And they wonder why some are leaving...

[tri boy]

I havn't browsed the West Aus employment scene for about a year, so I did a 5min search, mainly relating to previous work I used to do.
First hit went like this:
Heavy mechanical fitter, (mechanic).
Location. Tom Price. (Iron ore country)
2weeks on, 1 week off, fly in fly out.
$44/hr.
Heres the breakdown. 12hrs a day for 2weeks = 168 hrs worked. (no days off for two weeks)
44 by 168 =$7392 Aus gross. For two weeks!

The work is dusty, and dealing with big gear, but man, that is pretty good money. (the week off, fly to Bali, and kick back):clap:

Now wheres my passport..........

Oh, and accom, and meals are free on fly in fly out jobs.

[Trudes]

Holy!!! That's wicked money!!! Always wondered why a friend of mine was always off to Australia for work like that!! He worked in some of the open mines driving trucks and always came home loaded and shattered! Worth it though!

[Mikkel]

Certainly, NZ can not compete on salaries.

Still, there are other positives about the place - otherwise I doubt you'd see quite as many europeans come here to work and study.

[007XX]

I've been considering Oz for a couple of months now...If labour gets in again, you can bet your sweet cantaloupe I'll be giving it probably more than just thoughts.

I absolutely adore New Zealand. I feel at home here. But I am tired of having to fight tooth and nail to be able to afford the simplest things.

[NZsarge]

My brother is in Brisbane and he's on around 115k I think, pays huge tax though.

[jim.cox]

I've been considering Oz for a couple of months now...If labour gets in again, you can bet your sweet cantaloupe I'll be giving it probably more than just thoughts.

I absolutely adore New Zealand. I feel at home here. But I am tired of having to fight tooth and nail to be able to afford the simplest things.

I'm thinking about about moving too

It used to be "why would you?"

Now its "why would you not?"

[avgas]

I've been considering Oz for a couple of months now...If labour gets in again, you can bet your sweet cantaloupe I'll be giving it probably more than just thoughts.

I absolutely adore New Zealand. I feel at home here. But I am tired of having to fight tooth and nail to be able to afford the simplest things.
Seconded - myself and g/f are a profession couple, but our spending money after rent and crap mean that we could buy a house buy 2050, let alone have kids. I have met unemployed people that make about 80% of my salary.

[avgas]

My brother is in Brisbane and he's on around 115k I think, pays huge tax though.
20-30K will be going towards super i imagine. But the good thing is when you leave the job - you get a payout. Not wait till 65.

[Whynot]

My brother is in Brisbane and he's on around 115k I think, pays huge tax though.

he would pay more tax in NZ

[Mully]

It's somethng Miss Mully and I have discussed. If Labour get back in (please, dear God no!!), it's a certainty.

[Headbanger]

20-30K will be going towards super i imagine. But the good thing is when you leave the job - you get a payout. Not wait till 65.

When I was in Aus my employer paid $50 a week into super, and $50 a week into redundecy over and above my wages, everytime I quit a job I got 2 or 3 grand payout, Plus a couple of grand at the end of every tax year.

Double time, triple time, travel allowance, meal money, clothing allowance,crib allowance.

WOOHOOO, The sun was always shining, and petrol was 52c cents a litre.



Never did feel like home though.

[HTFU]

Seconded - myself and g/f are a profession couple, but our spending money after rent and crap mean that we could buy a house buy 2050, let alone have kids. I have met unemployed people that make about 80% of my salary.

I feel your pain, we were in a similar position going nowhere in the city so just changed things up a bit with a school hostel job (very easy work) and moved to a small town.

That Aussy job equates to about 128k a year but not sure how it works for holiday pay etc. But definitely a good way to try and save some coin and get ahead. Two of my brothers over there (East Coast not West) doing well with standard 9-5 jobs. But the big coin is out west.

My brother back here, 15 years Joinery trade and is on $21 an hour :weep:. Keep saying to him he should be demanding more, heading to Aus or going into business himself. Considering some of the kitchens are $100000+ and going into multimillion dollar houses.

Have seriously thought of heading over to Aus myself but with the kids its a big call and actually have found it pretty easy to work around the raising costs of living and low wages in good old kiwi land.

With relief teaching, I get about $55 an hour so its about $180 a day in the hand for 5 hours work. A busy week lands $900 in the hand and finished by 3pm each day:2thumbsup. Teachers at the top of the pay scale it would be $68 an hour, take home $260 a day and $1300 a week.

My partner gets $15 as a teacher aid and man does she earn every penny :crazy:.

Helps having some weekend retail work that pays fairly well at $32 an hour ($25 in the hand) and $18 ($14 in the hand) driving a small delivery truck in the school holidays. Add in our hostel supervisors job at the school and we are fairly comfortable financially and still get most weekends and most of the school holidays with the kids and are saving a fair chunk of cash each year :clap:.

Still ride a GPX but :angry2:.

[R6_kid]

My father is currently earning around $1000AUD each day, for around 9hrs work... but he's used to working long hours as is ex-air force aircraft tech. He's doing computer systems stuff related to maintenace and planning.

His timetable is 9 days off (arrive back friday night and stays to the next sunday, fly out early monday morning) then he gets paid from the time he arrives at the airport to the time he leaves work on monday (in australia). Works for 12 days straight (mon-sun,mon-fri) and then around midday friday travels back to NZ (again paid while travelling). He gets free food + accom and they reimburse him for his airfares and taxi ride to the airport too. He is at Olympic Dam, approx 700km north of Adelaide.

Once i get my shit sorted i'm heading over there to do some support work for such projects as the one he is working on, and the starting rate i've been quoted is around $40-50AUD/hr, and possibly fly-in, fly-out within Aussie which is fine with me!

[MSTRS]

....

My partner gets $15 as a teacher aid and man does she earn every penny :crazy:.

....

Yeah - what's with that. They have to be qualified, they work damned hard, and then all the school hols off on no pay.
It sucks.

[mowgli]

You don't have to lift heavy gear to earn good money out back either. A friend left about ten years ago to be a cook for an opal mine in WA. She never came back except for a visit.

[HTFU]

Yeah - what's with that. They have to be qualified, they work damned hard, and then all the school hols off on no pay.
It sucks.

Yep and they have to sit and watch incompetent teachers allow the class to run out of control. Its the lowest paid job she has had since uni but it fits in with my teaching job and the holidays so she just lumps it like all good women should :shutup:.

[MSTRS]

Yep and they have to sit and watch incompetent teachers allow the class to run out of control. Its the lowest paid job she has had since uni but it fits in with my teaching job and the holidays so she just lumps it like all good women should :shutup:.

Even T/As are appreciated paywise in Oz...
The thing that rubs salt in the wound is that the hours are 25/pw, which is considered fulltime :girlfight:

[marioc]

Just one big problem,the place is full of Australians

[MSTRS]

Just one big problem,the place is full of Australians

Only round the edges....

[tri boy]

20-30K will be going towards super i imagine. But the good thing is when you leave the job - you get a payout. Not wait till 65.


Not so sure about the payout thing.
I still have to wait for my Aus super until 60+ (unless you have a seriously strong reason for it now).
Work payouts are generally related to layoffs/redundancies, but they can be very rewarding. (worked with an Aussie fitter who worked for Western Power untill redundancy/retirement packages were called for. He walked away with $400000+ in payout, plus super! Been there 35yrs though)

Aus resources, and West Aus will continue to boom until China/India have had their fill, (2015-2020+). If your up to the challenge, it WILL be very rewarding financialy.
I had my go, but would encourage anybody else to go for it before the resource cycle slumps again.

[Mr Merde]

My partner and I are off to Aussie next month for a bit of a touring holiday. (Melborne, Adelaide, Brisbane).

We have been talking and decided that while there we will both be looking at the employment opportunities over there.

She is a District Nurse and I am a Network Engineer.

Here we are struggling to pay the bills on our combined salaries. Living from payday to payday.

Aussie is a very aluring proposition.


Mr :shit:

[Al]

The pay is very good in Oz, have to work hard to get it though.
Things are more expensive here, especially in Darwin, but you do not have to "keep up with the Jonses"....:Punk:

[Mully]

Not so sure about the payout thing.
I still have to wait for my Aus super until 60+ (unless you have a seriously strong reason for it now).


I thought you could get it if you left the country permanantly??

Bummer if not.

[007XX]

It's somethng Miss Mully and I have discussed. If Labour get back in (please, dear God no!!), it's a certainty.

A heck of a lot of people are considering it, and that's now regardless of whether Helen Bubba teeth is staying or going...so my point at the bottom of this reply/ rant.


Seconded - myself and g/f are a profession couple, but our spending money after rent and crap mean that we could buy a house buy 2050, let alone have kids. I have met unemployed people that make about 80% of my salary.

Yep, I hear ya!


I'm thinking about about moving too

It used to be "why would you?"

Now its "why would you not?"

Sums it up nicely.


The pay is very good in Oz, have to work hard to get it though.
Things are more expensive here, especially in Darwin, but you do not have to "keep up with the Jonses"....:Punk:

I've never been bothered with hard work...heck, that's what I did picking fruits for a living up North when I arrived in NZ 14 years ago. Still made about $500 after tax per week. And back then, I could have bought a 3 bedroom house on a big piece of land bordering a pine forest for $125,000...*sigh* the beauty of hindsight, eh?


The thing is...Even if National gets back in, how long do we think it is going to take them to clear the latest financial decisions from Helen and her click?

I'm no economist, but I reckon 3 years is a pretty short amount of time to undo the damage. By which time (next election) the unwashed and uneducated masses will only see little change in the economy and might just re elect the Labour Party...But eh, I could be wrong.

[HornetBoy]

Been considering doing a stint over their myself to get a deposit for a house ,aint no chance im gunna get that here with everyday living costs going up ...everyday :(

Bloody enticeing to just pack up and leave tho for that kinda money,specially at my age :2thumbsup

[jrandom]

Oddly enough, unlike most, it seems, I can't make more money, in terms of pre-tax income, in Australia than I can here.

My own business is targeted at international clients via the interweb, so my location makes no difference to that, and in terms of local contract work to pay the bills, the rates I can get are about the same.

Anyway, even if I could earn more over the ditch, I very much doubt that I'd be able to get my ex-wife to pack up and move just so that I could keep seeing my kids regularly while I worked a long-term contract in some out-of-the-way hellhole!

:laugh:

Nope, I'm well and truly stuck in little old NZ for the next decade or so, and quite frankly, I don't mind in the slightest.

:love:

[SPman]

20-30K will be going towards super i imagine. But the good thing is when you leave the job - you get a payout. Not wait till 65.
Superannuation is based on 10% of your gross wage and is paid by the employer into a designated super fund. You can pay in more yourself, for which you get tax breaks.
When you leave your job, or change jobs, the money stays in the fund.If you choose to retire, then you can take some money out - depends how much is in there.
If you are a Kiwi and move back to NZ - you dont get any money out! - there is a reciprocal agreement over pensions

The thing is...Even if National gets back in, how long do we think it is going to take them to clear the latest financial decisions from Helen and her click?
About 3 gazillion years. They won't! Their big business mates will get even richer - the average working stiff will still get shafted.

[jim.cox]

Been considering doing a stint over their myself to get a deposit for a house ,aint no chance im gunna get that here with everyday living costs going up ...everyday :(

Bloody enticeing to just pack up and leave tho for that kinda money,specially at my age :2thumbsup

Just Do It - bloody good idea - take the opportunity when you can

[tri boy]

I thought you could get it if you left the country permanantly??

Bummer if not.


I think they had a rule change in the 90's, and I didn't plan on being back in NZ back then.
Meh it's no big deal, as the super fund I'm in has had a stella grow spurt over the last five years or so.
Should be a nice little nest egg in my wet fart years. (unlike that Kiwi Saver chump fund).

As for Al's comment on the work effort, well, the first thing I was told about returning to NZ back in 99 was "you will work twice as hard, for half the earn". Boy, they were so right.

[Manxman]

I've been considering Oz for a couple of months now...If labour gets in again, you can bet your sweet cantaloupe I'll be giving it probably more than just thoughts.

I absolutely adore New Zealand. I feel at home here. But I am tired of having to fight tooth and nail to be able to afford the simplest things.

If you leave, make sure you keep in touch with this site...your Avatars are quite something...

BTW, hasn't been a new one for a coupla days...

[Mikkel]

BTW, hasn't been a new one for a coupla days...

Don't fix it if it ain't broken! :no:

[Blackbird]

Oddly enough, unlike most, it seems, I can't make more money, in terms of pre-tax income, in Australia than I can here.


Nope, I'm well and truly stuck in little old NZ for the next decade or so, and quite frankly, I don't mind in the slightest.

:love:

Well said JR! Moving offshore when you're young (errr....younger than me, anyway) is a great way of earning good dough, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it depends very much on what your definition of "quality of life" is. I'm very happy to say that I love NZ with a passion, and the quality of life on offer. I'm saying this, having grown up in the UK and have worked in other countries too. I'm also fortunate in that when I was working full-time, I was pretty well-paid and now in semi-retirement, I'm earning close to $100/hour doing consulting but don't particularly want to work as much as my clients want me to! The path to true nirvana is a rocky one:yes:

Seriously, NZ is just fine for my particular circumstances.

[peasea]

My brother is in Brisbane and he's on around 115k I think, pays huge tax though.

At 115k I think the tax is eighty bucks.
Ooops. Sorry! Wrong 115k.

[kevfromcoro]

GOT offered a job in Charters Towers..$53 an hour...fifo.
free food and accommodation.the only thing ,,the mine was a mile underground...not for me..
Sparky at work got offered a job out west.....in the middle of nowhere.$197 an hour...(seems a lot) free house too.
BTW did you know that if you ivest money in NZ,, only pay 2% interest on it if overseas...

[peasea]

BOT:
While some folk earn more in Oz I have some cases close to home where the reality hasn't been quite what the fantasy of moving to the West Island was. For thos who do get more cash, good on them, I've never bagged those who earn good money, just those who sit on their arses and pull big bucks. I have friends/rellies in both Oz and the UK doing very well thank you. I have the same here and when I sit down for dinner I don't feel too bad about my little lot either.

Personally, I still think NZ is a great country and don't, as yet, have any plans to move away from it. Financially we might not get as good a deal as some other places, our politicians are ugly idiots but push all that aside, check out the scenery and take a deep breath. You can still pull a good feed out of the tide, the hills or even the ground.

You do make some good points tho TriBoy, if you're a single person, go hard. For me; NZ is still a home I'd fight for.

[Steam]

IIf Labour get back in (please, dear God no!!), it's a certainty.


If labour gets in again, you can bet your sweet cantaloupe I'll be giving it probably more than just thoughts.

Sorry luvs, a lefty PC government just got elected over there (yes!:banana:), in case you missed it. They even printed a million t-shirts with SORRY printed on them.
It ain't no different over there.

[ynot slow]

My auntie returned from oz last year after being there since she married in 1974,left the day after they married,had their own bussiness etc,divorced etc,she has access to her oz super scheme,but she had to wait till November this year to get all of it.

My brother did the oz thing 20 yrs ago as a qualified sparky,worked his way around oz,but most of his qualifications from NZ needed upgrading to Oz standards,now he is qualified instrument tech etc,had a shutdown in Oz,applied thought not much chance of getting the job,they rang back 2 days before his wedding to say yep come over ($100hr)have 6 weeks or so shutdown 12 hr days etc,no married accomodation lol.

Mind you he gets around $45hr here when doing shutdowns and accomodation,airfares.

[JATZ]

BOT:
While some folk earn more in Oz I have some cases close to home where the reality hasn't been quite what the fantasy of moving to the West Island was. For thos who do get more cash, good on them, I've never bagged those who earn good money, just those who sit on their arses and pull big bucks. I have friends/rellies in both Oz and the UK doing very well thank you. I have the same here and when I sit down for dinner I don't feel too bad about my little lot either.

Personally, I still think NZ is a great country and don't, as yet, have any plans to move away from it. Financially we might not get as good a deal as some other places, our politicians are ugly idiots but push all that aside, check out the scenery and take a deep breath. You can still pull a good feed out of the tide, the hills or even the ground.

You do make some good points tho TriBoy, if you're a single person, go hard. For me; NZ is still a home I'd fight for.


Hear hear !

[peasea]

Sorry luvs, a lefty PC government just got elected over there (yes!:banana:), in case you missed it. They even printed a million t-shirts with SORRY printed on them.
It ain't no different over there.

Perhaps Mr. Cullen has a similar number of the same T-shirt under way?

[awayatc]

thread should be called " and they wonder why some are staying....."

I work offshore in New Plymouth at the moment. Funny thing is that kiwi's on boats run by the same company then ours.. but on an Ozzy contract work the same jobs in NZ for a fair bit more then Kiwi's get on a NZ contract.......

We are not even talking about kiwi's living in OZ.....
:chase:

[Steam]

Funny thing is that kiwi's on boats ( owned by the same company then ours..) but on an Ozzy contract work the same jobs in NZ for a fair bit more then Kiwi's get on NZ contract.......

Bet hardly any of you are in the union, are ya? Go on strike for the same wages mate, in this job market you can't lose.

[Coyote]

Seconded - myself and g/f are a profession couple, but our spending money after rent and crap mean that we could buy a house buy 2050, let alone have kids. I have met unemployed people that make about 80% of my salary.
That's the sad reality I'm heading towards now. I want to be a kid again!

They should be heavily taxing multiple home owners out of owning so many bloody homes and give the rest of New Zealand a fucking chance. But no, Labour are quite happy with the way it is since most of them all own several properties themselves. And it's not like National will ever make things harder for richer folk.

And by multiple home owners, I mean the property investors that live on charging rent rather than working for a living, not the few people that may have been lucky enough to inherit their parents old home or batch.

[awayatc]

Bet hardly any of you are in the union, are ya? Go on strike for the same wages mate, in this job market you can't lose.

Don't know where you got your information from......but there is 1 crew member who is not in the union..... All the rest of the crews all through the ranks belong to their respective unions...

[Manxman]

Don't fix it if it ain't broken! :no:

Not saying it's broken - just new scenery along a similar theme...:rolleyes:

[geoffm]

My brother is in Brisbane and he's on around 115k I think, pays huge tax though.

Still a lower tax rate than NZ tho, due to the way the tax brackets are arranged, and the first $6k being tax free. I think the breakeven is around a million bucks...
I amm giving oz some serious thought recently.
G

[awayatc]

I amm giving oz some serious thought recently.
G


And I am sure they appreciate it......coz thats one thing they haven't got a lot off......:scooter:

[kave]

BTW did you know that if you ivest money in NZ,, only pay 2% interest on it if overseas...

A lot of investments have shifted to the new PIE tax scheme, meaning that there is no 2% AIL.

[Mikkel]

Sorry luvs, a lefty PC government just got elected over there (yes!:banana:), in case you missed it. They even printed a million t-shirts with SORRY printed on them.
It ain't no different over there.

I have this funny feeling that a left-wing Oz party is still pretty liberal compared to what NZ has to offer... It's just a hunch though - I don't bother reading political manifestos since they don't matter anyway, democrazy and all.

[SPman]

I have this funny feeling that a left-wing Oz party is still pretty liberal compared to what NZ has to offer... It's just a hunch though - I don't bother reading political manifestos since they don't matter anyway, democrazy and all.

Left wing - you're joking! Centrist at best.

Like a lot of "Labour" parties around the world - racing to the right, like Britains "New Labour" - about as left as Margaret Thatcher!

[007XX]

If you leave, make sure you keep in touch with this site...your Avatars are quite something...

BTW, hasn't been a new one for a coupla days...

Aaawww...But you only want me for my avatars, what a blow to my self esteem as a valued poster on KB :weep:

*rushes off to find a new juicy pair of bumpillows* :D


About 3 gazillion years. They won't! Their big business mates will get even richer - the average working stiff will still get shafted.

Further more intensifying the chasm between top and bottom earners...I saw it happen years ago in my country of birth, and it ain't pretty. As I said before, I do not pretend to be that knowledgeable about economy or politics, but I'm not stupid enough to like what's happening.


Sorry luvs, a lefty PC government just got elected over there (yes!:banana:), in case you missed it. They even printed a million t-shirts with SORRY printed on them.
It ain't no different over there.

Maybe...(and no, I didn't miss it). BUT, the fact is that in a country as big as Oz, a few bad financial decisions can be absorbed and recovered from. Whether in NZ, a decidedly dodgy call such as buying back the rails at twice (or more) the price they sold it to Toll years ago, and yet with still uncalculated amount of work to be done to bring it all back to speed, will without a doubt be a weight on the whole country, one wich will affect us all.

You cannot tell me that such decisions were made in the true interest of the NZ population. Especially when the latest tax cut grandly advertised is to be between 12 and 25 dollars a week, with Cullen dramatically saying it cannot be any higher lest we borrow more money...

And don't get me ever started on why a law was passed when it was very publicly opposed, then a referendum organised, and a petition overruled because of a couple of duplicate signatures. Take the duplicate out, and count the valid ones, then do as any true democracy would do, and don't pass the parody of a law that takes so much away from any parent, and leaves a nation nearly powerless to raise its own offsprings.

These are but a couple of examples of what is going so very seriously wrong, and yes, I know...what do I propose doing about it? I can't do shit, because none of us are being listened to...all I can do is plan for a better future for my family.

And we wonder why we are fast becoming a "Look after #1 first" society.

[Dilligaf]

I thought you could get it if you left the country permanantly??

Bummer if not.

Testament to the fact that this is not true... :doh:

[avgas]

Hmmm interesting on the super thing - i haven't done any research myself on it so i can't prove of disprove of it. I just have a friend who is leaving SKM (NZ) for Maunsell (Aus) and $9K out of her $69K is going to some scheme where if she leaves in 3 years time she can claim a total of $80K???? Will talk to her tomorrow to see what the story is.
I'm just getting a bit fed up with NZ, i swear it was better before - mabey i was more naive with my homeland when i was young. But in the last 10 years my life has hit more potholes in NZ than any person should endure.
Aspects including, law (or lack of it in some cases), student loans/allowances (or lack of), tax rates (for those who make a living.....even at 2 jobs), immigration (and the illegal aspects of it - fuck you a fucking lot Hon Tuariki Delamere), Small company NZ........with the she'll be right attitude......even transit NZ are cutting all the fucking corners off my favourite roads cos some moron (who was still paying off his car and didn't have a license) forgot to tell his pissed brain to take the turn.
I'm not saying the grass is greener - im just saying the cows keep shitting in ours.
That I'm paid crap due to my salary ($15-24/hr depending how many 'extra unpayed' hours fall in my 40 hour week). Thats less than i was earning before i graduated.....working for a pipejacking firm. I have been looking at US and Aus currently. Unless my salary MASSIVELY bumps up to 70K this year there is no way in hell i will still be here for 2009. Kinda sux as i really love the countryside in NZ - but i never have the time or money to see it.

[awayatc]

Hmmm interesting on the super thing - i haven't done any research myself on it so i can't prove of disprove of it. I just have a friend who is leaving SKM (NZ) for Maunsell (Aus) and $9K out of her $69K is going to some scheme where if she leaves in 3 years time she can claim a total of $80K???? Will talk to her tomorrow to see what the story is.
I'm just getting a bit fed up with NZ, i swear it was better before - mabey i was more naive with my homeland when i was young. But in the last 10 years my life has hit more potholes in NZ than any person should endure.
Aspects including, law (or lack of it in some cases), student loans/allowances (or lack of), tax rates (for those who make a living.....even at 2 jobs), immigration (and the illegal aspects of it - fuck you a fucking lot Hon Tuariki Delamere), Small company NZ........with the she'll be right attitude......even transit NZ are cutting all the fucking corners off my favourite roads cos some moron (who was still paying off his car and didn't have a license) forgot to tell his pissed brain to take the turn.
I'm not saying the grass is greener - im just saying the cows keep shitting in ours.
That I'm paid crap due to my salary ($15-24/hr depending how many 'extra unpayed' hours fall in my 40 hour week). Thats less than i was earning before i graduated.....working for a pipejacking firm. I have been looking at US and Aus currently. Unless my salary MASSIVELY bumps up to 70K this year there is no way in hell i will still be here for 2009. Kinda sux as i really love the countryside in NZ - but i never have the time or money to see it.


It's sad to see you and people like you leave,....It's normal working kiwi's that this country needs most and should have looked after....not the no hopers.
Labour has succesfully catered for all minorities.... to such an extend that Middle New zealand has just about disappeared....Sad, very sad

[tri boy]

Chatting to a buddy today, who has a son who has just completed his apprenticeship as an Industrial Electrician.
Guess where he is heading this week?
His boss is spewing about the loss, but totally understands the young fulla's reasoning.
Stick around in NZ, earning 35-45K for the next 3yrs. Or jump the ditch, and make that in 4 mths doing shutdowns in QLD/WA/VIC/SA.
One year in Aussie lets the chap party in Europe for the next year. Return to Aus and make another $150K.
It's a no brainer for the ones who can leave/travel lightly.

[kevfromcoro]

A lot of investments have shifted to the new PIE tax scheme, meaning that there is no 2% AIL.

not to sure what you mean there...
does this mean if you leave NZ..you get charched normall tax rates on dollars invested here?.....
was told buy a banker and accountant the the 2% rule still applies...
very interesting thread this......
KEV

[kave]

not to sure what you mean there...
does this mean if you leave NZ..you get charched normall tax rates on dollars invested here?.....
was told buy a banker and accountant the the 2% rule still applies...
very interesting thread this......
KEV
If the investments that you hold are subject to the new Portfolio Investment Entity (‘PIE’) regime, then you cant get the 2% AIL rate, but if its not, then you can still get the 2% rate. Then again, if the investments are PIE's, then the top rate of tax you will pay is 30%, which is quite nice if you are currently in the top tax bracket.

[Ixion]

Hm. I must investigate these PIEs . I have had quite a number of communications about them. Problem is they all come either from breathless boy wonders wanting to sell financial services (ie crooks), or dicks calling themsleves my 'Personal banker'.(ie cretins). Obviously i don't trust a word any of them say, but it is just possible I gues sthat tehse PIEs are not a convoluted rort.

[avgas]

It's a no brainer for the ones who can leave/travel lightly.
I have a sister and a 4 year old nephew who i love to bits. But its cheaper for me to move and fly them over every 2 months for a holiday, than to stay????
Dunno about my bike, i still can not find a way to part her either

[slowpoke]

*Sigh* I'm getting fuggin' sick of people saying how great it is in Oz with just a projected pay packet in their eyes and precious little research under their belt:

Check out house prices
Check out stamp duty on houses
Check out the price of second hand cars
Check out the heavy capital gains taxes on property and shares
Check out private health insurance
Check out commuting times from outer suburbs to central city
Check out where you are gonna ride/race your bike (options are more limited than you'd think)

Not to mention I'm sick of people talkin' it up and doing nothing....

[tri boy]

*Sigh* I'm getting fuggin' sick of people saying how great it is in Oz with just a projected pay packet in their eyes and precious little research under their belt:

Check out house prices
Check out stamp duty on houses
Check out the price of second hand cars
Check out the heavy capital gains taxes on property and shares
Check out private health insurance
Check out commuting times from outer suburbs to central city
Check out where you are gonna ride/race your bike (options are more limited than you'd think)

Not to mention I'm sick of people talkin' it up and doing nothing....

If your feeling sick, best you lay down and have a wee nap.
This thread is related to the option of financialy advancing oneself in Aus, not about ripping the guts out of NZ lifestyle.
40000 people have crossed the Tasman solely to make a better start for their families, because the NZ economy is struggling to get any where near it's counterpart.
It isn't an attack on other kiwi's, or their love for the country.
Many made the move through the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. Many returned (myself included), but I know for me personally, that it was a huge gain, financially, socially, and growth wise.
Why do you sound so bitter, that you attack those that wish to give it a go?
Some people may have had a bad run over there, but the majority do not.
Why knock people who a willing to up roots and take on life positively?
Tall poppy syndrome at it's ugliest stage. Cut their legs off before they even get to the airport.
Best you have a good long nap:zzzz:

[Conquiztador]

Over 20 years ago I came to NZ after years of moving from country to country. Liked what I did see but had no plans of staying. Japan was my next goal, then Canada to ski...

Well, then this girl came in to my life (2 weeks before I was to leave...). Now after 6 years as single dad with 4 boys I am getting to a stage where the travel plans are sounding better and better again.

I like NZ and my kids love it here. Their mum is here. But as single parent I am paying all the bills. And even if I am paid over the NZ average, I have nothing left at end of week.

I have 13 years left to retirement. Am I supposed to sit here, save some in KiwiSaver (have calculated that when I turn 65 I will have about $150 - $200K in KiwiSaver) and start to live my life after retirement?

So I have also started to look around. For a place where my kids can get a good schooling, there is opportunities, somewhere more central (everything is so far away from NZ!!). And where I can earn much more and enjoy my time until retirement, not only stay alive.

Oz in all respect. But I am starting to lean towards Dubai.

The Positives re Dubai for me:
- No tax.
- High income. (Mine would be in the $300K/year +)
- Opportunities. Blows me away when I see what they are doing there!!
- Brilliant schools for "european" children.
- My kids future.
- Traveltime to Europe less then 1/2 compared to NZ
- No cold nights or rain!!

The negatives as I see it:
- Might become a fraction too hot??
- The Arab way of life (religion and rules)
- No alcohol (apart from in private clubs)
- Uprooting my kids from friends and the only life they know.

Big part in my starting to consider all this is that I can not see any real change here in NZ. Yes, we will most probably get a National Gov in the election. But it does not matter who is in charge. If you only have so many buttons to play with it it does not matter how you organise them. It will still be the same amount of buttons.

The reality is that NZ is falling behind. Sure, there is an elite who is getting it better. But 80% of new zealanders are falling further behind when in comparison to rest of the world. I have friends in many countries. They all have money to travel on holidays each year. They have money saved, money they can go out to dinner with, buy stuff they want not just need.

I don't have the time to wait for 20+ years until NZ has all sorted and is back on top. So I am getting closer to making a selfish decision based on me and my kids needs and wants.

Still a little away from making the final decision. But the more I think about it...

[avgas]

Check out house prices
Check out stamp duty on houses
Check out the price of second hand cars
Check out the heavy capital gains taxes on property and shares
Check out private health insurance
Check out commuting times from outer suburbs to central city
Check out where you are gonna ride/race your bike (options are more limited than you'd think)
All valid points. I have had to consider all these as i truly love NZ.
House prices in Melbourne attached, Stamp duty vs "First Home Owner Grant" here (http://australia.emigratenz.org/money-matters.html).
Heavy property taxes.....good if your not a developer. Private Health Insurance - whole kitten kaboodle for about $1-2K/pp. Commuting - takes about 1/2 what Auckland is min. And transport is roughly every 20min for the public (well it was when i was in Melbourne and Sydney).
I would love to worry about where i would ride my bike, right now the situation is when.
I do understand your sentiments, and please do understand that i in no way poke at the NZ lifestyle. I am just getting sick of being told how high i can achieve here. I am currently in my 3rd job where promotion means i have to kill the boss. The house market seems out of my reach (unless i put myself on a "retirement mortgage") as my salary seems to slow unless i change jobs. I couldn't decide if study or work was the way forward so i have done both over the last 10 years. However there seems to be that the non-graduates of NZ only see my degree, and the academics only see my life on the end of a shovel.........always the negative, never the positive in an interview.
I'm getting sick of others claiming the glory for MY WORK! I have also noticed that the attitude in NZ is getting cold. 10 years ago - you neighbors would feed your Cat and have coffee with you. I have had some good neighbors but it seems the good/bad ratio is getting worse.
People seem to think i am some kind of Saint when i help them out, but it used to be everyone helped everyone.
Where did we go so wrong?

[ManDownUnder]

Where did we go so wrong?

... once upon a time Mzz Clarke enrolled in Political Studies at Auckland University...

[Kittyhawk]

the entire system controlled by nz govt is shocking.

why are so many leaving. Nz has too many fat asses on the dole doing nothing. too many big cheeses pushing pens and delegating.

transport infrastructure - roading and public transport systems arent in place to cater for the growth of major cities and towns.

selling off our major supplies like rail and power etc, what happens when there is conflict? our country will shut down. nz relies way too much on our neighbouring country oz for exports one day this may end then what?

why try and be individual country when systems fail? take state of vic - speed limit 100km/hr there is no 10km/hr leway, camers are in place on major roads if you pass one camera and then pass the second one in a certian time by driving too fast you are fined. we should have that here to knock out boy racers, and place engine size limits on cars for learners and restricted licences like they have (bikes being the exception of course)

housing nz spending up large tax payers money for their comforts...where do us working people get a say? we never find out till after its been in the media, by then its too late.

medicial system is shocking. im stuck on a benefit till i get surgery so in the meantime im noodling around in pain not doing much...if they fixed me up at the time of the accident id still have a job and be in paid employment. not have the govt wasting money covering my ass to survive.

the govt has made it hard for middle class and upper to get ahead and live comfortably. if the grass is greener on the other side in this case oz then go. there will be one day minimum kiwis living here - im talking original kiwis as we would have fled to a better country where we will be treated a little better not taxed every day for something we try do for pleasure.

it will be interesting to see how much this country would have changed in years to come, akl predominantly islander indian and asian populated if its not going that way already smaller towns will be more than multicultural and the kiwi traditions and ways will fade.

[slowpoke]

I havn't browsed the West Aus employment scene for about a year, so I did a 5min search, mainly relating to previous work I used to do.
First hit went like this:
Heavy mechanical fitter, (mechanic).
Location. Tom Price. (Iron ore country)
2weeks on, 1 week off, fly in fly out.
$44/hr.
Heres the breakdown. 12hrs a day for 2weeks = 168 hrs worked. (no days off for two weeks)
44 by 168 =$7392 Aus gross. For two weeks!

The work is dusty, and dealing with big gear, but man, that is pretty good money. (the week off, fly to Bali, and kick back):clap:

Now wheres my passport..........

Oh, and accom, and meals are free on fly in fly out jobs.


If your feeling sick, best you lay down and have a wee nap.
This thread is related to the option of financialy advancing oneself in Aus, not about ripping the guts out of NZ lifestyle.
40000 people have crossed the Tasman solely to make a better start for their families, because the NZ economy is struggling to get any where near it's counterpart.
It isn't an attack on other kiwi's, or their love for the country.
Many made the move through the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. Many returned (myself included), but I know for me personally, that it was a huge gain, financially, socially, and growth wise.
Why do you sound so bitter, that you attack those that wish to give it a go?
Some people may have had a bad run over there, but the majority do not.
Why knock people who a willing to up roots and take on life positively?
Tall poppy syndrome at it's ugliest stage. Cut their legs off before they even get to the airport.
Best you have a good long nap:zzzz:

Not bitter at all, mate, Australia was good to me. I've only been back a couple of years after spending 17 years over there. I'm effectively still there as I commute to an Oz gas platform from NZ.
My gripe is that people infer, as per your initial post, that just 'cos they can earn XXX amount of money in Oz that it's better, when in a lot of ways it's just not.....especially in Oz FIFO jobs which I've worked in mining and offshore for the past 14 years.
What dollar value do you put on spending half (or more) of your life away from your family/friends? Giving up that promising sports career? Missing birthdays, anniversary's, child birth, graduations etc etc
If it still sounds ok check out the horrendous stats on relationship breakdowns for FIFO work, I've got a heap of tragic stories from blokes I work with, and when you have to give up 35% of your pre-tax earnings to an ex-missus+child all of a sudden the cash doesn't seem quite so good.
I'm not saying it's not worth it, you've just got to go in with your eyes open and realise that you don't get nuthin' for nuthin', you get paid better money than a 9-5 job for a reason.
I in no way shape or form knocked those people who have gone over to Oz, good on 'em I say. I have nothing but respect for someone who has the initiative to go and try something for themselves but what is the point of talking it up and then staying put?
Bottom line: depending what your lifestyle is then Oz is no better or worse, it's just different.

[tri boy]

You raise some valid points regarding relationships etc.
I think having an exit strategy in place can help alleviate alot of spousal/partner concerns.
I also believe it can take 18mths, and $15k expenditure before people really start to settle in. (Travel, general costs, not including housing rental).
It is a big step for many, and I think desperation in some kiwi households are forcing this situation on those who would prefer to remain here but are really struggling.
One thing that may help build peoples confidence in upping stakes and shifting, is the old saying, "Fortune Favours the Bold"
Good luck to those that take the plunge.:yes:

[Blackbird]

I have also noticed that the attitude in NZ is getting cold. 10 years ago - you neighbors would feed your Cat and have coffee with you. I have had some good neighbors but it seems the good/bad ratio is getting worse.
People seem to think i am some kind of Saint when i help them out, but it used to be everyone helped everyone.
Where did we go so wrong?

Well, it still happens in the provinces (well certainly in Coromandel and where I previously lived) on an everyday basis and I'll bet it still happens in areas of Auckland too from what I've heard from my Auckland-based riding partners.

[Disco Dan]

A very close friend of mine is currently in OZ for a week - all paid for by his new employer.

This was after the manager flew to NZ to interview him a few weeks ago.

When he returns to NZ he will have just enough time to finally sell his house and tie up his affairs before moving to Australia...

...he aint coming back.

He has a job in the mines, got his truck and trailer license here and he's going to be earning mega bucks...

[Tank]

Not bitter at all, mate, Australia was good to me. I've only been back a couple of years after spending 17 years over there. I'm effectively still there as I commute to an Oz gas platform from NZ.
My gripe is that people infer, as per your initial post, that just 'cos they can earn XXX amount of money in Oz that it's better, when in a lot of ways it's just not.....especially in Oz FIFO jobs which I've worked in mining and offshore for the past 14 years.
What dollar value do you put on spending half (or more) of your life away from your family/friends? Giving up that promising sports career? Missing birthdays, anniversary's, child birth, graduations etc etc
If it still sounds ok check out the horrendous stats on relationship breakdowns for FIFO work, I've got a heap of tragic stories from blokes I work with, and when you have to give up 35% of your pre-tax earnings to an ex-missus+child all of a sudden the cash doesn't seem quite so good.
I'm not saying it's not worth it, you've just got to go in with your eyes open and realise that you don't get nuthin' for nuthin', you get paid better money than a 9-5 job for a reason.
I in no way shape or form knocked those people who have gone over to Oz, good on 'em I say. I have nothing but respect for someone who has the initiative to go and try something for themselves but what is the point of talking it up and then staying put?
Bottom line: depending what your lifestyle is then Oz is no better or worse, it's just different.

What a really good post - Bling to you sir.

As someone who has moved country's a couple of times for work and turned down jobs in the US and Aust in the last 6 months - there is a lot more to it than the $$$.

Its harder on families and relationships than a lot of people think - and that's just with professional jobs living in a city. I hate to think how hard it will be in the mines etc.

As you said - you get paid large $$$ for effectively unskilled work for a reason - Quick and easy work it wont be.

At the end of the day you have to weigh everything up. When you look at quality of life, family, security, freedom etc - NZ is hard to beat.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people that will go to Oz for an additional 10 - 20k per year - only to find that the additional cost of housing (because like for like (including distance from work) it IS more expensive) takes up 1/2 of the 'extra' money, and they spend longer commuting to and from the office having less time with the kids.

But - Its Australia so it MUST be better right?

Seriously - People need to sit back and look at everything that they have here. Yes - there are a lot of things that need to be improved - but I still think we live in one of the best countries in the world.

[tri boy]

As you said - you get paid large $$$ for effectively unskilled work for a reason - Quick and easy work it wont be.



So Geologists, surveyors, medical/rescue staff, engineers are unskilled in your eyes????
Sheesh, you set a very high career bar. Even the powder monkeys, (blast crews) need a hell of alot of training before they can dislodge 5000 tonne of rock at the right density and radius.
You probably didn't mean it, but your reference was quite insulting to at least a dozen industries. What is your career if I may be so bold?

[Tank]

So Geologists, surveyors, medical/rescue staff, engineers are unskilled in your eyes????
Sheesh, you set a very high career bar. Even the powder monkeys, (blast crews) need a hell of alot of training before they can dislodge 5000 tonne of rock at the right density and radius.
You probably didn't mean it, but your reference was quite insulting to at least a dozen industries. What is your career if I may be so bold?

I certainly wasn't talking about Geologists, surveyors, medical/rescue staff, engineers, or a lot of other very skilled people.

I was referring more to the more commonly referred to roles of people getting a truck licence and earning 100k +.



He has a job in the mines, got his truck and trailer license here and he's going to be earning mega bucks...


My career?? - Im a IT strategist for a International software company. Before this I owned my own company consulting to Merchant banks for about 5 years - including lecturing across Europe and the US for about 2 years.

[Conquiztador]

Aussie mine swallows student's loan

28.05.2008
KATE NEWTON
A Dannevirke man who paid off his $31,000 student loan in six months has a message for those laid off by the closure of Oringi meatworks - get yourself to a mine.

Ross Smith made the pilgrimage to Western Australia's gold mines, a track that's becoming well-beaten by young Kiwis, when he graduated from Canterbury University.

He saved $35,000 after just 24 weeks of work, working 12-hour days and 13 days of every 14. After three months he would get a week's break.

"Food and accommodation was paid by the employers and some weeks my outgoings were as little as $50," Mr Smith said.

"It's the best place for people to save money as everything is paid for and you are stuck in the middle of nowhere."
Having returned from the mines early last year he is now cashing in on the experience by helping others get a job in the mines with an online guidebook he sells for $30.

So far he has sold more than 500 to Kiwis keen to take advantage of Australia's mining boom and the shortage of skills to supply the new mines.

And now he is keen to answer the call of anyone from his hometown of Dannevirke who needs his help.

"I feel sorry for the workers and their families and the corresponding subcontracted companies associated with it," Mr Smith said.

"I actually applied for a job there and might have been working at Oringi if there had been a job available."

Mr Smith's family bought a Dannevirke dairy farm when he was 10.

After Ruahine Primary School and Dannevirke High School he went to Canterbury University in 2000 where he graduated with a bachelor of commerce majoring in marketing.

Mr Smith had no mining experience when he went to work at the mines and said people did not need knowledge of mining to secure a job.

The e-book, Rosco's Mining Employment Guide, covers the best places to go, what money to expect, the working conditions and how to get the job.

Here: (and no, I am getting nothing for this) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Books/Nonfiction/Reference/Other/auction-157476053.htm

[Motu]

... once upon a time Mzz Clarke enrolled in Political Studies at Auckland University...

Around the same time Robert Muldoon was Minister of Finance.....and before he gained control of this country every man woman and child owed a $1.That was the size of the national debt,the same as the population.9 years later New Zealand was in deep shit,and no government since has been able to recover the damage.

For those who want money and career,and more sun - go to OZ.But I don't think I would of been able to live the life I have in another country.

[Ixion]

And what's more, Mr Muldoon knew , personally, the name of every unemployed person in the country.

He may have had his faults, but he was the closest thing we've had to a socialist prime minister in many years.

I met him quite a few times , he was a very decent sort of bloke.

[Motu]

And what's more, Mr Muldoon knew , personally, the name of every unemployed person in the country.

He may have had his faults, but he was the closest thing we've had to a socialist prime minister in many years.


He was a dictator and in control of this country as much as Stalin was in control of his.He said we are doing this...now! And it was done,without question.He just steamrolled any objections.People on this site have no idea what communism means....and it sure doesn't mean Nanny State!

[Ixion]

Well, yes. But , with dictators , at least you know where you are.

I had a number of heated 'discussions' with him (me being typical radical Uni student type). He always listened , before telling me I was a ignorant young puppy (which, of course , I was).

I would rather have a Muldoon type dictator than the current PC type dictator.

The latter is as dicatorial as the former, but with the former at least you have a clear target to aim at.

I always had a sneaking respect for Comrade Stalin, too.

[Conquiztador]

I always had a sneaking respect for Comrade Stalin, too.

So he clearly did not execute too many of your rellies then...

Mugabe is a nice chap too...

[Gibbo13p]

A very close friend of mine is currently in OZ for a week - all paid for by his new employer.

This was after the manager flew to NZ to interview him a few weeks ago.

When he returns to NZ he will have just enough time to finally sell his house and tie up his affairs before moving to Australia...

...he aint coming back.

He has a job in the mines, got his truck and trailer license here and he's going to be earning mega bucks...

Hey Dan which company is it may I ask? And where exactly? Come on feed the backs....