sinope

The link to the article is here: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2007-...82c7075c3d779f

Is this due to 'tall poppy' syndrome, lack of opportunities and low wages as discussed on another thread?

southerner

IMO its almost exclusively because our near neighbour offers about 25% better wages, and you can get cheap flights home when you want.

On the immigration side of the equation, I guess the high value of the $NZ and NZ property price rises has taken away the immediate equity gain that was a factor several years ago, for Brits in particular. Your average 100k pounds probably only buys half a NZ mansion these days.

Avid

New Zealand offers great landscapes and a slightly 'old-fashioned' way of living.

If you don't have kids and aren't interested in hiking then it's probably not the place for you.


(I might send that to the tourist board for their next slogan....)

Batty

We don't have kids (here) and don't hike and I love it here. It's 'only' the money that takes people away - if there was a turnaround in x number of years most people would come back. I know. I'm Irish and we did the same thing. As soon as there was money there most people went home, followed by the emigrants, and now you're just as likely to have an English builder to do your work (we did) as an Irish one. How times change. It's no reflection on the country or its people - rather the Government of the day and its policies. My husband was away from here for 13 years and it ate at him each and every day - the only reason he didn't come back was because of me and my commitments. I'd say 90% of the Kiwis who leave here only ever go for the short term - whether or not that becomes their reality I don't know - I do know they have a love of New Zealand that's more than patriotism - it goes way deeper than that. This may not be an old country in terms of European settlement but there is a spiritual pull that's as old as time itself for most Kiwis. Or at least, that's my experience.

brussels_sprout

Most Kiwis go to Oz for good especially the Maoris, NZ has not got the attraction of massive EEC agricultural grants like there is for the Irish Republic. Good old fashioned economics is the reason not "spiritual pulls" and associated wooliness

happynz

Many Kiwis do head over the Tasman for Aussie's opportunities, yes that's evident, but surely not most.

Wiz'n'Ton

You'd be surprised - I know I was.

In the paper (The Press) yesterday was a small article on the fact that NZ numbers in a recent month (I forget which) rose by only 500, despite immigrant numbers in the thousands.

The number of Kiwi's off to Ozzy from ChCh is a big issue for business here. From anecdotal evidence I have heard, it seems that wages here are about a third less than Oz, but with a similar cost of living.

We (T and I) are only doing as well as we are because of the UK equity we had. If it weren't for that we'd be really struggling to purchase any property at all.

I really feel for the Kiwi's on $12/hr - there is no hope. No wonder they are off to 'Grass is Greener' Oz! Of course - whether it IS greener is a different matter.

happynz

^Yes, I agree that there are high numbers of Kiwis crossing the ditch. However, it is inaccurate to state that most are going. Most would imply that the majority of the population are leaving New Zealand. I don't see that as the case.

Wiz'n'Ton

The 'most' statement made by Brussels_Sprout clearly reads as 'most of those (Kiwi's) that go to Oz don't come back', and for what it's worth I agree with them.

The statement doesn't make sense any other way. Before you start being picky about partial quotes taken from other posts, try to read the original post it was taken from first.

happynz

But I like being a pedantic picky pain in the backside. It's my reason for living.

Batty

Not any more (the new EC countries are getting the leg up now) and not for a good few years - the shift has been away from agriculture and towards industry - especially finance and IT and of course, building. Tbh, it's statements like that, that make me doubt the validity of people's 'facts' in lots of cases.

BEVS

Simply, it's wot 'e said ^

brussels_sprout

Yeah Right !

In reality the Irish republic is receiving huge funds from EEC, and so can use traditional taxes to create new industries. This funding is now reduced after the adhesion of the new Eastern European member states

Here are some facts about grants to Irish republic

2000-2007 Irish republic has received 1 Billion Euro from Social Fund
http://www.esf.ie/en/homepage.aspx

Since joining the EU in 1973, Ireland has received approximately 17bn in EUR from the Structural and Cohesion Funds (to end 2003)
http://www.business2000.ie/cases/cases_8th/case12.htm

Guess which countries are net contributors to these funds ?

Most NZers will never return from Oz, would you ?

CAN2NZ

More than 10% of the population of NZ lives overseas with all but about 50,000 live in Australia. I was reading that in the Herald some months ago now.

What is interesting about this question is that there is a large percentage of new people coming from Asian countries. Not sure who is leaving, but there was an article, in the Herald again, noticing this fact. However, a large portion of Asian new comers from certain countries go back in the first few years after arrival.

I just realized, I wonder how many new people are leaving to go back home that may be impacting the numbers.

southerner

And another stat for you:

1m of NZs population (of 4m) was born overseas.