New Zealander’s in Asia – NZ’s best export
Recently I have been looking at some options around going back to New Zealand, having lived in worked in Asia for some years. In general what I found kind of surprised me, since leaving the country in 1999, it seems that salaries in the IT industry haven’t increased significantly, whereas living costs such as housing prices, taxes and even food have increased fairly substantially compared to what I remember.
Latest news reports also talk about New Zealanders leaving the country for Australia or other destinations at the highest rates in years with net immigration even or even negative when immigration to New Zealand from other countries is considered. Couple this with the fact that New Zealanders generally have a good education, fit the profile as “low cost europeans” given the low salary expectations (Tasmania Salaries are higher) , have a propensity to travel – and things don’t look that different from say the Philippines or Indonesian worker export conceptually.
Unlike lower skilled labour however, export of high skilled workers is probably not sustainable – certainly not when you consider that over 1 million kiwi’s live outside of New Zealand, and without paying New Zealand tax can still come back and retire collecting benefits. Conversely less spending power makes New Zealand a less attractive destination for those skilled workers who might want to immigrate there, instead possibly attracting those who would see it as a step up economics wise. If true this wouldn’t help national productivity, and the ability to keep education standards high.
Having said all that – New Zealand still seems to have a lot of innovation when compared to Hong Kong with many promising technology start-ups. One wonders if all those people potentially starting something in Hong Kong may find it easier to just collect a big salary packet at a role within one of the large financial institutions in Hong Kong instead? As far as I know there is no equivalent to the Wellington Cable Car funding pitch on the Hong Kong equivalent – another missed opportunity.
April 27, 2008 9:12 am 
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