Don

OK here are some statistics (2001).

GDP per head (USD)

UK 24390
Aus 21270
NZ 14300

So for a New Zealander, he looks at Aus and thinks he'll earn (on average) 48.7% more there. An Australian looks at NZ and thinks he'll earn 32.8% less there.

Better to look at PPP - purchasing power parity, ie what your money buys you for equivalent goods in different countries.

On an index where USA = 100, we see:

Aus 74.7
UK 69.6
NZ 55.2.

So in this case Australians enjoy a better standard of living as measured by PPP than the UK. NZ still last.

Now, we are in Sept 2003 (nearly!) so almost 2 years later. In the meantime, Aus and NZ economies have grown slightly faster than UK, so that will mean in itself the UK loses ground to them as regards GDP. What about population? NZ has grown fastest, Aus next fastest, UK slowest measured as % of net immigration into the respective countries relative to existing population. So this will affect the figures, though not necessarily (say) dilute NZ's GDP per head (because (western) immigrants tend to have well paid jobs, whereas Asian immigrants are typically less well-paid). It could easily be a standstill situation.

Now for currency - important because GDP per head table is measured in USD. Looking at % change vs USD, Dec 30 2001 vs yesterday:

GBP 1.4515/ 1.5763 = +8.6%
AUD 0.5115/ 0.6475 = +26.6%
NZD 0.4150/ 0.5788 = +39.4%

This means that NZ will have jumped up he table of GDP per capita, Aus will also have done well, UK will have done OK relative to the USA. It wouldn't surprise me (if things stay more or less the same by year end) that Aus GDP per head is now (ie 2003 year end) ahead of UK in absolute terms (not just PPP) and NZ is not such a poor relation as before.

hamiltonnz

Thanks for that Don. Very interesting. theres obviously not a lot of attraction for aussies to go to NZ. Apart from the lack of financial incentive maybe they consider it a backwater country as well with not a lot of excitement

bondipom

I have got into Auckland yesterday for a business trip. It is Sunday and nothing is open.

I was hoping for a kicking saturday night out but it was dead. Where is everyone and what do they do here.

It feels like the size of Southampton. I am off for a trip up the coast this arvo so hopefully I will get some positive vibes.

TreborS

Nothing open on a Sunday??? What part of Auckland are you in? I haven't been back there for 2 years now but if what you say is true then things must have changed an awful lot. I lived there for 10 years and virtually all retail in central Auckland was open on a Sunday from about 10 to about 4 or 5.

bondipom

I am on Queen St. You can hear the signs creaking in the wind. Only 2 days to go.

TreborS

Given the time over there now you must have been out pretty early in the morning. I'm in London. Even Oxford street is deserted on Sunday morning as things don't open to midday.

bondipom

I had a hard time trying to find breakfast. You are right it is early now but that doesn't explain Saturday night. Bondi has more atmosphere.

robernelli

Popularity and taste are two seperate things....take the UK pop charts as another example....

Amazulu

I remember when I was in Auckland, it was a Saturday night & I was ready for a big one, went out & it was shut !. There was nothing going on. I walked around for a bit & found nothing. I asked a passerby & he directed me to a Irish pub about a 15min walk away & it was pretty good & I had a good night. Central Auckland on a weekend night is deader than disco.

britdan

highest auckland/north island temp ever recorded 32oC

highest UK temp ever recorded 38.1oC

Don

Nope - see http://www.metservice.co.nz/learning..._summaries.asp - which shows higher N Island maximums than 32 C.

Surely, what counts more is sustained and dependable warm summer temperatures and NZ beats UK hands down (averaging 10 degrees C more all year round as a rule of thumb.)

bondipom

OK according the guide I was with today Auckland was exceptionally quiet because the weather was good and everyone headed out of town. The centre still reminds me of Croydon.

Anyhow on to the positive. Beer is better than Oz. I also went to the waitakere ranges. They are just outside of Auckland and beautiful. It is so green and lush compared to arid Oz. The surf at Piha looked pretty good apart from the blowout.

I guess if you coming to live in NZ you aren't coming here for the big city life.

southerner

I'm not Auckland's biggest fan I admit. One of the reasons it gets slated by other cities in NZ is that the Central city lacks identity and character. It is a commercial centre, but everybody commutes home after 5pm and it is dead then. Wellington and Dunedin are in my view the liveliest cities for a night out. Wellington because of its compact city centre area, and Dunedin because of the student scene.

So the Auckland burbs are probably where everyone was on a Saturday night. Note also, the lack of good public transport means it is difficult to commute in to Auckland city for a good night out.

Apparently the viaduct area done up for the Americas Cup was supposed to be a place to attract better crowds. Might be worth a look. Also Parnell, Newmarket, Ponsonby.

And of course, ask the locals.

cadman

Just gotta say..............

this is great..........keep all your replies coming!

virat

Great info chaps! I'm going with SYD in OZ...no doubts about that....