Things have changed a bit. It has been years since I looked into emigrating to Australia or NZ. I do not fault them for their policies. I wish we had a coherent immigration policy.
Thomas E. Potter Telephone: (713) 215-2877 Fax: (713) 215-2551 Mobile: (832) 794-0536 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of andrew strasfogel Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 1:07 PM To: Mercedes mailing list Subject: Re: [MBZ] ABC news item on veg oil in US diesels Recent changes in NZ Immigration Policy The drive to attract immigrants in areas of skill shortage, and perhaps a response to growing public concern about levels of immigration from Asia, led to further changes. In 2002 the standard of English required for the general skills category and some of the business categories was raised to the level required of students entering university. In 2003 the general skills category was replaced by a skilled migrant category. This replaced the pass mark system with a process whereby people qualifying above a level of points entered a selection pool, from which they were invited to apply for residence. Applicants had to be of good health and character, and points were allocated on the basis of age, qualifications, employment status, work experience, identified skills shortage and the regional location of any job offer. Skilled/business stream There was still encouragement for business immigrants, including the following groups: * investors, who were expected to contribute a minimum of NZ$1 million * entrepreneurs, who had to prove that they had established a successful business in New Zealand * employees of relocating businesses * others who were given the opportunity to establish a business as the basis for future residence. There were also language tests for business immigrants, although at a lower level. The skilled migrant and business categories were expected to provide 60% of new immigrants. The target was 45,000 a year (plus or minus 5,000). Family-sponsored stream Family members, especially partners and dependent children, were also allocated immigration places, and were expected to comprise 30% of the total number of immigrants each year. International/humanitarian stream An apology At the Chinese New Year celebration on 12 February 2002, Prime Minister Helen Clark made this statement: I wish to announce today that the government has decided to make a formal apology to those Chinese people who paid the poll tax and suffered other discrimination imposed by statute and to their descendants. With respect to the poll tax we recognise the considerable hardship it imposed and that the cost of it and the impact of other discriminatory immigration practices split families apart. Today we also express our sorrow and regret that such practices were once considered appropriate. <http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/NewZealandPeoples/ImmigrationRegulation/5/mi#1> 1 The remaining 10% of places were set aside for migrants who arrived for primarily humanitarian reasons. This included refugees and those Pacific Islanders given special access. In 2004 New Zealand's immigration regulations remained blind to race or nationality. But there was some evidence that the focus on skills and the high level of English language requirements were leading to a reduction in the number of immigrants from Asia. On 9/20/05, Potter, Tom E < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: They won't let you move there--I tried. You may immigrate only if you possess a skill they need. Thomas E. Potter Telephone: (713) 215-2877 Fax: (713) 215-2551 Mobile: (832) 794-0536 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Christopher McCann Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 9:58 AM To: Richard Smith; Mercedes mailing list Subject: Re: [MBZ] ABC news item on veg oil in US diesels I think New Zealand (becuase of their falling population) offers lots of incentives (money, etc) for people to move there... Christopher --- Richard Smith < <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > So Euan, was that on TV or was it on the Internet > somewhere we could get to > it? Watched a special on New Zealand the other > night. It looks like paradise > down there. I think I might be living in the wrong > hemisphere! > > On 9/20/05, Euan < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Great to see W123s figuring so large in the ABC > news item on alternatives > > to > > diesel, screened here in New Zealand last night. > Some chap who converted > > his > > own Benz to run on used restaurant oil is now > making his living from > > fitting > > kits to other diesels. Don't which part of the US > he was in. But all the > > cars shown were 300Ds, as far as I could make out. > > > > Euan > > 1985 300TD 5-spd manual > > 198K mi > > > > _______________________________ > > > > Euan S Kennedy > > Christchurch > > New Zealand > > > > > > > > _______________________________________ > > For new parts see official list sponsor: > http://www.buymbparts.com/ > > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > > http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net > > > > > > -- > OK Richard 1987 300D 178k with miles and miles to > go!!! > Midwest City, Oklahoma > > _______________________________________ > For new parts see official list sponsor: > http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net > Christopher McCann, Squier Park, Kansas City, Missouri -1985 300SD, 209K miles, "Wulf" ( http://www.pictureblogger.com/My-1985-Mercedes-Benz-300SD <http://www.pictureblogger.com/My-1985-Mercedes-Benz-300SD> ) -1976 240D, ManyK miles, "AKP-Wagen" (Alternativen Kraftstoffs Prüfenlastwagen = Alternative Fuel Test Vehicle) -1998 Toyota Sienna CE, 100K miles, "The Van" __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net _______________________________________ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net <http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net>