Permanent Residency - At Last!

After months of admin, waiting and paying very large amounts of NZ$ to Immigration NZ, we finally got the letter this week: Our Permanent Residency has been approved. Just a final payment, stamps in the passport, and the children and I are set.

Having PR is a huge, huge benefit. Firstly, no more annual visa applications. Hospitalisation and some other social benefits come our way. And university study is so much cheaper and easier. We are so excited - more so, because we're on our way to South Africa for a short visit, and having the all-important documentation means no stress at customs when we come back. Hooray!

Best of all - the two older kids can now legally find part-time jobs. No more pocket money. No more excuses. No more sullen teenagers hanging around the house. (Actually that's not fair - they're mostly all quite nice.) But it will be nice for them all to have some extra cash, like all the other Kiwi youngsters!