BEVS

Australia opens the path to Oz citizenship for those Kiwis already living in Oz.

Please have a read of this article. on Stuff today.

bourbon-biscuit

It looks like a very small opening tho. Applies to Kiwis from 2001 to today only (unclear yet whether the "to today" is those that have already been in Oz five years as of today or whether it means those who arrived up til yesterday) and it is a PR- citizenship route, albeit with relaxed PR conditions by the sounds of it (e.g. $50-something K earned each year).

Remains to be seen what it will actually amount to; certainly not the PR at the border that Australians get entering NZ

Buzzy--Bee

I wonder how many New Zealand citizens living in Australia will actually take this up?

Most of the ones I know seem to be determined to continue living as New Zealanders, and never want to get Australian citizenship, which is the exact opposite of the Brits in Australia, who want to get Australian citizenship the same day they qualify!

BB

bourbon-biscuit

Hmm, you either don't know that many or know a fairly unrepresentative sample of Kiwis or perhaps what people say openly about citizenship and belonging might differ from what they ultimately decide to do. I say this because the Kiwis I know who live in or have lived in Australia - and we're talking a handful here, not hundreds - they all bar none were keen to gain residency and ultimately citizenship; not because they wanted to abandon their Kiwi identity but because there are obvious difficulties with being a Kiwi in Oz, such as having to pay your children's university fees upfront each semester!

And, fwiw, getting Australian citizenship and "living as New Zealanders" are not positions at odds with each other

jmh

The benefits of citizenship:

You can claim the dole if you are out of work
You get to vote
Your child is eligible for student loans and disability payments
You can apply for state jobs requiring Australian citizenship

And you still get to call yourself a kiwi - not sure who wouldn't want to take that option up.

Buzzy--Bee

I know lots of Kiwis who won't do it. A lot of it they say is down to cost - what's the point of spending 1000s of dollars when we are allowed to live here forever anyway.

My wife's Uncle moved from NZ 50 years ago and still travels on an NZ passport - would never get Australian citizenship out of principle.

BB