To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
#31
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
I was reading an accounting magazine the other day and it had an article about the Greek financial task force set up to gather revenue. They found that in Athens suburbs only 392 households had registered they had a swimming pool (incuring additional tax) when the actual number found, by using the police helicopter and google earth, was nearly 18,000!!!
They also found over 1000 luxury sports cars costing over 100,000 euros each, registered to people that had filed tax returns stating their salaries were under 10,000 euros per annum.
The task force was set a gathering target of 1.2 billion euros per annum, but in the first 6 months had raised over 1.8 billion.
No wonder the Govt had no money.
They also found over 1000 luxury sports cars costing over 100,000 euros each, registered to people that had filed tax returns stating their salaries were under 10,000 euros per annum.
The task force was set a gathering target of 1.2 billion euros per annum, but in the first 6 months had raised over 1.8 billion.
No wonder the Govt had no money.
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 110
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
My two cents is - none of the stats mean anything much to individuals or families, it maybe justifies to some people why they emigrated - but enjoying being in NZ and making a go of it seem to hinge on two main things 1) how much you miss family and friends and 2) whether you can afford to live the lifestyle you want to on the wages in NZ - just an observation from reading the messages over the last year or so
#33
Life is what YOU make it.
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 3,312
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
My two cents is - none of the stats mean anything much to individuals or families, it maybe justifies to some people why they emigrated - but enjoying being in NZ and making a go of it seem to hinge on two main things 1) how much you miss family and friends and 2) whether you can afford to live the lifestyle you want to on the wages in NZ - just an observation from reading the messages over the last year or so
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Manchester-Auckland-Anglesey- soon to be Manchester. yay.
Posts: 99
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
...........I'd personally consider somewhere else if NZ isn't for me before returning to the UK, just my opinion.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-..._Study_Reveals
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-..._Study_Reveals
#35
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
Not what Laloo said though. There's a world of difference between 'take into account' and 'base your immigration plans on'.
I would hope that most people who cared, would take a whole host of input about where they were going before they moved including forums like this - unless of course the reason they're going is just for the buzz or adventure of it, in which case they won't care anyway.
The best way, in my opinion is to try it yourself, if you can deal with the risk.
To be honest I'd hope it was obvious that other people's opinions in the form of surveys or internet forums are "worth taking into account" but never worth "basing your plans on". We're all too different to each other.
I would hope that most people who cared, would take a whole host of input about where they were going before they moved including forums like this - unless of course the reason they're going is just for the buzz or adventure of it, in which case they won't care anyway.
The best way, in my opinion is to try it yourself, if you can deal with the risk.
To be honest I'd hope it was obvious that other people's opinions in the form of surveys or internet forums are "worth taking into account" but never worth "basing your plans on". We're all too different to each other.
#36
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
My two cents is - none of the stats mean anything much to individuals or families, it maybe justifies to some people why they emigrated - but enjoying being in NZ and making a go of it seem to hinge on two main things 1) how much you miss family and friends and 2) whether you can afford to live the lifestyle you want to on the wages in NZ - just an observation from reading the messages over the last year or so
#37
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 59
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
Thank you WhingingPom, as I also said, its only a part of the research you should do when deciding on where to emigrate to.
#38
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
My two cents is - none of the stats mean anything much to individuals or families, it maybe justifies to some people why they emigrated - but enjoying being in NZ and making a go of it seem to hinge on two main things 1) how much you miss family and friends and 2) whether you can afford to live the lifestyle you want to on the wages in NZ - just an observation from reading the messages over the last year or so
As for the lifestyle we have the kind of life here in NZ that we could never have in the Uk unless we were well the minted ones. I do love day to day life in NZ but I have become more and more disillusioned with NZ as the over 5 years has worn on with respect to law and order and what successive administrations have done and what they have failed to do. The latter having impacted upon me personally to the tune of $80k. I am that utterly pissed off with politicians now that I am withdrawing my vote forever. In the main they are a shower and I have no wish to vote Jo Bloggs in on a bunch of promises that she will not keep. I will forever abstain. Why vote for something one has utterly zero confidence in? I do appreciate by not voting I will apparently not have a mandate to moan about politicians anymore...yeah right!!
#39
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
On an indfividual basis, of course you will have different opinions and preferences. These organisations have got to look at a set of criteria which are worked out statistically and come from different sources. You can take a look at the organisations websites to see the criteria used in determining which is the best city in the world. You're obviously not going to agree with everything and neither should you.
By the way, New Zealand has also been rated as the safest country in the world.
When deciding on which country and/or city to live in, you would be foolish not to take into account the results of these surveys as part of your research especially if you have not lived in there yourself.
By the way, New Zealand has also been rated as the safest country in the world.
When deciding on which country and/or city to live in, you would be foolish not to take into account the results of these surveys as part of your research especially if you have not lived in there yourself.
#41
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
I dislike this “lifestyle” excuse for every problem we discuss on this forum. New Zealand has some pretty serious problems, most countries do to some extent and they are not excusable in any way. Many countries offer a great lifestyle in similar situations and some can offer a better quality of life. Being a small island in the Pacific is no excuse for a lack of industriousness, “making do” will simply not do and will see us slide further if we continue down this path. We have natural resources we can exploit (Coal, gold etc. Maybe oil and gas), we have intellectual talent being generated at an astonishing rate, we have capital to build businesses (though tied up in real estate for tax reasons but that’s easy to change) and we have a great country to do it in. We just need to be a little bit cleverer about how we do things, both in government and beyond (government is not the answer to every problem but only electing governments with clear economic goals and vision would be a very good start ).
#42
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: bottom of the world
Posts: 4,533
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
Your absolutely right, NZ can be much more than it is but it will
NEVER reach its true potential as the "kiwi way" will always put
a full stop to any real progress.
Look at the two guys who had to battle for almost three years just
to open a small coffee shop by a beach. Why? because it might spoil
the look of the place!! it was hardly any bigger than a burger van but
the "kiwi way" says it isnt natural. God forbid that it might make a trip
to some desolate scrub of a beach more comfortable or enjoyable. It might
even serve to draw people there as there would be some form of basic amenities.
Obviously business and tourism, for all they whinge about it are not a priority.
NEVER reach its true potential as the "kiwi way" will always put
a full stop to any real progress.
Look at the two guys who had to battle for almost three years just
to open a small coffee shop by a beach. Why? because it might spoil
the look of the place!! it was hardly any bigger than a burger van but
the "kiwi way" says it isnt natural. God forbid that it might make a trip
to some desolate scrub of a beach more comfortable or enjoyable. It might
even serve to draw people there as there would be some form of basic amenities.
Obviously business and tourism, for all they whinge about it are not a priority.
Last edited by Justcol; Sep 24th 2010 at 7:15 am.
#43
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
...........I'd personally consider somewhere else if NZ isn't for me before returning to the UK, just my opinion.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-..._Study_Reveals
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-..._Study_Reveals
I don't how France got the top spot. I was born and raised there (I left a few years ago, at 23) and as far as I can see, it's become the pits Don't get me wrong, I love my birth country but give me NZ any day
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Manchester-Auckland-Anglesey- soon to be Manchester. yay.
Posts: 99
#45
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Porirua, Wellington
Posts: 207
Re: To those people missing Blighty or thinking of a return......
The Uk is a great place to live - has a lot going for it, has a lot going against it. As does every country.
They way I think about life is that the grass is never greener, it's just different grass and if you can't embrace the fact it's different grass, then stay on your own patch.
The last thing we want to do is take our life here and just move it over there. We're only emigrating because we want to change our lifestyle.
But the one thing that will bring me back is my family & friends. And if that's how it turns out, then hey at least we had the adventure and we'll know for sure where we want to be.
They way I think about life is that the grass is never greener, it's just different grass and if you can't embrace the fact it's different grass, then stay on your own patch.
The last thing we want to do is take our life here and just move it over there. We're only emigrating because we want to change our lifestyle.
But the one thing that will bring me back is my family & friends. And if that's how it turns out, then hey at least we had the adventure and we'll know for sure where we want to be.