BEVS

We don't all emigrate for greater prosperity do we, but money comes into it for most when trying to achieve a perceived lifestyle in a new country.
Having just read this article it would seem that despite there being more info out there for any would-be migrant ( BE for instance) than there was a decade ago & more access to grass roots , harder hitting experiences from those that have done it, people still have rosy expectations of life in countries outside of the UK.
Whether that's down to the glossy marketing campaigns from those countries seeking migrants ,or down to the would-be migrants choosing to only see/read what they want to see/read because they are discontent with a UK life is open to debate.

DC10

It is an interesting article, and all the points raised are valid

But it is also a fact that Britain has had a worse recession, and is enduring a slower recovery, than most of the developed world locations to which expats elect to relocate. And the weather is still fickle (at best), the streets still crowded, the houses and gardens still small, the schools so variable that parents start planning their child's education during pregnancy...

Genesis

I left the UK because it was way too crowded and Kate saw neither a future for ourselves career wise or for our kids. It just so happened that moving to NZ made us way better off in every aspect of life than we would have been had we stayed. I knew this before we left from afiscal point as it was very simple maths. Cheaper NZ homes (in relation the UK ones), being mortgage free were the main reasons.

It has not all been great over the last almost 7 years and occasionally we really hanker for the Uk and all it holds. Those 65 million people and the crap job prospects stop us from doing anything more than hankering.

BEVS

I know G. The UK does seem way too crowded. Thing is , it's a lot different UK to NZ now than it was when we came several years ago. Back 2004 there were jobs a-plenty, the wages offered v cost of living ratio for NZ was better ( for us at least) & the GBP to NZ exchange rate was far more favourable.

Expat Kiwi

You've never lived in Auckland, have you?

Expat Kiwi

You're right Bevs, things have changed a great deal since 2004, I wonder how many people emigrate based on what NZ used to be, rather than what it is now?

It's an interesting report and worth closer inspection and I thought the advice to make sure there's more than one job you can do was very sensible.

DC10

well no, but from visits it feels like a sprawling country town or, at best, a scaled-down poor-cousin of sydney or san francisco. felt like you could fire guns around the cbd streets after 7pm and not risk hitting anyone

and in terms of economic situation, things like unemployment, growth and house prices seem to be holding up much better than in most the uk. in fact without auckland pulling the kiwi economy along things would probably be very grim indeed

Expat Kiwi

You need to go live there for a couple of years . Canberra is a country idyll in comparison.

luvwelly

Are Britons Unwise to Seek Greater Prosperity Abroad?
UK to NZ on the current exchange rate is very unwise if you are looking to buy property; and likely only done by those with no money to bring/ people who really do think the grass is always greener.

Expat Kiwi

DC10 but hasn't home affordability just worstened in New Zealand ?

DC10

it might well have - my point was that the uk economy is in worse shape than most other developed countries, probably just about including nz

BEVS

I'm not a fan of newspaper reports but this article does seem to indicate that the UK will avoid a double dip recession albeit narrowly

Expat Kiwi

Britain escaped a credit ratings downgrade too didn't it? Not many countries can boast getting one, let alone two, of those.

whitesand

I'd agree that Auckland does feel that a country town rather than a buzzing city. However, it's the only place we would have considered staying in NZ as we'd been around many other places here.

Charismatic

Due to the unique way BE karma is distributed I can’t seem to give you karma twice BEVS regardless of how deserving that article is.