and what it takes to make that sort of move. #safehaven #geopolitics #nzimmigration #nzvisas #workvisas #skilledmigrants #investors

Some of you (thinking about migrating to NZ) might have seen a bit of a buzz around the future change to the ANZSCO system. ANZSCO or the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations in its longer form, is the system INZ uses to define the nature of a job and whether it is or is not skilled. This was actually never designed with INZ in mind, but instead used as a statistical coding system for things like the census. However over the years, INZ has adopted it, to help work out who is doing what and whether they are in fact skilled or otherwise. On the one hand it is quite useful in terms of categorising applicants, on the other, it is incredibly slow to update, too narrow in its focus and lacking a lot of real world roles that are skilled, but just haven't been added. INZ staff also use it too prescriptively and often overlook what in the real world is a very skilled profession, that just doesn't fit nicely into the ANZSCO box. Yesterday INZ announced that they were moving away from this and to a new system called the National Occupations List (or NOL). There was a bit of a buzz on that front from a few people in the industry. However the reality is, the NOL is actually just a uniquely NZ version of ANZSCO, allowing us to have our own list that we can update more regularly. The actual lists aren't that different, the coding is very similar and so for most applicants, there will be very little difference in terms of INZ's process. The one good thing to come from this, is that we will hopefully have a list we can change more frequently, without having to have agreement across both New Zealand and Australia (although we will still be comparing ours to theirs anyway). The rollout of this new list will be staggered throughout 2025, although the first actual version of the list will be available to view from November 2024. For more information or to figure out where you fit in the ANZSCO process, contact the team at Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists #ANZSCO #skilledmigration #SR3 #SR2 #nzimmigration #inz #migratetonz

Navigating the Path to Your First Home in New Zealand: A Quick Guide for First-Time Buyers Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel daunting—especially in today’s competitive housing market. If you’re looking to get your foot on the property ladder, understanding the process is key to making informed decisions. Here are a few steps to help guide you through the journey of homeownership in New Zealand. 1. Assess Your Financial Position The first step in purchasing your first home is ensuring you have a clear understanding of your financial standing. You’ll need to calculate how much deposit you have saved and determine how much you can realistically afford to borrow. Many first-time buyers aim for a 20% deposit, but there are also low-deposit loans available through schemes like the First Home Loan. 2. Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan Before you start house hunting, getting pre-approval for a home loan can give you a clear idea of how much you can borrow. Pre-approval strengthens your position when making offers and shows sellers that you're a serious buyer. 4. Research the Market It’s crucial to research the property market in your desired area. Look at recent sales, market trends, and property values to ensure you are well-informed about pricing in the region you’re interested in. Websites like RealEstate.co.nz and Trade Me Property can be great tools for this. 5. Seek Professional Advice There’s a lot of legal and financial intricacies involved in purchasing a property. Working with professionals like mortgage advisers, real estate agents, and a property lawyer can help ensure you’re covering all your bases. Having a lawyer review sale and purchase agreements, LIM reports, and title searches is vital to protecting your interests. 6. Be Aware of Additional Costs The deposit and loan aren’t the only costs to consider. Be prepared for expenses like legal fees, LIM reports, building inspections, and ongoing costs such as insurance, rates, and maintenance. Factoring these into your budget will ensure you’re not caught off guard later. Taking the leap into homeownership is a huge step, and while it comes with its challenges, it’s also incredibly rewarding. Understanding the process and seeking the right support will make the journey smoother, bringing you one step closer to owning your first home in New Zealand. If you're considering buying your first home and need legal guidance throughout the process, feel free to reach out to us at Turner Hopkins Law. We're here to help make the legal aspects of home buying as seamless as possible. #nzproperty #realestatenz #nzlegal #lawyer #nzlawyer #firsthomebuyer

So you managed to get your application lodged before the 01 October, INZ fee increases. There might have been a few things missing, but hey you can sort that out later right. Maybe? Hopefully?! Actually, there is a good chance, that if your application was incomplete when you submitted it, you might have saved money on the fees, but walked yourself in to a whole lot of (potentially expensive) trouble. INZ, it seems, are taking a pretty tough stance on incomplete applications and whilst you will be given an opportunity to fill in the gaps, the amount of time you get will be limited. If you don't manage to meet that deadline, INZ can (and potentially will) decline your application - leading to having to file again, at the higher fee. If you find yourself in this situation and need some assistance in trying to navigate a way out of it, get in touch with the team at Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists today. Call us on 09 486 9574 or email: immigration@turnerhopkins.co.nz #inzppi #inzrfi #visaapplication #skilledmigrant #nzimmigration #nzvisa

Introducing John Stirling, Partner at Turner Hopkins Law. John Stirling made a welcome return to Turner Hopkins in 2003, having previously worked for the practice after graduating from Otago University and being admitted to the Bar in 1988. John became a partner in Turner Hopkins in 2005. John works closely alongside his colleagues in the Private Client Team, including Samuel Ames, Olga Pelevina, Penny Toi, Nico Garea and Kathryn Wynd. Four years after originally joining Turner Hopkins, John went on to provide specialist legal expertise in property and estate planning with two central Auckland law firms before returning to the firm as an Associate. John continues to offer specialist services in property and estate planning to our clients, as well as business and commercial law. "As a lawyer at Turner Hopkins I enjoy working alongside our clients, assisting them to understand and bring to completion what, at times, can be complex commercial and legal transactions. The client satisfaction is then often reinforced by them referring my services to potential new clients." To contact John or the Private Client Team, call us on 094862169 or email law@turnerhopkins.co.nz (or visit our website: www.turnerhopkins.co.nz). #nzlawyer #aucklandlawyer #estateplanning #trusts #wills #legalservices

If you are trying to submit your NZ Visa application, the video below might look pretty familiar. INZ's systems started showing signs of stress late last week, with the old system (where partnership and family visas, as well as STR and WTR applications are lodged) timing out, not showing draft applications or just generally misbehaving. Today, we see much of the same as people rush to submit their applications before the 01 October INZ Visa fee increases. With some careful planning and the team being on top of the process (and also being able to predict INZ's IT issues), our applications were all done and dusted before lunchtime. Remember, if you submit your application and it isn't fully documented, INZ may not give you too much time to provided what might be missing. If you submit today but need some help when the application starts to be processed, reach out to the team here Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists Good luck out there and be kind to your computer 😉 Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists Web: https://lnkd.in/dg2Ewqt3 Phone: +64 9 486 9574 #visafeeincreases #nzvisas #nzresidence #workvisas #residentvisas #inz #nzimmigration

Spring appears to have sprung across New Zealand, and it feels like a great time to refresh and reflect as we push forward towards the end of the year. In this month’s blog, we explore key topics in family law, employment law, and immigration – all areas that might come into focus during this season of change. Whether you’re navigating family dynamics, dealing with workplace issues, or considering your path to residency in New Zealand (or how to stay here), our latest articles offer insights and guidance to help you make informed decisions. Read the full newsletter via the link below. https://lnkd.in/g6Ts8SB3 #legalnews #lawnews #nzlegal #turnerhopkins #nzlawyer #familylaw #employmentlaw

When you handle someone's application for a New Zealand Visa, you get to know them pretty well. If that application happens to be a partnership based one, then you get to know them exceptionally well...more that you might expect. Whilst partnership applications only have one specific requirement (in terms of eligibility), they can be just as complex as an application under one of the Skilled or Business pathways. INZ take a very close (almost forensic) look at the evidence you have to present of your relationship, picking it apart piece by piece. Because of the details you have to cover and the level of information that these applications include (often very specific and personal details) you can't help but becoming slightly attached to the lives involved. For one couple we recently helped that was very true and at times the process was emotional and very challenging. To see it come through to a conclusion and to hear that final relief from the applicant and partner, is the really enjoyable part of this job. Some people might just consider this a process, but we consider it the start of something bigger, something new and something that for some applicants is life-changing. Being part of that is special and its a little humbling as well. No matter what your visa related query might be, talk to the team that invests in you and your move as much as you do - Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists (https://lnkd.in/dg2Ewqt3 or 09 486 9574) #residence #workvisa #partnershipvisas #nzimmigration #inz #pr #permanentresidence #citizenship

Earlier this week, our specialist immigration team posted about a successful request to the Minister of Immigration - a win for us and the client. Naturally, we had a bit more to say about the process of approaching the Minister, what it involves, whether it is something you might want to try and how it all works. Not an easy path to follow and not one that everyone should attempt but for some applicants it is the only way out. Click on the article below to find out more and how the team at Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists can help you, if you think you need to knock on the Ministers door. #ministerofimmigration #visahelp #nzresidence #visaissues

Thank you to Dawn Headey for joining the team at Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists on a Sunday evening to present our joint seminar on immigration and employment. The theme of the questions and the one thing that stumps more applicants than anything else is the old "Work Visa / Job Offer" catch 22. Dawn and I shared our thoughts on how to navigate this challenge (which isn't easy) and will be gearing up for further seminars to address this and many other topics in the very near future. Yesterday's event is available online, via the link below. #seminars #immigration #nzimmigration #immigrationseminar #employmentandimmigration #jobsearch #workvisas #skilledmigration