Jumping the ditch
 

Every time I look at the NZ press there are stories of Kiwis and emigrants heading to OZ for a better life, more money etc

Of the dozen or so Brits I know in NZ, all but a couple are counting down the days before they get hold of their NZ passports and book that one way flight to the lucky country.

I wonder how many on this forum are considering the same?

Could this ever increasing move away accelerate the inevitable joining of OZ and NZ where NZ would become the 7th state of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

No, it will never become the 7th state, both Australia and NZ are against it politically and the people themselves.

We are in a global market, things will even out over the long term.

The high disparity is really caused by the mining industry, the rest of Australia does not look that great economically and personally I think NZ offers a better lifestyle.

And of course the dumb thing is that a lot of emigration comes from the smaller towns in NZ and rural areas. Well it's the same in Aus, you need to work in the cities to earn decent money (apart from mining) and people act surprised when they move from Tokaroa and suddenly find there is more to do and they get paid more in Melbourne.

Edit : Many people are there for purely financial reasons btw, they would much prefer to live in NZ. FIFO work or living in Perth is definitely not better than living in NZ.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

Ironically thats where we are moving to (Tokoroa), not our first choice, but it gets us in. My husband has a job to go to and well paid too (more than he gets here), so would be interested in your thoughts on the place, apart from it being 'rural' and with good and bad parts of town.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

All of the brits I know have no intention of going to Aus - we have all been there and done a working holiday - enjoyed it - some came here originally with the intention of going back to Aus - but now are all very settled here in NZ - much more so than we ever were in Australia.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

That's not true really. The mining sector is only 19% of the Aus economy. As for statehood - it was proposed once upon a time but it's hard to see what Aus would get out of it.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

I would have to agree with this from what I hear from those around me.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

I've worked with and played with about half a dozen who were just marking time till they got the passport and could wave bye-bye to the "village state" of NZ. These were usually well qualified, experienced professionals who had been in NZ for 2 or 3 years and were already bored with what Auckland had to offer or frustrated with poor work practices.

But then there were almost as many who were quite happy here, as I am, in spite of the work situation which was and remains rubbish. :thumbdown:

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

I have no thoughts on Tokoroa, I only mentioned it because it was one of the first small towns that sprang to mind and have driven through numerous times on the way to Taupo.

I really like that part of the country though.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

"Only" 19%?

That is huge. For comparison, the entire financial industry in the UK is around 8% of the economy.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

It's too large in my estimation as well, but the point was made that the booming Australian economy is because of mines alone, and I make the point that this is not the case at all. Remember that is that entire mining sector and related economy, the mining alone is around 6%, compared to Canada's 4%.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

Small town and pretty poor mainly maori community with high unemployment. Like most I've only driven
through the place and stopped for a short time but from what I've seen there's not a lot there
so best to use it as a base for a short while and look for somewhere else PDQ :unsure:

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

An ex colleague of mine lives and works in toke. he loves it. Very active social community and very peaceful compared to some places.
There's work there if you want it.

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

What, like the UK isn't the 51st state of the US:rofl:

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

No, its' not.
On the sparkie side, can I install one of those heater lights in the bathroom without wiring in the fan?

Re: Jumping the ditch
 

depends.

two light unit in a ceiling with adequate ventilation above it, (for heat dispersion) possible

four light unit NO NO NO NO NO. fan has to be wired so as to come on with lights and independently

(and make sure all your work complies to ECP51)