DaisyNZ

Can I ask, what made you decide which country to go to? I have accidentally ended up in NZ because I married a kiwi in England. I never thought about emigrating. I am curious to know why most of you chose Australia. I have never been there so don't be shy, be honest. And those that chose NZ, why?

hevs

Have loads of family there and love it more each time i go back (Oz) Love the look of NZ, but its just a bit too far away and i don't know any one! Hope you are enjoying it there?

ADELAIDE BOUND

Hi Daisy
NZ Looks great but weather we have been told can be very wet as in the UK.
My wife was told (whether this is true or not) that there are quite a lot of people immigrating from NZ to OZ.
You do not hear of many OZ people Immigrating to NZ.
These comments are probably there to be shot down in flames. That is just understanding we have.

Cheers

garrisondamn

If you look for similar threads using the search, I think there have been a few threads & posts on this subject.

For what its worth, where we are, the NZ winter beats UK hands down, loads warmer. Maybe not the case further south!

No snakes here & dodgy spiders are rare (though we've had a couple) Amazing scenery, great lifestyle. We all secured jobs fairly quickly. Not too hot in summer (I hope)
From what I gather, most of the Kiwi's that are or go to OZ, go for better career prospects, maybe. I'm not career driven! I just enjoy life !!! lol!!!

It's just right so far, but it is early days yet, but no regrets.

This is NOT a list that I think that is any advantage over OZ, I've only spent a month over there & was very nice too. Just maybe too hot for me in summer.

Good luck with whatever you do.

DaisyNZ

thanks, I'll do a search, just from curiosity. I didn't add that I love NZ, it is beautiful, diverse, small enough to reach beaches and mountains in a few hours from each other, and kind of English in a nice sort of way. Like I said, I've not visited Oz so I have no right to comment but it seems hot, maybe slightly more American, huge travel distances, and a bit less personal coz of the size. But that doesn't mean it's not a great place to go to and I may be wrong with all that. I love the 4 seasons here, but it certainly is NOT like England. I've been here 11 years and I can guarantee it's not. It might be really cold in winter down south, but it also gets pretty hot. But in Napier, very like Nelson, we enjoy a mild winter with t-shirts when the sun comes out, and long summers. Anyway, it's because I love this country that I'm amazed so many choose Australia, that's why I asked. But I'll look for other threads and see what I find. Perhaps Garrisondamn has it right, maybe Oz is for the more career orientated people. I don't know of any kiwis who have emigrated to Oz but again it might be the high flyers that do.

DaisyNZ

I found the thread from only last month. sorry about that, and what I've written was said there too. funny though about the Aussies trashing the kiwis, I reckon all the same jokes would be told here the other way round, the kiwis have a massive rivalvry with Oz, love them/hate them, who knows, but the Aussies certainly get trashed, even on national TV.

DaisyNZ

and I've not met one kiwi in 11 years who has moved to Australia. I've not even met any who talk about wanting to.

robernelli

We haven't made it there yet, hopefully early next year, but NZ has always been our choice over Oz. I think we prefer the climate, not too extreme but guarenteed proper summers, not like here in the UK where it is really hit and miss. Culturely they have retained some of the better aspects of the UK, rejecting so far, much of the rubbish, and have done more than most ex-colonial countries to acknowledge the culture of those before them (I am sure that not all Maoris will agree, but it is relative to other counties). Kiwi's seem more polite and less in your face. They have no dodgy creatures like snakes and crocs. Generally I feel that it is a very unpretentious place. Finally, the variation in stunning scenery is surely unmatched per square mile. Not a bad list I feel.

Rob:lecture:

hamiltonnz

Hi Daisy, I live in hamilton and we are going to Oz next year. Were def not high flyers - just salary workers with a bunch of kids and an acre of dirt, paying off a mortgage like most, struggling to keep up with the cost of living like most. Reasons for going - we want warmer winters without frosts fog and cold windy wet days like we get at present. Were tired of the labour govts ridiculous policies(flatulance tax etc etc etc ), their policy of taxing anything that moves and giving themselves big wage increases and dishing out millions to waitangi claims lawyers, cost of living rising and wages staying the same, the spending of millions & millions of tax $ on apeasing maori activist greeds( I could go on & on about the labour Govt - theyll get in again for another term as well), so instead of moaning about them all the time Im better off out of here for a while. we also want a change of scenery from rolling green hills. Not moving as a career move as I dont think there are any more opportunities over there than here. I do think the future is much brighter for Oz than NZ though - At least while Helen clark continues to push her socialistic agendas. I agree that NZ is a beautiful country. I doubt that Brits coming over here would be dissapointed. theres alot to see and its a pretty low key relaxed place on the whole. Graham

muppetking

Three years ago, before moving here, I would have written the same. Sadly I have found that these thoughts were more like wishful thinking than real. NZ IS a foreign country and is different to the UK. Only by spending time here can you decide for yourself.
The climate is OK and not extreme like OZ but it's no great shakes and certainly not a good enough reason to move here. Kiwis also like to spend hours talking about the long hot summers years ago but we've yet to experience one. There are NO balmy evenings and winds play a major factor.
Culturally NZ is NOTHING like England. Culture in its pure sense is very hard to find here. Kiwis are very good at rubbishing overseas. There is an innate smugness about all that goes on in the UK, US and Aus (ie NZ does things just SO much better and isn't the rest of the world a funny place with so many problems, aren't we so lucky) yet without these influences there would be nothing. Culture simply does not feature in the life of the average Kiwi, it's not in their everyday lexicon.
As for the Maori issue take GREAT care in what you have to say. NZ is struggling to come to terms with its past and is a long way from establishing a common identity. 160 years on it is remains a country divided by its past and future. Almost to a person Pakeha are sick to death of Maori issues and the amount it has cost financially and morally. Don't assume anything from that side of the world.
We are glad that we have come and 3 years on we feel we have an understanding of another nation that we would never have gained with all the research in the world. We will take our experiences from here with us and feel all the better for it. Aus here we come!

bondipom

I never considered NZ. I came to OZ because I met my Mrs on a working holiday here. I went to NZ on business and had a look around the Auckland area. The place is definateley a lot quieter than Sydney.

Australian taxes are rediculous. I am considered a high earner and am on the top tax rate. In the UK I was on a similiar wage and no where near the top rate.

The problem here is that the thresholds are not indexed with inflation.

The saving grace here is the lack of tax on petrol.

DaisyNZ

It's great to hear all the reasons why people like or dislike each country, but I'm still curious as to why people choose one or the other from the UK. The debate continues as to who is happy once they do emigrate. But why do people come Down Under and which country do they choose for what reason.

robernelli

I don't doubt that the Maori issues are complicated. It just seems that greater attempts are being made to sort something out here even if they are failing, this is more than what some similar countries can claim.
As for weather, well we are not moving there for long hot summers, just a more moderate climate as my wifes ill health is exacerbated by extreme cold and damp.
Sure NZ is a foreign country, but when you weigh it up in the world wide scheme of things, there are plenty of comparisons. By culture I mean more way of life rather than culture merely as in arts, history etc.
Anyway, what makes you think Oz will be any better?

Rob

robernelli

I would rather take the socialist policies of Helen Clark than the policies of the US-wannabe governments of the UK and Oz ....anyday.

Rob

Don

Loads of reasons, one not already mentioned is that NZ has the best skiing in the Southern Hemisphere.

Once you get the NZ passport you can live & work in Aus for a couple of years too if you feel like it.