Google me: Easing the pain of Dubya's gain

By NICOLA BOYES

Hello, America. Feeling down after a bad election result? Disgruntled the candidate you voted for wasn't elected? Why not move to New Zealand?

Visits to the New Zealand Immigration Service website topped 10,300 last Wednesday when George W. Bush was re-elected, says Cross Walk.

NZIS marketing director Terry Murphy - who is from Portland, Oregon - says New Zealand has "liberal attractions", including the debate over civil unions for same-sex couples, anti-globalisation, and our anti-war stance.

Some of our Australian neighbours are even thinking of making the move, although Bulletin magazine satirical columnist Tim Blair says leaving Australia for New Zealand is "as close as you can get to committing suicide while still registering a pulse".

When Denis and Marjit came to New Zealand from London 20 years ago they thought it would be a great place to bring up their children.

He got a job as a lecturer at Canterbury University. She hoped she would be able to continue writing about food and teaching cooking classes, but 20 years ago New Zealanders didn't think much past meat and three veg, Marjit says.

Things have improved, she says. Food now comes in a huge variety, clothes are more fashionable and she no longer feels that "geographically we live at the end of the world".

Denis and Marjit's story can be found at NZine.

Websites touting New Zealand's beauty are everywhere.

Nu Kiwi talks of the country's magnificent beauty, which in monetary terms is astoundingly undervalued, it says.

"Beautiful, safe and friendly, it's a technology-savvy place that offers profit and lifestyle opportunities."

And if you're thinking of buying a home, the National Bank says there is no qualifying time you have to be in New Zealand before you can seek a loan - you just need to show you can pay it back.

But if you want to come as an investor or entrepreneur, conditions do apply.

Investors need at least $1 million, entrepreneurs need a successfully established business, says Work Site

Moving your belongings to New Zealand can be a headache, says FAQs.

Frits Schouten moved from the Netherlands to New Zealand five years ago.

He shifted his possessions by container and had no real problems. But when the container arrived on the front lawn of his new home, people kept popping in asking if he was having a garage sale.

If you are planning on coming to New Zealand, you better be prepared to work hard, says NZ News UK.

An International Labour Organisation study found New Zealand workers put in the second-longest hours in the Western world behind the Japanese.

It found that 20 per cent of the country's workforce worked at least 50 hours a week, compared with less than 10 per cent in most European countries.