Soft Landing

This episode is a little different from our usual Soft Landing NZ podcast episodes. So many immigrants are struggling to find jobs in New Zealand. I also see LinkedIn being heavily underutilised, with many people having incomplete profiles that don't clearly communicate their experience, skills or the value they could offer an employer. I really want to help. That's why I've decided to give everyo...

You can bring your experience, qualifications and certifications with you to New Zealand, but there's one thing you can't pack into your suitcase: the professional relationships you spent years building back home. And that matters more than many immigrants realise. In this episode of the Soft Landing Podcast , I explore why networking and professional relationships matter so much when looking for...

You're checking SEEK. You're checking LinkedIn. You're applying for jobs regularly. So why isn't anything happening? In this episode of my Why You're Not Getting Interviews in New Zealand series, I look at why simply applying for advertised jobs isn't enough anymore. I share a real example from my own workplace where potential candidates were already being discussed and referred for roles that had...

You've sent 20 applications. Then 30. Then 50. And still… no interviews. Eventually you start asking yourself: "What am I doing wrong?" I know that feeling because I've been there myself. In this first episode of my Why You're Not Getting Interviews in New Zealand series, I'm tackling one of the biggest questions I hear from migrants trying to find work in New Zealand: Why am I applying for jobs b...

Finding a job in New Zealand is often the biggest hurdle for migrants, but many people start with unrealistic expectations. In this live Q&A, Brett Corlett is joined by licensed immigration adviser Desire Lindeque to discuss what it really takes to secure employment in New Zealand. They explain why immigration advisers don't find jobs on your behalf, why tailoring every CV matters, how recruiters...

Moving to New Zealand can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to secure a job from overseas while also thinking about your family's future. In this live Q&A episode, Brett Corlett is joined by licensed immigration adviser Desire Lindeque to answer questions from people around the world who are planning their move to New Zealand. Together, they discuss what it's really like helping chi...

In this episode, Brett Corlett is joined by licensed immigration adviser Desire Lindeque to answer some of the most common questions from people planning a move to New Zealand. The conversation explores how the journey from residency to citizenship works, recent English language requirements for visas, travelling while on a work visa, Green List occupations and what employers are looking for when...

Applying for hundreds of jobs but getting nowhere? In this episode, Brett Corlett and licensed immigration adviser Desire Lindeque unpack one of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to secure a job in New Zealand from overseas. Instead of relying solely on job boards like SEEK, they explain why building genuine relationships on LinkedIn can help you stand out from hundreds of applicants. T...

In this week's Weekly Live Q&A #3 , I share one of the most powerful tools you can use to improve your chances of finding a job in New Zealand—LinkedIn. Having been through the job search myself as an immigrant, and after years of hiring and interviewing candidates, I've seen LinkedIn from both sides. In this episode, I explain what hiring managers are actually looking for, why your LinkedIn profi...

Finding work in New Zealand can be very different from what many migrants expect. In this episode (TikTok Live recording), Brett Corlett and licensed immigration adviser Desiree Lindeque discuss the realities of the New Zealand job market, including networking, LinkedIn strategies, interview techniques, workplace culture and the role relationships play in securing opportunities. Drawing from their...

Moving countries is about far more than visas, jobs and paperwork. In this episode of Soft Landing, Brett Corlett sits down with Lindy Lelij, founder of MpowerMe Coaching, to discuss the emotional, cultural and personal challenges that immigrants face when building a new life in New Zealand. Lindy shares her own immigration journey from the Netherlands to New Zealand and explains why so many immig...

There's so much noise online right now about moving to New Zealand. Some people say it's impossible. Others say the cost of living is too high. Some say there are no jobs. Others say immigrants shouldn't even come here. So in this episode, I wanted to sit down and have an honest conversation about my real experience immigrating to New Zealand with my family, and how I can help you. After living he...

Moving to New Zealand is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. And most people focus on: visas jobs housing costs But there's another layer that often gets missed. The real, lived trade-offs. In this episode, Brett shares what he's experienced personally since moving to New Zealand, including: Distance from family What it really means to live on the other side of the world — emotionally, not j...

Many immigrants believe buying a home in New Zealand is impossible… but that's not actually true. In this episode of the Migration & Money series , Brett Corlett sits down with Ivandee Fitchet from Migrant Financial Services to unpack one of the biggest milestones for immigrants in New Zealand: buying your first home. For many newcomers, owning a home is the moment when New Zealand truly starts to...

Most immigrants arriving in New Zealand hear about KiwiSaver … but very few actually understand how it works. In this episode of the Migration & Money series , Brett Corlett sits down with Ivandee Fitchet from Migrant Financial Services to unpack one of the most important financial tools available to immigrants in New Zealand: KiwiSaver . If you've ever wondered: • What KiwiSaver actually is • Who...

You've immigrated. You're rebuilding. But when do you actually start investing? In this episode of the Migration & Money Series, Brett speaks with Ivandee Fitchet (Migrant Financial Services) and David Morgan (Forsyth Barr) about what financial planning looks like for immigrants in New Zealand. We cover: Emergency funds House deposit planning Retirement after immigrating later in life Investing sm...

The Journey Continues – Life After Moving to New Zealand Almost a year after moving to New Zealand, I thought we were finally finding our feet. Instead, everything seemed to hit at once. In this episode, I continue our immigration story and share what was really happening behind the scenes during our first year in New Zealand, the part that doesn't often get talked about. From serious family illne...

Almost a year after moving to New Zealand , we thought we were finally finding our feet. Instead, reality hit — hard. In this episode, I continue our immigration journey from Episode 6 and share what was really happening behind the scenes during our first year as migrants in New Zealand . From serious family illness back home, to the guilt and helplessness of being far away, job uncertainty, finan...

Moving to New Zealand often feels like a fresh start, but few migrants realise how complicated things can become if tragedy strikes. In this episode of the  Migration and Money Series , Brett Corlett (Soft Landing NZ) speaks with Ivandee Fitchet from Migrant Financial Services and Alistair van Schalkwyk from ASCO Legal about one of the most important and most overlooked, parts of migration:  havin...

Moving to New Zealand is exciting, but it also comes with financial realities many migrants only discover once they're already here. In this episode of the Migration and Money Series , Brett Corlett (Soft Landing NZ) and Ivandee from Migrant Financial Services break down one of the most overlooked parts of the immigration journey: insurance . Brett shares his personal story of being diagnosed with...

Most migrants underestimate how financially hard the first year in New Zealand can be. In this episode, we break down a REAL first-year budget using Brett's own numbers — so you know exactly what to expect, what to plan for, and how to avoid costly mistakes. This is Episode 1 of the  Soft Landing × Migrant Financial Services financial series — your complete guide to understanding the real costs of...

What does it really take to build a secure financial future as a migrant in New Zealand? In this  Soft Landing NZ episode, Brett Corlett sits down with Ivandee Fitchet , founder of Migrant Financial Services , to unpack her inspiring story, from leaving Cape Town to starting over in Aotearo, and how she now helps other immigrants navigate the challenges of money, mortgages, and retirement planning...

In this heartfelt episode of  Soft Landing NZ , I open up about our journey from South Africa to New Zealand, what we built back home, what we left behind, and what it really feels like to start over in a new country. After 2½ years in New Zealand, I'm asking the big question many immigrants face: "Will I ever truly feel settled — will I ever own my own home here?" I share my personal story, from...

In this powerful episode of the Soft Landing  podcast, I sit down with Francisko "Cisko" Du Plessis to hear his incredible immigration story. What began as a family's move from South Africa to New Zealand for a better future became a fight for survival when Cisko faced sudden organ failure and the need for life-saving surgeries. This is more than just an immigration journey, it's the story of resi...

Making New Zealand home takes more than paperwork — it takes resilience, mindset, and purpose. In this episode, I open up about the 5 steps that changed everything for me as an immigrant and helped me feel connected and grounded here in New Zealand. The 5 Steps I Share in This Episode: Taking control of your mind and thoughts Having a clear purpose, vision, and mission (tied to Ep 14: Wheel of Lif...