Allure of NZ still strong for many

By JULIET ROWAN

Home is where the heart is - or that at least is the case for many New Zealanders living overseas.

Nearly half of professional New Zealanders living and working overseas intend returning home, but over a quarter say they will remain in their adopted countries.

A Massey University poll found that those interested in returning are most likely to do so for family reasons, especially concerns about parents and older relations and bringing up children.

Lifestyle, safety and security, recreational and social opportunities and home ownership are also deemed important.

Factors keeping New Zealanders overseas are economic and work-related, including salaries, career and business opportunities and challenges. Arts and cultural opportunities, and "learning for life", are also important.

In an attempt to assess the brain drain phenomenon, Massey's Business College conducted an email survey of 2201 Kiwis living overseas.

More than 94 per cent of those surveyed had a degree or higher-level qualification. Forty per cent were living in Britain, 13 per cent in North America, 9 per cent in Asia and 5 per cent in Europe.

The researchers found that 46 per cent intended to return to New Zealand, 28 per cent were undecided and 26 per cent intended to stay overseas.

Professor Kerr Inkson, who led the study, said that despite the proportion opting to remain overseas, interpreting the results as a brain drain was an oversimplification.

Those who returned could bring back new skills, and immigration was likely to make up for any talent that the country was losing.

Stephen Hudson, 34, and his wife Stephanie returned to NZ seven months ago after three years in Britain. Mr Hudson, an equity analyst at Macquarie Equities Research in Auckland, said the main reason was to start a family.

Maintaining their lifestyle on one income in Britain would have been too difficult. "It was a cost issue."

He said he and his wife also wanted to have their families around when they start having children.

Mr Hudson said living overseas was great socially and professionally but he is happy to be back.

"My social life here is more focused on friends and family."

The study also found that while many respondents had lived overseas for more than 20 years, more than 90 per cent still identified themselves as New Zealanders.

Professor Inkson said this suggested a strong desire to help the country that should be encouraged. "There are opportunities to develop new ways of relating to expatriate New Zealanders, new ways of tapping into their skills.

NZers overseas

Coming back 46 per cent

Staying away 26 per cent

Undecided 28 per cent

Source: Massey University survey