Herald Kiwi expatriates survey

Herald reporter Simon Collins asked nzherald.co.nz readers overseas several questions about their thoughts on returning to New Zealand. Details about the respondents and their answers are below.

Male: 139
Female: 49

Now living in:
Britain 82, Australia 42,US 23, Canada 5, Germany 5, China 4, Hong Kong 3, Ireland 3, Japan 3, Sweden 3, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 2, Cayman Islands, France, Indonesia, Italy, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam (all 1)

Q.1 How long have you been overseas?

Range from 2 months to 30 years.

Q.2 Do you intend to return to NZ definitely soon/definitely eventually/possibly/never? Why?

Definitely within 5 years 34
Definitely eventually 36
Definitely to retire 2
Possibly 78
Possibly to retire 5
Unlikely 6
Possibly/never 3
Never 21

Q. 3 If you're in the "possibly" category, what are the key factors you will consider in deciding whether to return?


1. Pay/cost of living
Positive comments, favouring a return to NZ 1, negative comments 88, number saying it was an important factor 13, total giving this reason 102
2. Job opportunities
Positive 3, negative 56, important 28, total 87
3. Lifestyle/climate
Positive 67, negative (usually compared with Australia) 16, important 3, total 86
4. Family
Positive 41, negative (mainly partner's family somewhere else) 3, total 44
5. House prices
Positive 0, negative 22, important 7, total 29
6. Tax
Positive 1, negative 16, important 4, total 21
7. Race relations
Positive 0, negative 16, total 16
8. Student loans
Positive 0, negative 16, total 16
9. Traffic/public transport/infrastructure
Positive 0, negative 13, important 2, total 15
10. Working conditions, eg super, holidays
Positive 0, negative 12, important 2, total 14

Q.4 How important are NZ pay rates as a factor in your decision?

Most respondents regarded them as important.

Q.5 How do your current income and living costs compare with your potential income and living costs in NZ?

Two examples highlighting responses to this question are in the story 'Kiwi, please come home' also published today.

Q.6 Would a 5 per cent general pay increase in NZ this year, and perhaps further increases in future years, make a difference to your decision?

Yes 37
No 125
Maybe 11