Hi from sunny South Africa

Hi Everyone

As you can see, I'm from South Africa, been hunting and shooting most of my life. Grew up living next to the local gunsmith and were allowed to "help" and tinker around the shop since I was 10 - you might say that I learned my love of guns and shooting from uncle Ben Fourie(the gunsmith).

I've hunted most of the smaller or edible game species in Southern Africa. I'm currently the President of the Sishen Mine Shooting Club, I'm also the Regional Coordinator in the Northern Cape for the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association.

I compete in hunting rifle related competitions, mainly shooting the disciplines of tables as prescribed by SA Hunters, my favourite type of shooting competitions are Field shoots, where we try to create typical hunting scenarios - shooting at live sized targets of indigenous edible species. I'm a avid long range shooter and try not only to compete in competitions, but I also organize and administrate hunting rifle competitions.

Why am I on a NZ hunting forum? After several years of persuasion, my wife at last gave in and I hope to resettle in New Zealand shortly.

Welcome Jaco. Be great to see some photos of your work there.

Welcome, there are a few saffers on the forum.
Good luck with the move, you wont regret it. Nz is an awesome place to live

Welcome, remember there is a lot of NZ outside of Auckland.

Nah, NZ stops at the Bombay Hills. :thumbsup:

Welcome Jaco.
Its always good having more Saffers around we can hassle after the All Blacks win the 2019 RWC..

Welcome. There is a resident on here by the last name of Fourie who's not bad at shooting :)

Welcome to the forum.

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Originally Posted by Hendrik470

Welcome, there are a few saffers on the forum.
Good luck with the move, you wont regret it. Nz is an awesome place to live

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Haha there are more than a few of us

Welcome to paradise Jaco

Dagse Jaco,

Beide my ouers is van die noord kaap (Springbok en Kuruman) :thumbsup:

Welcome to the forum. Hunting here is pretty different than at home, mostly walk and stalk on public land, and you carry everything in and out - no "bakkies" etc. Get fit - very little of NZ is flat :D

Lots of shooting sports to choose from. Gillie on here runs very good field/hunting events, then there is service rifle as well as "bisley" style long range target shooting (including F-class). And significantly more sensible firearms laws - for most rifles the person is licensed, unlike each firearm as in SA. AR15 style rifles and pistols require endorsements.

As stug said, look around before settling on Auckland. Central north island (Taupo or Napier) is hunting heaven. If you get over here, try to make friends with locals - too many saffas simply stick in their own little group and bitch about the old country...

@Gibo, you would not have made that statement if you saw my scores from last week mate - muppetville, seems I shoot ok at all the away comps and go to pieces at my home range !

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Originally Posted by Tommy

Haha there are more than a few of us

Welcome to paradise Jaco

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Oh no not you too @Tommy

Where I work (on the north shore) I am the only true blue Kiwi with the rest been saffas :wtfsmilie:

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Originally Posted by sako75

Oh no not you too @Tommy

Where I work (on the north shore) I am the only true blue Kiwi with the rest been saffas :wtfsmilie:

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You'd NEVER ever guess talking to me that I'm not a kiwi. I'm here on a Pom passport, but I was born in the Free State, I used to swim in the Jukskei at least 8 months of the year (anyone familiar with Johannesburg is now wondering how I'm even alive). Been here nearly 20 years :thumbsup:

We assimilate, most of us leave our shit behind, we're good for this country.

Where are you on the Shore? I'm over on the other side of the bridge these days, but my parents are in Birkenhead point, and at least three forum members are nearby

I'm a Westie working in Glenfield

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Originally Posted by Tommy

I used to swim in the Jukskei at least 8 months of the year (anyone familiar with Johannesburg is now wondering how I'm even alive). Been here nearly 20 years :thumbsup:

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@Tommy Swam in the same river, would always smell of washing powder as we were downstream from Alexandra. Used to catch catfish and try and sell them to the black Africans, they weren't keen lol.

Surprised that river crabs and catfish actually survived in there. I have seen it run red - like as in, red, this was in 1994.

@Jaco Goosen

Hartelik welkom, the Northern Cape is my least traveled province in the country. Former 'Vaalie here. NZ is great, best move I ever made. Rain takes some getting used to.

Catfish :wtfsmilie: we just had turds?

Did you live in Alex itself? LoL.

Nah. But everything floats

@ebf you assume i was refering to you? Well assummed;)

Hope you are successful in immigration.
Beautiful place to live and hunt.
But then again SA is a awesome place as well a real hidden gem

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Originally Posted by Gibo

Welcome. There is a resident on here by the last name of Fourie who's not bad at shooting :)

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He's OK Gibo but not bad is a questionable call. Ha ha ha ha. Welcome Jaco.

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Originally Posted by Rushy

He's OK Gibo but not bad is a questionable call. Ha ha ha ha. Welcome Jaco.

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True, did he even hit that gong a stones throw away at Tobys sending off? :P

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Originally Posted by Gibo

True, did he even hit that gong a stones throw away at Tobys sending off? :P

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Only when he went up and tapped it with his toe to prove it wasn't a hologram.

Hi Everyone

Thanks for your encouragement. I'm currently applying at several companies, but had no luck as to yet. I came to realize that its not what you know but rather who you know - I actually like it that way - because then at least will the person appointing you will be covered in some way.

What forums can I join for help and support?

Hi Jaco, I don't really know much in the way of forums and what have you as I made the move several years ago but I found this Facebook community which may or may not help:

https://www.facebook.com/SouthAfricansNewZealand/

That said, I've recently hosted my best friend and his wife for the best part of 6 months whilst they looked for work. Granted, they perhaps did not choose the best time of year to conduct their move but the point being is that prospective employers tend to take an application more seriously if the applicant's actually in country and is available for an interview. I am pleased to report that once the new year started properly, that they were able to secure employment and are currently working in Tauranga.

They also used a South African based, NZ government accredited immigration agency which although they won't help you find work, they will help with regards to completing the immigration / visa paperwork etc.

Are you using or have you considered using this?

Hi Ryan

I'm planning to use an agency as they know exactly what needs to be done - and would love to be able to visit New Zealand as I really do believe that its better to be able to look someone in the eye when conducting an interview. But first off, I'd have to find someone willing to let me visit and stay for a few weeks/months, while job hunting.

I'll be sure to look into the facebook.com forum

Thanks for the advice - Its highly appreciated.

Hi Ryan

Thanks for the advise - I really appreciate it.

I'll most definitely make use of an agency - they know what has to be done to get it right the first time round.

It is actually my plan to visit NZ, but first off I'd have to find someone willing to let me visit while job hunting. Easier said than done. I really believe that one would be more successful in job hunting if you are actually in the country where you are applying.

I'll look into the forum on facebook.

Thanks again.

One last question - did you guys import your rifles from SA or did you sell and bought new in NZ?

@Spudattack brought in a few and could tell you more about the process than I can. I only had pistols, all of which I sold prior to leaving.

Importing is not worth the hassle, unless its something special. And then its easier to fly your rifles with you vs getting them shipped. Good luck

Hi Guys

After I changed my email adress last week I could not log on again as Jaco Goosen. (Must have stuffed up again hahaha).

After several attempts I decided to just let it go and register a new account - Klhari, after the area I grew up in, the Kalahari.

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Originally Posted by dogmatix

Nah, NZ stops at the Bombay Hills. :thumbsup:

Welcome Jaco.
Its always good having more Saffers around we can hassle after the All Blacks win the 2019 RWC..

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Correct. NZ stops at the southern side of the Bombays:D