Kim and Tyron van Heerden purchased a franchise in New Zealand

Kim and Tyron van Heerden left Durban in June 2008 and headed to New Zealand with their son Brandon and daughter Taylor, who at the time was just six weeks old. The van Heerden’s reasons for moving echo those of many South African emigrants.

“It was the same old story,” Kim says. “It was crime first and foremost that made us leave. Second, we wanted a better future for our kids.” Now well settled in New Zealand, Kim and Tyron and grateful for the safety afforded to them. “It is a stunning country and a fantastic way of life. Just the other night the garage door – the entry to our home – was left open all night, and nothing at all happened.”

Though Kim is a preschool teacher and Tyron a real estate executive by trade, the couple were unable to qualify for visas under both New Zealand and Australia’s Skilled Migrant categories. With the decision to leave South Africa final in both their minds, they instead explored business opportunities in New Zealand.

“In South Africa, my husband was with Remax and I had a preschool. But in terms of a business visa, it was too difficult to do a preschool. With a franchise, Immigration New Zealand was happy for us to take it on as long as we had full training from the head office,” Kim explains.

A new business venture in New Zealand

Currently on a three-year Long Term Business Visa (LTBV), the van Heerdens own and run The Coffee Club franchise in the Milford Mall on Auckland’s North Shore. Once they’ve successfully run the business for a second year, the couple can apply for permanent New Zealand residency for the family. The franchise now employs roughly 15 staff, 10 of whom work fulltime for The Coffee Club.

Kim and Tyron visited New Zealand twice before making the move, something she recommends for other potential business migrants. They applied for their business visas themselves, after following the instructions on the INZ website and speaking with INZ through the web helpline. However, in hindsight, they recognise the significant value an experienced immigration adviser can offer. “If we had to do it again,” says Kim, “we would go through a consultant.”

Surprised at how quickly the entire application process went, Kim explains that while the documentation required was over 150 pages, it took under three months for the entire application to be sorted and approved after it was submitted. Because business migrant visa applications are processed exclusively by the Business Migrant Branch of INZ in Wellington, they enjoy prioritised, faster processing times.

So what did Kim and Tyron appreciate most about the process of buying and setting up their business? “Everything in New Zealand is very first world. When you send something by post, it doesn’t get stolen or lost like in South Africa. When it came to things like registering the company, we couldn’t believe it happened in less than two days. In South Africa, it would have take six to 10 weeks. Everything here is really efficient.”

Adjusting to a new culture

On the other hand, the couple have struggled with not knowing the Kiwi culture. “Our business now is dealing with Kiwi people on a day today basis. It’s easy to fall into the trap of ‘this is how we did it in South Africa’,” Kim explains. In their first 100 days in New Zealand, Kim worked open ‘til close at The Coffee Club, seven days a week. Like any new business, a franchise in New Zealand will take huge time and commitment. “We came to New Zealand in search of a better life for our kids, but in many ways we have robbed them of a year,” muses Kim. “But it was the best choice. We felt like we were running out of time in South Africa; it was not a question of if we were going to become a statistic, but when.”

Kim recommends that other potential South African business migrants to New Zealand get their minds around that fact that there are only about 4 million people in the country. “It changes everything; you just don’t have the same volume. But a consultant can help guide you on business practices. Don’t expect anything to be the same as it was in South Africa. Having said that, though, if you’re prepared to work hard and be committed, you’ll make it a success.”