Expats called home to 'fizzing and buzzing' NZ

New Zealand House in London helps get the message out.

An advertising blitz and website to attract New Zealand expatriates back home to fill labour and skill shortages is under way.

The Labour Department yesterday outlined the $850,000 campaign which includes a website - newzealandnow.info - and an advertising blitz on New Zealand House in London as well as the London Underground.

The campaign will also begin soon in Australia.

In August, Prime Minister Helen Clark and former immigration minister Paul Swain revealed they planned a range of initiatives to bring expatriates up to date with job opportunities at home.

Launching the website and advertising campaign yesterday, Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said the main reason for the campaign was the labour and skill shortages.

"There is a consistent movement out of New Zealand of skilled New Zealanders. The international competition for talent is hotting up."

Mr Cunliffe said New Zealanders would always go on OE and the Government did not want to discourage that, but there was a "very severe" skills and labour shortage.

Thirty per cent of all businesses were citing such shortages as the key constraint on their growth.

"We also want to say, look, this place has changed. This is a country that is finding a new sense of itself. It's going through an arts and culture revival; it's going through a Maori renaissance," he said.

"It's a place that's fizzing and buzzing and we want those New Zealanders to know about that and be part of it if they choose to."

Among the marketing plugs is an advertisement for the website which started this week on the outside of New Zealand House in London.

The website includes information on how to find a job back in New Zealand, tax rates, setting up a business, cost of living comparisons with Britain, house prices, changes to the education system, and arts and culture, entertainment, and recreation.

Mr Cunliffe said the estimated 460,000 kiwis abroad was equivalent to 14 per cent of the population.

Kiwi diaspora

* An estimated 460,000 New Zealanders are abroad.

* That represents 14 per cent of the population.

* After Ireland, that is the highest ratio of expatriates of any developed country.