From Scaffolding to a Fresh Start: Terry Scott’s Story of Working in New Zealand

Occupation: Scaffolder

Date offered job in NZ: 13/06/2025

Date moved to NZ: 04/09/2025

Date started new job in NZ: 15/09/2025

Visa type you arrived on: AEWV

Thinking about working in New Zealand can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. It sounds simple until you remember what is actually involved. A new job, a new country, new routines, and a lot of admin in the middle.

Terry Scott is a scaffolder who made the move in 2025. He was looking for a calmer pace of life and a better balance, and he wanted a fresh start somewhere that felt more outdoors and less rushed. New Zealand ticked those boxes for him, and once he committed to the idea, he started putting a plan in place.

What appealed to Terry about New Zealand was not just the idea of a holiday lifestyle. He was drawn to the scenery and the outdoors, but more than that, he liked the thought of living somewhere that makes it easier to slow down, get outside, and reset properly.

He started the process the way a lot of tradespeople do, by being practical. He researched where scaffolders were needed most and quickly narrowed it down to Australia or New Zealand. From there, he took the next step and put his name forward, which turned the idea into an actual process he could follow.

Terry says that getting support mattered because he was already working long hours. Trying to plan a move while you are flat out in your current job is often the hardest part. He says having people involved who kept things moving in the background made it feel manageable, with regular updates and someone to call when he needed an answer.

When it came to interviews, Terry found it straightforward. It was done over Zoom and felt relaxed rather than intense. Even with time differences, he said it was easy enough to organise and it felt more like a conversation than an interrogation.

On the visa side, Terry says this was where having the right help made the biggest difference. He worked with case manager Michael Cooke from Migration Associates, who guided him through the New Zealand work visa process. Terry describes the experience as brilliant and stress free, mainly because communication stayed consistent and anything that needed sorting was dealt with quickly before it became a bigger problem. He says having a clear step by step explanation early on helped him understand what was coming next, and having someone there to double check things meant he did not spend the whole time worrying about missing something.

Terry says he was fortunate and did not run into major issues during the application. It still took effort, but he felt like the process ran smoothly because everything was handled properly and he was kept in the loop.

Telling friends and family was one of the more emotional moments. He says it was hard at first, but once he explained why he wanted the change, they understood and supported him. They were excited for him, even though the distance was a lot to take in.

The move itself came with a different kind of stress. It was practical more than anything. He had to sell or donate most of his household stuff before leaving, and that part felt heavier than expected because it is not just clearing out a place, it is shutting the door on a whole stage of life. Still, he says it was worth it.

Terry arrived in New Zealand on 4 September 2025 and started work on 15 September 2025. Those first weeks were about settling in, learning the new routine, and getting comfortable in a new country. He says the early support and check ins helped him feel like he was not doing it all alone.

Now, Terry says life feels better. It is less hectic, he has time for himself, and he is actually able to enjoy his days instead of just working and recovering. He is exploring more, getting outdoors, and finding new hobbies, which is exactly what he wanted from the move.

He is honest about what he misses too. He misses the social side back home, the bar scene, and the sports events, and he misses how easy it was to travel around Europe quickly. But for him, the positives in New Zealand have outweighed that. He likes the people, the laid back nature, the extra space, and the fact that life feels less crowded and less rushed.

His advice is simple. If you are thinking about making the move, do it. Do not let other people cloud your judgement. Do not let it stay as an idea. Take the risk. He believes you will not look back.