Philippa Stevenson: Politicians in need of a little OE

Thank goodness for email - a lifeline for us with families strung across the globe. It also enabled Herald readers across the planet to respond to Thursday's column questioning the wisdom of the Government's plan to launch a campaign to woo expatriate Kiwis home.

(Note to Immigration Minister Paul Swain: The idea is as popular as blowflies at a barbecue.)

As a mum, readers told me, I'm not alone in missing my absent child but I want the best for them - no matter where that may be.

"My adored son is away in remote areas of the world," another mum wrote, "and it's very hard sometimes. I have talked to him only twice in seven months by satellite phone. Thank God for email."

She described the Kiwi-come-home campaign as "rather needy" and she - a potential beneficiary of the campaign - was made of sterner stuff.

Another mother has every reason to back the campaign - her son has been away from New Zealand for seven years, and has established a career and a marriage in America.

"I miss him - only see him once every 20 months or so - but in no way would my husband and I encourage him to come back to New Zealand at this point and under this 'social engineering' Labour government."

But just as research by Waikato University's Migration Research Group has found, Kiwis do return when they are good and ready - 25,000 of them a year.

"I'm a Kiwi in London but am packing my things and coming back to New Zealand in a few weeks," emailed an on-line Herald reader.

(Note to Swain: Contrary to your research, expats know more about New Zealand than just All Black scores.)

"I am really tired of people and the Government stating that New Zealand is the best place in the world to live. There's very little to lure us back apart from the fact that our families are here and not in Australia or the UK or somewhere else that can still provide a substantially wonderful lifestyle and opportunities to grow," wrote an expat of six years.

He is sceptical of the depth of the country's job market, especially for careers that require highly specialist skills. "I'm going to earn a third of what I do [in London] and not work in such a senior and specialist role, but friends and family are worth more than money.

"The truth is New Zealand is a country for breeding and raising children and the best thing the Government can do is focus on this - make it a better place to raise kids, get rid of the P epidemic, reduce the violent crime, reduce the small-minded, racial mentality in Auckland and raise standards in education.

"The Government should stand well away from speaking on behalf of my family or friends," he signed off. "That would simply put me off."

From Australia, a "highly skilled" New Zealander who has been away for nine years is keen to come home but is one of many not willing to sacrifice pay or career prospects to do so.

She'd been interviewed for a job here but "what disappointed me was the company did not seem to want to remunerate the skills and experience that we all gain working outside of New Zealand. End of discussion."

"It's all very nice showing the beautiful scenery of home to tug at our heartstrings but until the Government and employers get real about offering people real jobs, real money and real careers, it isn't going to happen."

The last word goes to a mid-20s woman who is still here although everyone else her age has either left already or is leaving soon. She applauds those who do go.

"I've always thought we should encourage Kiwis to go overseas young. That way they accumulate the experience and the savvy-ness of a travelled person and then bring it all home when they are older and wiser. How we ended up with such an ignorant, disconnected and insular government is a disgrace.

"We might be better off spending money on sending our politicians overseas for their late OEs. That way they might understand what it means for a Kiwi to experience the world."