Serious question for Kiwis

[p38arover]

My wife and I often watch some of the Kiwi "reality" programs like Highway Cops, Border Patrol, Serious Crash Unit, etc. and after looking at the great countryside, wonder why Kiwis come over to live here in Oz.

We've wondered the same thing during our various holidays in NZ. My wife goes there at least once or twice a year on holiday - she had Wellington (or was it Auckland - or was it both on two different dates?) a couple of months back and CCH not long before that - Queenstown's coming up again in March.

We think the place is beautiful - so why do you come here? You can nearly speak English so the only downside appears to be all the blasted UnZudders who live there, hey.

Note this is NOT having a go at you blokes. It is a serious question.

[goingbush]

Yeah, with a bit of luck a couple of million more Kiwis will come over here And I'll go live over there. The other thing thats great about NZ is the real-estate prices are sooo cheap. Why the hell would they want to move to Oz - beats me.

With the exchange rate how it is I could buy 3 equivalent houses in NZ for what we can get for ours here, and there is some great real-estate. Good option for retirement !!!

With a total population in NZ less than that of Melb it makes it even more attractive

they must be NUTS !!!

[steveG]

We moved from NZ to Melbourne nearly 20 years ago. There were job opportunities in Melb that just weren't available in NZ at that time. I think that's still the case now.
We decided to stay as we saw more opportunities for our children. They have grown up here and now have their own partners etc so its unlikely that we will go back to NZ to live any time soon. I still have a grandmother in NZ, and all the rest of the in and outlaws too so its not like we don't have family to go back to.

I've been back to NZ a few times recently both on business and for family reasons, and the cost of living seems dearer than here, wages lower, and less jobs.

Its definitely a beautiful country (as is Aussie), but I think you're also seeing it through holiday glasses. Taking away the 1.3 exchange rate and having to get a job and put food on the table would put a different tint on it...

Steve

[drifter]

Speaking only on behalf of myself, I came over here for about 3 months every year for nearly 20 years to teach in various companies in Sydney and Melbourne.

In 2000 I was offered a 3 month contract here - and 2 months into the contract the Australian General Manager took control of the company and shut down the NZ operation. I was here without a job to go to back there - so they made me an offer I really couldn't refuse - more money, company car, company apartment.

I was single - I have worked in countries all over the world - but hadn't really had a chance to explore OZ - and here it was, handed to me on a plate - right before the Olympics and an apartment within walking distance of Circular Quay. Travel (teaching again) to Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Holidays in Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Broome, Margaret River... several times to Broome, in fact - love it there.

I also managed to meet an Australian woman who became pretty special. We have been married 7 years now and are living in Canberra - another of lifes experiences.

I changed jobs a couple of years ago and left consulting/teaching to become a Fed public servant - so went through all the citizenship stuff. It's a whole different, and more frustrating, style of work.

Am I happy here? - yes

Would I go back to NZ? - no, I can't see it. There is still too much of Australia to explore.

What do I miss about NZ? Not a lot. I wouldn't be as well off, financially, there. The cost of living is less, sure, but the wages are, too. Jobs at my level aren't as easy to get in NZ as they are here or in Malaysia or the US.

Language and culture are so similar the choice of Australia over Malaysia or the US was a no brainer.


And, I tend to steer clear of other Kiwis here. I came to OZ to meet and live amongst Australians. If I wanted to immerse myself in kiwiana I would be living in NZ.

There is probably a ton more I could add - and I may add more later - but that's about it for the time being...

[TerryO]

Its simple Ron, where would Australia be today if you took away all the New Zealanders who own and run companies in Australia?

This is our way of helping our Aussie cousins by keeping them in work and the country profitable.

There is an old Kiwi saying that springs to mind ..."If you don't like the way we run your country you can always leave" ...

Apart from that I wouldn't live back in NZ it is full of crazy Kiwi's.

cheers,
Terry

[p38arover]

Jeez, Terry. I didn't know you were an import! You've picked up the lingo pretty well.

[Grimace]

I always thought Australia was the West Island Bro???

[slug_burner]

Its simple Ron, where would Australia be today if you took away all the New Zealanders who own and run companies in Australia?

This is our way of helping our Aussie cousins by keeping them in work and the country profitable.

There is an old Kiwi saying that springs to mind ..."If you don't like the way we run your country you can always leave" ...

Apart from that I wouldn't live back in NZ it is full of crazy Kiwi's.

cheers,
Terry

I take it you are an ex Fiji resident then?

[Stuck]

Ron,
I think you're looking at it the wrong way. The reason that the grass over there looks so green is because all the Kiwis are standing on ours .

[Siska]

I originally moved to Melbourne from South Auckland with my parents when I was 10 years old. As many Kiwi's would know, South Auckland is quite a rough part of the city, especially for pakeha kids going to school there. My folks lived in the outskirts of Melbourne for 6 years and then decided they wanted to move back to N.Z, but this time to a rural, farming community. So at 16 years old we moved to Matamata. I loved living there, camping, water skiing, hiking, surf all within 45 minutes, and snow boarding/skiing within a couple of hours. I lived there for 4 years and work opportunities brought me back to Melbourne.
So in about 1998 I moved back to Melbourne. Since then I have lived in Melbourne and Perth. Perth by far being my preference. I have made some awesome friends right around the country, meet my wife and had my awesome son. And now we are gearing up to move to New Zealand. Why? We will be able to nearly own 10 acres outright, so will be able to work to live and not live to work. We want our son to grow up in a rural environment, camping, shooting, fishing, boating, mountain biking etc. Not saying that this can't be done in Aus, but in my experience it will be a lot easier in New Zealand.

I've meet quite a few Kiwi's recently that have had the same thoughts, and speaking to a removalist not too long ago was told that there has been quite a few Kiwi's returning home.