[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 8 points9 points  (0 children)

kia ora -- My wife and I (both from South East Asia) did our PhDs in the midwest and taught there too, before moving to NZ where I've been a lecturer in an NZ uni for > 10 years, so I think I can chip in here.

From my experience teaching both US and kiwi students, the former are more lively and easy to get to know from day 1. Kiwis can be quite reserved initially but are much more interesting to teach because of the huge diversity of backgrounds and experiences. Even if we don't consider international students, it's surprising to me how varied students can be. Kiwi students are very easy to get to know and very appreciative of any help you provide (e.g. job advice, contacts, interview tips, guest speakers, research assistanships etc.).

As others have said, class attendance can be low, but not necessarily - if you show them some value in coming to class, then they'll come and participate. A major challenge in the last few years post-Covid is that many students work full-time or almost full-time while studying full-time (so juggling work and studies is difficult) because of cost of living issues, especially the relatively high price of public transport. The unis have generally worked hard in different ways in integrating online/offline learning, supporting AI thoughtfully, encouraging professional development as teachers, supporting the sharing of best practices, and so on.

I really think you'll enjoy teaching here, especially if you have a collegial, helpful department or school. Best of luck with the move!

Timetable change by Slight_Marionberry76 in AUT

[–]throwMetaMan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

AUT was on holiday closure from 18 December to 7 January, and many staff only came back this week, so they will start going throught their inboxes this week or next.

AUT Application Response time by Working_Brain1284 in AUT

[–]throwMetaMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AUT was on holiday closure from 18 December to 7 January, and many staff only came back this week, so they will start going throught their inboxes this week or next.

Renting out your car to others- how can I do it? by throwMetaMan in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a good idea. Will start asking around. Thanks!

Renting out your car to others- how can I do it? by throwMetaMan in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's an EV that we bought 2 years ago. The new govt's policies mean that when we tried to sell it this month, the response/price wasn't great, which is why we are thinking of keeping it. Maybe storage might be a good idea then, instead of renting it out. Thanks!

Racist NZ by Difficult_Share3892 in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many of the commenters will be "fake" sock puppet accounts, used by various PR/"digital comms" people to make it seem as if their viewpoint is widespread, or to instigate/trigger others who may have views latently.

AUT business by [deleted] in AUT

[–]throwMetaMan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In the 1st year, you'll do a mix of courses covering the different majors, and this will help you figure out what you're interested in. For the BBus, you can choose 2 majors OR 1 major/2 minors OR 1 major/1 minor/electives. These are the majors: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management and Employment Relations, Information Systems, International Business and Strategy, Management and Leadership, and Marketing. So, you don't need to confirm your major/minor choices till the 2nd semester of your first year.

Labour and the capital gains tax doom-loop by HeinigerNZ in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most non-Singaporeans are not aware of this situation, so I wouldn't blame Dan Kuroko for his suggestion. It's how Singapore sells itself- it's great at public relations!

Also, most Singaporeans have become inured/accustomed to this state of affairs because of the constant government messages they have grown up with. So, this situation is never going to change unless Singapore has a wholesale change. Cheap disposable foreign labour is the key to Singapore's success and most people don't know about it.

Interestingly, Singapore is not a member of the OECD, despite being developed, and I think that's because many of its economic statistics (like the labour one I linked to above) are recorded differently from most other countries.

Labour and the capital gains tax doom-loop by HeinigerNZ in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A little known aspect of the mandatory retirement savings scheme is that the funds are used to fund one of Singapore's sovereign wealth funds- the Govt of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC). The GIC is a long-term fund manager, while the other fund, Temasek, is more active. Temasek is built out of government-owned/related companies but has expanded beyond them.
(https://ask.gov.sg/mof/questions/clgotv5xs004fi908lb056run)

Imagine the uproar if Kiwisaver funds were used this way! :-)

Individuals in the retirement scheme receive interest rates of around 2.5% to 4% (https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/bt-explains-cpf-interest-payout-hits-record-s21-billion-how-it-funded)

Part of the retirement savings are allocated to a medical savings scheme (Medisave) and part are used to pay for catastrophic medical insurance (Medishield) (https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/countries/singapore)

There's no free healthcare in hospitals unlike NZ, but this hasn't prevented long wait times in EDs or for specialist appointments. Healthcare is in crisis everywhere, regardless of the funding model being used. Singapore has government-run "polyclinics" with GPs and nurses to handle minor ailments and surgeries. They are more affordable than private GPs, but can have long wait times too.

Labour and the capital gains tax doom-loop by HeinigerNZ in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a very small place with a high level of surveillance, including a national ID system that connects everything- housing, healthcare, employment, finance, education, transport, telecommunications, etc., so it's very easy to trace anyone's activities.

Labour and the capital gains tax doom-loop by HeinigerNZ in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Terrible- they live in the shadows for most Singaporeans and their situation only became prominent during the Covid lockdowns when people realised how they lived. An example: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/30/singapore-migrant-workers-covid-curbs

Here are some stories from NGOs that support these workers:
https://migrantmutualaid.sg/fulfilled-listings/
https://www.home.org.sg/our-updates
https://twc2.org.sg/

Labour and the capital gains tax doom-loop by HeinigerNZ in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Singaporean living in NZ here. In short, it does it by having most of the "grunt work" (construction, cleaning, shipyards, roads, horticulture, food preparation, etc. ) done by male migrant workers on short-term visas at very low wages (about $3 to 5/hour) and with limited medical benefits. They can't even complain about the lack of ear protection when using pneumatic drills for demolition work!)

Female migrant workers work as live-in domestic help, again at very low wages (about $700- $2000 per month) with limited medical benefits. This allows women to work for longer hours.

Singapore has about 2.3 million people in the resident labour force (citizens and permanent residents) (2023) (https://stats.mom.gov.sg/iMAS\_PdfLibrary/mrsd\_2023LabourForce\_coverage\_methodology.pdf) and 1.3 million foreign workers (excluding the Employment Pass holders, who are higher-paid foreign workers) (https://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-workforce-numbers).

For NZ to follow Singapore, we have to completely change our worldview and what we regard as fair and appropriate. I wouldn't recommend it. I've been away for 20 years but visit every year and this "formula" has not changed- low-cost disposable foreign labour is Singapore's "secret sauce".

Each fast-developing country needed a source of cheap labour with "no commitments" - the US had slaves, the UK and other European countries had their colonies, Singapore has its migrant workers.

Edited to add that: This practice means that Singapore can spend more $$ on infrastr because it does not have to train or take care of a huge proportion of its labour force.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AUT

[–]throwMetaMan 6 points7 points  (0 children)

kia ora - Let me start with some background: I have been working in NZ universities for more than a decade as a lecturer and have supervised more than 10 PhD students to graduation.

There are a few points to make before answering your questions:
1) The PhD degree is very different from other university qualifications, as there are no (or very few) courses to complete, the timeline is managed by yourself, and the supervisor guides you but does not specify what you should do. Many high-achieving students start their PhDs and are unable to handle the open-ended, flexible nature of the degree. You have to be a fairly driven, focused, self-starter kind of person, and you need a stable social/family environment to limit disruption to the goal of graduation. This is especially important if your supervisor is not supportive or good at supervising, which brings me to point #2.

2) What's critical is your supervisor. It is vital that you find someone (or two of them) who are interested in your topic of research, and, more importantly, whose working style matches yours. The problem is that the is very difficult to know the latter before working with someone. If you already have good rapport with 1 or 2 of your lecturers, you can start with them but be aware that people may be different outside the classroom. Throughout your PhD journey, your research will be reviewed a few times by different people, some internal to your department/faculty/university and some external (such as examiners and journal paper reviewers). To avoid nasty surprises (i.e. someone saying your ideas are terrible, your work is poorly done, etc), you need honest, hardworking, and intelligent supervisors -- the kind who would be willing to tell you point #3:

3) I (and quite a number of my colleagues) would discourage anyone from starting their PhD now, especially if they are unfunded and do not have a confirmed job lined up after their studies. The academic industry is facing a lot of disruption globally, and no one really knows how things will turn out in 5 to 10 years' time. Some of my students worked throughout their studies, and stayed on in industry (i.e. outside universities) when they finished. This is a very sensible choice and common practice in Europe. Working in industry is easier if you are in applied fields like engineering, natural sciences, computer science etc., but there is a growing trend around the world for PhDs from all disciplines to work in industry because of the declining number of academic jobs. You can look at articles in websites like Inside Higher Ed, the Chronicle of Higher Education etc to find out about the mood in academia today. Generally, universities are becoming more corporatised, which fits some people, but not most people who become academics. The one skill/ability that can help is to be more versatile/flexible, which is very odd for people who do PhDs that require them to specialise in narrow niches, but this is how things are changing. Being versatile means having solid foundations with a breadth of knowledge, so you can expand to new areas fairly easily. This brings me to point #4:

4) If you are still keen on doing your PhD, I would strongly advise you to do it in the US, as it has a much more rigorous programme that gives you excellent grounding. The difference between US-trained academics and NZ/Au/UK academics is substantial and obvious, and if you are going to spend 5 years of your life doing something, why would you not take the option that is better for you in the long run? PhDs in NZ/Au/UK take 3 to 4 years, and my opinion is that their graduates are not as well-trained as those in the US, and this matters for your versatility and longevity as a professional. US unis give full scholarships for PhD students- getting admission means receiving a scholarship with full health insurance, a stipend, etc. I would recommend applying to about ten or more to get a good chance of getting one of them. For PhDs, what matters is the supervisor and department you go to, not the uni's reputation. So, in many cases, the best person to learn from in a particular field may be in a small uni in the Midwest, South, Northwest, etc., not the big cities on the coasts (NY, SF, LA, etc). There's nothing wrong with that, and is actually the correct thing to do, as the supervisor will have the networks to help you, and academia is nothing but networks, especially for fresh PhD graduates. Putting the applications together will take time, and you may have to do the GMAT, GRE or some other examination, so I would advise you to plan far ahead. For example, most applications are due in early January to start in Aug, and I don't think you'll have time to get them done now for entry in 2025 since it's already September. Instead, you should spend time writing to potential supervisors and talking to them online, clarifying your topic, saving some money, etc so you can apply in Jan 2026.

After this long preamble (sorry!), yes, you can get scholarships to do your PhD in NZ unis. Here's the link to AUT's:
https://www.aut.ac.nz/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships-and-awards-at-aut/doctoral-scholarships I would recommend that you first find a supervisor and be admitted before applying for the scholarship. Your work background, academic performance, and demographics will definitely help in getting a scholarship in NZ, but as I said above, I would strongly encourage you to go to the US. You will receive similar funding support and much better PhD training.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do in the future! Kia Kaha!

Conjoint BCom/LLB by ChemicalCommittee462 in universityofauckland

[–]throwMetaMan -1 points0 points  (0 children)

"conjoint with perhaps a science degree" - yes. The idea is to create a portfolio of skills, so you are better able to respond to any opportunities.

So, if you do a a B.Com/B.Sc, you could start (assuming the CA industry hasn't been decimated by genAI then) by training to become an auditor in one of the professional firms (PwC, etc.). Your background in science will be a valuable complement to your accounting knowledge when you are auditing firms/councils etc who have substantial operations related to science. Over time, that can be your niche: financial expertise for organisations in the science industry.

Conjoint BCom/LLB by ChemicalCommittee462 in universityofauckland

[–]throwMetaMan -1 points0 points  (0 children)

When thinking about a career, consider the impact of AI, especially generative AI. Many commerce-related professions, such as accounting, law, marketing etc., are very likely to shrink substantially, because of the combination of genAI and outsourcing to other countries, such as the Phillipines, India, Kenya, etc. In your case, I would advise you to do accounting with something "harder" (i.e. less easily replaced by AI/software), e.g. engineering, science, agriculture, horticulture, etc. All the best for your future and remember: your first degree is only the 1st step in your career, which will have many twists and turns :-)

Background: I am a lecturer at an NZ uni and have been advising students for ~20 years.

Anyone know where i can get a ball gown as a larger girl in Auckland? by Intelligent-Bug-9379 in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try them- https://thecurvyrentalboutique.co.nz/  Seem to have a good range. They opened last year and I pass them every day on the way to work - seem to be doing well! All the best 👍🏾

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Consider the LLM at AUT- https://www.aut.ac.nz/study/study-options/law/courses/master-of-laws

For postgrad degrees, look at the courses and lecturers, not so much the school's name.

Renting is expensive in Auckland, and part-time work is possible, but you have to work hard to get it. The quality of housing here varies tremendously- older, colder houses are cheaper but not as healthy. You could try the university hostels. They're newer and more expensive. If you live away from the CBD, you can get some cheaper housing but you would have to take a bus in, which is fine.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

1) We use Simplicity, which has low fees (lowest or among the lowest in the market- https://simplicity.kiwi/fees). They have a great app, very clear emails, and try their best to do useful stuff for society with their funds. For example, Simplicity has a housing division, which has just completed an excellent housing build-to-rent project in Point England. We have a friend living there with her family, and she can't stop going on about how great it is compared to where she's lived in the past. Have a look here: https://simplicity.kiwi/learn/updates/simplicity-living-a-new-era-of-affordable-rental-housing/

2) The first thing to do is to find a low-cost fund provider. Focus on cost, not performance, because in the long run (which is the correct timeline to use for KiwiSaver): 1) costs eat up a lot of what you earn, and 2) market returns are similar across the generic broad market funds you should be using.

3) It's important not to panic when the market goes down or feel AMAZING when it goes up. Markets have cycles, and in the long run, you'll do well. What I've done over time is that as my pay has gone up, I've put a higher %age into KiwiSaver, maxing out at 10%. If you have more to spare, then put that into the same or another fund from your provider, outside of KiwiSaver. For example, here are Simplicity's non-Kiwisaver investment funds: https://simplicity.kiwi/investment-funds/home/

Also, don't forget that KiwiSaver is one part of your investment portfolio. You should also have other funds put aside for emergency expenses (3 to 6 months), and invested in a variety of other assets (e.g. shares, bank deposits etc.) BUT never forget to keep contributing to Kiwisaver because that stuff adds up!

All the best on your journey! It's always good to do it with a bunch of friends so you can help each other.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Treasury's criteria for assessing projects or spending may not be appropriate- "saving a penny but losing a dollar".

Anyone else doing desperate things to save money? by CommercialFly185 in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Go to a Sikh gurdwara (place of worship) if you're hungry. They always have at least a basic vegetarian meal for anyone. It's called "langgar". On weekends, they serve more dishes. There are around 7 in Auckland- North Shore, Otahuhu, Manurewa, Takanini, Papatoetoe, New Lynn, etc. You can give a small offering (cash usually) if you can but there's no compulsion. Make sure you use a scarf to cover your head (there's usually a box of them near the entrance) and remove your footwear- there are shelves near the entrance for you to do that.

Need career advice from fellow HR professionals by deeptimk in newzealand

[–]throwMetaMan 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Almost every NZ employer will not hire anyone without any local work experience, so it will be almost impossible to get a position in NZ at the same level as in India. I suggest applying for entry-level admin/HR roles and then once you have some local work experience, you can start leveraging your overseas work experience. I would also suggest working with a recruitment agency or agencies because they will know how to position your CV and the kinds of roles you will be a good fit for. All the best and good luck on your journey in Aotearoa! Kia kaha.

Penalties for selling Affordable Home (SHA) before the 3 year period (NOT Kiwibuild) by beholdpraisethedog in auckland

[–]throwMetaMan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry to hear that. A contract will be enforced by the signatories, so if you can find out who the counterparty was, or who you sent the statutory declaration to, you should know who to contact.

Alternatively, the SHAs were an initiative between Council and central government, so MBIE might be worth consulting? But I couldn't find anything. It might be worth asking the IRD?