From our guest correspondent:
Touch line conversations at rugby always provide useful for us sporting mothers. A chat with a Mum of another boy who plays with Joe, works in the Department of Labour which includes the Immigration department proved interesting. It would appear we are not unusual in leaving. The latest report shows that as many people leave NZ as arrive, going back to their country of origin, with the most common lengths of stay being 3, 5 and 10 years. Apparently the report states the top three reasons we Poms leave are because it’s too cold and there isn’t any heating in the houses (although that is changing and “European type heating with radiators” is now being advertised on the TV), Kiwi driving is appalling and finally its very expensive to live here – all of which sounded very true and reasonable to me (having recently paid the equivalent of 2 quid for a telegraph cucumber!!). Her other interesting comment was that in general Kiwis have the perception that people don’t leave so as a consequence are not willing to address the issues raised by departing immigrants . Interesting stuff and food for thought……
