So you're thinking of applying for the HSMP?

If you're a New Zealander planning to live and work in the UK and don't have grantparent or parent (Simon) the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme might be for you. Many New Zealanders go to the UK on a Working Holiday Visa, two years, one of which you are allowed to work. The HSMP allows you to work for the full two years, renew for a further three, then apply for indefinate leave to remain. I've heard rumours that "professional" employers are not big fans of the Working Holiday - but who knows how true these are...
Anyway if you are considering applying, I would recommend that you bear three things in mind:
1. It will cost you more than you think (once postage etc factored in) - and you already know this is an arm and a leg.
2. It will take longer than you think to compile the documents.
3. Until it actually arrives you will loose sleep over it.

If you are going to apply, I would recommend the following timetable:
2 months out from application (or similar)
- download all the documents from the website
- read them all carefully, read them again - noting down the points you think you qualify for and the documents you need.
- start getting all the documents you have together

To get approval you need to score 75 points over four areas (the actual points are in the guidance):
1. Age - under 28 is good, 28-32ok, over 32 not good
2. Qualifications - bachelors good, masters better, phd awesome
3. Previous Earnings - in New Zealand if you earn about $48K you will score the max here*
4. UK experience (only 5 points here, not one I scored in)

In the end I got well over the 75 points required, so it was just a matter of applying. One think to be really careful about is filling the form in properly and supplying the evidence that they require and only that. Things that you could get caught out on include you having to:
- supply your ORIGINAL degree certificates, certified copies are not OK
- prove the equivalency of your qualifications, the only way to do this officially is to get a letter from UK NARIC
- provide a letter from your university saying your degree was taught in English - yes even in NZ...
- prove your earnings with original paylips and bank statements - ones off the internet won't do

My only other advice would be to make sure you fill out the form properly (this is a bit harder than you would think), check it, check it again, then get someone else to check it and only given them the info that they need, so no CVs, jobs that you could get or cover letters.

* in NZ it is MUCH MUCH easier to score for earnings, to get 45 points you only have to earn the equivalent of 48K or there abouts, in Aus it would be about 120K...